Waste Not, Want Not.

"Although," Mara added thoughtfully, "it would be an awful shame to waste it."

Richard regarded her over the rim of his glass. "Indeed."

Mara waited.

Richard said nothing.

She looked at the beautiful black lace again, then back at him. "Oh, for goodness' sake!"

Richard raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong, Sugar Plum?"

"You're going to make me say it, aren't you?"

"Say what?"

Mara rolled her eyes. "Mr Arnett, can I please have the underwear?"

Richard nearly choked on his drink. "I beg your pardon?"

"The lingerie!" Mara held up the box. "Can I have it? Vanessa doesn't want it, Mrs Arnett certainly isn't getting it, and it's exactly my size. You might as well give it to someone who'll appreciate it."

Richard placed his glass on the table. "Well, that's certainly a direct proposition."

"You've known me long enough to know I don't beat around the bush."

"Yes, I distinctly remember that particular characteristic."

Mara smiled triumphantly. "So?"

"So what?"

"Can I have it?"

Richard looked at the shopping bag. "That was a rather expensive purchase, Mara."

"How expensive?"

"Enough."

"Two hundred?"

Richard shook his head.

"Three hundred?"

"Mara."

"Five hundred?"

"Would knowing the price make any difference?"

"Absolutely! I'd appreciate it even more!"

Richard laughed.

Mara returned the lingerie to its box and carried it over to the sofa. "Look, I know it's cheeky asking. But you said yourself Vanessa doesn't want it. And Hugh never buys me anything nice."

"I'm sure Hugh has bought you presents."

"Not like this!"

She lifted the lid again. "Honestly, Mr Arnett, this is the prettiest underwear I've ever seen."

Richard studied her for a moment. "Would you actually wear it?"

"Of course I would!"

"Because it seems rather extravagant to leave sitting in a drawer."

Mara looked offended. "I don't leave beautiful things sitting in drawers!"

Richard's expression suggested he remembered several childhood Christmas presents that had suffered precisely that fate. "Well," he said eventually, "I suppose it would be rather silly to keep it."

Mara sat up straighter. "Does that mean yes?"

"It means I'm considering it."

Mara narrowed her eyes playfully. "Oh, you're enjoying this."

"Enjoying what?"

"Making me beg!"

Richard chuckled. "I assure you, Sugar Plum, that's not my intention."

She tilted her head, studying him for a moment. Then her expression softened into an exaggeratedly sweet smile. "Riiiichard?"

He looked up. Mara had never called him that before. "Well, now," he said. "That's a first."

She shuffled a little closer along the sofa. "Pleeeease, Richard?"

He shook his head, smiling despite himself. "Whatever happened to Mr Arnett?"

Mara shrugged innocently. "You told me to call you Richard."

"That was nearly half an hour ago."

"Well, I'm a slow learner."

"On the contrary. I think you're learning remarkably quickly."

Mara giggled. "Come on, Richard. Pretty please? I'll be your favourite Sugar Plum forever."

"You're my only Sugar Plum."

"Exactly! So you have to spoil me."

Richard laughed. "That's an interesting interpretation of our arrangement."

She clasped her hands together beneath her chin. "Please? With a cherry on top?"

Richard sighed theatrically. "You're absolutely impossible."

"But adorable."

"Debatable."

"Richard!"

"All right, all right!"

Mara's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes, Sugar Plum. You may have the lingerie."

She squealed. "Oh my God! Thank you!"

Mara sprang up and threw her arms around his shoulders. "Thank you, Richard! You're the best!"

Richard laughed, briefly returning her embrace. "You're very welcome."

She stepped back, beaming. "And you know what?"

"I'm almost afraid to ask."

"I think I like calling you Richard."

"Do you now?"

"Mmm-hmm. Makes me feel terribly grown-up."

Richard raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps you could demonstrate this newfound maturity by not opening other people's shopping bags without permission."

Mara burst out laughing. "No promises!"

She picked up the box again. "Can I try it on?"

Richard blinked. "Now?"

"Well, I want to make sure it fits!"

"You've already assured me several times that it's exactly your size."

"Labels aren't always accurate."

"Quite."

She gestured towards the bedroom. "Does your bathroom have a proper mirror?"

"There's a dressing area through there, yes."

"Perfect!"

Richard held up a hand. "Just a moment. You needn't feel obliged to model anything for me. It's a gift, Mara, not a transaction."

Mara gave him a puzzled look. "I wasn't offering a fashion show!"

"Good."

"Although you could at least tell me whether the colour suits me."

Richard smiled. "I suspect black suits just about everyone."

"Very diplomatic."

She gathered the box and shopping bag. Then she paused. "Richard?"

"Yes, Sugar Plum?"

"You're not going to change your mind while I'm in there, are you?"

"No."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Mara grinned. "Good. Because I think this might be the nicest present anyone's given me in years."

Richard watched her disappear towards the dressing area.

A moment later, her voice floated back through the open doorway. "Oh, and Richard?"

"Yes, Mara?"

"Don't tell Hugh!"

Richard sighed. "Somehow, I think that goes without saying."

From the dressing area came the sound of delighted laughter. For the first time that evening, Mara had almost completely forgotten why she'd been upset in the first place.

And Richard, sitting alone in the lounge, found himself wondering whether giving Sugar Plum exactly what she wanted had ever been a particularly wise idea.