CHAPTER SEVEN

JUST on a week later, they all sat in Francesca’s office in serious discussion. Francesca had abandoned her position behind her grandfather’s massive desk in favour of a comfortable armchair between Elizabeth and Annette.

‘Ah—here’s coffee! ’ she said a little time later, looking towards the door.

Valerie Scott, having tapped on the door, now came in, pushing a trolley bearing a silver tray set with a sterling silver coffee service and the finest English bone china. The wonderful aroma was of coffee freshly made, not from any machine. That would have been out of the question. A three-tiered cakestand held delicate sandwiches and a selection of cup cakes, beautifully decorated.

Francesca held up a hand, smiling at the woman who was proving an unobtrusive but very efficient staff member. ‘Thank you, Valerie. This looks lovely. ’

‘I hope you enjoy it. ’ Valerie returned the smile, which embraced the two very elegant seated ladies, both of whom she knew—as she knew all the families. Mrs Elizabeth Forsyth and Mrs Annette Macallan. If privately she was wondering what they were doing here, she gave not the slightest sign. Valerie knew the late Sir Francis had taken Elizabeth Forsyth’s departure from the family very badly indeed. She knew Elizabeth had not been a beneficiary of Sir Francis’s will. She also knew the Macallan women loathed her late ex-lover. So here they were all together, Francesca, Annette and Elizabeth, obviously in perfect harmony.

Or they thought they were. Valerie Scott withdrew quietly, shutting the door.

‘I’m a bit surprised you’ve kept her on, Francey, ’ Elizabeth said after a moment, a vaguely worried frown between her brows. ‘You know she was—’

‘Yes. ’ Francesca headed Elizabeth off. ‘Actually, it’s working out quite well. She’s efficient, and very discreet. ’

‘Really? ’ Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, a droll expression on her face. ‘She didn’t exactly keep a low profile with my dear father-in-law. ’

Annette swallowed a laugh.

‘She’s on her own, Elizabeth, ’ Francesca explained. ‘No husband to support her. I didn’t have the heart to move her on. ’

‘God forbid she’d be left to sell real estate, like another ex-member of Frank’s club, ’ Elizabeth said.

‘Not Sally McGuiness? ’ Annette stared at her friend in mild shock.

‘So I’ve been told, ’ Elizabeth answered breezily. ‘But Sally is a happy-go-lucky kind of girl. She’ll be okay. ’

‘Grandfather didn’t leave either of them a razoo, for all their grand affairs, ’ Fra. ncesca said, thinking that wasn’t quite fair.

‘The word is he gave Valerie more than enough when he was alive, ’ Elizabeth, the irrepressible, revealed. ‘Anyway, let’s forget Valerie. But I wouldn’t trust her with too much, Francey, ’ she warned. ‘Remember she was sleeping with the enemy. ’

‘Name me someone he didn’t sleep with, ’ Annette broke in, uncharacteristically waspish. She rose to her smartly shod feet, a beautiful woman, dark-haired, dark-eyed, still retaining her girlish figure even though she had taken a back seat in life. ‘I’ll be mother. ’ She started to pour the coffee. ‘Have you spoken to anyone else about this, Francey? Outside of Bryn, that is? ’

‘No one, ’ Francesca confirmed. ‘I take it neither of you are opposed to the idea? I do so want you aboard. ’

‘I’m in, ’ Elizabeth cried in jolly fashion, accepting her exquisite cup and saucer from her lifelong friend. ‘Thanks, dear. I’ll enjoy it. It’s rather thrilling being a defector. A bit like Nureyev. You’re not going to let us down are you, Annie? ’

Annette suddenly looked nervous, sinking her teeth in her bottom lip. ‘I don’t know if I could pull my weight. ’ Carefully she placed a sandwich and a cup cake on each plate. ‘I would hate to let you down, Francey. I’ve been so out of everything. Rather like a woman in a coma. ’

‘Time now to break out of it, love, ’ Elizabeth told her friend firmly. ‘You’re highly intelligent and you’re utterly trustworthy. Francey needs people like us around her. That’s why she’s asked. It saddens me to say it, but you can bet your life my daughter, who doesn’t wish to have anything to do with me, would like nothing better than to see Francey come a cropper. Not that it’s likely to happen. I’ve had my ear to the ground, Francey, and the word is you’re turning out trumps. Lady Macallan is still a real powerhouse. She can handle the Macallan side of things on her own. Francey and I need you here, Annie. Don’t we, Francey? ’

‘It would make me feel so much more secure. ’ Francesca turned to Annette with an encouraging smile. ‘The whole place is regularly swept for bugs—courtesy of the age we live in—but I still don’t have a clue how Carrie found out Bryn and I were flying to Daramba last weekend. She told me it was Bryn. ’

‘She wanted to upset and confuse you, ’ Annette said, her expression showing a flicker of anger. ‘I don’t like to speak ill of anyone—’ Annette reached out to pat Elizabeth’s hand tenderly ‘—but if I were you, Francey, I’d take everything Carrie says from now on, especially in relation to Bryn, with a pinch of salt. We all know how she feels about him. ’

Elizabeth sighed deeply. ‘My daughter has never in her life been thwarted. Her grandfather and her father spoilt her terribly. Both of them rode roughshod over me. Charles has actually admitted it. ’

‘Really? ’ Annette asked quickly, rounding on her friend.

‘A whole new Charles has emerged since his father died, ’ Elizabeth told them, going a little pink. ‘I think he’s trying to get back with me. ’

‘Are you going to let him? ’ Annette didn’t look at all happy about that eventuality.

‘We’ll see! ’ Mischief shimmered out of Elizabeth’s fine grey eyes. ‘Charles was a different man in the early years, you know. It was later, after we lost Lionel when he began to turn into a control freak like Frank. Simply copied him. Though it was the way to go. The only one exempt was Carrie, who really needed a firm hand. Free of his father’s dominance, and with Bryn taking over the reins at Titan, Charles isn’t under tremendous stress every second. He’s much better suited to being supportive. ’

‘Well, he has a way to go before he’ll win me over, Liz, ’ Annette said with asperity. ‘They gave you a bad time. ’

‘I know. I know. But it will never happen again! ’ Elizabeth stoutly raised her coffee cup. ‘Of that you can be sure. ’ She took a long, appreciative sip. ‘This coffee is very good. But for now, Annie, we’ve got to concentrate on helping Francey out. What d’you think? ’ She spoke briskly, having lived a long time with her friend’s reluctance to participate in most endeavours. ‘We need an answer, my girl. That means today! ’

Annette buried her small nose in her own coffee cup. Then slowly she raised her head, her flashing smile lifting ten years off her. ‘If you really want me, the answer is yes! ’

‘Let’s get Valerie back in with a bottle of champagne, ’ Elizabeth suggested, full of cheer. She’d had serious reservations about Annette committing when Francesca had first spoken to her of her intentions. They both knew Annette had been letting the days of her life drift away, with time running out. It was enormously heartening to see that beautiful, flashing smile that her son had inherited along with her midnight-dark eyes. With any luck at all, Annette was back!

It was enough to move those who loved her to tears.

Francesca lost no time contacting the highly regarded landscape designer Gordon Carstairs. Lady Macallan had suggested him, and had probably swung the deal as she’d spoken to the designer directly. Carstairs had extensive experience, having worked on large estates in the United Kingdom as well as France, Italy, Austria and Greece. His home bases were London and Sydney. He had just returned from creating from scratch a very large private garden in Sri Lanka, so Francesca was able to approach him at a period when he was blessedly free. At least for a time.

They met several times, over lunch and at the office. Carstairs, in his mid-fifties, was a fine-looking man with a striking head of pewter-grey hair. A six footer, he was very lean and strong, with great ease and a charm of manner which must have worked well with his international clients. He and Francesca got on extremely well, having similar tastes. They soon decided on a date to fly out to Daramba, so Gordon could make a detailed study of the site which, as Francesca had explained to him was ‘relatively leafless’. The date was set for the end of the month, which gave them ten days.

Francesca was right in the thick of foundation business, but she quickly found her job was made easier by having Elizabeth and Annette on board. The two women, close friends and on the same wavelength, consequently worked very well together, sometimes in tandem, depending on circumstance. Best of all, they shared a fierce commitment to Francey and an intense dedication—qualities that worked extremely well for Francey and the Forsyth Foundation. At the end of the day Elizabeth and Annette, being who they were, knew everyone who was anyone, and everyone knew them.

The big surprise was Annette. She had taken no time at all to break out of her shell. Once she had even joined Francesca and Gordon over lunch, blossoming in their company and asking Gordon a good many pertinent questions. She had been far more animated than Francesca had ever seen her. Indeed, although Francesca had made no comment to anyone, including Bryn, it seemed to her that Annette and Gordon had not only clicked, they had been instantly attracted to each other.

Annette had mourned her late husband for many years. Without a word being spoken, society had accepted that Annette Macallan would never remarry. No one could take her husband’s place. No one had the temerity to try. It was as though she had died with him. All over! Such a waste! Her meeting with Gordon Carstairs had opened up a whole new frontier. Gordon was free. An early marriage had failed—with no children—although he told them he was still good friends with his ex-wife, who had since remarried.

Much, much too early to say, but Francesca had her hopes. Life flowed on like a river. Time now for Annette to be happy again.

Early evening, when the deep blue sky was lightening to mauve, Bryn let himself in to Francesca’s apartment. He had his own key. Although he spoke to her on a daily basis, and again last thing at night, it wasn’t enough since their weekend at Daramba.

As Titan’s new CEO—it had caused scarcely a ripple on the stock market and in the business world—he had begun initiating many changes, holding meeting after meeting. Not all of them had gone smoothly. But he had fully expected that. He was still explaining to the new people he had put in place precisely what he wanted. It was a hands-on affair, an all out effort, so he could be sure his new policies would not only be thoroughly understood, but implemented a. s. a. p. There never seemed to be enough time.

He was also part—‘an important part’, as the Premier of the State had stressed—of a trade delegation leaving for China in two days’ time. China was their major trading partner. He only wished that like his country’s Prime Minister he was fluent in Mandarin.

He had a romantic evening planned. A very special night! They weren’t going out to dinner. Both of them wanted to stay at home. Francey had assured him she was already stocked up. Not that he cared so much about dinner. It was Francey he was hungry for. Every minute they spent with each other was precious. They didn’t want anyone else around.

He put his attaché case down, shrugged out of his jacket, then walked to the drinks trolley, thinking he would have a Scotch on the rocks while he was waiting. Francey had promised him she would be home by seven. He couldn’t wait to see her. Her beauty, her intelligence, her emotional capacity overwhelmed him. It was the sweetest, sweetest pain just thinking about her when they were apart.

High time they were at the very least engaged. Maybe six months on they could set a wedding date. He loved her to the point where he couldn’t do without her. He wanted her always there, at his side. He and Francesca made quite a pair. He and his grandmother were enormously grateful to her for the way she had coaxed his mother onto her team. It had been a huge coup. He hadn’t seen his mother so whole heartedly involved in life since before his father had died. Not only had she become entirely ‘with it’, she had updated every aspect of her appearance. Always beautiful and quietly elegant, her new and more youthful image was drawing a lot of positive attention.

‘Annette has come back to us! ’ his grandmother had said. ‘And who do we thank but our little Francey? ’

Francesca took a phone call from Carina a bare ten minutes before she wanted to leave the building. It had come as a puzzlement to her, the way Carina had turned virtually overnight into the sort of cousin she had always wanted. They had only met up once or twice since their grandfather’s death, and then only for coffee—Francesca had too many demands on her time—but Carina had dropped her hard brilliance in favour of a much softer, more affectionate approach. She rang at least once a week—‘just keeping in touch! ’—even going so far as to say she was okay with the fact her mother and Annette Macallan were now working for the Forsyth Foundation.

‘A little bird tells me Annette has taken a shine to the landscaper Gordon Carstairs, ’ she announced now, as though imparting a secret pleasing to them both. ‘That’s lovely. I know how much Annette adored her husband, but let’s face it, life goes on. She’s still only young. What? Fifty? She deserves some happiness. ’

She did indeed, thought Francesca, but there was something not right about Carrie’s saying it. Carrie had been quite scathing about Annette and her withdrawal from life in the past. ‘It’s hardly gone as far as that, Carrie, ’ she answered, brushing Gordon aside. But all in a good cause. ‘You’re remarkably well informed. ’

Carina gave a laugh as sharp as a piece of broken glass. ‘For goodness’ sake, Francey, everyone knows Mum and Annette are working for you. As for Carstairs—who, incidentally, is quite a hunk for his age—friends of mine were seated at a table not far from the three of you in a restaurant. ’

‘What restaurant? ’

‘Gosh, I dunno. One of the top. It’s hard to keep secrets, pet. Everyone knows what’s going on. What I particularly wanted to ask you is, when next you go to Daramba could I please come too? I’d love to meet Gordon. I’ve been thinking we need a really first-class landscaper at the house. Dad doesn’t care what changes I make. I suppose you know he’s trying to win Mum back? ’

Francesca swallowed. Carrie at Daramba? ‘And how do you feel about that—seeing you haven’t contacted your mother? ’ She played for time.

Carina’s soft chuckle came over the wires. ‘You know I want to. But, look—it ain’t easy. As for Mum and Dad getting back together again—I’d be thrilled. ’

‘Nice if you’d ring and tell her that, ’ Francesca said. ‘As for their getting back together, that’s up to Liz. ’

‘Absolutely! ’ Carina confirmed. ‘Now, about Daramba? ’

Francesca sat back in her chair, half horrified by the request. ‘Carrie, I don’t—’

‘Please! ’ her cousin interrupted. ‘I don’t ask for much. Besides, it will do us both good to spend time together. ’

‘I’ll get back to you, ’ Francesca promised at last. ‘But for now I must fly. ’

‘Bye-bye, then, ’ Carina carolled breezily. ‘It must be time for you to walk out the door. You know what they say. All work and no play…Dinner at home with Bryn this evening? ’

It was very difficult to get a handle on this new and yet familiar Carina. How did she know so much? Or was she simply fishing? On the other hand, it could all be true. Carina had simply turned into a better person. ‘No plans as yet, Carrie. ’

‘Give him my love. And wish him a safe trip from me. Bryn is a wonderful ambassador for this country, ’ she said warmly, with no trace whatsoever of lingering bitter resentment. ‘No wonder you look to him for everything. ’ There was a pregnant pause, as if Carina was expecting a prompt response. None was forthcoming. ‘Lovely to talk to you, Francey, ’ she said into the void. ‘And thanks for everything. For being so understanding. I know my behaviour has caused you a lot of grief. But that’s all over now. First cousins are meant by the very nature of things to be close. Don’t forget, now. Give me a ring. I feel so much better about our relationship these days, don’t you? ’

Francesca tried desperately to inject an answering warmth into her voice. ‘I always wanted us to be the best of friends, Carrie, ’ she said. Lord knew it was true. But what would it take? She had glimpsed their grandfather in Carrie once too often. These present overtures could be nothing more than Carina’s sugar-coated controlling mechanisms. Uncertain in her judgement, Francesca eased back. Surely Carina deserved a second chance? ‘Bye, now, Carrie, ’ she said gently. ‘Take care. ’

Carefully she put the receiver down, breaking the connection. The truth was—and she couldn’t suppress it—she didn’t want Carina on Daramba. Especially not when Annette and Gordon were there. She wanted harmony, not trouble. She knew both Annette and Carina’s own mother, Elizabeth, were convinced Carina was merely playing games.

‘Happy families! ’ Elizabeth had remarked, with considerable irony.

It was something of a dilemma. If Carina really had undergone a miraculous sea change wouldn’t she be bitterly insulted, perhaps irrevocably, if she were denied an invitation to Daramba? After all it was the flagship of the Forsyth pastoral empire, and Carina was very much a Forsyth. It was quite possible Carina genuinely intended to bring a top-class landscaper in, to create a more beautiful and softening environment for the Forsyth mausoleum.

If she said yes to Carina there could be no going back on it. Saying no would be the truly difficult part. She and Carina were of the same blood.

Only blood had been let.

She was no sooner in the door, calling jubilantly, ‘I’m home! ’ when Bryn appeared—so vivid, so remarkable. In his presence her energies were recharged.

‘It’s marvellous to see you! ’

She laughed. ‘How long has it been since I’ve seen you? ’

‘Getting on for fifty-eight hours too long, ’ he replied, drawing her with an electrifying desire into his arms. ‘And, God, how I’ve missed you! Every second of the day, and worse at night! ’ Black eyes tender but turbulent, he thrust his strong hand into her lustrous hair as he positioned her face at exactly the right angle for his passionate, welcoming kiss.

Predictably, it turned into kiss…after kiss…after kiss…

Delicate, tantalising little nips and nuzzles, starving little exhalations, in between open-mouthed expressions of the deepest desire, rapidly passing to a tension that built so mercilessly high that kissing was nowhere near enough. They wanted to go to bed. Each was bent on seeking the ultimate physical contact, yearning bodies fused, limbs entwined. Consummation was sublime—especially when they had been deprived of each other for even a short time.

‘I understand that, ’ she whispered.

Neither of them spoke again as he began removing her structured black jacket with its nipped-in waist, turning away briefly to place it over the back of one of the antique Regency chairs that stood on either side of the console. That done, he began slowly unbuttoning her silk blouse. The front was ruched, the colour an exquisite teal-blue. Francesca’s every last barricade was long since demolished. Bryn had held up a mirror to her own beauty; to its softness, voluptuousness and, for him, its utter desirability. When they made love, which was every time they came together, they did so with a flawless intensity—as if each was desperate to find out what lay behind the flesh of the other. It was truly as though they both sought to be one.

He broke off nuzzling the swan curve of her neck. ‘Dinner can wait? ’

She thought she murmured, ‘Yes! ’ But she couldn’t be sure, her emotions were so extravagantly unbridled.

‘I’ll take that as a yes. ’ He laughed deep in his throat, a man at peace, but his hands on her were urgent.

Finally she stood naked, as slender as a water reed, her feverish blood colouring her olive skin pink.

‘At last we’re alone! ’ he groaned. ‘The more I get of you, the more I want! ’

‘It’s the same with me. ’ The profound truth.

‘Wonderful! ’ He hugged her warm body to him, his hand pressed against the smooth curve of her lower back. ‘Communion like we have, Francey, comes rarely. ’

A stab of fear touched her heart. ‘Bryn, no—hush! ’ She stopped him by placing a warning finger against his lips. ‘Is it possible to love too much? It could attract the attention of jealous gods. ’ That flicker of fear—the fear of loss—showed in her beautiful eyes.

‘Then we have to draw a magic circle around us, ’ he answered, wrapping his arms fiercely around her. ‘When you go to Daramba at the weekend speak to Jili. She’s right up there with the magic potions and spells. Whatever the past, Francey, and our personal tragedies, we have to leave them behind and face the future with confidence. From now on I’ll always be by your side. ’

Dinner had been forgotten. They lay quietly in bed, in thrall with one another, only the faint echoes of their impassioned moans left inside the room. All energy was spent, so overwhelming had been their lovemaking. Bryn lay on his back, one arm behind his dark head, and Francesca spooned into him, her heartbeat striking into his side, one arm flung across his naked chest, one foot hooked around his ankle.

‘You’re the most wonderful lover in the entire universe! ’ she gasped, her fingers working the hair on his chest into tiny curls. ‘That was ravishing! ’

‘You’re ravishing, ’ he replied, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. Conversation was out of the question. They were still floating in the aftermath of sexual bliss. After a few more minutes of drifting, Bryn suddenly said, ‘By the way, I’ve got something for you. ’

‘You’ve always got something for me. ’ She smiled. Flowers, jewellery, a beautiful piece of Chinese porcelain to add to her collection…

‘You haven’t asked what it is. ’ He slid out of the tangle of sheets, a living sculpture, his naked body lightly sheened with sweat, little scratches from her long nails showing faintly red against the gilded bronze of his flesh. She had never in her life scratched a man before Bryn.

‘Show me, ’ she invited, luxuriously stretching her legs and curling her toes. With the way they made love, she had inevitably began thinking about the children they would have in, say, a year or so. The power they had to make new life she found sacred. So tragically deprived of her parents, and at such an early age, she had the most intense desire to have a family of her own. Bryn’s child, her child—their kids. Beautiful children, to reinforce their great love. Her path in life that had once been littered with pain and confusion was now clear. No more dead ends. No more dark alleys. Home was Bryn.

He was saying something. What?

‘I have every intention of showing you. First I’ll find my robe. I need to look my best. ’

‘You look your best now! ’ Her laugh rippled. She was in awe of his superb physique. ‘Your robe is behind the bathroom door, where you left it. ’ She pushed another pillow behind her head. What was it this time? It didn’t matter. It could be a cone shell off the beach. She would still love it.

He was back within a minute, wearing the dark red robe that made such a splash of colour against his darkly tanned skin, and carrying a tiny box in his hand.

She sat up quickly, saying tremulously, ‘Bryn? ’

‘You never suspected? ’

‘No. ’

‘I don’t believe you. ’ He sat down on the bed beside her.

‘It’s true. ’ She felt such a rush of excitement it was hard to stop her voice trembling.

‘You are going to marry me? ’ His dark eyes swept her lovely face, seeing her sudden agitation.

‘Oh, yes—yes, please. ’ She articulated it as though reciting a vow. ‘I adore you. ’

‘Then we have to get engaged first—don’t you agree? ’ he asked quietly.

‘Oh, Bryn! ’ She tossed her long hair, damp at the temples, from her face, so it cascaded down her bare back. Just as she was thinking herself strong and secure she experienced a tiny frisson of fear about the timing. She had endured too many years of Carina’s conditioning to throw off her cousin’s influence overnight. Despite Carina’s apparent coming to terms with their new lives and status, she felt thoroughly unnerved by the prospect that Carina mightn’t be able to handle the fact of an engagement between her and Bryn so soon! Not that Bryn wouldn’t be there for her—her rock in life.

‘I thought we were going to wait a while? ’

‘Unacceptable. I live and breathe you. ’

Such knowledge was thrilling, yet it scared her a little. Certain people were destined for loss. One saw it all the time.

Bryn touched a finger to the beating pulse in her throat. ‘You’re too tender-hearted for you own good, Francey. You’re thinking of how Carina will react? ’

She looked away. She couldn’t hide a thing from him. He knew her too well.

‘No, look at me, ’ Bryn said, and made sure of it by placing his hand firmly around her chin. ‘You feel sorry for her? ’

‘Of course I do. ’ Her iridescent eyes pleaded with him for understanding. ‘She is my cousin. She’s been reared to believe in her divine right to have everything she wants. ’

‘And you’re convinced she wants me? ’ He gave a slight and dangerous smile.

‘You know she does. When it comes to you she’s a bit deranged. All this current stuff, the way she goes on, is false. At least I think it’s false. ’

‘Francey, you have to make up your mind. While Carrie has been supposedly so hotly desirous of me she’s been living a downright promiscuous life. And she’s been quite vocal about it. ’

‘Just distractions! ’ Francesca wrote her cousin’s multiple short lived affairs off. ‘Trying to make you jealous. I don’t know. Who knows Carrie? Not even her mother. ’ Colour swept into her cheeks. ‘I love you, Bryn. God knows, I love you. I want to announce our engagement too. ’

‘You think this is a ring? ’

‘Isn’t it? ’ Her eyes went wide.

‘Of course it is! ’ He dropped a chastening kiss on her mouth. ‘Why don’t you have a look? ’

‘You’re angry with me, ’ she said.

‘Not yet. ’ But his look was very direct. ‘Open the box, Francey. I love you. I’ve always loved you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to be the mother of our children. But I’m damned if I’m going to let Carina into our magic circle. If she could, Carina would deny you any chance at happiness. She has wanted nothing more than that since she was a child. Not even me. Surely to God you’ve come to that realisation? ’

‘Yes, I have. But it’s still a bit new. She’s so clever. I was starting to think maybe she really wanted us to be friends. ’

‘Then you’d better think again, ’ Bryn said, his voice bonedry.

‘All I want to think of is you and me. ’

‘That’s my girl! ’ he said with open exultation.

Her heart contracted at the sight of the diamond engagement ring that sat so proudly inside the silk-lined box. It was glorious! A great ring for a great occasion! The glittering central stone was a flawless white, its brilliance offset by a garland of precious Arygle pink diamonds from their own Western Australia mines in the fabled Kimberley region. Argyle was the world’s major source of rare pink diamonds, and this ring’s masterly designer had used them to the utmost effect.

‘Well? ’ he asked tenderly, sympathetic to the pile-up of emotions that had to some extent wounded her psyche.

She stared into his dynamic face, half in shadow, half in gilded light. ‘I couldn’t have wished for a more perfect ring. I love it. I love you! ’

‘I was aware of that, my darling, ’ he said gently. ‘But hang on! ’ Swiftly, he rose. ‘This calls for a toast. This calls for champagne. ’

‘It does. ’ She went to get out of bed to join him.

‘No, stay there. ’ He held up a hand. ‘I want you in bed. I’ll be back in a moment. ’

He returned with a bottle of champagne and two crystal flutes. He put the flutes down gently, then grasped the base of the bottle with one hand, the other stripping away the foil. ‘Now, this is a trick of mine, Francey. Watch carefully. I won’t lose a drop. ’ With his thumb he dislodged the cork and it flew away, landing safely on the carpet.

‘Bravo! ’ She clapped her hands. ‘I’m impressed. ’

‘I have other skills. ’

‘I know! ’ She blushed deeply all over her body.

They sipped their champagne slowly, observing one another with elated and loving eyes. Bryn had already slipped the ring down over her slender finger, where it sat perfectly.

‘It may be that you don’t want to wear your ring openly until I get back from China, ’ he said, correctly gauging her transparent expression. ‘I understand you want me with you when we announce our engagement. ’

‘I do. ’

‘Okay. ’ He lifted her hand and kissed it, turning it to press his mouth to the inner tracery of blue veins. ‘Let it dwell between your breasts, ’ he said, and bent to kiss that scented spot. ‘But when I get back we make the announcement—agreed? ’

‘Yes, ’ she breathed softly, holding up her left hand to the light. ‘This is something I could only dream about. ’

‘No dream, my darling. ’ His sense of purpose and determination showed itself in his voice and the glitter of his eyes. ‘Drink up, ’ he urged. ‘I want to make love to you all over again. ’

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