The Green Hills of Home (20 page)

"Don’t lie to me John"
said Gwen angrily. "I know you didn’t want your company to take me on. I
spoke to Paul."

 "Initially that was true. I
didn’t think we could afford to support another author. I reasoned that our
resources at the company were already overstretched. However, the real
explanation was how I felt about you. I think I fell in love with you the
moment I saw you again in the Bar. I was there to help you with Demetrius
because I’d been watching you all evening. I didn’t think I was able to commit
myself to a relationship because I was giving all my time to the company. I
never considered having a one-night stand with you because I knew I’d never be
able to leave it at that. I was resolved to be strong and firmly put you out of
my mind. That’s why I didn’t ask for your number that night. I couldn’t sleep
for thinking about you and then I found that you were the new author being forced
upon me! I was so shocked that I could barely speak, let alone hold a serious
business meeting. I knew I couldn’t carry on like that and so I asked Paul to
drop you, which was incredibly thoughtless and selfish of me. In all fairness,
if I had been thinking straight at the time I never would have gone to Paul."

John turned Gwen to face him
before continuing, "I went home and read your manuscript. I was enchanted,
and despite all my reservations about working with you, I knew that I had to be
part of it; even when that meant trying to control my feelings enough to work
alongside you as closely as I did these last weeks."

"But Paul told me you didn’t
want to work with me anymore, that’s why my contract was scraped."

"He lied to cover his own
back amongst many other things. When he cancelled your contract he knew I
wouldn’t stand for it and he even ensured that none of your calls got through
to me: he gave instructions to the reception staff not to connect you to my
office. I won’t be working with Paul anymore."

 "Did they fire you?"
asked Gwen, shocked.

"No. He’d find he couldn’t
if he wanted to. You see, my father owned the company. The firm will be mine
next year."

"Pardon?"

"Black Horse Publishing was
founded and owned by my father. There was a clause in his will that insisted I
work as a regular editor at the company for five years before taking over.
Dad’s way of making sure I truly knew the business properly. That’s why I’ve
been so worried about the company: it’s not just a job; it’s my father’s legacy.

 I changed my surname to my
mother’s maiden name before I started. Dad wanted me to be treated like a
normal editor, and not be favoured because of my family; otherwise how could I
do my job properly and fulfil his request?

That’s why I work so hard and why
I always start work so early. I had to be at the office before everyone else so
I had the time and opportunity to keep a check on the company without anyone
becoming suspicious. Black Horse was everything to my father, and he left it to
me, I had to protect it until I could properly take control," explained
John.

 "Hardly anyone knew, only
the trustees of the company. Paul certainly didn’t. Technically, whilst I was
an editor, he was my superior. He assumed it was up to him to get rid of any of
my authors if he felt it was in the company’s best interest. The decision to
drop your book had absolutely nothing to do with me. As soon as I suspected
something was happening I went back to London."

"Why didn’t you tell me what
was going on?"

"I didn’t know the details
myself and I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily. I knew how much that book
deal meant to you. I tried to call and email when I’d spoken to Paul but I
couldn’t reach you."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Why would I lie? Why would
I bother to come all the way here?"

"I don’t know,"
admitted Gwen. "Why didn’t you warn me that the company was in trouble?"

"I had no idea that Paul
would decide to drop your manuscript having taken it on so recently. I’d
assumed he’d made sure that the money was available for your book, but
apparently he hadn’t. Paul was right that our publishing house doesn’t have the
funds to print and promote a new writer at the moment. He’s been clever in
wording the contracts of any authors that we take on very carefully so that the
company can get out of agreements quickly and cheaply. Most new authors are so
grateful to have a contract that they don’t check the details. In your case, he
didn’t even bother with the contract. He knew you’d trust him and you’d carry
on working on the manuscript even without contract or payment - if the company
had the money once the book was completely ready he would have sorted out your
advance and contract then – although I suspect he’d attempt to get you to agree
to less than previously arranged. He’s really not a very nice man."

"I can’t believe I’ve been
so naïve."

"It wasn’t just you; there
were several other new authors who’ve been similarly duped. Obviously if I’d
had any idea what was going on I would have stepped in and stopped it immediately.
That is not the way my company does business. However, Paul’s plan had the very
useful side-effect, for him at least, that with so many new writers being hired
the editors didn’t have a chance to look too closely at the financial matters
and follow up on anything unusual that they found."

"What’s going to happen to
Paul now?" asked Gwen.

"I’ve spoken to the trustees
and they’ve fired him, along with his assistant, Julia, who was in on it all. I
doubt that either of them will ever be able to work in the business again. I’ve
spent the last few days getting in touch with authors and trying to sort this
mess out. The only one I haven’t been able to speak to is you."

John looked at Gwen as if trying
to ascertain what she was thinking before he continued: "You’re an amazing
writer; your work deserves to be published. However, I’ll admit that I have
something of a vested interest in making sure that your work is not printed by
Black Horse."

"So you do agree with Paul’s
decision," said Gwen sadly.

"I’ve organised a better
contract for you with another publishing house. I knew they were on the look
out for exactly your sort of manuscript and they were thrilled to be offered it."

"Why would you do that?"
asked Gwen.

"It wouldn’t be right for me
to have a relationship with one of our company’s authors," said John.

"A relationship?"

"Yes, a relationship: me and
you." He took a breath, "I’ve got some other news for you which is
kind of connected to that."

"What?" asked Gwen
suspiciously.

"I know who won the auction
for your house."

"How do you know that? It
can have only just finished."

"It finished about half an
hour ago. I know because I bought it. For you. Well, for us really."

"You bought the house. For
us?" repeated Gwen incredulously.

"Yes" said John simply.

"But you can’t do that!"
cried Gwen.

"Why not?"

"Because London book editors
don’t just go around buying houses in the middle of Wales for their authors!"

"I’m not your editor anymore
and believe me, I can more than afford it."

"What makes you think that
I’d accept a house from you?"

"Gwen, I love you and I love
this house. I want to live with you here. With Oscar. And soon hopefully your
mother as well."

"My Mam? What do you mean?"

"Your mother is coming back
here to live."

"What?" said Gwen
astonished. "How?"

"I’ve spoken to Edith and to
her consultants. The necessary equipment will be arriving in a couple of weeks.
It’s all been taken care of."

"I can’t let you do this,"
replied Gwen.

"We’ll be starting
interviews tomorrow for carers to come in and help," continued John as if
he hadn’t heard Gwen’s objection.

"Carers?" said Gwen.
She was beginning to feel overwhelmed.

"Yes carers, your mother
will require a lot of help; we’ll need people regularly at the house."

"I can’t let you do this,"
repeated Gwen.

This time John replied: "Why
not?"

Gwen tried to pull away from him.
The intensity of his gaze was too much, she couldn’t think clearly.

"Because I don’t need you to
rescue me," she finally answered.

John’s dark eyes stared at Gwen
intently for a moment before he replied: "This is not about me rescuing
you. I’m rescuing myself. I didn’t always realise it but I was unhappy for a
very long time. And then I met you. I love you. I’m being selfish in buying the
house because I’m asking for something in return. Something that is far more
valuable and more important than money. I’m asking for you. For you to spend
your life with me in that house. I’m asking you to marry me."

"Marry you?"

"Yes, it turns out that I
need you. And I need Oscar. I even need this crazy, creaky house."

"Everything seems to be
moving so fast," said Gwen desperately.

"I’m sorry, but I can’t wait
any longer to start my life with you. I want to marry you, have children with
you and raise them here."

With these words Gwen began to
feel the last of her anger seep away.

"But…." she began.

And then it was as if Gwen’s mind
cleared, and the many objections she was about to blurt out just melted away.
The man she adored was standing in front of her telling her that he wanted to
spend the rest of his life with her. And he was doing it by trying to fit
himself into her life, not remove her from it. It dawned on her just how lucky
she was and she looked up, locked eyes with her love and asked him simply "When
can we get married then?"

"As soon as possible."

John took hold of Gwen with his
strong arms and pulled her to him for a kiss so tender she was left in no doubt
that his feelings for her were very real indeed.

The reunion was interrupted by
something ringing inside Gwen’s jacket pocket. She took it out and John
indicated with an amused smile that she ought to answer it.

"Hi Sarah. Is everything ok?
Can I call you back in a while?"

John waited patiently for Gwen to
finish her call.

"Great, speak to you later"
said Gwen before turning off her phone and putting it back in her pocket.

"I got a mobile," she
said sheepishly to John.

"Well I never" he said
with a grin. "Well it’ll have to do for the both of us, because I’m fed up
with this wretched thing,"  and with that he took his Blackberry out of
his pocket and threw it carelessly over his shoulder before returning to their
kiss.

About the author

'The Green Hills of Home' is
Emma's debut novel. Emma lives with her husband in Wales in a crazy house full
of many children and animals.

For more about Emma visit her
website:
www.emma-bennet.co.uk