THE RELUCTANT BRIDE (11 page)

Rod's
face darkened. “For heaven's sake, Gabriella -”

“
Perhaps
you should take a little time to discuss this between yourselves,”
Mr Brewster cut in. “It is an expensive property to maintain,
but I can understand Miss Stevens' natural desire to return to her
old home.”

She
had forgotten that Mr Brewster had handled Ben's purchase of White
Gables all those years ago. Well, Rod was bound to find out sometime.
And what did it matter? She felt his gaze on her and shrugged her
indifference.

“
Mr
Brewster's right,” he said at last, his voice giving nothing
away. “Let's leave it for now and get on with the more
important details.”

But
in the car he returned to the subject.

“
You
constantly surprise me, Gabriella. Why didn't you tell me about the
house?”

She
shrugged. “What difference would it have made?”

“
Possibly
a great deal. Is that why you finally agreed to marry me?”

She
shrugged again. “Partly.”

“
And
your mother? The operation?”

“
She's
been waiting two years. I know it doesn't sound a lot of money
nowadays but there just wasn't anything to spare – and she
refused point blank to let me borrow.”

“
Ben
would have helped.”

She
lifted her chin. “I don't like asking favours. And Ben had
already done a great deal for me, giving me a job, paying for
training.”

Rod
withdrew the key from the ignition. “Got any appointments this
morning?”

“
No.”

“
Let's
play hookey, then. There's a coffee shop across the road.”

It
was too early for the mid-morning invasion of shoppers and they found
a quiet table by the window. Rod ordered cream cakes with their
coffee.

“
Bad
for you,” she said.

He
laughed. “I'm afraid I give in to my sweet tooth now and then.”

She
watched as he bit into an eclair, his teeth white against the dark
chocolate, and licked the cream from his fingers. He ate as he did so
many things, with obvious enjoyment. She chose a slice of lemon
gateau and nibbled at it, thinking that it still felt strange to be
with Rod outside the purposeful environment of Englands but relaxing
despite herself.

Rod
poured more coffee for them both.

“
I
haven't been here before,” she said. “Nice décor.”

He
glanced around him. “French Provencal.”

“
You're
interested in interior design?”

“
Amongst
other things. Are you?”

“
I
suppose so. Although I haven't had much opportunity to exercise my
taste lately.”

“
No,
I see that. Gabriella, I hadn't realised you were short of money.”

“
There
was no reason why you should.”

Absently
he reached for another cream cake and slid it around his plate.
“Look, I owe you an apology and I'd like to make it now. It's
obvious that I misjudged you.”

“
Really?”
But I didn't misjudge you, Rod Nicholson. You're still a bastard,
even if you have had the decency to admit for once that you were
wrong! “I suppose it was natural enough in the circumstances.”

“
If
there's anything I can do to help – if you'd like me to find a
good hospital for your mother -?”

She
glanced across the table. He had that tender look in his eyes again.
Well, she knew how much that meant. “Rod, I've managed my own
life – and my mother's – for several years. I'm perfectly
able to cope, and quite honestly I'd prefer that you didn't
interfere.” She didn't look at him again but she could hear the
coldness in his voice when he replied.

“
Very
well, Gabriella, but I assume you'll want your mother to live with us
at White Gables and you can't get away from the fact that, however it
comes about, she's going to be my mother-in-law for the next five
years. I think you'll find that I can't avoid interfering as you call
it. Besides, I liked her. And I think she liked me.”

“
My
mother is a romantic. She believes handsome men are handsome through
and through.”

He
smiled without humour. “And you believe just the opposite.”

“
In
your case, perhaps.”

“
We'd
better go.” He caught the waitress's eye and gestured for a
bill. “I assume you'll allow a dyed-in-the-wool reprobate to
pay for your coffee and cake?”

“
I'll
pay for my own.”

“
Don't
be silly.” Pulling a £20 note from his wallet he slapped
it down on top of the bill. “I wasn't wrong about one thing,
Gabriella. You've no sense of humour!”

She
stared pointedly out of the window as they drove back to Englands. It
was a fine day with a hint of strength in the sum, and the people on
the pavements registered the beginning of Spring with a lightness of
step and smiling faces. Her own face felt stiff and tense.

Rod
did not speak until they drove into the firm's car park. “I
assume you still want to go through with it?”

“
Of
course. I gave my word.”

“
And
your fiance? What will you tell him?”

“
That's
my problem. I'm seeing him tonight. By the way, my mother ...”
She paused, an unwanted embarrassment creeping over her.

“
Yes?”

“
Well,
she believes our relationship is genuine.”

“
I
won't do anything to disillusion her.”

“
I
had to promise her – that we'd have a white wedding. With all
the frills.”

For
a long moment Rod stared at her and then he threw back his head and
laughed until the tears came.

“
Oh
Gabriella,” he said at last, wiping his eyes. “I'm sorry,
but somehow I find that terribly funny. Naturally,” he added,
laughing again at the sight of her enraged face, “I don't
expect
you
to
be amused!”

Amanda,
the office junior, was seated at Jenny's desk when Gabriella reached
her office. She looked up, her spiky little face apprehensive.

“
Jenny
came in but she had to go home again,” she said. “She was
sick in the cloakroom.”

“
Oh
dear. I'll phone her later. I hope it's nothing serious.”

“
She
thinks it was the shrimps last night. They had take-away Chinese and
she's allergic to shellfish but she didn't realise they were in the
sweet-and-sour until too late. Her friend finished them but Jenny
said even one's enough to start her off. She was really bad, Miss
Stevens, Sue Landon drove her home, with a bowl from the kitchen, and
she said she'd try to come in tomorrow. Jenny, I mean, but I'm to
help you today.”

Gabriella
sighed. “All right, Amanda, but I'm afraid there's quite a lot
to do. I gave Jenny a long report yesterday that's rather urgent.
It's already keyed in but there are a lot of amendments to be made.
Do you think you can get on with it?”

“
I
put your flowers in water. They're lovely, aren't they?”

“
Thank
you, Amanda. Now about this report.”

The
apprehension in Amanda's face deepened. “I've already started
-”

“
Good
girl.”

“
But
– I think it's disappeared. I only pressed -”

Gabriella
closed her eyes. Amanda was willing but inexperienced and apt to
panic. “Let's have a look. Perhaps we can find it again.”

She
was able to retrieve the report and bring it up on to the screen.
“There it is. Now, let's make two copies and you can work on
one of them. Then you needn't worry about losing the original again,”
she said, patting the young girl's shoulder. “Just remember to
save each page as you finish it.”

“
Yes,
Miss Stevens.” Amanda looked up at her, her face wreathed in
devotion. “Miss Stevens?”