Kingfisher Morning

'Did she?' Tracy was surprised. 'What did she say about me in her letter? Did she say how good I was at cooking?'

Fanny tactfully assured her that Emma had praised her cooking to the skies. Remembering that she had described with gusto the morning when Tracy made concrete porridge, Emma was grateful for Fanny's tact and warm-heartedness.

Robin and Donna, abandoning their gardening without a backward glance, followed into the cottage. Fanny apparently had the same charms for them as she did for Tracy. A new, enchanting face was a big draw when one spent such a quiet life. The children loved to meet new people, talk to visitors.

Guy watched them, smiling. Emma looked up at him, remembering things she had, astonishingly, forgotten about him—that little bump in his nose which he had acquired during a rugger game; the smile in his blue eyes, his curly fair hair and firm chin. Once these things had made her feel weak at the knees. Now she was puzzled. Why had she ever thought she loved him? He was nice, indeed he was charming, but he lacked Ross's strength, the toughness of mind which made Ross such a force to be reckoned with.

Guy turned and looked down at her. 'You look very well yourself,' he said, surveying her.

She laughed. She was wearing old muddy jeans, Wellington boots and a thick sweater, which she kept especially for gardening since it had shrunk slightly in the washing process and was no longer exactly high fashion. 'I look a mess! If I'd known you were coming…'

'We wanted to surprise you. Fanny had a few days free, so we thought we'd take a quick trip down here, see you and enjoy some country air at the same time.'

'Where are you staying?' she asked, leaning on her fork.

'Dorchester. Attractive little town, isn't it?'

'You must visit Hardy's birthplace,' she told him.

'We did—on the way here,' he smiled. 'Briefly! Fanny isn't one for prolonged sightseeing.'

Emma laughed, 'Don't I know it! Fanny's favourite occupation has always been sitting in front of a television eating toffees. We were always opposites in that respect. I like to get involved. Fanny likes to watch.'

'She comes to watch me playing rugger every Saturday,' Guy told her grinning. 'She looks like a teddy bear, wrapped up in about fifty thick woolly scarves, with a knitted bobble hat on top of her head and big furry boots…' He looked proud. 'The team have adopted her as a mascot. They'll miss her when we leave for Canada. They reckon she brings them luck.'

'You certainly had some luck getting Fanny,' Emma told him, smiling. 'She's a wonderful girl. I love her very dearly, and I hope you'll both be happy for ever.'

Guy took her by the shoulders, his face lit up with joy and certainty. 'Don't you worry about Fanny, I'll always do everything I can to keep her as happy as she is now. I know I'm the luckiest man on earth. My father can't stop telling me so. He thinks Fanny is as close to a fairy princess as I'm likely to get! He can't understand why she's marrying me!' He laughed, bending to kiss Emma's cheek. 'Nor can I!'

Emma hugged him. 'She loves you, that's obvious. And I think you're a perfect match, you complement each other beautifully.'

'What a wonderful girl you are, Emma,' Guy burst out, in gratitude, his voice raised joyfully. He kissed her again, on the lips, briefly. 'How can I ever thank you enough for forgiving me? I came between you, yet you're so wonderfully kind and forgiving…'

'It was only what was to be expected,' she pointed out. 'These things happen. I'm glad, really glad… honestly! It's going to be wonderful.'

'You can say that again,' he breathed emphatically. 'From now on everything is going to be fantastic!'

They both laughed, then to bring them back to normal life Emma said gently, 'Why not go in and let the children show you around? I'll be with you all in a minute, when I've disposed of my tools and cleaned myself up a little!'

'Fine,' he said, and wandered off obediently, while Emma turned to gather up her tools. She knocked the mud off them, counted them carefully. She did not want one out to rust, as had happened before when the children left a trowel out.

Turning to go to the garden shed, she found herself facing Ross. He was leaning over the garden gate, a dark look on his face. What was wrong with him? she wondered.

'Hello! You're back early.' She smiled, hoping to drive away the anger from his face.

'Too early, apparently,' he snapped.

She frowned. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'How long has Romeo been here?' he demanded, coming into the garden and banging the gate behind him so hard that it flew open again.

'Romeo?' For a moment her mind was blank, then she laughed. 'Do you mean Guy?'

'Guy!' He repeated the name with a stinging sarcasm in his voice. 'Who else?'

'The most marvellous thing has happened,' she said eagerly, hoping to make him smile. 'You'll never guess!'

'Let me try,' he drawled unpleasantly. 'All is suddenly sweetness and light between you! What did he say…you're such a wonderful girl, Emma, so sweet and forgiving…' He imitated Guy's voice, emphasising it to the point of sickening over-enthusiasm. His face expressed disgust. 'My God! I could have been sick on the spot. How any sane, intelligent human being could listen to such drivel, believe such humbug…'