The Seduction Scheme

EPILOGUE

RACHEL tucked the light sheet over the chubby limbs of the sleeping baby.

‘Is he off?’

Rachel leant back into the strong arms that encircled her. ‘At last,’ she confirmed. ‘Turn on the baby alarm, will you, Ben? It went well, didn’t it?’ she said happily as he returned to her side.

He looked down proudly into his wife’s face and nodded. She’d worked incredibly hard organising the christening of their first son and she’d still managed to look good enough to eat all day—and all day he’d been wanting to do just that.

‘Isn’t it about time you put your feet up? The others are on the veranda knocking back the left-over bubbly. That baby’s had enough toasts today to last him clear through till his eighteenth birthday.’ He smiled at the small figure of his sleeping son.

‘I’ll just…’

‘No way,’ he said, hooking his arm around her trim waist. ‘I’ve already looked in on Charlie and she’s flat out.’

‘Is it time to worry when you start answering my questions before I’ve asked them?’ she asked, giving one last peek at the sleeping baby before closing the door quietly behind them. Things were good with Charlie right now. She’d got her pony. They were just gritting their collective teeth and waiting for the dreaded teenage hormones which were almost upon them.

‘Don’t worry, you can still surprise me. Last night for instance…’ He let out a soundless whistle.

‘Shh!’ she said warningly. She reached up and pressed her finger to his lips. ‘Someone might be listening.’

He nibbled the finger before saying reflectively, ‘That didn’t seem to bother you last night.’

‘Ben!’ she remonstrated, trying to sound angry, but the grin kept peeping out.

She smiled a lot these days. Life wasn’t one long party by any means. Ben worked long hours. She could understand his fascination with this land now, and shared it to some degree. Her real passion was reserved for this man who was as complex and demanding as this wild country. Getting to know both better was a rewarding, deeply fulfilling experience. Seeing how much he loved it here made her appreciate how great a sacrifice it would have been for him to stay in London—a sacrifice he’d been prepared to make for her!

They strolled in companionable silence outside to the veranda. The warm night air was soft on her bare arms. Rachel glanced upwards; she didn’t think she’d ever take this marvellous night sky for granted.

‘So Ruth knew as soon as she heard the name that Rachel was the girl,’ they heard Tom Arden say. He was wiping tears of laughter from his face.

‘So did most of the legal fraternity in the city,’ his wife’s soft voice explained.

‘So you went to school with this woman who was actually in there when he…?’ Natalie asked, her eyes sparkling.

‘Did you hear William?’ Benedict asked his wife softly. ‘I’m sure I…’

‘No.’ He looked extremely uncomfortable when she waved aside his interruption and leaned forward, her hands on the wooden white-painted rail. With a half smile on her lips she strained her ears to catch the punchline of a story that seemed to be amusing their guests. Between the Ardens and the Faurés, who had also come over for the christening, they had a full house.

‘Yes, I went to school with Carol.’

‘Can you imagine Ben of all people rushing into the ladies’ after a woman?’ Natalie gave a crow of laughter. ‘I’d have loved to see his face when the door opened and it wasn’t Rachel.’

Rachel turned to her husband. ‘You did that?’ Her voice alerted their guests for the first time to their presence.

‘I thought you were in there. If you laugh, so help me I’ll…’

‘I wouldn’t do that,’ she gasped. It was too much; her lips began to quiver and then her face crumpled. ‘I wish I’d been there.’

‘Me too,’ he said with feeling.

The expression on his face made her break down all over again. ‘S-sorry,’ she hiccuped.

‘He threatened to knock down the door,’ Tom added.

‘Don’t,’ Rachel pleaded, ‘it hurts.’ She clutched her aching stomach muscles.

‘So does being a figure of fun,’ her husband assured her.

‘If we’re talking pain I’ll have you know I lost a tenner to Ruth betting you weren’t about to get married. How was I to know she had insider information?’ he asked the assembled company in a disgruntled tone.

Sir Stuart Arden got to his feet carefully; he’d spent most of the day appreciating Australian wine. ‘To Rachel and Benedict. I always said she was the girl for him, didn’t I, Emily?’ He looked to his wife for support and she rolled her eyes heavenwards.