She got up slowly and went to find him.
He was standing on the jetty staring out over the dark waters and the rhythmically flashing green lights of the Aldershots channel.
She hesitated, then went up to him and slipped her arm around his waist. ‘Max—’ her voice was husky and a little uncertain but she persevered ‘—is there anything I could do to help? I know how you must be feeling.’
She felt him stiffen in surprise, then he put his arm round her shoulders. ‘I can’t thank you enough for that, Alex,’ he said, ‘but no. It wouldn’t do anything for you and we’re in this together. I can wait.’ He dropped a light kiss on her hair.
And even after he was able to cope without the brace and he was pronounced back to normal and was experiencing no more back pain, and there were still two weeks to go the wedding, he was content to wait.
‘Has it occurred to you we might be the most old-fashioned couple around, Alex?’ he said.
‘Yes.’
‘Are you happy about that?’
She looked into his dark blue eyes. ‘Yes,’ she said honestly. ‘I’ve loved our engagement. I’ve loved really getting to know you. I’m not saying I wouldn’t love to go to bed with you, but—it will be something very special when it’s on our wedding night.’
‘So be it.’
Finally, the day dawned.
Once again the Tuscan villa was the venue and it went through another of its amazing transformations.
The theme colour was ecru and the soft sage-green of wattle leaves dotted with tiny yellow powder-puff flowers filled the standard vases and transformed the terrace into a bower.
The cake was three-tiered and decorated with icing wattle leaves and flowers.
The bride wore a long, slim, strapless white dress with a filmy overdress exquisitely self-embroidered. Her veil was antique lace and had been handed down to Goodwin brides from Max’s grandmother, the daughter of the Italian count.
The old lady was present at the wedding. Alex had already met her, and been told not to delay starting a family because the younger you were, the better it was!
Mrs Mills was there, as well as Jake and Stan, all having been relieved of their usual duties. Margaret was there, beaming with happiness. Simon had brought his wife, Rosanna, but left his three-week-old twin sons with his in-laws. He still looked stunned by the news of Alex’s marriage. Even Mr Li was there, along with many distinguished guests.
Patti was there and she’d brought Josie. Alex had given her the little dog, although with a lump in her throat. But Patti had been almost tearfully grateful, since, as she’d said, she was losing Alex.
Cathy and Nicky were there.
Only family and closest friends and staff had attended the church service, which had been deeply moving.
Alex had been attended by Olivia’s son and daughter, and Nicky, and she’d entered the church on Sir Michael’s arm. She’d never forget, she knew, the moment when Max had turned and seen her walking down the aisle towards him, never forget the slightly stunned look in his eyes.
Nor would she forget the moment when he’d put back her veil and she’d seen so much love in his blue eyes in the moment before he’d bent his head to kiss her.
And many guests, Olivia, Mrs Mills, Margaret and Patti quite openly, had been dabbing their eyes as they’d walked down the aisle as man and wife.
The reception passed in something of a blur with cutting the cake, throwing her bouquet being amongst the highlights, and everyone agreeing it was a lovely, lovely wedding.
They spent their wedding night in the penthouse; they were due to fly out on an extended honeymoon the next morning.
They were lying side by side on a sumptuous bed in the master bedroom, all cream on the colour of rose gold.
They’d behaved with conspicuous decorum on the trip up from the Coast in the Bentley—after they’d stopped to brush off most of the rose petals and confetti that had been thrown over the car as they’d driven off.
They’d taken the lift and not said a word to each other as they’d ascended to the thirty-fifth floor. They’d stepped into the foyer, looked into each other’s eyes for a long, burning moment, and decorum had fled from them.
Alex stirred on the bed, and smiled.
‘What, my love?’ he enquired, and drew his fingers down her slim, sated body.