‘After so much angst, everything is turning out beautifully.’
Nick used his thumbs to wipe away the teardrops that spilled over her lower eyelids. ‘Do you think all these tears might be due to pregnancy hormones?’
‘They might be exacerbated by them but I can tell you they’re caused by a well of happiness.’ She delivered a watery smile. ‘I love you, Nick.’
‘I love you too.’
Chapter 22
‘You look every inch the radiant bride, my beautiful sister,’ Ryan said proudly.
Sarah closed her hand over his and gave it a squeeze. ‘All set to escort me down the aisle to my fabulous husband-to-be?’
‘Definitely. He’s a good man. I’m glad you gave him a chance to win your heart.’
Helen chuckled from where she was gathering up her posy of flowers and Sarah’s bouquet. ‘Next thing you know, Ryan will be taking all the credit for your romance.’
‘I did tell her to talk him into selling us Hertherington,’ Ryan asserted.
‘Huh!’ Sarah pulled a face. ‘That didn’t endear me to him and the evening ended in complete disaster.’
‘I didn’t get a chance to ask you how you managed to change his mind about giving up Hertherington,’ Helen put in. ‘From outright refusal to ending up donating it to Extend as an additional respite facility was a complete turnaround.’
‘You have Katie to thank for that.’ Sarah rested one hand on the burgeoning bump of her abdomen and accepted her bouquet from Helen with the other.
After Katie had told Nick about her feelings for Hertherington, he’d wasted no time in having his solicitors transfer the deeds over to the Extend Foundation. He admitted to Sarah that he’d been keeping the place for Katie because he’d felt it was a tie to Mandy and the family life they’d had.
‘Of course, you’re not as lucky as I am.’ Helen’s love for Ryan was in every look she sent his way.
Ryan quirked one eyebrow at his wife. ‘Even if I didn’t take you to Europe for our honeymoon?’
‘Our honeymoon was exactly as I’d hoped and dreamed it’d be,’ Helen told him.
Nick was taking Sarah to Paris for their honeymoon. Remembering how she’d told him she’d never had the chance to play tourist in the French capital he’d been determined they’d enjoy the city together.
Afterwards, they’d be moving into their own newly acquired country estate—one they’d chosen together. One where the happy memories they intended to create wouldn’t be overshadowed by the past in any way. It was their intention to fill their home with loads of love and laughter.
There was bound to be plenty of untidiness too so it was just as well Nick had confessed that he preferred a bit of disorder and mayhem to the sterility and stress of not having a thing out of place. Noise and chaos were also guaranteed because in five months time—if Sarah carried to term—there’d be three additional Hendersons in the family. The reason for Sarah’s severe morning sickness was because she was expecting triplets!
‘Are you guys ready yet?’ Katie popped her head around the corner. ‘Dad’s shuffling from one foot to another out there at the altar and although it’s kind of funny to watch—I’ve never seen him look nervous—I think he’s afraid you’ve changed your mind, Sarah.’
‘We’re coming!’
‘Thank goodness.’ Katie let out a huge sigh of relief. ‘Isabella is trying to keep Alessandro in line and he’s complaining to Aunty Olivia that Isabella’s bossy. I think they’ll have a stand up fight if you don’t get out there now.’ She shook her head. ‘Great aunt Marjorie has had to take baby Summer to change her nappy because Aunty Jenna is too occupied trying to keep Jackson from tossing all the rose petals out from the basket before you get there.’
Helen laughed. ‘Just as well you and Christiana are responsible and will be able to keep all the little ones in line.’
Clicking her tongue tip against her palate Katie widened her eyes theatrically. ‘Imagine the fun I’m going to have when I have three little baby brothers or sisters to help look after!’
‘Let’s get going so I can officially be your stepmum,’ Sarah suggested.
‘Ready to go,’ Ryan said.
‘Hang on. Not so fast!’ Jocelyn appeared at the doorway with Rose hot on her heels. ‘Designer’s prerogative to arrange your train before you walk down the aisle.’
‘I thought that was my job, Aunty Jocelyn,’ Katie complained.
Rose tried to reassure her. ‘You need to make sure the train doesn’t get stuck on anything on the way down.’
‘You look divine. I’m definitely going to launch a Sarah Henderson bridal line.’ Jocelyn gave Sarah a kiss on the cheek. ‘Now, go and make an honest man of that brother of mine and bring him all the happiness he deserves.’
‘I will, Jocelyn. You know I love him to bits.’
‘I know,’ Jocelyn said. ‘Just as well you do. Someone has to!’
Jocelyn had well and truly forgiven Sarah for not mentioning what had happened in St Petersburg and had welcomed her into the Henderson family unreservedly.
Eduardo had apologised profusely for not having believed in Sarah’s innocence and was out there in the church somewhere with Manuel, waiting to get his first glimpse of Jocelyn’s marvellous bridal gown. There’d been quite an argument between the two designers over who’d have the honour of designing the gown but Jocelyn had pulled ‘family rank’ and Eduardo had consoled himself by getting to design the outfit Sarah would wear when she left on her honeymoon.
So much for Eduardo having always proclaimed that he would never design maternity wear. The outfit was very definitely in the maternity category and quite possibly the classiest maternity outfit ever designed.
The string quartet started playing Mendelssohn’s Wedding March the moment Sarah and Ryan emerged from the small room at the front of the church and into the main entryway.
Sarah had expected she might cry all the way down the aisle and throughout the service due to the mix of her hormones and happiness. In fact, the children in the wedding party had everyone in the church trying their hardest not to laugh.
Two-and-a-half-year-old Jackson, who was supposed to throw out the rose petals in front of Sarah as she and Ryan made their way down the aisle, decided it would be much more fun to throw the entire basket of petals at Isabella.
Isabella spluttered indignantly at him, ‘You’re a naughty boy, Jackson Bennett!’
Not at all contrite, Jackson dropped to the floor and rolled around holding his stomach as he laughed uncontrollably, bringing the bridal procession to a halt. Then, as Jenna approached about to chastise him and whisk him away he put his hand to his groin and declared, ‘Mummy, I need to p—’
Jenna clapped her hand over his mouth.
Sarah looked down the aisle to where Nick was standing with Max and Luca. Their gazes locked and then they both started laughing which was obviously the sign all their friends and family in the congregation needed to join in.
Laughter echoed right through the church and to Sarah, being in the heart of such warmth and joy, was even sweeter music to her ears than the wedding march. She’d been embraced by all Nick’s family and friends leading up to today and knew everyone packed into the gorgeous stone church was wishing them well.
Ryan’s wheelchair whirred away beside her until finally they reached her wonderful groom and his two best friends just in front of the altar.
What an imposing and heart-stopping sight they all were standing there together.
But after a brief smile to Luca and Max, Sarah’s gaze welded with Nick’s and her heart flipped at the love that shone from his eyes.
‘I love you, Sarah.’
‘We’ll get to that, Nick,’ the elderly minister told him with a smile. ‘You young ones today are always in a hurry to get to the best bits.’ Then he looked pointedly at Sarah’s baby bump and joked very irreverently, ‘Case in point.’
Sarah had to bite down on her lip to try not to dissolve
into fits of the giggles, especially when Luca and Max let out hearty laughs from behind Nick.
‘Oh dear Lord, what a wedding!’ Sarah said.
‘Almost as noteworthy as your response to my proposal,’ Nick teased. ‘We’re going to have such fun together, sweetheart.’
The minister finally became solemn and began the service. ‘Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?’
‘I do.’ Ryan’s voice was strong and proud. ‘Be happy, my darling sister.’
Nick took Sarah’s hand from Ryan’s.
Sarah thrilled to Nick’s touch and she could only hope that the same depth of love she saw shining from his eyes was reflected in hers.
Christiana’s voice rang out quite clearly in a stage whisper. ‘Stop talking, Alessandro. This is a church. You know you’ve been told you mustn’t talk in church.’
Alessandro replied most indignantly, ‘But he’s talking,’ as he pointed to the minister.
This time it was Nick’s father who led the congregation in laughter while Nick’s mother covered her mouth with her hand but failed miserably at her attempt to look serious.
Nick leaned forward to whisper in Sarah’s ear, ‘Did I actually say I wanted more children?’
‘Too late now to change your mind,’ she whispered back. ‘I’m carrying three quarters of a polo team in here.’
‘God help us!’ Nick said on an exaggerated groan.
‘I repeat. Do you, Sarah Smith, take Nick Henderson to be your lawfully wedded husband?’
Sarah shot the minister a chastened look of apology. ‘Oh, I definitely do!’
She and Nick really needed to stop enjoying the occasion quite so much and to give their vows the solemnity they required. There’d be plenty of time for fun and laughter in the years ahead.
Epilogue
Eight months later
Nick groaned as he got into bed beside Sarah after taking their dog out for its evening walk. ‘What a day!’
‘Why are you saying that with a groan?’ Sarah asked. ‘It’s been an exciting day.’
They’d spent the morning at Buckingham Palace being presented to members of the royal family at a reception honouring those who were doing conservation work.
‘This morning’s excitement has been forgotten—lost entirely in a never ending cycle of nappy changing.’
‘You did insist on doing that,’ Sarah reminded him. ‘Anyway, how can you even think about nappies when you should be on a high for the recognition NOCO received today?’
‘You know what I enjoyed most about this morning?’
‘Getting to shake the hand of a beautiful princess?’
He laughed. ‘Not at all. The best thing about this morning was that you didn’t feel anxious in the crowded room.’
‘I still checked out the exits.’
‘You gave a good impression of being relaxed.’
‘You’re right, I was pretty relaxed.’ Sarah had a new trauma counsellor but she suspected the biggest difference was that she felt secure when she had Nick beside her. ‘Anyway, the queen was full of praise for you, Max and Luca for all the hard work you three guys have done and the prince complimented me on the documentary. It’s thrilling to know the organisation is going to receive a royal patronage now.’
‘It’s wonderful but how can I not think about nappies? These days I dream about nappies,’ he said with another groan. ‘I still have nightmares about the day I saw that first ultrasound.’
Sarah giggled, knowing he was fibbing because it’d been an incredible moment for both of them, even if it had been a shock. As far as she knew there was no history of multiple births in her family. ‘Rubbish! I know you love our triplets to bits.’ He was an extraordinarily proud and doting father. ‘Besides, I remember you convinced me one of the reasons we hired two nannies was to help change all those nappies, so there’s absolutely no reason to insist on changing so many yourself.’
The main reason they’d hired the nannies was because the babies had been born at thirty-five weeks by caesarean section, Sarah had needed a lot of recovery time, and Nick still had to keep his finger on the pulse of all his commercial interests.
‘I admit I enjoy being a hands-on father but at one point, I only finished changing Elise, then I had to turn around and change Archer. Five minutes after that Archer needed changing again.’
‘You have to wait for them to finish.’ Sarah laughed.
‘Yeah. Right. Anyway, then it was Henry’s turn.’ He raised his arms and planted the heels of his hands against his temples. ‘I swear they synchronise their efforts to keep me on the hop.’
‘I could say that my day seems to be an endless session of breast feeding.’ Feeding triplets was no easy task and it seemed to Sarah that she was eating mountains of food every day to keep up with her trio.
‘Hmm.’ He leaned towards her and ran a palm over one of her breasts. ‘I’ll be pleased when I can claim them back.’
She swatted his hand away. ‘Don’t or I’m likely to have a milk let down.’
‘I’m sure one of our three will start howling hungrily any second and happily make use of it.’
Sarah sighed with contentment. ‘It’s madness but it’s great, isn’t it? We’re happy, Katie totally adores her baby brothers and sister and everything is fabulous.’ Each of the babies had their own little personality developing already.
Nick leaned across the bed to kiss her. ‘Yes, they’re all very cute, but not as cute as you are.’
‘I’m not so sure “cute” is a good adjective for me at the moment. Possibly washed out or baggy-eyed would be closer to the mark.’
‘Rubbish. You could still grace a magazine cover and I’m sure you’ll be front page news tomorrow after the royal reception today.’ The adoration in his eyes was intoxicating. ‘I’m convinced that you, Sarah Henderson, are the most gorgeous woman on this planet.’
‘And you, Nick, are the most attentive, loving husband a woman could wish for.’
‘I know,’ he teased. ‘Just don’t tell Luca or Max. I’m sure they feel they’ve got that title sewn up.’
‘All three of you are exceptional,’ Sarah said with a smile. ‘Three dynamic boardroom billionaires with babies.’
‘If only our business rivals could guess how the loves of our lives and our babies have brought us to our knees,’ he joked.
She walked her fingers down his chest. ‘I’d rather you were on your back and I was on my knees.’
Despite their fatigue, the chemistry between them continued to spark passionately. Nick had a rule in place that no matter how much time they gave their babies, he would still set aside some special time for Katie and he and Sarah would be very conscious of making time for each other. It certainly helped that they had close family and friends—and two nannies—to make the logistics of that arrangement easier.
Sarah had no doubt that her marriage to Nick would be every bit as successful as the marriages of their friends, Luca and Olivia, and Max and Jenna, and that the friendships and family bonds would continue to strengthen.
Life was good.
Life was very good.
Thanks for reading Seduced by the Billionaire. I hope you enjoyed it.
If you liked this book and haven’t read the other titles in this series, you might like to read Seduced by the Enemy and Seduced by the Stranger. I have also written the Royal Affairs Series, The Magic of Christmas and a few other contemporary romance stories for Escape Publishing.
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