Love & Freedom

by Sue Moorcroft

  Honor took over the washing of the salad, half-listening to Zach’s account of his internship with a global engineering concern, showing him that he had a whole lot to learn.

  From the hallway, she heard Karen say, ‘Hi there!’ as she might to a stranger.

  A deep rumble answered her and Honor’s hands stilled.

  Then Jessamine looked up through the kitchen doorway and said, ‘Whoa!’ under her breath, as Karen stepped back in, her voice the same mix of curiosity and admonishment with which she used to greet one of Honor’s new dates. ‘Honor, you have a visitor.’

  And Martyn stepped in behind her, tall and impressive in black jeans and white shirt, a holdall in his hand.

  Zach rose and so did Garvin. Martyn, usually so much the courteous Englishman, ready with his handshakes and his slow smile, didn’t take his eyes off Honor to acknowledge that there was any other person in the room.

  So everyone turned to look at Honor, standing at the sink with her cupped hands full of cold, wet lettuce.

  She heard Jessie say, ‘Aren’t you going to introduce us, Honor?’

  But her tongue had stuck to the roof of her mouth. All she could do was stand there with water dripping from her wrists and on to her bare feet and the floor, her gaze pinned helplessly to Martyn’s dark eyes. Vaguely, she heard her dad’s voice. ‘Honor? Is this someone you want to see?’

  Helplessly, she nodded. So much! She wanted to see him so much.

  After a moment, Garvin said, ‘I think maybe now’s a good time to get that barbecue fired up, Karen. But we’ll be just outside, Honor. Just outside.’

  Honor nodded again.

  And things happened; the refrigerator opened and closed, as did drawers and cupboards. Plates clattered, voices murmured and the lettuce was coaxed from her hands. Then she and Martyn were the only ones left, eyes locked across the room.

  ‘I already made him change it all back,’ she blurted. ‘Every site. You don’t have to find a way to make him do anything. You just have to change all your passwords and–’

  Surprise shot across his face. ‘But I sorted everything out the same evening. All the porn is gone and the passwords have been changed. I didn’t come for him. I came for you. It’s only taken me this long to get here because clients were furious at some of the claims about their products on my social networking sites. I had to stop off and see their press officers and Ace set up a video thing. I–’ He paused. ‘I decided to tell them I had no idea of the identity of the hacker. It seemed safest. For you.’

  A wave of heat began at her ankles and surged up her body. ‘You sorted everything out? Why, that bastard, he made me–’

  ‘What?’ Softly, as if fearing the answer.

  She gulped. ‘He made me promise that if he undid all the harm he’d done to you, I’d give our marriage another try.’

  Martyn’s face drained of all colour. She’d read the phrase in books, but she didn’t think she’d ever witnessed it close up, a face turning perfectly white. He pulled out a kitchen chair and, slowly, as if he were ill, folded into it, his holdall dropping to the floor. ‘Tell me you didn’t agree.’

  ‘Truthfully? I did agree,’ she acknowledged. ‘But then I, um … wriggled my way out of it. We’re going to get a divorce.’

  And, like flicking a switch, his normal colour flooded back to his cheeks. His eyes even began to smile. ‘What did you beat him up with?’

  She laughed, her heart lightening, as if it might actually have cause to float up from the pit of her stomach where it had languished for the past couple of days. ‘I didn’t–! OK, there was ice cream involved. And an ugly, manipulative, unfair threat. Because I’m not worried about what’s safe. I’ll give him up to the cops, if I have to.’

  He rose; came closer. Until she was looking up into his face. ‘I love the way you fight for things,’ he said. ‘But I don’t ever again want you to fight with me. I’m sorry. Sorry I left you to run down Stef on your own. I just saw what had happened and I freaked – but I shouldn’t have blamed it on Ru or you. It was anger talking and I have to learn to shut it up.

  ‘We can live here if you don’t want to live in England. Ace can get me work in New York and I’ll force my way through the red tape and get the right permits. Just don’t run away from me again, no matter how much of a fuck I turn into when I lose my temper.’ His eyes were sombre and black.

  ‘I didn’t run away,’ she protested. ‘I went after Stef, to make him undo what he’d done.’

  ‘But you weren’t coming back.’ It wasn’t a question. ‘I went into the bungalow. You didn’t leave anything to come back to.’

  She blinked as a hot tear formed at the corner of her eye. ‘I was the cause of so much trouble–’

  Suddenly, he was close enough to gather her gently up against his warm, hard body. ‘Stef caused the trouble. I knew that. I’m sorry.’ He tasted like mints as his mouth touched hers and it made her glad to imagine him coming straight off the plane, buying Life Savers at the airport as he set out to find her.

  ‘It really is over, with Stef,’ she whispered, as a flame of joy licked through her and she felt her feet leave the floor.

  ‘I’m almost disappointed not to have to fight him,’ he whispered into her hair. ‘When you’d gone, I couldn’t believe that I’d let you. I came here all fired up to kick and claw for you. I love you.’

  ‘I – I love you,’ she gulped. ‘But–’

  ‘But that’s all that matters. We can work on the details.’

  And he held her harder, as if he was ready to turn and run with her if she disagreed. She didn’t disagree.

  ‘I guess I’d better introduce you to my family,’ she breathed, eventually. ‘They must be wondering what the hell is going on.’

  ‘OK.’ He kissed her eyelids, her lips, her cheekbones and her throat.

  ‘So you’d better take your hands off my ass.’

  He touched his tongue tip to the corner of her mouth. His hands stayed put as he began to carry her. ‘Where are we going?’ she gasped, as they moved smoothly over the floorboards, past the coatstand, past the bureau. Not outdoors, where her family were no doubt waiting.

  ‘Upstairs. Which is your room?’

  Her breath left her in a giant wave of wanting as they began up the staircase. ‘What? In my room? With my family right outside?

  ‘OK.’ He lowered her on to a step, dropping his mouth to her neck, her breasts, his hands arranging her so that he could nestle right in. ‘The staircase is fine. I can get inventive on a staircase.’ His mouth skimmed lower.

  She let her head fall back. ‘I guess my family is pretty understanding.’

  Chapter Forty-One

  He stopped. Closed his eyes in frustration. ‘No family is that understanding.’

  ‘Not really,’ she agreed, regretfully.

  He sank back to the stairs, managing to land her on his lap. ‘We ought to do things the right way.’ A huge, long-suffering sigh, pausing for one more lingering kiss. She met his mouth, hungry for the heat of his velvet tongue on hers, her heart beating.

  ‘Family,’ she reminded him, on a breath.

  He groaned into her neck. ‘You’re going to have to get off my lap for several minutes before I’m fit to meet them.’

  When Honor finally stepped out into the backyard with Martyn, she felt incredibly self-conscious at the silence that broke as the screen door clicked shut.

  Garvin paused mid-sentence, barbecue fork in hand. Karen set down a stack of plates. Jess and Zach looked up from the page of the newspaper they were arguing over. Four pairs of eyes fixed on Honor, then switched to Martyn. Then dropped to where Honor and Martyn’s hands were clasped together.

  Garvin gripped the barbecue fork and narrowed his eyes.

  Honor cleared her throat. ‘This, um, this is Martyn Mayfair, everybody. We’ve …’ She ground to a halt.

  Before so many silent stares and faces written with questions, Honor’s cheeks grew hotter and hotter. ‘Dad,�
�� she blurted, ‘Did I tell you that I’m going to need to get a divorce? ’

  Slowly, deliberately, Garvin stowed his fork on the barbecue rack. Then he turned back and his eyes were twinkling, though his voice was grave. ‘Would you like some help with that?’

  ‘Yes, please.’ She cast around for words. ‘I already, um, arranged for Stef to sign the papers.’

  ‘Good.’ Garvin’s eyebrows lifted. ‘I kind of guessed it was Stef you weren’t ready to talk about, and I’ve been waiting for you to come to me for help in dealing with him. But I should have known you’d find your own way.’

  Honor glanced sideways at Martyn. ‘I had incentive.’

  Slowly, Garvin’s face creased into a smile. ‘You’d better bring him over here so that I can meet him.’

  And then everyone was laughing as Martyn shook their hands and Garvin threw extra chicken on the grill and Karen fetched another plate. For the first time in an age Honor felt absolutely, absurdly happy. Each time she looked at Martyn he turned and looked at her. And he smiled. A dark, handsome, full-on smile that made her wonder why the advertisers all demanded Martyn Mayfair wore a glower when his smile could make hearts dance. He sat right down with her family and let them get to know him, telling them about his career, making them laugh about how Honor had thought that he was unemployed. Garvin scrutinised him keenly, but smiled and seemed to like what he saw.

  Jessamine leaned over and touched Martyn’s arm. ‘You know, when I was little, Honor used to tell me bedtime stories about how she was going to marry an English prince and live in a castle.’

  ‘Jess-sseeee!’ hissed Honor, boiling with horror. ‘How could you drag that stupid kid stuff up now?’

  ‘But aren’t the British princes all spoken for?’ put in Zach, grinning at his big sister’s discomfort.

  Jessie agreed. ‘Of course – if not spoken for then too old or too young for Honor. So I guess a model’s not too bad. And I always thought that the English accent is to die for.’ She beamed at Martyn. ‘I think you’ll do nicely for Honor.’

  ‘Hey, not so fast – you haven’t interrogated him about the castle,’ protested Zach. ‘Remember, Honor really likes castles. It could be a dealbreaker.’

  Martyn didn’t seem to mind how much teasing he got or how long the Lefevre family gathering went on, as long as he could pull his chair close to Honor’s and hold her hand. Only his eyes spoke to her and her alone. Making promises that made her shiver as a casual finger swept up the soft skin of her arm, as intimate as a kiss.

  Finally, the others began to make their plans for the evening. To make sure that they didn’t somehow end up dragged off on a family trip to the movies, Honor walked Martyn to the stream that ran right out to the lake, through the wildflowers in the long grass, carefully far away from the picnic areas, where Honor might see someone she knew and have to make polite conversation. All she wanted was Martyn, to herself.

  ‘So,’ she said, when they’d found a place to sit and watch the water, sparkling in the afternoon sun but small and trickling compared to the restless English ocean that she’d grown so used to. ‘At least you seem able to get along with the non-flaky side of my family.’

  He touched her ear with his lips, making her shiver. ‘They love you very much. So we have plenty in common.’

  She turned and drowned in his eyes. ‘I’m incredibly happy.’

  His smile was slow. And hot. ‘Jessie said that I was the one who could make you happy. But I’m sorry about not having a castle.’ He picked up her hand and began to kiss each fingertip.

  She closed her eyes and groaned. ‘I could have died when she came out with all that stupid teenage dream stuff.’

  He stopped kissing her hand and just held it very tightly. ‘I’m really not sure you’d like living in a castle. They seem cold and inconvenient. And what if you decide you want to live in America? Just …’ He swallowed. ‘I would like you to marry me.’

  Her eyes flew to his, so dark and intense, and her breath hurried from her lungs. ‘If I was married to you, I think I’d be very happy living in an apartment in Starboard Walk,’ she said, softly. ‘And maybe I could get to work in a castle?’

  He pulled her close, closer, limb against limb. ‘We could always get married in one.’

  She tried to pull away, to see his face. ‘Seriously? People do that?’

  ‘Of course. Get married, have the reception, stay for the whole weekend. The only thing is …’ He looked suddenly rueful.

  She waited, dreading some disappointment that was going to come along and spoil things for her. ‘What?’ she whispered, eventually.

  His kissed her lips. ‘I’m no prince.’

  Epilogue

  The Teapot looked and smelled the same. Honor stepped in through the door, holding tightly to Martyn’s warm hand, trying to quiet her butterflies. Aletta was clearing heaped tables, but not rushing herself as she sprayed and wiped. She smiled rosily.

  Ru and Robina were behind the counter, cleaning down the kitchen, Ru with his back-to-front baseball cap and Robina in her bandana. Without looking up, Robina called, ‘I’m sorry, we’re just closing.’

  ‘That’s OK,’ said Honor. ‘We came to talk.’

  Ru’s head whipped up. His grin was a blaze of pleasure. ‘You’re back!’

  ‘I guess I am,’ Honor agreed, beaming back. She’d called him whilst she’d been away but been deliberately vague about her plans, needing to settle her mind and get used to things working out with Martyn. And file for divorce. Martyn had rescheduled a shoot for the first time in his career, so that he could stay while she tied up loose ends like that.

  Robina frowned, her eyes flickering coldly over their clasped hands. ‘What about?’

  Honor pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘I think you’ll be surprised.’

  Aletta untied her apron and hung it on the hook just inside the kitchen. ‘Time,’ she told Robina, tapping her watch to show her hours were up. Robina just nodded. Honor wished that she’d been able to get Robina trained like that.

  Expectantly, Ru took a chair at the wooden table and then, with a put-upon sigh, so did Robina. ‘I suppose you expect me to apologise,’ she began, ungraciously. ‘Little Ru told me about the tricks Stef played. He guessed it was from me Stef got all the information he needed, so I suppose you’ve worked it out, too.’

  ‘I figured you must be involved.’

  ‘He got me to ring you and pretend there was something for you to sign, so that you’d be out at the right time. While he,’ she indicated Martyn with her head, ‘was out running. But I didn’t know what your husband planned. You can’t pin anything on me.’

  ‘Ex-husband. Almost.’ Honor nodded, slowly. Martyn was cradling her hand in both of his as if he were an earth, there to absorb any shocks Honor received. ‘So, what was it you thought he was up to?’

  Robina shrugged, looking down at her fingers, short nailed and red from cleaning. ‘I don’t know. It’s not my problem. I have enough of my own crap to deal with.’

  ‘Soppy and Crusty have gone,’ Ru put in, chin resting on one palm.

  Honor switched her attention to him. ‘Gone? You’re kidding me.’

  He pushed off his ball cap so that his hair fell forward. ‘Just for a couple of weeks. Crusty said she needed to be somewhere where someone would take care of her, so she was going to stay with her parents in Bristol. Then Mum and Soppy got in a massive row and Soppy said she would take Crusty in her van.’

  Robina’s bottom lip trembled. ‘They’ll be back, soon. When Kirsty is better and Sophie cools down. They’re my family.’

  Honor shifted, awkwardly. Took a huge breath. Screwed up her courage, gripping Martyn’s hand. ‘Really …? That would be me.’

  Ru made a small noise. Honor saw that he was grinning. And with Martyn’s solid, warm presence beside her, it gave her the nerve to say what she should have said at the beginning of the summer. ‘My name’s Freedom. Freedom Lefevre.’

  Robina stared.
She looked from Ru to Honor. Expressions flew across her face. Denial. Curiosity. Then, finally, dawning realisation. ‘I didn’t know.’ Her voice was high with surprise. ‘I didn’t know it was you.’

  ‘I know. And it doesn’t matter. I don’t want anything from you – I just wanted you to know.’ Her eyes grew hot. Martyn slipped his arm around her, kissing her temple, looking steadily at Robina, as if daring her to say anything that would hurt.

  Robina leaned forward and stared into Honor’s face. ‘Wow,’ she said. And, ‘Wow,’ again. ‘You do look a lot like Garvin. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.’ Her brown eyes were huge and luminous. She frowned at Ru. ‘You knew?’

  Honor jumped in. ‘Don’t take it out on him!’ She took another deep breath. ‘I’m going to be around to check on more than just how much you pay him.’

  ‘Around?’ Slowly, resignation settled across Robina’s face. Her eyes moved to Martyn. ‘Oh, shit. Am I going to be your mother–in-law or something?’

  Honor felt his familiar shake of laughter. ‘I suppose you are. That puts a hell of a spin on things, doesn’t it?’

  ‘It certainly does.’ She pulled a horrified face. ‘It’s too freaky, even for me.’ She turned back to her daughter. ‘Why do you call yourself Honor? I named you Freedom.’

  I named you Freedom. Despite everything, it was a sentence that Honor wanted to keep in her heart, enshrined in crystal and edged with gold. Her laugh was strangled. ‘Well, you know Dad. He has his own ideas about what’s important and he added Honor. Freedom Honor Lefevre. And Honor’s what he had me called.’

  Robina scowled. ‘He would.’ She kept looking at Honor, big eyes bigger than ever as she processed what had just happened. What it meant and what it could mean. ‘I suppose you want to know why I didn’t keep in touch.’

  Honor let her head lean on Martyn’s shoulder, enjoying the feel of him, the way that he felt, how his flesh and muscles gave just the right amount to make her comfortable. ‘Actually, no, it’s OK – well, OK, it isn’t OK, and I would like to talk to you about it sometime – but I have you, as well as Dad, in my make up. And I do accept that you are what you are.