by Sara Wood
'I understand. I feel like that too. And...what of Castlestowe?' she asked anxiously.
'My estate manager can handle Castlestowe. He's doing that now, after all. I'll check progress every now and then. And I'll want to visit Grandfather, of course.'
'You'd...you'd really give up Castlestowe for me?' she asked, breathless with the idea.
'I'd give up everything for you. And don't imagine I'll pine for it. I know now where my happiness lies: with you. Mind you, it won't be easy living with Vincente. I'll have some adjusting to do.'
'I know,' she said soberly. 'But other than his early affairs—which I don't condone, of course—I don't think he's wicked. I'm sure he's been misunderstood. As you misunderstood my response to you when we made love and you accused me of—of learning from other men...'
'I'm sorry,' he said with regret. 'You seemed so uninhibited. I felt so jealous that I believed what Arabella had told me—that she'd seen lovers going to your room when you were both doing shows abroad—'
'Arabella!' she exclaimed indignantly. 'Leo, could she have circulated those rumours? She stood to benefit if I lost my popularity.'
He nodded, a frown marring his beautiful forehead. 'She certainly kept making sly digs about you. Forgive me,' he said simply.
'Nothing matters but the fact that you love me,' she said earnestly. 'We'll do what we can to clear my name, and Vincente's too—especially concerning that awful fire in which Pascal's child and his first wife died. And then—' she smiled, looking around at the tangled undergrowth '—we'll have our hands full helping Vincente set Rivage to rights. What do you think your father will think of that?'
Leo gave a short laugh. 'He'll have to take on the responsibility of the Castlestowe estate and limit his political ambition. He'll have to make choices, as I have. You can't have everything. There has to be a sacrifice.'
'He'll think you've betrayed him,' she said unhappily.
'No.' He kissed her mouth tenderly. 'Oddly enough, once he knew you were dead set on seeing Vincente he seemed to change his mind. I had a feeling that he was hoping we'd both live at Rivage. I'm not sure why. Perhaps because he wants it in the family, as you suggested. One day we might find out the truth. And one day we might trace your mother and—if she's still alive— hear the whole story.
'Oh, there's one thing, Ginny. I have a condition to make as far as living here is concerned.'
'Name it,' she said quietly. 'Whatever it is, we can talk it through.'
'Sure we can,' he answered, the love in his rich voice making her tremble with delight. His eyes twinkled wickedly. 'I do think we ought to get married, before anyone finds out we're not!'
Ginny giggled. And then she threw back her head and laughed with Leo, their laughter echoing across the silent bay.
'When we first married, I thought I knew what paradise could be,' Leo murmured huskily, kissing her lips with a heartbreaking sweetness. 'You and me living in the castle. I tried to make that come true but you kept dashing around the world. And then when I lost you I realised that I'd been wrong. I didn't need the castle at all. Only you. I worship you, Ginny,' he whispered passionately.
Ginny wound her arms around his neck. 'And I you.' She smiled. 'I wonder if Chas will come here with his family when his wife and baby can travel?' she mused. 'Oh, Leo, I want your baby!' she said with a sudden urgency.
Their lips met, emotion deepening their kiss. And she thought of their children running free on Beau Rivage and sighed with pleasure at the thought that she and Leo would be bringing joy and love and compassion into Vincente's life. She had a father. A husband she loved with all her heart. Friends in Pascal and Mandy. Soon a child would come and her life would be complete.
That was all that mattered. Love of friends, family and someone very, very special. She and Leo. Together, for always.
Table of Contents
SCARLET LADY
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT