Forcing action into her limbs, she dragged herself from the bed and went to the bathroom, where she splashed cold water on her face. A touch of fresh makeup helped to restore her confidence, then she made her way downstairs, expecting to find everyone in the lounge. To her surprise it was empty, and then voices drew her towards the dining room, where she found them sitting at the table, obviously discussing a list being compiled by Baird.
He looked up from the paper lying on the table before him, a glad smile lighting his face. ‘Ah—there you are, my darling. Come and sit beside me. We need your help.’ He drew a chair closer to the one in which he was sitting at the end of the table.
Darling? Her heart leapt at the sound of the endearment, but she made no comment as she went to sit beside Baird.
And then Muriel surprised her by sending a friendly smile instead of the expected antagonism. ‘We’re having a discussion about the contents of the house in Scotland,’ she explained. ‘In the event of Amy deciding to move to New Zealand, we must think about what should be sold and what should come here.’
Amy spoke to Cathie, sending her a wide-eyed gaze that seemed to have a message attached to it. ‘It’s a matter of what you would like to have here—in this house, dear.’
Ewen said quickly, ‘Baird has offered me the stag’s head in the entrance hall, but I’m afraid it would be unsuitable in our house at Taupo. Would you like to have it in this hall?’
It was then that Cathie realised that her rejection of Baird’s proposal did not seem to exist. Either it had not been taken seriously, or it was being deliberately ignored. ‘I think it should remain in Scotland,’ she said at last, deciding to go along with their supposition that she was now engaged to Baird. At least, she would do so in the meantime. Later she would speak to him, reminding him that she had—
But her thoughts were shattered and her pulses leapt to the magic feel of his arm being placed about her shoulders. As usual, his mere touch affected her, and her cheeks became warm as she turned questioning eyes towards him.
‘The important things to be considered are the antiques,’ he said. ‘They are too valuable to leave in the hands of other people for whom they can become a liability.’
‘They should be kept in the family,’ Amy declared firmly.
‘Quite right,’ Ewen agreed. ‘Baird and Cathie will have a family—we hope.’
Baird went on to Cathie, ‘I shall rely on your judgement concerning what should be discarded or kept.’
‘But I’m not an expert on antiques,’ Cathie protested.
He held her gaze. ‘Nevertheless I shall have faith in your decisions. Whatever you say will be OK with me.’
‘No—no—’ Her protest became even more emphatic. ‘You’re putting too much responsibility on me. We’ll make all decisions together.’ The words were out before she could stop them.
‘Thank you, darling.’ Despite the presence of the others he leaned forward to brush her cheek with his lips, then whispered in her ear, ‘Darling, I love you so much.’
Her heart went out to him, and she succumbed, looking at him with love in her eyes as she wondered how she could bear life without him. What did it matter if he hadn’t had faith in what she’d told him about Lola? It was in the past—over and done with. The future was the important point to be considered—especially as she felt sure he now had faith in her.
Amy said briskly, ‘As I see it, decisions about chattels in Scotland can’t be made on this side of the world—’
Her words were cut short as Lola strode into the room, her hair untidy, her lids red and swollen from weeping. As usual she had entered the house without knocking, and she now stood glaring at the people sitting at the table. Baird and Ewen rose to their feet, and everyone waited in silence for her to speak.
She began by pointing a dramatic finger at Baird. ‘Mother says you have refused to help me,’ she declared in a high-pitched voice. ‘After all I’ve done for you in this damned house you won’t raise a finger to get the police off my back.’
‘There’s nothing I can do, Lola,’ Baird rasped.
‘Yes, there is, yes, there is—you can speak to Noel Robson.’
‘I did so a short time ago,’ Baird informed her. ‘I phoned him and was told that he’d suspected you for ages, and now that he’d caught you he had no intention of letting you go. I’m afraid it’s on your own head, Lola.’ Baird’s voice had become hard.
She gave a loud wail. ‘Do you know what this means for us? Have you any idea of the upset it will cause my parents? That fellow Robson says he won’t have me in his shop ever again. We’ll have to go miles for our groceries. Mother says we’ll have to move to another house because everyone in this neighbourhood will know about it. She says she won’t be able to hold her head up because it will be in the local papers.’
Ewen queried in a dry tone, ‘Shouldn’t you have thought of all these points a little earlier? Personally, I consider your mother to be wise in thinking of making a move to another area. People in this neighbourhood will lose all respect for you.’
She glared at him but said nothing.
Ewen went on relentlessly, ‘Your clients will read of it in the papers. Your stupidity will cost you dearly.’
Lola turned to Baird. ‘That’s your last word? You’ll do nothing to help me?’
Baird became impatient. ‘I’ve told you, there’s nothing I can do. Noel is determined to lay the charge of shoplifting against you. Now will you please go home—and don’t forget to take your paperweight.’ He nodded to where it stood on the mantelpiece, its brilliant colours glowing beneath the wall-bracket lights.
‘Paperweight—huh!’ Lola gave a scornful laugh as she moved to retrieve it from the mantelpiece, then she spun round and threw it with force at Baird’s head.
His arm shot up in a protective gesture but it whirled past to catch him in a glancing blow above the ear. He sank into his chair, his elbows resting on the table while both hands clasped his head.
Lola gave a gasp of horror as she realised the consequence of her action. She rushed to Baird in a state of remorse. ‘Baird—I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to hurt you—’
Cathie used force to shove her away. ‘Don’t you dare touch him,’ she spat in fury. ‘He’s mine—we’re going to be married—just get yourself out of this house and don’t ever come back.’
‘Yes, get to hell out of it or you’ll have a further charge brought against you,’ Ewen rasped.
Lola disappeared through the door and Cathie fervently hoped she would never see her again.
She put her arms about Baird. ‘Darling, let me see your head,’ she said in a voice that was filled with anxiety while Muriel and Amy also demanded to see the damage.
Baird touched the spot gingerly. ‘There’s a confoundedly tender lump coming up,’ he said, wincing slightly. ‘Fortunately it was only a glancing blow, but even if I’d copped the full force it would have been well worth the bang to hear you say those words to Lola.’
‘They were like music in my ears,’ Muriel said.
‘And in mine,’ Amy echoed.
Ewen said, ‘Isn’t it time we left these young people alone? Something tells me they have plenty to talk about.’
Cathie became conscious of the warmth in her cheeks, and she hid them by bending to search for the paperweight. It sent her colourful winks from where it had fallen with a thud, and by the time she had replaced it on the mantelpiece the room was empty apart from herself and Baird.
He took her in his arms and held her closely. ‘You meant it, my dearest? I couldn’t bear it otherwise.’
She wound her arms about his neck. ‘I’ve never meant anything more seriously in all my life.’ In some strange way her pent-up emotions of the last two hours had been released, giving her the urge to tell him again and again how much she loved him.
He led her from the dining room to the sofa in the lounge, where she sat curled within his arms. ‘How soon before we can be married?’ he murmured
against her lips.
The mere thought of being married to Baird made her catch her breath and cling to him in ecstasy.
He went on, ‘If I could have my way I’d whip you off to the register office the moment I’d obtained the licence.’
‘But that would infuriate so many people,’ she reasoned. ‘Mother will insist upon a church wedding with all the trimmings. She’d never forgive us if we walked in the door and announced we were married. As for Gran, she’d have a fit. Amy too—she’d join Gran in frothing on the floor. They’d both feel they’d been cheated out of a family gathering. Your mother would be cold on the outside but seething inside.’
‘Ah—you’re beginning to know her.’
‘And there’s the factory staff. Don’t you think they’ll look forward to the boss’s wedding? They might give you a rug for a wedding present,’ she giggled.
Next morning the lump on Baird’s head had receded sufficiently for him to admit that the accompanying headache had disappeared. And when Cathie had taken Amy’s breakfast tray up to her he said, ‘Are you ready to come shopping?’
She looked at him blankly, her mind flying to food and the minimarket. ‘Shopping—?’
‘For a ring, of course.’
‘Oh. I hadn’t thought of a ring.’ Which was true.
‘You must have a ring!’ Muriel exclaimed. ‘And please come home before Ewen and I leave for Taupo—and then I’ll believe you really are engaged to be married.’
* * *
An hour later Cathie was wearing a solitaire that almost took her breath away.
It was chosen by Baird, who declared that his future bride must have the best ring available, and when they left the shop its box nestled within his jacket pocket.
Cathie expected him to put it on her finger when they reached the car, but he did not. She then sat trying to curb her excitement until they reached home, and it was several minutes before she realised that instead of driving towards home they were making their way along tree-lined Fitzherbert Avenue, which led towards the Manawatu River which edged the city.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked wonderingly.
‘To a quiet place—to the Esplanade, to be exact.’
‘You mean the large gardens beside the river?’ she asked with a hint of surprise.
‘That’s right. There’ll be few people wandering in the Esplanade at this hour of the morning, whereas if we go straight home I’ll not have the private moments I need to tell my darling how much I love her while I’m placing a ring on her finger. Nor will there be the opportunity to discuss the plans I have in mind for our honeymoon.’
Honeymoon—with Baird. The thought made her take a deep breath, then she said, ‘You’re right. There’ll be no chance at all because the moment your parents have left for Lake Taupo Amy will be anxious to leave for Levin.’
The Esplanade entrance opened to a long tree-bordered drive that continued through its entire length. Paths branched from it to wind between lawns and flowerbeds, and Baird turned into a tree-sheltered bay that gave them privacy. Within moments their seatbelts had been unfastened and she was in his arms. Baird kissed her deeply, then drew the small box from his pocket. He flicked open the lid to release flashes of brilliance as the solitaire was slipped on to her finger.
Cathie’s eyes were shining with unshed tears of happiness as she whispered, ‘This is a dream—or is it real? I can hardly believe it’s happening; I’m so afraid I’ll wake up.’
‘It’s not a dream, my dearest, but we’ll go to a dream place for our honeymoon. Have you ever visited Bay of Islands in Northland?’
She shook her head. ‘No, I’ve never been there. Are there many islands as the name indicates?’
‘Only about a hundred and fifty or more in a large bay. We’ll go sailing among them, unless you prefer the excitement of deep-sea fishing for big game such as marlin, tuna or shark?’
She shuddered. ‘No, thank you—I can’t bear to see anything killed, even if it is a shark.’
‘We’ll visit citrus orchards where the air will be heady with the perfume of orange blossom—and we’ll wander through the forests of giant kauri trees, some of them coming up to two thousand years old. To walk among those tall straight trunks is like being in a sort of dreamland.’
Thoughtfully, she looked into the future beyond their honeymoon. ‘When we come home I intend to search for an art course that will assist me with the designing of rugs and blankets in pastel colours.’ She sent him a roguish smile. ‘And then I shall apply for that job you offered me, only I shall do it at home.’
Baird said, ‘And there’s Amy to consider. If she decides she wishes to live permanently in New Zealand we’ll take her back to Scotland to settle her affairs—plus the problem of our own chattels in the house—I mean the antiques.’
‘When we come home from Scotland—’ she began shyly.
‘Yes, my love? What then? I want you to tell me,’ he added as though reading her thoughts.
‘We—we’ll begin thinking about the next heir to Glengyle.’
He held her tightly for several long moments before he murmured huskily, ‘If we don’t leave this idyllic spot he might mess up our plans by putting in a premature appearance.’ Then he put her from him and buckled his seatbelt.
They reached home within a few minutes and were about to turn into the drive when Cathie exclaimed, ‘Look at the Maddisons’ fence! There’s a For Sale notice on it.’
‘I’m not surprised,’ Baird said. ‘They’ve wasted no time in putting the property into a land agent’s hands.’
Cathie said, ‘I feel sorry for Lola and her mother—but I’m thankful we’ll not be having them as neighbours.’ Lola, she felt sure, would never leave Baird alone.
He echoed her thoughts. ‘There’s no need to tell me of the relief you feel, because I can sense it oozing from you. Let’s hope they move to the most distant corner of the city.’
And this, they learnt eventually, was exactly what happened.
A month later Cathie and Baird were married at a church in Levin, and as she walked up the aisle on her father’s arm Cathie was unaware of how radiantly beautiful she looked. After the wedding they made a leisurely journey northwards until they reached the shores of Lake Taupo where they stayed overnight at a motel.
Their room overlooked the waters sparkling in the moonlight. Small waves lapped the narrow white pumice beach, and as Cathie stood at the wide sliding glass door Baird’s arms encircled her from behind, his hands clasping her breasts.
‘Do you feel as peaceful as that scene?’ he whispered.
She shook her head, conscious of his thumbs gently stroking her taut nipples. ‘I’m anything but tranquil,’ she admitted. ‘I’m tense but happy—excited, yet apprehensive.’
‘Have a warm shower,’ he advised. ‘It will help to relax you.’
‘Yes, I’ll do that.’ Her voice shook a little, betraying the extent of her nervous anticipation.
Later, when she emerged from the bathroom, she was delicately fragrant and wearing a flimsy long white négligé over an equally flimsy matching white nightdress. She felt painfully shy, despite the fact that Baird appeared to spare her little more than a glance as he strode towards the bathroom, and moments later she heard the sound of rushing water from the shower.
She glanced at the bed, wondering if she should get into it, then feared that it would make her look too eager. Instead she went to the dressing-table and sat brushing her hair while trying to calm her tingling nerves and racing pulses. But suddenly she became conscious that he had left the bathroom, and she turned to see him standing watching her.
He wore a dark blue silk bathrobe. Below it his long, well-muscled legs were bare, while his arms were held open to her. She dropped the brush and ran to fling herself into them, at the same time raising her face to meet his lips.
As he kissed her he held her closely, then his hands pushed the négligé and nightdress from her shoulders until both garments s
lithered to the floor. Her arms wound about his neck and she gloried in the feel of his hands on her bare flesh, their gentle kneading down her spine causing tremors of delight.
There was a subtle movement as he shrugged off the bathrobe, and she realised he was naked. An urgent longing surged within her, and she gave only a contented sigh as he swung her up into his arms and carried her to the bed.
ISBN: 978-1-472-06514-8
HEIR TO GLENGYLE
© 1994 Miriam MacGregor
Published in Great Britain 2014
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
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