Marrying the Runaway Bride

by Jennifer Taylor

  ‘That looks good.’ Heather leant across the table and sniffed appreciatively. ‘It smells good, too.’

  ‘Want to share?’ Archie offered, glad to have something tangible to focus on.

  ‘I’d better not.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Much as I would love to help you demolish those chips, I’d better get to work.’

  ‘Another time, eh?’ Archie said, cutting off a chunk of steak. He popped it into his mouth, hoping the protein would galvanise his overloaded brain cells. It was ridiculous to wish that he and Heather could get to know each other better. Soon he would be leaving London and moving to the opposite end of the country. It wasn’t the right time to start a relationship, and certainly not with Heather. Heather needed time to adjust to her newly single status and decide if it was really what she wanted. Although she claimed she’d done the right thing by not going ahead with the wedding, she must still have feelings for her ex.

  As for him, well, he had no idea how he felt, if he was honest. Was he over Stephanie? Would he ever get over her? At one point it had seemed inconceivable that he would recover from the pain of discovering that the woman he had loved had been in love with his brother, but how did he feel about it now?

  ‘We’ll see.’

  Heather gave him a noncommittal smile as she finished the last of her tea. Archie wasn’t sure what it was about the smile that got to him, but all of a sudden he was tired of being sensible. Maybe he didn’t know how he felt about Stephanie, but he knew that he wanted to spend more time with Heather. Surely there was no harm in asking her out so long as they kept things on a strictly platonic footing?

  ‘What are you doing at the weekend, apart from sleeping?’ he said hurriedly as she put down her cup.

  ‘I haven’t really thought about it. Why?’

  ‘I was just wondering if you fancied going out somewhere,’ he said, aiming for nonchalance and missing it by a mile. It was one thing to tell himself there was no harm in seeing Heather so long as it was on a purely friendly basis, but it was another thing entirely to put the idea into practice, he discovered. After all, this was the first time he had asked a woman out since the accident, and it wasn’t just any woman but Heather. That made a whole world of difference.

  ‘Where to?’

  ‘Oh…um…a walk in the park, a show, dinner—whatever you fancy.’ He saw her open her mouth and knew that she was going to refuse. Despite his qualms he hurried on. ‘My flat’s a tip at the moment. There’s boxes of stuff piled up in every room. If I have to spend the weekend stuck in there, I’ll go mad. I need to get out and I just thought you might like to come with me if you don’t have anything planned.’

  ‘I see.’

  She paused, obviously weighing up the idea, and Archie held his breath. He would understand if she refused. She was bound to have doubts in the circumstances and he wasn’t going to try to persuade her to do something that didn’t feel right. However, he couldn’t deny that he was mentally willing her to accept.

  ‘OK.’ She gave a little shrug. ‘I would hate to think of you languishing in the midst of all that mess so, yes, I’d like to come. It will make a nice change for me, too,’ she added as she stood up. ‘I’ve not really been anywhere since I moved down here and it will be good not to have to stare at the same four walls all weekend.’

  ‘Great.’ Archie smiled, hoping she couldn’t tell how mixed up he felt. It was hard to decide which took precedence, delight at the thought of them spending time together or trepidation at the idea of getting into a situation he might not be ready to handle. ‘How about I pick you up around ten o’clock on Sunday morning and we go from there? There’s loads of things to do in London so we’ll see what takes our fancy, shall we?’

  ‘We can both be footloose and fancy-free for the day,’ she said lightly, and he chuckled as delight surged ahead and took pole position.

  ‘We can.’

  She told him her address then left. Archie finished his meal, lingering over a second cup of coffee because he was in no rush to face the traffic. By the time he left the café, the worst of the rush hour was over and it took him less time than usual to drive home. As he pulled into the forecourt of the block of flats where he lived, he felt better than he’d done for a long time. Knowing that he would be seeing Heather on Sunday had given him a boost, although he knew that he mustn’t get too carried away. Come the end of the month he would be leaving London. That wasn’t going to change.

  The weather was very overcast when Heather woke up on Sunday morning, a bank of heavy cloud obliterating the sun. She dressed accordingly, donning jeans and a T-shirt, topped off by a thick sweater. Comfortable boots and a cosy hooded parka in a muted shade of green completed her outfit. Although she had no idea what Archie had planned for them, she intended to be prepared and added a long woollen scarf and a matching pair of gloves. Come hail, rain or shine, she was ready for it!

  Archie arrived shortly before ten, tooting his horn as he drew up outside. Heather let herself out and ran up the basement steps. He got out of the car and opened the door for her, smiling as he took stock of her all-weather garb.

  ‘I see you’re well prepared,’ he teased her, helping her into the passenger seat.

  ‘Too right I am.’

  Heather returned his smile, thinking how good he looked that day. Like her, he was wearing jeans with a navy polo shirt and a chunky sweater over the top. The puffy down jacket tossed onto the back seat indicated that she’d been right to assume they would be spending the day outdoors. He looked so ruggedly handsome as he strode around the car that she couldn’t help the little frisson that ran through her. Despite her initial qualms about going on this outing, there was no doubt at all that Archie was a very attractive man, and that she was attracted to him.

  ‘Unless you have a better suggestion, I thought we’d start the day at Kew Gardens.’ He started the engine of the expensive convertible, revving it to a throaty roar that made her body start to hum as well.

  ‘Sounds good to me,’ she agreed, doing her best to keep everything tamped down to a more decorous level. Although she and Ross had had an intimate relationship, she had never found their love-making particularly fulfilling. She had put it down to her own lack of experience and told herself that it would improve with time. Now she found herself wondering if that would have happened. Although Ross was an extremely handsome man, she had never responded to him the way she found herself responding to Archie.

  She bit her lip in sudden panic. Everything seemed to be moving far too fast all of a sudden and she was afraid that she would get swept away if she wasn’t careful.

  ‘If you’re not sure about this, Heather, we don’t have to go.’ Archie must have sensed her indecision. He reached for her hand and gently squeezed it. ‘It’s your choice.’

  ‘I do want to go, though,’ she said truthfully. She sighed because there was no point lying. ‘I just don’t think it would be wise for us to get in too deep at the moment, Archie.’

  ‘I understand. Really I do. And I agree with you.’ He gave her fingers a final squeeze then released her. ‘So what’s it to be? A jaunt round Kew Gardens followed by lunch and a visit to one of the art galleries, or a day devoted to washing your smalls?’

  She chuckled. ‘Some choice! I’d have to be mad to opt for the latter, wouldn’t I?’

  ‘You certainly would.’ He grinned wickedly as he put the car into gear. ‘Although far be it from me to have pointed that out to you. You needed to realise it yourself.’

  ‘Thank you!’

  Heather laughed as her doubts disappeared almost as quickly as they had come. She could do this, she really could. She could have fun with Archie, enjoy his company and give thanks for the fact that he was turning out to be such a good friend. She was a grown woman in charge of her own life and she could handle anything that came her way!

  They spent the morning wandering around Kew Gardens and still only managed to see a small fraction of it. Heather was entranced by every
thing they saw—the Pagoda with its wonderful view over the grounds, the newly restored Kew Palace, the huge glasshouses with their priceless collections of rare plants. Archie was delighted by her reaction and discovered that he enjoyed himself even more because she was having such a good time. By the time they headed back to central London for a late lunch, he was certain the day would do them both the power of good.

  He’d booked a table for them at The Ivy, shamelessly playing on his title to secure them a prime position so that Heather could watch all the celebrities who were lunching there. She stared at him after they were seated at their table by the hostess.

  ‘Sir Archie? Do you really have a title, Archie?’

  ‘I’m afraid so. I don’t use it normally, but it comes in very handy when you want a decent table.’ He winked at her. ‘I don’t fancy sitting next to the kitchen, do you?’

  ‘No.’ She chuckled. ‘You really are shameless. Exploiting your family connections for your own ends.’

  He held up his hands. ‘Guilty as charged, your honour.’ He laughed when she rolled her eyes. ‘Actually, it was a game Duncan and I used to play when we were younger. If anyone from the estate wanted to go somewhere—to a restaurant or to see a show—we’d phone up for them and pretend to be our father. It’s amazing how quickly folk respond when you start name-dropping.’

  ‘Shameless and devious.’ She shook her head. ‘I must remember that.’

  ‘I’m only ever devious in a good way,’ he assured her, laughing.

  He picked up the menu, realising it was the first time in ages that he’d thought about his brother and not got upset. He and Duncan had been very close when they’d been younger so that what had happened had been all the more painful. He’d been both hurt and angry about what he’d seen as Duncan’s betrayal, but all he felt now was a deep sadness that they had parted on such bad terms.

  They ordered their meal and had a glass of wine while they waited. Archie just sipped from his glass, conscious of the fact that he would have to drive Heather home later. When the meal arrived it was very good—exquisitely cooked, using the very best ingredients. Heather ate with relish and he liked the fact that she didn’t pick at her food like so many women did.

  ‘That was delicious,’ she declared, setting down her cutlery.

  ‘Better than the food at the café,’ he said, arching a brow.

  ‘Not better. As good as,’ she said decisively, and he laughed.

  ‘I’m not sure the chef here would be thrilled to hear that.’

  ‘Then I won’t tell him if you won’t.’ She put her finger to her lips. ‘It will be our secret, Archie. OK?’

  ‘Fine,’ he agreed, his heart pumping away inside his chest as though it was on a mission to escape. He scooped up the last morsel of food off his plate, trying not to think about how much he wanted to press his fingers to her lips, but it was impossible to rid himself of the thought of how smooth and soft they would feel, how very tempting. He took a deep breath as the waiter arrived to remove their plates. This was getting out of hand and he had to stop all this fantasising.

  The waiter gave them the dessert menu but Archie opted just for coffee. Heather decided that she could manage a dessert and chose a rich chocolate brownie served with whipped cream. She groaned after she’d finished eating it.

  ‘I am stuffed to the gills. I’m not sure if I can manage to walk round that art gallery. The way I feel at the moment, you might have to carry me.’

  Archie smiled. ‘I feel a bit that way myself. How about we leave the gallery until another day?’

  ‘If you like.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘It’s almost four anyway, probably time we went home.’

  ‘You can go home if you want to, or you could come back to my place.’ He shrugged, wondering if it was wise to suggest it. However, he really couldn’t bear the day to end just yet. ‘The couch is still in situ so there’s somewhere for us to sit, and I haven’t packed up the stereo yet so we can listen to some music if you like.’

  ‘I’d like to see where you live, Archie, but are you sure it’s a good idea?’ She leant forward and he could see the doubt in her eyes. ‘You’re going back to Scotland at the end of the month and I don’t know what I’m going to be doing after that. Are you sure it’s wise for us to spend any more time together?’

  ‘No, I’m not sure,’ he said truthfully. ‘It could be a big mistake for all I know, Heather.’

  ‘But you still want to go ahead?’

  ‘Yes. I know it’s the wrong time for us to get involved. There’s too many other issues going on in our lives. But I can’t deny that I enjoy being with you, and I think you feel the same way.’

  ‘I do.’

  Her voice was so low that Archie had to strain to hear it over the noise of the other diners. However, it was obvious that she had serious doubts and she was right to have them, too. The last thing Heather needed was him disrupting her life.

  ‘Forget it,’ he said quickly. ‘It was a stupid idea.’

  ‘No, it wasn’t.’ She placed her hand on the table, palm up, and smiled at him. ‘It’s been ages since I’ve had so much fun. I’m loath to see the day end, too.’

  Archie stared at her hand for a moment then slowly placed his hand on top of hers. Her fingers felt so small and so fragile as they closed around his that he was beset by fears once more. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he ended up hurting her. He had ruined so many lives and he couldn’t bear to think that he might ruin Heather’s as well.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  BY THE time they reached Archie’s flat, Heather was starting to wonder if she should have gone home with him after all. It was all very well claiming that she intended to look towards the future, but she couldn’t ignore everything she’d learned in the past. Her previous relationship had been a disaster so what guarantee was there that this wouldn’t turn out the same way? The thought of losing Archie’s precious friendship was more than she could bear.

  ‘I’m not sure if this was such a good idea,’ she said as they drew up. ‘I don’t want to spoil what we have, Archie. I value your friendship far too much.’

  ‘Me, too.’ He gave her a crooked smile as he switched off the engine. ‘How about we have a cup of coffee now that we’re here and then I’ll take you home? Would you be happy with that?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said slowly. ‘That sounds all right to me.’

  ‘Good.’

  He got out of the car and led the way to the main doors of the building. Heather knew how expensive property was in this part of the city and couldn’t help being impressed when he ushered her inside. A huge, marble-floored foyer opened out from the vestibule with stairs on one side and lifts on the other. There was a reception desk tucked into an alcove, manned by a porter who greeted Archie with a smile.

  ‘Afternoon, Mr Carew.’

  ‘Good afternoon, Pete.’ Archie drew her forward and introduced her. ‘This is a friend of mine, Miss Thompson. Heather, this is Pete, one the team who look after this place.’

  ‘Nice to meet you, Pete,’ Heather replied, shaking the man’s hand.

  They took the lift up to the third floor and Archie let them into his flat. As he had warned her, there were cardboard boxes and packing cases in every room but not even the clutter could detract from the grandeur of the place. With its high ceilings and wonderful plaster-work, it was a real jewel and Heather sighed as she compared it to her own drab abode.

  ‘This place is gorgeous. It’s so light and airy.’

  ‘I know. I’ve loved every minute of living here, too.’ Archie unlocked the French windows that led onto a balcony. ‘Come and look at this view. It’s stunning even on a miserable day like today.’

  Heather followed him out onto the balcony. She could see right across the river from where they were standing, see the yachts moored in the nearby marina. As she watched, a helicopter swooped low and landed on the opposite bank of the river.

  ‘That’s the heliport,’ Archie t
old her. ‘A lot of people around here use it. It’s more convenient than trying to get in and out of the city by car.’

  ‘It’s a whole different world. Private helicopters and yachts are way beyond the reach of most people.’

  ‘The rich and their toys,’ he teased her, and she laughed.

  ‘Something like that.’

  They went back inside. Archie lifted a pile of medical journals off the couch and plumped up the cushions. ‘Sorry about the mess. As I explained, I’m trying to get everything sorted before the end of the month. I just never realised how much stuff I’d collected over the years.’

  ‘You’ve lived here for a while, then?’ she asked, sitting down.

  ‘Oh, yes. Ever since I moved to London.’ He must have seen her surprise and explained. ‘The flat is actually owned by the estate. That’s how I was able to afford to live here when I first qualified. I pay only the most minimal rent, definitely not what I’d have to pay on the open market.’

  ‘Lucky you!’ she exclaimed, and he grimaced.

  ‘I know. And I do feel guilty about it at times, too.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, Archie. It isn’t your fault if your family is wealthy.’

  ‘No, I don’t suppose it is.’ He piled the magazines on top of some boxes. ‘How about that coffee? Or maybe you’d prefer a drink. I’ve got some wine in the fridge if you fancy a glass.’

  ‘Thanks, but I’ll stick to coffee so long as it isn’t any trouble,’ she added, glancing at the surrounding clutter.

  Archie laughed. ‘Don’t worry. The coffee-maker will be the last thing I pack!’

  He disappeared into the hall and Heather heard his footsteps crossing the parquet floor as he made his way to the kitchen. She took a deep breath as she settled back against the cushions. So far, so good. Nothing had happened to make her wish that she had gone straight home. She was enjoying herself, as she always did when she was with Archie. If only they’d met at another stage in their lives, she thought wistfully. The outcome could have been very different then.