The Unconventional Bride Read online

  For the most part, Etienne had transposed his life seamlessly into their lives. Yet a sense of permanence was lacking, she thought. Because, as he’d told her, he’d maintained his apartment in Gladstone and sometimes, when he worked very late, he stayed there rather than driving out to Raspberry Hill?

  It made sense. Not that she knew a great deal about Hurst Engineering & Shipping yet but she was learning that, as such a high-profile and successful businessman, he had a lot of calls on his time. But did it make sense in the context of the present state of their marriage? she wondered forlornly.

  Which was to say, since he’d ended all forms of closeness between them, physical and emotional other than being like a good friend, did he need other women? For which his apartment was ideal?

  And why was he in two minds about her giving this dinner party? Solely because of her leg or—because once she was fully recovered, he didn’t intend to continue the marriage and therefore presenting her as his wife was undiplomatic to say the least?

  In all other respects he’d been brilliant, though. The boys liked and admired him and their lives were running smoothly again, thanks to his organisation. The farm was running smoothly…

  She broke off her thoughts as she heard the four of them return, in audibly good spirits.

  Then, as the house grew quiet, Etienne knocked at her door and padded into the room in his socks and clean clothes. His hair was damp and there was a glow of vitality about him.

  ‘It went well?’ she suggested, putting a bookmark in her book.

  ‘Yes. They’re going to do all the work and we plan to include a cricket practice net.’

  ‘Inspired thinking,’ she murmured.

  He stood at the bottom of the bed. ‘Keeping them busy is half the battle, I suspect. How are you feeling? Do you still need something to help you sleep at night?’

  ‘No. I stopped them a while back.’

  ‘No—’ his eyes searched hers ‘—nightmares?’

  She hesitated too long then couldn’t lie.

  He sat down on the side of the bed. ‘Tell me.’

  ‘Just the odd one.’

  ‘Cars rolling down embankments?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Anything else? Mel?’ He said her name in a way that indicated he expected an answer.

  ‘That’s about it,’ she murmured but couldn’t prevent some faint colour stealing into her cheeks.

  ‘You’re lying,’ he said softly.

  She lay against the pillows in her Snoopy pyjamas and thought of telling him that the one sure way to stop her nightmares, of cars and waking up drenched in sweat because she’d dreamt she was at the bottom of the embankment on her own, would be to lie down beside her and hold her as she slept.

  Why wouldn’t he know it, though? Why wouldn’t he do it unless…?

  She shrugged, a slight movement of her slim shoulders. ‘Sometimes I’m not sure what wakes me up. But I guess it’ll all fade. It is,’ she assured him.

  His gaze wandered down to the curve of her breasts beneath the cotton of her top. Then he said abruptly, ‘Mel, not that I would ever wish it to happen the way it did, but perhaps this has given us the breathing space we needed.’

  Her eyes widened.

  He looked away briefly. ‘The time we need to grow together and get to know each other better. I even thought that was something you would approve of.’

  She swallowed.

  ‘You gave me some quite clear indications that’s what you thought before the accident,’ he said.

  ‘I guess you’re right,’ she said at last.

  ‘Then why are you unhappy?’ he asked.

  ‘I don’t know,’ she temporised. ‘Well, it’s not easy being—one-legged. I can’t even go out and look for a horse for you, I can’t do anything for Rimfire. I suppose I feel useless, bored and…all those things over and over again.’

  He sat back. ‘Two months is not a lifetime.’

  She shrugged. ‘I know. Really, I’m fine! They did warn me I could get post-accident blues, this must be a blue patch, that’s all.’

  ‘Mel,’ Tosh burst into the bedroom without knocking, ‘Ewan can’t breathe!’

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  AN HOUR later, Ewan was breathing on his own, although looking wan and exhausted.

  Mel wrapped the oxygen mask up and looked across at Etienne. ‘I’ll sleep here tonight, in Tosh’s bed,’ she said calmly and casually.

  ‘Wow! Does that mean I can sleep in your bed, Mel?’ Tosh asked.

  ‘No, it does not! You can use the spare bed in Justin’s room.’

  ‘Wise thinking,’ Ewan murmured and closed his eyes. ‘It’s about time Justin had to share the damn dog.’

  ‘He must be feeling better to be wishing Batman on me,’ Justin declared ruefully.

  And Etienne felt real affection tug at him for this family he’d taken over. His immediate instinct had been to call an ambulance despite his first-aid training. But Mel had coped with serenity and confidence, which, of course, had played a crucial role in helping Ewan through the attack. And Justin and Tosh had been discreetly supportive of their sister and sick brother.

  ‘You don’t need to sleep here, Mellie,’ Ewan said drowsily. ‘I’m OK now.’

  Etienne stirred. ‘May I make a suggestion? How about I share your room, Ewan?’

  Mel went to speak but Etienne shook his head at her barely perceptibly, and went on, ‘That way we can all get a good night’s rest.’

  ‘OK. Suits me!’ Ewan turned over.

  Mel was back in her bed where Etienne had carried her and a few minutes later he came back with a cup of cocoa for her.

  ‘You did well, Mel,’ he said as he put it down on her bedside table. ‘So well.’

  ‘Thank you, but I’ve had a bit of practice and I really wouldn’t have minded sleeping with Ewan.’

  ‘I watched you so I know what to do, and it has to be easier for someone who doesn’t have a—’

  ‘A broken leg,’ she supplied.

  ‘Yep!’ He grinned. ‘Don’t want to harp on it but someone needs to.’

  ‘So long as Ewan knows you can cope—’

  ‘Hey—stop worrying,’ he said. ‘I won’t let him, or you, down.’

  Mel drank some cocoa then yawned widely behind her fingers.

  ‘Now, that is a good sign, as I know from previous experience,’ he said softly and took the cup from her, tucked her in and dropped a light kiss on her hair. ‘Sleep well, princess.’

  She fell asleep oddly reassured.

  Three weeks later she wasn’t so sure again.

  The day of the dinner party was upon her and her nerves were showing. It had been an uneventful three weeks during which she’d held good to her promise to give her leg as good a chance of healing as possible—apart from two instances.

  Once, Etienne had caught her hopping down to the stables on her crutches, and told her she was a bloody idiot.

  ‘Why the hell you knocked back a wheelchair, I’ll never know,’ he added, his eyes grim and his mouth setting hard.

  ‘I’d prefer it if you didn’t swear at me, Etienne,’ she responded, ‘and for your information they told me I didn’t need one.’

  ‘Well, I know you a damn sight better than they do,’ he said deliberately. ‘Couldn’t you have asked for someone to bring Rimfire up to the house so you could say hello?’

  ‘It takes up enough of Mrs Bedwell’s time having to feed him as it is. I don’t like to ask her—’

  ‘Of course, this is the horse that eats men,’ he marvelled. ‘Only you could have one of those, Mel!’

  ‘And only you could be so annoying, Etienne,’ she shot back. ‘It’s not my fault he hates men! Besides, I’m worried about him. He’s not getting enough exercise.’

  ‘Then put him in a paddock for the time being. Or ask Mrs B to do it. It’ll save her having to feed him.’

  ‘Well, I thought of that but he could be lonely, at least in the stable he’s got Tosh�
��s pony to talk to.’

  ‘Mel,’ Etienne said dangerously, ‘do you want to hold this dinner party or not?’

  ‘Of course I want to hold it but it’s ridiculous for you to hold it over my head like this as if I were a two-year-old!’

  ‘No, it’s not, so the horse goes into a paddock, along with the damn pony if necessary, and you stop trying to sneak down to the stables. Understood?’

  Since she had her hands full of crutches and a cast on her leg, her preferred options of slapping his face then stalking away were unattainable.

  ‘And before you bust a gut, Mel,’ he advised softly as his gaze travelled over her scarlet face and furious eyes, ‘I must tell you I regard you as particularly sane and admirable in just about every respect other than this.’

  Shock caused her to teeter on her crutches briefly. ‘You do?’

  ‘Yes, I do. You were marvellous at the bottom of the embankment when you must have been in terrible pain. You were terrific with Ewan the other night and a whole lot more besides, so don’t disappoint me over this.’

  ‘Then why…?’ She stopped and bit her lip.

  ‘Why?’ he repeated.

  ‘It doesn’t matter. OK, Rimfire can go into the paddock and I’ll go back to the house.’ She turned and started to hop away.

  ‘Stay here. Sit on that bench,’ he commanded. ‘I’ll get the car and drive you down so you can oversee the operation.’

  ‘You don’t—’

  ‘Just don’t argue, Mel,’ he advised impatiently, and strode away.

  Five minutes later he drove down in MEL 1, with Mrs Bedwell in the back seat. He helped her in and they continued on to the stables, where Mel had a fond reunion with Rimfire before his transfer to the paddock.

  ‘I find this hard to believe,’ Etienne said, as they watched Rimfire follow Mrs Bedwell like a lamb on a loose lead.

  Mel smiled inwardly while she observed gravely, ‘Most men would.’

  He looked down at her, balanced beside him against the fence. ‘You believe we have large egos, men in general?’

  ‘Uh…sometimes.’

  ‘You can be honest, Mel.’

  She glanced up and her eyes were full of humour. ‘All right, often!’

  ‘You could be right. Do you reckon we should transfer the pony over as well?’

  ‘I’d be happier if you did. They’re good friends, although Tosh might have some trouble catching him.’

  ‘Do him good, might take his mind off mischief. Uh…think I could handle the pony?’

  She laughed outright. ‘I’m sure your ego isn’t that bruised, Etienne!’

  ‘How would you know?’ he asked with his eyes alight with devilry, and went away.

  The pony, in fact, was delighted to join Rimfire in the paddock and presented no problem to Etienne. And he stopped briefly to converse with Mrs Bedwell before returning to Mel and helping her up into the Range Rover.

  She looked a question at him as he started up, and Mrs Bedwell waved to them.

  ‘She’s going to walk back to the house. I thought you might like a tour of the property; no walking, but at least you can look.’

  A delighted smile spread over Mel’s face. ‘I would love to!’

  He grimaced. ‘You’re easily pleased.’

  So that was what they did. Inspected the cattle, the state of the pineapple crop, two crucial dams on the property and the state of her free-range chickens.

  And for the first time Mel saw fences where they’d been rather desperately needed, a new roof on the shed where the pineapples were stored and a brand-new tractor.

  ‘Oh, wow!’ she said, feasting her eyes on the shiny mechanical marvel. ‘What a beauty! When did that arrive?’

  ‘Only a day or so ago. I forgot to mention it. I’ve also employed a couple of new hands, as we did discuss before we got married.’

  ‘I’m not going to take issue with any of it,’ she told him with a wry little smile. ‘We needed them before I got taken out of action.’

  They were driving slowly up the drive now in late-afternoon sunlight. Insects were hovering in the clear air and there was a golden glow over the paddocks.

  ‘So, am I forgiven?’ Etienne asked.

  ‘For what?’ She raised her eyebrows at him.

  ‘Being a bit tough on you earlier.’ He swung the wheel and brought the car to a halt in front of the main steps.

  She sighed, but contentedly. ‘You are!’

  He slid his arm along her backrest and looked down at her rather probingly.

  She blinked a couple of times. ‘What?’

  ‘Nothing.’ He looked away and went to open his door.

  ‘Etienne.’ She waited until he turned back. ‘Thank you, for everything.’

  ‘My pleasure, ma’am.’ This time he got out and came around to get her. He lifted her out and carried her into the house, and his strength and his warmth, all of which she craved but for some reason was being denied, assaulted Mel again.

  The second instance that broke the peace of those three weeks was not of her doing. Etienne invited his second-in-command, Roger Mason, and his wife Sue, for a late-afternoon barbecue one Sunday. He explained to Mel that he’d asked them because it would help her to get to know them before the dinner party. Not only that but it also showed her another side of Etienne.

  He gave Mrs Bedwell the whole weekend off; he took over the kitchen and press-ganged the boys into helping him.

  For the barbecue, Justin had charge of the fire, Ewan was the drinks waiter and Tosh became Etienne’s offsider. The boys seemed to enjoy this and were all spruced up without any of the usual complaints.

  It was a glorious afternoon on Sunday. The barbecue was on the east lawn; there was a long wooden table beside it and some comfortable recliners. Mel was commanded to relax and talk to the guests while Etienne put the finishing touches to his preparations.

  ‘We were devastated to miss your wedding,’ Roger Mason said on being introduced, ‘weren’t we, Susie?’ He was about fifty and short but with humorous eyes.

  ‘We certainly were,’ his wife, who looked to be the same age but was half a head taller, agreed, ‘but we were overseas. I believe it was a lovely day, though.’

  Mel was saved from replying because at that point the Masons handed her a wedding gift which, when opened, proved to be a set of three beautifully carved mahogany horses on an inlaid brass plinth.

  ‘Oh, how lovely!’ She was genuinely thrilled and moved. ‘Thank you so much! But how did you know I love horses?’

  ‘A little bird told us!’ Susie Mason winked at her.

  They sat down and began to chat easily. Mel was persuaded to tell them all about Rimfire and how she was coping with her crutches and in return she learnt that Susie and Roger were mad about pigs, which they raised as a hobby on their smallholding.

  So it was all going really well, when Susie looked around and said enthusiastically, ‘This is so lovely! Have you always lived here, Mel?’

  ‘Yes, I have.’

  ‘It’s why she married Etienne,’ Tosh confided as he offered a plate of snacks around. ‘So she could go on living here, so we all could, I guess. We couldn’t have afforded it otherwise.’

  ‘It was not,’ Ewan muttered with a furious glance in Tosh’s direction as he was about to top up Roger’s wine.

  ‘But I heard you and Justin talking about it!’ Tosh objected. ‘That’s what was said.’

  Ewan slammed his bottle of wine down on the table and tackled his younger brother around the legs, yelling, at the same time as cocktail sausages, pieces of cheese and olives flew everywhere, ‘You have got to be the most infuriating kid ever invented!’

  ‘Whoa!’ It was Etienne, coming down the steps with dishes of meat and kebabs in his hands. ‘What have we here?’ He put everything down and deftly grabbed a boy in each hand. Tosh came up for air, red-faced and supremely indignant, whilst Ewan still looked to be fighting mad.

  ‘OK, here’s what I suggest,’ Etien
ne said easily but with an undertone of command, ‘you both apologise, the mess gets cleared up and we have no more of this.’

  ‘But…’ It was Tosh, of course.

  ‘Now, Tosh.’

  Tosh looked up at his brother-in-law and for once in his life what he saw persuaded him to desist. It must have communicated itself to Ewan as well because both boys mumbled their apologies and began to clean up.

  ‘What was that all about?’

  They’d just waved the Masons off. Thanks to the social skills of Etienne and their guests, the barbecue had proceeded as if nothing had happened.

  Mel had turned to go indoors but she turned back slowly and explained briefly. ‘Tosh…I guess his only mistake was telling it as he’d overheard it being told, and a supreme lack of discretion, but he is only ten,’ she finished.

  Etienne was leaning against a post, laughing silently.

  ‘I agree that in all other circumstances it could have been funny,’ she said carefully.

  He straightened. ‘I wonder where he gets it from?’

  ‘Me,’ she returned flatly.

  ‘Mel.’ He sobered and looked at her narrowly, then paused.

  She shrugged. ‘If you don’t mind everyone knowing how it happened, who am I to quibble? It’s the truth anyway.’

  Something flickered in his gaze. ‘I can guarantee no one will hear anything from the Masons; they’re far too nice.’

  She lifted her chin at him. ‘It’s bound to get out sooner or later.’

  ‘What exactly is bothering you, Mel?’ he asked dangerously.

  She gazed at him then turned to hop away.

  ‘No. Hang on.’ He put a hand on her shoulder. ‘I would have thought everything was going well. We seem to be integrating with no problems, the farm is coming good, your leg is healing properly as the last lot of X-rays showed—and it’s no one else’s damn business anyway.’

  ‘Then, as you say, everything is fine, Etienne,’ she murmured. ‘May I go?’

  He swore. ‘Don’t tell me you’re turning out like every other bloody woman on the planet?’