Harlequin Omnibus: Take Me with You, Choose What You Will, Meant for Each Other

by Mary Burchell

  "Don't say any more, sweetheart. I'm really of a rather jealous disposition," Lin said. "Besides, I know Stephen is a good boy. He wrote me a most generous letter, wishing me well and owning that he had hoped to marry you himself, but only wanted you to have the man you really wanted. Which has led me to hope since that he would find someone else. Because if one can be quite so objective and noble—"

  "And what were you but objective and noble—" Thea wanted to know "—when you went to all that trouble to make yourself appear a villain in my eyes, so that I wouldn't have any remorse about leaving you? For I suppose that was your silly idea."

  "That was my silly idea," he agreed. "But it wasn't objective and noole. It was merely a belated attempt to right a very grave wrong I had done you."

  "And what was that?" inquired Thea interestedly.

  "Well, what we've just been discussing, you goose. Tricking you into marrying me.''

  "Oh, that? That was the most sensible part of the whole proceeding,'' Thea said.

  He laughed then in the way she loved to hear him laugh. As though he had no more cares or experience than a boy.

  "If I kiss you again, do I risk having my face slapped?" he inquired.

  "Oh, Lin, I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you?" She put her hand up against his cheek.

  "Yes, badly/' he told her with a teasing smile, and they exchanged a long kiss.

  Then, after a contented silence, she said, *'Lin, is it going to be all right, after all?"

  "If you mean, are you going to stay married to me—you are. Thoueh of course it isn't especially suitable. Tm too old for you—

  "You're not!"

  "—And I'm not an ideal husband for an innocent young girl, but-"

  "Lin, please tell me now, and then let's never speak of the subject again. Are you the sort of philanderer tnat people like to make out?"

  " If I tell you, will you promise never to give me away? "

  "I promise," she said rather apprehensively.

  "Well, my darling, I'm quite distressingly respectable in most ways, as women—with notable exceptions—bore me extremely. But I had a few wild months when I first came back after the war, and few of us were normal while we were gradually lowering the pitch of our nerves after grueling air warfare. That gave me the first label, I suppose, and believe it or not, i found it good 'box office' and—

  "Stephen always said you did!"

  "Well, he was right." Lin smiled.

  "And the—the 'notable exceptions?' " Thea said nervously.

  "At the risk of destroying my last shred of glamorous wickedness, love, I must admit that the notable exceptions are friends, or women I admire from the intellectual point of view, and certainly not the heroines of amorous adventures," Lin said gravely.

  "Oh, I 'm so glad!" Thea threw her arms around his neck. "But I'll never tell anyone,"she promised.

  He was still laughing and kissing her for that when Mrs. Dorley came out into the garden, with the express intention of rescuing Thea from a wretched and embarrassing interview.

  "Dear me!" She stood regarding them with amusement and satisfaction. "This is a funny way to discuss divorce, isn't it?"

  They both jumped to their feet, laughing a good deal, and Mrs. Dorley and Lin kissed each other very warmly.

  "Everything's all right," Thea explained with naive comprehensiveness. "Most of the trouble was a mistake and—oh, anyway, I expect you want to talk to Lin. I'll go and help Emma with the tea."

  For a moment Lin detained her by holding her hand, as though he could not quite bear to part with her even for so short a while. Then he smilingly released her, and Thea ran into the house.

  "Oh, Emma, everything's so lovely!" she exclaimed as she came into the kitchen, and she picked up Darry and hugged him, though he indicated by majestic unresponsiveness that he considered she was taking liberties.

  "Ah, well. Miss Thea, that just shows.'

  "Shows what, Emma?"

  "That if you're meant for each other, it will work out that way somehow."

  Thea smiled.

  "Meant for each other? Yes, perhaps that's what we were." And she rubbed her cheek contentedly against Darry's soft fur, and because he was very kind at heart, for all his dignity, he responded with a pianissimo purr.

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  This book made available by the Internet Archive.