His Bid for a Bride

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘Ah.’ The other woman grimaced. ‘Well, I could say that it’s a small town. Or that my cleaning lady also cleans here—which she does, by the way,’ Belinda added lightly, ‘that she recognized you and mentioned the fact to me. Or—’

  ‘The truth will do, Belinda,’ Skye told her wryly, moving to fill the kettle in order to make them both a cup of coffee.

  ‘Falkner asked the taxi driver to let him know where he took you yesterday,’ Belinda admitted evenly. ‘Now I know how that must sound, Skye.’ She rushed into speech as Skye’s face darkened angrily as she turned from making the coffee.

  ‘It sounds exactly like Falkner!’ she corrected exasperatedly; he had probably been doing exactly that yesterday when she’d looked down on the driveway and seen him chatting to the taxi driver.

  ‘Yes, it does,’ Belinda acknowledged ruefully. ‘But he’s genuinely concerned about you, Skye—’

  ‘Please don’t take offence at this, Belinda,’ she cut in coldly, ‘but the least I hear about your arrogant brother at the moment, the better I’ll like it!’

  Belinda sighed. ‘I can understand that. I did try to warn him…’ She shrugged ruefully.

  ‘I heard you.’ Skye nodded. ‘I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation with Falkner the day the children came to tea,’ she explained at Belinda’s questioning look. ‘Sugar?’ She held up the cup of coffee she had just made.

  ‘I’m on a diet.’ Belinda shook her head. ‘I’m always on a diet since I had the children,’ she added with a grimace as she took the cup of coffee. ‘Actually, it’s because of the children I’m here—well, not just because of the children, of course, but—’

  ‘Belinda, why don’t you just spit it out, hmm?’ Skye encouraged dryly as she sat in the chair opposite.

  Belinda nodded. ‘It’s the twins’ birthday party tomorrow.’

  ‘I remember.’ Once again Skye was on her guard.

  Belinda gave another nod. ‘Well, they were really disappointed they couldn’t come to dinner with us when we came to you and Falkner on Thursday evening, so to placate them at the time I told them you would be at their barbecue tomorrow. Believing, of course, at the time, that you would be,’ she added hastily. ‘They are very upset with their uncle Fork for letting you leave before their party.’

  Skye’s brows rose. ‘I don’t think it was actually a case of him having “let” me do anything.’ Although she could imagine that having the twins annoyed with him wasn’t something Falkner was accustomed to; he was more used to their adoration.

  ‘No, well, I did try to tell them that.’ Belinda sighed. ‘But children don’t understand these things. Especially almost-six-year-olds!’ she added with feeling.

  Skye had spent the last twenty-four hours at this hotel coming to terms with her changed circumstances.

  The very first thing she had done was to speak to her uncle in Ireland, to assure him of her continued love and support for him; that was something, after due consideration, she knew her father would have wanted. Her offer to return to Ireland to be with him was refused, but she promised Uncle Seamus that when the time came she would return to Ireland for his trial.

  The second thing she had done was to check exactly what funds she still had available to her; she had received all her father’s personal effects at the hospital, finding five hundred pounds in his wallet. Surely that, if nothing else, was still legally hers…?

  The third thing she had done, knowing that five hundred pounds wouldn’t last for very long, was to look at her options for employment, taking into account exactly what she was qualified for.

  She had been her father’s personal assistant since the age of eighteen, both at O’Hara Whiskey, and at the stables he ran on the estate. She had finally decided, with her uncle Seamus’s trial hanging over her head, that she couldn’t seriously expect anyone to take her on as their PA, and that she probably stood more chance of finding a job at the latter rather than the former.

  And what better place to find that sort of job than here, in the heart of horse-racing country, with over a dozen stables in the vicinity listed in the local telephone directory? In fact, she had already telephoned a couple of them and ascertained that they had vacancies for stable-lads/lasses, was going over tomorrow morning to meet with the stable managers. Besides, living and working at a stable, there was every chance she might be allowed to take Storm with her…

  In fact, the only drawback she had seen to these possibilities was Falkner’s close proximity.

  But even that didn’t have to be a problem, she had decided; she had more than made her feelings clear to Falkner about the two of them meeting again. Besides, she had reasoned—before Belinda’s visit today had told her the contrary—Falkner didn’t even have to know she was still in the area; she very much doubted, as a lowly stable-hand, she would ever run into him socially.

  Except, if she wasn’t mistaken, Belinda now seemed to be asking her to do exactly that.

  ‘I know it’s a lot to ask, Skye.’ The other woman easily sensed her misgivings. ‘But if I promise to do everything in my power to keep you and Falkner apart…?’

  Skye gave her a pitying look. ‘And what chance do you think you have of making that happen if Falkner should decide otherwise?’ But after the way they had parted yesterday, that wasn’t very likely. Although she doubted Falkner had confided in his sister concerning his marriage proposal—and its refusal.

  Belinda gave a sudden grin. ‘I’ll give him the job of cooking the barbecue with Charles; that should keep him busy!’

  Skye’s immediate thought was that Falkner probably shouldn’t be on his injured leg for any length of time—and then she chastised herself for even having the thought; nothing Falkner did or said in his life was of any concern to her.

  ‘The twins will be so disappointed if you don’t come, Skye,’ the other woman encouraged cajolingly.

  She gave a husky laugh. ‘Does that ploy usually work, Belinda?’

  ‘Usually, yes,’ Belinda admitted ruefully.

  Why not? After feeling the last two weeks as if everything was running out of her control, Skye felt as if the last twenty-four hours she had actually taken that control of her life back again. She wasn’t about to let Falkner, or anyone else for that matter, take that away from her ever again.

  But was she ready to see Falkner again quite this soon after telling him exactly what he could do with himself and his idea of helping her…?

  The answer to that was definitely yes. She might have grown in confidence these last twenty-four hours—especially if she managed to get a job tomorrow—but she had also gained in maturity this last two weeks, too. A maturity that meant she was more than capable of meeting Falkner tomorrow at the birthday party of his niece and nephew.

  Belinda was still looking at her hopefully. And the twins were adorable…

  ‘Okay,’ Skye sighed her agreement. ‘But if Falkner so much as looks like causing a scene—’

  ‘He won’t,’ Belinda assured her quickly, standing up to leave, unable to hide the smile of triumph she felt at the successful outcome of her visit. ‘It’s casual dress, by the way,’ she said on her way to the door.

  Apart from a couple of business suits Skye had brought with her on this initial business trip with her father, she didn’t have any other clothes but casual! Besides, it was oldest clothes she was going to need if she was working in a stable.

  If.

  That was the question…

  ‘You’re the last person I expected to see here today!’

  So much for Belinda’s promise—Skye had only arrived five minutes ago, and almost the first person to speak to her was Falkner.

  Skye stiffened, taking her time about turning to face him, smiling her thanks to Jemmy for her orange juice as he and Lissa moved excitedly amongst their guests with trays containing glasses of juice.

  Because Falkner was taking round a similar tray with the glasses of wine, Skye discover
ed as she slowly turned around, not seeming to have started on cooking the barbecue yet. Obviously, from his opening remark, Belinda hadn’t told him she had persuaded Skye into being here today.

  ‘I had hoped for the same thing,’ she answered Falkner coolly now.

  His mouth twisted into the semblance of a smile. ‘Sorry to disappoint you!’

  Skye continued to look at him coldly. ‘You aren’t sorry at all, Falkner.’

  ‘No,’ he allowed evenly, his narrowed gaze searching on her face. ‘Are you okay?’ he prompted huskily.

  She bristled resentfully. ‘Why shouldn’t I be?’

  He shrugged. ‘The newspapers yesterday weren’t exactly—kind.’

  Skye gave a dismissive shrug. ‘I’ve decided not to read newspapers—until they start printing something that is actually news.’ In truth, she had seen the story of her father’s funeral in the newspapers yesterday, the unflattering photograph of her as she’d left the church on Friday. ‘Are they still camped out at your place?’ she prompted uninterestedly.

  Falkner shrugged. ‘One or two.’

  Skye nodded, knowing very well that in a day or two she would be old news. Perhaps then everyone could get on with their lives. In the meantime, she intended getting on with hers!

  ‘I’m sorry about that.’ She grimaced.

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ he dismissed. ‘Skye—’

  ‘Falkner, it’s time you went and helped Charles with the barbecue.’ Belinda arrived briskly on the scene. ‘Besides, you aren’t doing too well as a wine-waiter!’ She took the tray of drinks from his unresisting hands.

  He smiled unrepentantly at his sister. ‘It wasn’t what I was trained for.’

  ‘I have yet to see exactly what you were trained for, Falkner,’ Belinda came back archly. ‘Why don’t you try your hand at cooking?’

  He gave his sister a quizzical look. ‘Why do I have the feeling this is some sort of female conspiracy?’

  ‘Probably because you men always come to that conclusion!’ Belinda returned waspishly.

  Falkner gave a shake of his head. ‘I should have warned Charles about you before he married you!’

  ‘I did warn him,’ Belinda assured him unrepentantly. ‘He said he was willing to take the risk.’

  Falkner glanced across to where his brother-in-law was laughing with the twins as they brought out the food they were going to need to feed the fifty or so guests who were here for the twins’ birthday, the parents having been invited as well as the children.

  ‘He looks well enough on it,’ Falkner murmured ruefully.

  Skye had been watching and listening to this interplay between brother and sister with fascination; as an only child, brought up by men, she had never had this sort of verbal exchange in her own life. It looked like fun.

  Except that one of the people having that fun was the man she had to hold herself aloof from if she were to survive the next few weeks. The man she loved…!

  ‘You should try it some time, Falkner,’ Belinda told her brother challengingly now.

  His humour faded, his expression becoming grim. ‘I did, remember? It was a disaster. I would be a fool to even contemplate going through that again,’ he grated, his gaze icy as it swept dismissively over Skye.

  She felt the warmth in her cheeks at this reminder—to her at least!—of his proposal to her two days ago. A proposal she had turned down…

  ‘Are you going to help Charles or not?’ Belinda asked pointedly.

  ‘I am,’ Falkner bit out abruptly, giving Skye a terse nod. ‘Perhaps I’ll see you again later,’ was his parting shot.

  Not if she saw him first, was her own, inward, answer to that! From the derisive smile that curved Falkner’s mouth as he strolled across to join his brother-in-law, it was a thought he was perfectly attuned to!

  ‘Whew.’ Belinda let out a relieved sigh at her brother’s departure. ‘I’m really sorry about that, Skye; one minute you were chatting happily to the twins, the next Falkner was here!’ She shook her head. ‘I got over here as quickly as I could.’

  Skye gave a husky laugh at the other woman’s obvious panic. ‘Don’t worry about it, Belinda; I really am quite capable of dealing with Falkner,’ she assured her softly. And knowing that she actually was…

  ‘I know, but I promised.’ Belinda grimaced. ‘The twins love the toys you brought for them, by the way.’

  Skye smiled warmly. ‘They’re very welcome.’ To buy the presents for the twins had taken a big chunk out of the money she had at her disposal, but there was no way she was going to come here today without giving them something.

  Belinda glanced across to where Falkner and Charles were busy putting food on the barbecue. ‘I know I ragged him unmercifully just now, but Falkner really has had a rough time this last few years, emotionally as well as physically,’ she added with an affectionate grimace.

  Skye’s brows lowered in a heavy frown. ‘If you’re trying to make me feel guilty—’

  ‘Oh, but I’m not,’ the older woman instantly assured her. ‘I was just—well, yes, I suppose it could appear that way,’ she allowed with a rueful wrinkling of her nose. ‘It’s just—Falkner and I have always been close, and—I don’t like to see him unhappy.’

  Skye gave a dismissive shake of her head. ‘If he’s unhappy then it isn’t because of me,’ she said with certainty. ‘In fact, he should be pleased to have me out of his hair.’

  ‘He doesn’t look very pleased.’ Belinda laughed dryly.

  No, Skye inwardly agreed after a brief glimpse at Falkner; if anything he looked grimly determined as he helped Charles.

  ‘He’ll get used to it,’ Skye dismissed as she turned away. ‘Tell me who some of your other guests are,’ she invited lightly.

  It was obvious, over the next few minutes, as Belinda was greeted by some of those other guests, that the Chapman family were very well liked in the area, Belinda finally having to excuse herself as she was called over to organize the order of the food being cooked on the barbecue.

  There were about fifty people altogether, and if any of them recognized Skye from the photograph in the newspaper yesterday, they were too polite to say so. In fact, an hour later, Skye was having such a good time that she had almost forgotten Falkner’s brooding presence over by the barbecue.

  Almost…

  It would be impossible to forget him altogether, especially as every time she glanced his way that brooding gaze was focused on her. Oh, Falkner gave the barbecue his attention occasionally, but for the main part he watched Skye as she laughed and chatted with several of the other guests, the scowl on his face speaking of his impatience with his own preoccupation.

  ‘Selina…?’

  Skye frowned as she turned to face the man who had spoken questioningly behind her, smiling enquiringly as she found herself looking at a tall, pleasant-faced man of about thirty. Although that face was slightly pale now as he stared at her disbelievingly.

  ‘No.’ He spoke again, slowly. ‘It isn’t, is it? For a minute there I really thought—’ He shook his head, making an effort to pull himself together. ‘I’m sorry, I’m being extremely rude.’ He attempted a smile. ‘It was just that you reminded me of someone else for a moment.’

  Someone ‘else’ called Selina…

  Selina Harrington?

  ‘That’s okay,’ Skye told him lightly; at least he hadn’t recognized her as the Skye O’Hara whose photograph had appeared in the newspapers yesterday! ‘You aren’t the first person to make that mistake,’ she assured him.

  No, he wasn’t, was he…?

  Could this perhaps be the reason for Falkner’s sudden marriage proposal to her on Friday? Because she was apparently a look-alike for his ex-wife…?

  CHAPTER NINE

  ‘I’M SORRY, I should have introduced myself.’ The young man was recovering quickly from his earlier mistake concerning her identity, his smile openly friendly now, the colour having returned to his cheeks. ‘Paul Barclay.’ He held out his han
d to her. ‘I’m one of the many local vets.’

  ‘Skye,’ she returned noncommittally as she briefly shook his hand. ‘Pleased to meet you.’

  ‘And you.’ He nodded, a tall, slender man, with unruly blond hair that he habitually brushed from his forehead, only to have it fall straight back again. ‘Are you a friend of the family?’

  She shrugged. ‘I do know the whole family, yes, but I’m here primarily at the twins’ invitation.’ She had no idea what she and Falkner were—but it certainly wasn’t friends!

  ‘Belinda and Charles are a great couple, aren’t they?’ Paul nodded.

  ‘I—we’re quite new acquaintances, but, yes, I find them very likeable,’ Skye answered carefully. ‘And the twins are adorable,’ she added without hesitation.

  ‘I’m called in occasionally to look at the family dog,’ Paul explained his own presence here.

  Skye had seen the Golden Labrador wandering amongst the guests, its tail wagging happily. ‘I don’t think he’s going to need your assistance today.’ Skye smiled.

  ‘No.’ Paul returned her smile, his brown gaze warmly admiring as he looked at her. ‘I believe Belinda has announced that the food is ready; shall we wander over and get some?’

  Apart from the fact that he had initially mistaken her for Falkner’s ex-wife, Paul Barclay seemed pleasant enough; Belinda had made the same mistake on the day the two of them had been introduced, and it hadn’t affected her liking for the other woman. Besides, she would rather not be on her own when she went for her food; Falkner was still cooking on the barbecue!

  ‘That sounds lovely,’ Skye accepted, putting down her empty glass on one of the tables that had been placed outside.

  ‘Great!’ Paul gave a boyish smile.

  He was thirty-three and a bachelor, Skye learnt as they strolled over to the laden tables, had lived in the area for four years, and found it very much to his liking.

  ‘Even more so now,’ he added with an obviously warm glance in Skye’s direction.