Page 18 of Bride Under Contract

He frowned, as if deeply considering her words. For a moment she thought he had a question, or was about to say something, but he stayed silent.

‘Then she accused Violet of stealing a necklace.’

‘That was the tipping point?’

‘No.’ Grace swallowed before adding. ‘Unfortunately not.’

She’d stopped crying a very long time ago, but this memory was one of the few things that could almost reduce her to tears.

‘I didn’t accuse her...but I didn’t defend her as I should have.’

The cicadas were silent, as if they too were listening, but then a loud burst of laughter from the group of men snapped her back to the present.

‘It was the impetus to talk to our family doctor.’ She met Carter’s very accommodating gaze. ‘When I was first told all I worried about was that it might be hereditary.’ She was past putting herself in a flattering light. ‘How selfish is that?’

‘Practical, maybe?’ Carter suggested. ‘I’d want to know.’

‘Well, her type of dementia isn’t, as it turned out.’ She thought for a moment. ‘It’s just a cruel disease...’

‘Was her illness the reason you cancelled your trip?’

Grace nodded. ‘I was her carer—and working too, of course. But I was lucky enough to be able to do my job from home...data entry...’

‘So, you were doing two jobs?’

‘I’m not sure taking care of my mother counted as a job.’ She frowned at his rather direct summing up. ‘And as well as that I would never have...’ She paused, that disloyal feeling revisiting her. No, she would not be discussing her mother’s finances. ‘Well, if I’d known all that was coming, I wouldn’t have planned a month away.’

‘But now she’s being taken care of?’

‘Yes...’ She wavered, knowing he couldn’t possibly get the pain behind her choice. But neither did he need to know, so she forced a smile. ‘There’s a choir group, gardening...she’s got a better social life than I have!’

He didn’t return her smile. Only it didn’t feel as if another of her little jokes had fallen flat—instead, it was as if he was giving her a pause before elaborating.

But she was already a little stunned that she’d told him so much.

This stranger.

Who magnetised her...who’d drawn thoughts out of her like iron filings...

She felt embarrassed by how much she’d said. ‘Sorry for oversharing.’ She grimaced. ‘I haven’t told anyone here. This place, though...’ She looked out to the river and the sky above. ‘It makes you slow down.’

‘And, of course, there’s no internet,’ he pointed out.

‘True!’ She glanced up as the newlyweds passed and said goodnight. ‘Sleep well.’ Grace said.

‘Newlyweds?’ he checked.

She nodded.

He frowned. ‘Playing cards?’

I know! Grace wanted to say, because she’d thought exactly the same.

She didn’t go there, though—after all, she had no sex life to compare.

However, if she were on her honeymoon...with someone as...

‘I ought to get to bed.’ She put down her glass. ‘We’re meeting at dawn. Last chance to see the orangutans!’

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