Scandalous Bride by Diana Hamilton

Author:Diana Hamilton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

‘She’ll be fine this time. I’m sure of it,’ Olivia asserted, echoing the words Vanessa’s consultant had said back at the private clinic. ‘She’s getting the best possible treatment, and there are only another couple of months to go.’ She was so tired she could scarcely keep her eyes open. Dawn was breaking over the city streets.

‘I hope to God you’re right,’ James muttered, his hands tight on the wheel, his face grey with fatigue. ‘It breaks me up to see her so afraid, in pain. I can’t bear to think what will happen if she loses this child. I feel so damned useless!’

Tears of compassion for his obvious anguish blurred her vision and she said quickly, thickly, ‘She’s not in pain now. And that’s an excellent sign, and you’re not useless. Don’t think it. You’re always there for her, that’s what counts.’

‘Not last night, I wasn’t,’ he argued gruffly. ‘And thanks for thinking to leave that note for me, telling me she’d been admitted to the nursing home. Thanks for everything. She told me she felt a thousand times better after you arrived. I felt bad, asking you to drop everything. But I couldn’t think what else to do.’

‘Nonsense,’ Olivia said, meaning it. ‘When I think what you and Vanny did for me after Max was killed, I know I’ll never be able to repay the debt, no matter how many times you call on me in a crisis.’

But James merely shrugged, persisting, ‘I hope Nathan didn’t mind lending you to us? He seemed—’ he paused, searching for words ‘—a tad aggressive this afternoon.’

The big car purred along the Embankment, dawn light staining the smooth surface of the Thames a rosy pink. For a split second she was tempted to tell him about the vicious gossip Hugh was putting around. That would explain everything. But, as she had done before, she thought better of it. Poor James had even more to worry about now.

‘He was just annoyed because I’d forgotten our lunch date,’ she excused lightly. ‘It had nothing at all to do with you.’

Oh, if only that were true! They were nearly at the turning for the mews cottage now, and for the first time she seriously doubted the wisdom of agreeing to have James drive her home.

They’d both listened to the consultant’s reassuring words and while James had gone to spend a few more minutes with his wife Olivia had snatched a quick coffee and then gone in search of a pay phone.

But James had found her first, refusing to allow her to disturb Nathan at this hour.

‘I’m going back myself, to pack a few more things Vanny needs and grab a couple of hours’ sleep, so I might just as well drop you off; it’s the least I can do. And why drag him out of bed when there’s no need?’

But would Nathan, with his Hugh Caldwell-induced doubts, see it that way? Had he been waiting for her call asking him to fetch her home? Would

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