The Grazier's Wife by Barbara Hannay

Author:Barbara Hannay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781760142148
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

21

Seth frowned as he watched the two women leave. Hell. He had no idea how Alice would handle this challenge, especially with Joanna hovering over her. He shouldn’t have let Alice try to do this. He should have insisted, should have taken charge.

‘I know this is tough for you.’

Seth blinked. Joanna’s husband was offering him a sympathetic smile. ‘Thanks,’ he said tightly.

‘I must admit I wasn’t looking forward to this meeting,’ Nigel added. ‘It was rather a daunting prospect to be here with my wife, sitting next to my wife’s former lover, and with her son being brought up on the far side of the planet.’

Seth was in no mood to sympathise. He gave an offhand shrug. ‘It was Joanna’s call.’

‘I know that, Seth. And the poor girl’s poured her heart out to me. She’s full of guilt about this. She even admitted that she was the one who hit on you, not the other way round.’

This was a surprise. Carefully, Seth asked, ‘Did Joanna also tell you that she left Charlie here because she was scared you’d reject him?’

‘Yes.’ Nigel sighed. ‘She shouldn’t have felt that way. I’m in no position to point the finger. For those eighteen months, when we went our separate ways, we agreed we were both free agents.’ He shrugged and his mouth tilted in a rueful smile. ‘It seemed like a good idea at the time.’

He dropped his gaze to his coffee cup and his ears reddened. ‘The thing is, I love her, Seth. I really do.’

This certainly took the wind out of Seth’s sails. He’d been braced for a patronising aristocrat, even a bully, but Nigel Fox-Richards was quiet and well-meaning. A regular bloke. Sincere, too.

To Seth’s surprise, he liked the man.

‘Look – if I were in your shoes,’ Nigel went on, ‘I’d probably have a barrage of lawyers and a barbwire fence around Charlie.’ He reached out his hand to Seth. ‘I swear we’re not going to try to take him away from you.’

‘Thanks.’ Seth felt as if a brick had lodged in his throat as he clasped Nigel’s hand firmly. ‘I must admit I was pretty fired up about this.’

‘That’s perfectly understandable.’

They looked each other in the eye.

‘I can tell just by looking at you, you’re a man of your word,’ Seth said.

Nigel’s eyebrows rose. ‘How?’

‘You’ve got a rugby broken nose, mate.’

They laughed together then, a clear declaration of peace, and they might have settled into a discussion about rugby if the girls hadn’t reappeared.

Seth wondered how Alice had managed. At least she looked quite relaxed, and Charlie seemed happy enough as he hurried ahead of them.

‘All good?’ he asked as they arrived.

‘Fine.’ Alice smiled as she caught his eye. ‘Charlie’s mum did the honours.’

‘Ah,’ Seth said with a knowing grin.

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