Whirlpool Read online

  Outside, in the car park, the sun shone down brilliantly.

  It was one of those rare, lovely, crisp winter days, with a dazzling blue sky overhead.

  She felt as though she were in a dream. A dream of happiness, of achievement.

  She said goodbye to various people. Watched various people say goodbye to one another. Saw them get into their cars and drive away into the afternoon.

  And then she was standing there alone, dreamily soaking up the sun. She felt as mountain climbers must feel as they reached the peaks they’d fought so hard to attain. A sensation of having broken through the clouds, of having left all unhappiness, all disappointment behind her for ever. It was love that gave her that feeling. The love that Damian filled her with, brimming her spirit.

  She felt the shiver of memory cross her skin as she thought back over these past days of lovemaking. How he’d used his flawless, magnificent body to exalt her, to bring her to the heights of response, again and again and again.

  But it was so very much more than just sex. It was something that made them one person, whole and indivisible.

  The most wonderful feeling she had ever known. That they were growing hourly ever more expert at knowing one another’s pleasures, that they could never put out the flames of desire that were constantly springing up between them … all that was wonderful.

  More wonderful was the sure knowledge that they were equally matched in spirit. The knowledge that told her their marriage, their life together, was going to be immaculately happy …

  She felt his presence at her side, and turned to smile up into his face.

  ‘Need a lift home, Mrs Waterford?’

  ‘Why, thank you, Mr. Holt.’

  He gave her his arm, and they walked together to his car. ‘Thank you for those kind words back there, by the way,’ he said solemnly. ‘Much obliged.’

  ‘A good morning’s work all round,’ she agreed. ‘Well, Mr. Holt. It seems you own my company.’

  ‘And it seems, Mrs Waterford, that you own my heart.’

  She couldn’t stop herself from smiling. ‘Not to mention a large portion of your money. What am I going to do with it all?’

  ‘Blow it on diamonds,’ he suggested, opening the door of the Porsche. ‘Give it to the poor. Use it to buy Old Master paintings. Or a racehorse. Or a hospital in India.’

  ‘I might do all those things,’ she nodded. ‘You’re a mine of good ideas, Mr. Holt.’

  As they drove out of the factory gates, she laid her curly head on his shoulder, and sighed.

  ‘That,’ he judged, ‘is the sigh of a truly happy woman.’

  ‘If you only knew how I felt, Damian. I feel so―free. As if a gigantic weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I could flyaway like a kite.’

  ‘Except I’ll always be holding your string,’ he smiled. ‘Oh, by the way―I’ve spoken to the vicar. We’ve set the date for the wedding on the eighteenth of next month.’

  ‘Without consulting me?’ she exclaimed, sitting up indignantly. ‘Now look here, mister! You may have bought out Waterford Electronics, and you may have conquered my heart-but my mind is still very much my own, thank you very much!’

  He laughed helplessly at her expression. ‘Have you any objection to the eighteenth?’

  ‘Of course not.’

  ‘Then shut up,’ he advised.

  ‘You do know that the marriage service has changed,’ she said significantly. ‘It doesn’t read, “Love, honour and obey,” any more. Just, “Love, honour and cherish.” Nobody says obey any more.’

  ‘You are,’ he informed her silkily. ‘You’re going to say the old words.’

  ‘I am not!’

  ‘Oh, yes, you are. Or the whole thing is off!’

  ‘You don’t scare me,’ she snorted. ‘You tried to shrug me off once before―and look where it got you.’

  ‘ "Love, honour and obey," ' he said.

  ‘ "Love, honour and cherish." ’

  They were still wrangling about it as they pulled up in front of Ely Hall a quarter of an hour later.

  They got out of the car, and both looked at the enchanted old place. Its venerable stones seemed to smile a welcome at them. The mullioned windows were like friendly eyes, staring serenely out over the wonderful future that stretched ahead for them.

  The front door was open. The furniture van on the gravel outside was unloading some of Kirby’s things from the Lodge. Not a great deal … she was selling most of the contents with the house. Leaving her old life behind her to take up the new.

  Or, at least, some of her old life; they caught sight of Mrs Carstairs instructing the removals men where to take things.

  ‘All right,’ she sighed, taking Damian’s hand. ' “Obey”, it is.’

  ‘I’ve changed my mind. We’ll have “cherish”.’

  They looked at one another, and smiled. ‘It’s the same thing,’ Kirby said.

  ‘Yes,’ he agreed.

  They kissed, with the tender love she knew they would always have. And then they walked forward together into their new life.