His Diamond Bride by Lucy Gordon Page B

George VI and Queen Elizabeth went on a visit to Canada, they were escorted by two warships.
    â€˜And there’s a rumour that those ships carried thirty million pounds in gold, for safe-keeping in Canada until it’s all over,’ Mark had said.
    Until it was all over. What would life be like then? Another universe in which he might, or might not be alive. She shivered.
    She tried to speak normally, but it was hard when everything in her was focused on one thing—to be alone with Mark, in his arms, kissing him and being kissed, feeling her body burn with new life. Her heart was breaking, yet she must try to pretend all was well.
    At last he rose. ‘I think I’ll take a breath of fresh air,’ he said casually.
    Eagerly, she joined him and they slipped out into the privacy of the garden. The next moment she was in his arms.
    â€˜Why must you go now?’ she begged. ‘It’s too soon.’
    â€˜I have to. But I’m going to miss you so much,’ he said hoarsely.
    â€˜Yes…yes…’
    The thought of the lonely time without him lent urgencyto her movements. In the past she’d fought down the blazing desire that almost overcame her when she was in his arms, but tonight she didn’t want to be controlled and virtuous. She wanted to let herself go and risk whatever the future held. If that meant being a ‘bad girl’, then so be it, as long as she could say that just once he’d been hers.
    He lifted his head and his eyes and his breathing told her that he was in the same state. Another moment and they would become each other’s and who cared for anything else?
    â€˜Mark,’ she whispered, ‘ Mark —’
    â€˜Do you want me?’
    â€˜Yes—’
    Urgently, he drew her down onto the grass and she gave herself up to the feel of his lips on her neck, drifting lower as he opened the buttons of her blouse. High above, the spring moon beamed down on her like a blessing, and she prepared herself for what would surely be the most beautiful experience of her life.
    Transported, she didn’t hear the door opening behind them, only her mother’s voice coming out of nowhere in an outraged cry of, ‘You can stop that!’
    She felt Mark freeze on top of her, heard his muttered curse. Then he drew away, helping her to her feet.
    â€˜Mum,’ she said desperately, ‘it’s not—’
    â€˜Don’t you try to fool me, my girl. I know what it’s not, and I know what it is . It’s shameful, that’s what it is. I thought you were a good girl, with more self-respect.’
    â€˜Come on, Helen,’ her husband begged under his voice. ‘After all, didn’t we—?’
    â€˜You hush.’ She turned on him furiously.
    â€˜Yes, dear.’
    â€˜You—’ she turned on Mark ‘—you should be ashamed of yourself, acting like that in a decent home. Just what do you think my daughter is?’
    â€˜Well, I was hoping she’d become my wife,’ Mark replied.
    Slowly, Dee turned her head towards him as the world exploded about her, full of blazing light and riotous colours. It had happened. He’d proposed. She would be his wife. Every dream had come true. Passionate joy held her speechless.
    Helen, too, was briefly dumb, but she was the first to recover. ‘That puts a different face on it,’ she said, cautious and not entirely yielding. ‘If you mean it.’
    â€˜I was going to ask Dee tonight, only you interrupted me.’
    Joe began to edge his wife away. ‘Goodnight, you two,’ he said with a touch of desperation as he managed to get Helen inside.
    Dee’s head was clearing and her sensible side reasserting itself, as it had a terrible habit of doing. She’d be a fool to believe this.
    â€˜It’s all right, Mark,’ she said in a low voice. ‘You don’t have to marry me.’
    He regarded her, his head on one side.