costs. Pleased with the results, she handed the sheets to Leon after dinner.
He ran a practiced eye down the list. ‘Not bad, Darcie, but you’ve forgotten the advertising and the profit margin.’
‘I haven’t forgotten. Advertising is expensive - so I wanted to discuss what would be the most effective - and perhaps come up with a budget. As for the profit margin, I need advice on that. I didn’t know what would be a reasonable charge.’
He frowned. ‘Your wage costings seem a bit low.’
‘Not really.’ She beamed him a smile. ‘I got in touch with the local trades college. The tutor of the hospitality course is always on the look out for places where the students can gain hands-on job experience at weekends ... and perhaps a reference for their CV’s. It gives the students credibility with employers when the course is finished.’
Leon sighed. ‘You mean we’d have a bunch of spotty teenagers running around the function room at weekends practicing at being waiters?’
‘They’re not all teenagers,’ she argued. ‘Some are married women who are trying to get back into paid work. Besides, what’s wrong with teenagers? They’re not all spotty. I didn’t get any spots when I was a teenager ... though I must admit some of my friends had a few. They used to try all sort of concoctions to get rid of them. One girl used a lemon juice and salt face pack, and broke out in all these blisters.’ Her voice trailed off when Leon began to laugh. ‘What’s so funny?’
‘The way your mind wanders off-track all the time. I give in. Use your students if that’s what you want.’ He set the papers aside. ‘Now, let’s talk about our wedding. Sunday week is a good day. There’s nothing booked for that weekend. We’ll go into town in the morning, see this marriage celebrant you’ve got on the list, apply for a special license and buy the wedding rings?’
Consternation on her face, she stared dumbly at him. This was no longer a game.
Leon’s smile could only have been described as smug. ‘Surely you hadn’t forgotten our bargain, Darcie.’
‘I was hoping you had,’ she said, becoming suddenly spineless.
His eyes narrowed. ‘Not a chance. I offered you the opportunity to back out. You refused.’
‘You wouldn’t be generous enough to offer me another, would you?’
‘Not this side of twelvemonths, I’m afraid.’ He brought an envelope out of his pocket and slid it across the table to her before he stood. ‘The prenuptial agreement - and the results of my blood test.’
‘Blood test? You went and got a blood test? What for?’
‘Because you’re as slippery as an eel and I wouldn’t put it past you to demand a certificate just before the wedding.’
‘Hah! I’m not as devious as you. It wouldn’t even have crossed my mind.’ She pulled out the certificate and gazed at it. An array of code numbers with negative typed beside them marched down the page. Right at the bottom was a positive.’
She stabbed it with her forefinger. ‘What does that positive mean?’
He leaned over and whispered in here ear. ‘It means I’ll have no trouble becoming a father when the time arrives.’
She blushed, and decided to visit the doctor herself before the wedding. Leon was too damned eager to become a father. She wasn’t going to trust his arrangements. She’d take some precautions of her own.
She was only marrying him to get her land back, she told herself without much conviction. She didn’t want his babies!They’d be cute if they took after him though, and clever.
Leon poured them both a brandy and sat back in his chair. ‘Let’s go over the arrangements. Is there anyone you want to invite?’
She shook her head. ‘What about you?’
‘The staff at the inn. We’d better arrange the ceremony between lunch and dinner. About three, say.’
‘A practical suggestion, Leon.’
The hint of sarcasm in her voice stung him, but he let it pass. ‘You’ll need some money to buy
He ran a practiced eye down the list. ‘Not bad, Darcie, but you’ve forgotten the advertising and the profit margin.’
‘I haven’t forgotten. Advertising is expensive - so I wanted to discuss what would be the most effective - and perhaps come up with a budget. As for the profit margin, I need advice on that. I didn’t know what would be a reasonable charge.’
He frowned. ‘Your wage costings seem a bit low.’
‘Not really.’ She beamed him a smile. ‘I got in touch with the local trades college. The tutor of the hospitality course is always on the look out for places where the students can gain hands-on job experience at weekends ... and perhaps a reference for their CV’s. It gives the students credibility with employers when the course is finished.’
Leon sighed. ‘You mean we’d have a bunch of spotty teenagers running around the function room at weekends practicing at being waiters?’
‘They’re not all teenagers,’ she argued. ‘Some are married women who are trying to get back into paid work. Besides, what’s wrong with teenagers? They’re not all spotty. I didn’t get any spots when I was a teenager ... though I must admit some of my friends had a few. They used to try all sort of concoctions to get rid of them. One girl used a lemon juice and salt face pack, and broke out in all these blisters.’ Her voice trailed off when Leon began to laugh. ‘What’s so funny?’
‘The way your mind wanders off-track all the time. I give in. Use your students if that’s what you want.’ He set the papers aside. ‘Now, let’s talk about our wedding. Sunday week is a good day. There’s nothing booked for that weekend. We’ll go into town in the morning, see this marriage celebrant you’ve got on the list, apply for a special license and buy the wedding rings?’
Consternation on her face, she stared dumbly at him. This was no longer a game.
Leon’s smile could only have been described as smug. ‘Surely you hadn’t forgotten our bargain, Darcie.’
‘I was hoping you had,’ she said, becoming suddenly spineless.
His eyes narrowed. ‘Not a chance. I offered you the opportunity to back out. You refused.’
‘You wouldn’t be generous enough to offer me another, would you?’
‘Not this side of twelvemonths, I’m afraid.’ He brought an envelope out of his pocket and slid it across the table to her before he stood. ‘The prenuptial agreement - and the results of my blood test.’
‘Blood test? You went and got a blood test? What for?’
‘Because you’re as slippery as an eel and I wouldn’t put it past you to demand a certificate just before the wedding.’
‘Hah! I’m not as devious as you. It wouldn’t even have crossed my mind.’ She pulled out the certificate and gazed at it. An array of code numbers with negative typed beside them marched down the page. Right at the bottom was a positive.’
She stabbed it with her forefinger. ‘What does that positive mean?’
He leaned over and whispered in here ear. ‘It means I’ll have no trouble becoming a father when the time arrives.’
She blushed, and decided to visit the doctor herself before the wedding. Leon was too damned eager to become a father. She wasn’t going to trust his arrangements. She’d take some precautions of her own.
She was only marrying him to get her land back, she told herself without much conviction. She didn’t want his babies!They’d be cute if they took after him though, and clever.
Leon poured them both a brandy and sat back in his chair. ‘Let’s go over the arrangements. Is there anyone you want to invite?’
She shook her head. ‘What about you?’
‘The staff at the inn. We’d better arrange the ceremony between lunch and dinner. About three, say.’
‘A practical suggestion, Leon.’
The hint of sarcasm in her voice stung him, but he let it pass. ‘You’ll need some money to buy
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