Bought: One Bride(26)

       
           



       

Holly realised she was going to learn a lot about her husband-to-be  during the ten days they would be away. Their return ticket was for  Thursday week, docking back at Darling Harbour on the Friday.

"You know your mother told me recently that the best way for two people  to find out if they can get along is to go away together."

"In that case, we're doing exceptionally well so far. Already an hour on the boat and we haven't argued once."

"You're obviously on your best behaviour. But can you keep it up?"

"It'll be a challenge," he said with a devilish twinkle in his eye. "But I'll do my best."

Holly punched him on one of his rock-hard biceps. "Your mother didn't  tell me you were so bad. She always said you were such a good boy."

"Never believe anything mothers say about their sons," he said as they  reached their cabin. "But speaking of my mother," he added once they  were inside, "I got an email from her this morning. Clever Melvin took a  laptop with him and gave me his email address. So I sent them an  announcement of our engagement."

"Oh, Richard, you didn't!" Holly had assumed he'd keep that a secret for  a while. "I hope you didn't tell her about the shop business. I like  your mother, Richard. And she likes me. The last thing I want is for her  to start thinking I'm some kind of fortune hunter!"

"Trust me, she doesn't. I did tell her I'd bought the shop for you and  she was very happy about it. I also told her that I was crazy about you  and that I was taking you away to Tassie for a well-needed break. I also  informed her that we were getting married as soon as she got back."

Holly blinked. "And … and what did she say?" Holly couldn't help wondering  how Mrs Crawford interpreted Richard saying he was crazy about her. Did  she think that meant he'd fallen in love with her; that he was finally  over Joanna's death?

Holly supposed it didn't matter if the woman thought that. Other people  would. To be honest, Holly preferred that they did. She didn't want  people thinking their marriage was like Reece and Alanna's.

"Mum was tickled pink. She said we might have a double wedding."

"She and Melvin?"

"Yep. He popped the question and she said yes."

"That's wonderful!"

"Yes, they're well suited, that pair. Just like us."

Holly could see that she and Richard were quite well suited. But he was  twelve years older than she was. Older and much more experienced. She  wondered if he was like a father-figure to her. If that was his main  attraction for her.

"You're thinking again," Richard said. "I hate it when you do that. I never know quite what you're thinking."

"Don't you?" That surprised her. She imagined he'd always read her every thought and move. "You mean I'm a woman of mystery?"

"Irritatingly so at times."

"What am I thinking now?" she said, her eyes raking down over his body.

"Now that, I can read," he growled.

"Be careful now," she said laughingly when he pulled her down onto the narrow bed with him.

"Why don't you shut up, woman?" And he kissed her.

It was a good hour later before Holly got round to taking the seasickness tablet.

"What would you like to do now?" Richard asked after they'd both straightened their clothes and combed their hair.

"We could pop along and check out that café we came past," she  suggested. "Or, even better, we could go along to the bar and have a  drink? We don't have to drive anywhere."

"We?" he said, his eyes narrowing on her as he moved very close.

The smallness of the cabin plus his looming over her by some inches  reminded Holly of what a big man Richard was. He was intimidating in  size, as well as in manner.

But she wasn't afraid of him any more. Not one little bit.

"You don't think I'm going to let you do all the driving during this trip, do you?" she tossed up at him saucily.

"Hmm. Perhaps we should get one thing straight, madam. I like to do the driving in my own car."

"Is that so?" she returned, arms crossing. "Me-thinks we're just about to have our first argument."

"No, no," he said, lifting up his hands in swift surrender. "No arguing. You can drive. Sometimes. If you're extra careful."

"Typical male."

"Yes," he agreed. "I'm a typical male. Sorry about that. But when we get  back to Sydney I'll buy you your own car. What would you like?"                       
       
           



       

Holly was taken aback. Just like that. A new car. One part of her  thrilled to the idea of driving round in her own new car. But there was  another part of her that worried Richard was buying her again.

Silly, really. They were going to be husband and wife. Why shouldn't he  buy her a new car? But as much as she tried to be logical about it, she  still didn't like it.

"I … I don't know," she said. "I'll think about it."





CHAPTER FOURTEEN





SUNDAY saw them driving into Hobart, Tasmania's capital city. Situated  on the estuary of the Derwent River, on the lower east side of the  island, Hobart was one of Australia's oldest and most beautiful cities.

"Reminds me of some of the large port towns in the south of England,"  Richard said as they drove slowly along the harbour foreshore, which was  only a stone's throw from the CBD.

"I've never been overseas, so I wouldn't know," Holly said. "All I can  say is that it's very picturesque, with almost as good a harbour as  Sydney."

There were lots of boats of all shapes and sizes moored against the many  piers, from small runabouts to expensive-looking speedboats and racing  yachts. In the distance, a massive, grey-painted catamaran was churning  across the wide expanse of water, looking quite magnificent, but rather  menacing. Richard speculated that it had to belong to the armed forces.

"Could even be American," he said.

Further along, a white ocean liner was anchored against a jetty,  glistening in the sunshine. It made the ferry they'd travelled down on  look small, yet Holly had thought the Spirit of Tasmania very large when  she'd first seen it docked at Darling Harbour.

"Did you know Hobart has the second deepest harbour in the world?" Richard said when she commented on the size of the liner.

"What's the deepest?" she asked, curious.

"Rio."

"How do you know such things?"

He shrugged. "I read a lot. I also have a photographic memory. Made studying for exams a lot easier, I can tell you."

"I never had to sit for any proper exams," Holly said without thinking.  "I never even sat for my school certificate. I left school at fifteen to  work with Dad in the shop." That feeling of inferiority flooded Holly  with her admissions. "You must think me very ignorant."

"I don't think you're at all ignorant. Just the opposite. I think you're  a very smart girl. Look at the way you did those books without any  formal training. Passing exams is no gauge to a person's intelligence,  Holly. Simply their ability to recall facts and figures."

"You might think that way, but a lot of people don't. They think a degree is the be-all and end-all."

"It isn't."

"That's easy for you to say. You have your degree. It's a bit like  people saying money isn't important when they already have it. Try not  having any money and see how important it suddenly becomes."

Holly had no idea how she got onto this subject. But she regretted it immediately. Regretted her sharp tone as well.

The past few days had been so wonderful. The first night of their  trip-the night before she'd got her period-they'd stayed at this lovely  historical house. It had originally been a doctor's residence before it  had become a hospital during the late nineteenth century. Now, it was a  B&B.

The owner had taken them for a tour when they'd arrived, telling them  its history and showing them all the rooms with their many antiques,  pointing out that the spacious suite they were sleeping in had been  where the babies were born.

It had been decorated in blue with a big brass bed and a wonderfully romantic atmosphere.

That night, Richard had made love to her in the big brass bed for ages.  Really made love to her. Very tenderly, telling her all the while that  soon they'd be making a baby. The next morning, when she'd looked at him  over breakfast Holly had felt more confident than ever that their  marriage would work.

They'd driven across the north-eastern part of Tasmania on the Thursday  and Friday, exploring the countryside by day, and relaxing over a fine  meal each night, discovering that they didn't need to be having sex to  enjoy each other's company. They'd stayed at a different place every  night, another historic home that had been converted to a boutique hotel  on the Thursday, a B & B in Swansea on Friday and a guest-house in  Richmond last night.