How, rather than not.
Her mind reeling, she sat down, trying to ignore the trembling undercurrents as he shifted his chair around the desk so they were sitting side by side, for all the world trying to concentrate on the contract that would change her life.
‘We’d be married in four weeks. My family owns a holiday home in Lorne. It’s right on the beach, very pretty, and my father has a lot of fond memories and ties to the place. We’ll hold the service there, unless of course you’re strongly opposed. I don’t know if you’re religious and would rather get married in a church?’
She looked up at him from under her eyelashes. ‘Even if I am, given the circumstances it would hardly be fitting.’
‘Good—at least we agree on something.’
With a small wail she flicked through the contract. ‘It’s twenty pages long. Are we supposed to discuss everything?’
‘It’s for your protection as well as mine,’ Zavier answered, unmoved by her protests.
‘Can we at least go out to eat and do it? I’m starving.’
‘One thing you’d better realise before you agree to this, Tabitha: you’re no longer anonymous.’
She stared at him, nonplussed, and he didn’t make any comment when her teeth distractedly nibbled on the end of his expensive pen.#p#分页标题#e#
‘The second we become engaged you’ll be a Chambers in everything bar name, and this time next month even that detail will be taken care of.’
‘Which means?’
‘Mess up or play up and, much as you might want to forget about it, there’ll be some journalist only too happy to remind you of your misdemeanours. And sitting in a restaurant going through a prenuptial agreement would be over the newspapers in a matter of hours. It’s the way it is for us. It’s the rule we live by daily.’
‘Aiden doesn’t,’ Tabitha argued.
Zavier shook his head. ‘God, are you just a good actress or are you really so naïve? Aiden’s scared to cough in case Dad finds out. Why do you think he dragged you along to the wedding? The press have already made a couple of comments about his lack of partner at social occasions—did you really think he wanted you there for your sparkling repertoire?’
‘Actually, yes.’
‘Please.’
‘I know you might find this impossible to fathom, but Aiden actually likes me for me. So don’t try and belittle our friendship; that’s one argument you’re never going to win. I have no doubt if his family were less judgemental and less critical there would have been no need for me to be there.’
A tiny smile was tugging at the edge of his lips, embroiling her in further anger. ‘I notice you didn’t add “present company excepted” to your little outburst.’
She held his gaze, her tiny face taut and defiant, her eyes wary but with a fire that burned brightly.
‘I assure you the omission was intended.’
Even conjugal rights were addressed, right there on page eighteen, with an endless ream of sub-clauses.
Mutual consent…adequate protection…no indicator of the marriage’s longevity; the words blurred before her eyes. How could something so beautiful, so intimate, be relegated to a sub-clause in a contract?
Even Zavier managed a small cough of embarrassment as he read out the details. ‘I’m sorry, but this had to be put in. As I said, we’re kidding ourselves if we pretend it’s not going to happen.’
She nodded, a small, sharp nod, not trusting herself to speak.
‘It would only complicate things if the legalities weren’t addressed now.’
‘Of course.’
‘Then I think that just about covers everything. Do you have any questions?’
How austere and formal he sounded, as if he had just concluded an interview rather than arranged their marriage.
‘Just the one,’ Tabitha said with false brightness to hide her nervousness. ‘What star sign are you?’
‘Pardon.’ He looked back at the contract and Tabitha actually laughed.
‘You won’t find the answer there. We need to know each other’s star signs.’
‘Why?’ he asked simply.
‘Because we’re supposed to wake up and turn to the horoscope page in the newspaper to find out what the other one’s thinking, to find out what sort of day we’re going to have, to see if the other’s in the mood for romance. You’ve no idea what I’m talking about, have you?’
For once Zavier was only too happy to agree he was none the wiser.
‘One of the first things Marjory will ask is what star sign I am.’
‘Of course she won’t. It’s all a load of rubbish,’ he answered irritably. ‘I know my mother.’