Elena smiled tremulously. ‘Oh, Harry, at last. I’m so pleased for you.’
There could be no doubting the sincerity in her tone or the expression in her eyes. Both warmed him inexpressibly.
‘I am pleased for both of us,’ he replied, ‘since now we can put this business behind us and get on with our lives.’
‘I want that very much.’
‘So do I.’ He paused. ‘I’d like you to be present when Sanchez brings the papers tomorrow.’
It took her by surprise but it was not displeasing. ‘Of course, if you wish it.’
‘I do wish it. After all that you have endured I think it only right you should be there to witness the success of the mission.’
Her heart gave a queer little leap. ‘Thank you. I’d like that very much.’
In truth it was a courtesy that she had not expected. In her experience women were not generally consulted on such matters, much less admitted to a man’s confidence. Once again she acknowledged that Harry was not as other men. Since she had met him she had been compelled to reappraise the norm in regard to a woman’s role, and it only increased her esteem for him.
‘As to the rest,’ he went on, ‘shall you like living in England, Elena? We must go there for a while at least. Quite apart from the legal matters to be dealt with my relatives are entitled to know of our marriage and will be agog to meet you. But, after that, there is no absolute necessity to remain if you dislike the idea.’
Her eyes widened a little. ‘Why should I dislike it?’
‘I don’t know. I hope you will not but...’
‘But what?’
‘It seems to me that no one has ever asked you what you would like.’
‘Then I will tell you.’ Her gaze met and held his. ‘I would like us to have a proper home, and a family. Whether that home is in England or the outer reaches of Mongolia doesn’t matter to me, as long as we can build a future together.’
The grey eyes warmed. ‘We will build a future together, Elena, and we most certainly will have a proper home, although you may be relieved to learn that Mongolia doesn’t figure in the equation.’
‘In truth that is something of a relief.’
He grinned. ‘As to the rest...I hope for that too, and promise to do my best to help bring it about.’
‘I mean to hold you to your promise, my lord.’
Harry crossed the room and locked the door. Then he rejoined her. His expression sent a delicious shiver down her spine.
‘A promise should always be kept and as soon as possible.’
Elena rose and slid her arms around him, wishing she didn’t want him so badly. ‘My thoughts exactly.’
Chapter Twenty-One
Xavier Sanchez arrived punctually at eleven the following morning and was shown into the private chamber where Harry and Elena awaited him. If their visitor was surprised to see her there he recovered quickly and made his bow politely. When Harry had performed the necessary introductions and invited their guest to sit, he got straight down to business.
‘Have you brought the document we discussed?’
‘Of course.’ Xavier reached into his coat and drew out a sheaf of folded papers. ‘Everything that I related is set down here.’
Harry took the proffered papers and opened them, scanning the contents. Having done so, he nodded. ‘This seems to be in order. All that remains now is to have them attested and signed under oath.’
‘In good time, my lord.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘That there is rather more to this tale than I have told you.’
Harry frowned. ‘Yesterday you affirmed that it was truth. Are you now saying that it is not?’
‘By no means. It is true, as far as it goes.’
Elena darted a startled glance at Harry but he didn’t see it: his attention was fixed on the man opposite, his expression steely. In that moment he reminded her of nothing so much as a hunting hawk, fierce and potentially dangerous.
‘I think you had better explain that remark,’ he said.
Xavier met his gaze steadily. ‘There are aspects to the affair that I have no authority to divulge but, in view of the circumstances, it seemed to me that you ought to be told everything. Therefore, after you left yesterday, I went to consult my superiors.’
‘Go on.’
‘When I explained the situation they agreed with me.’ Xavier paused. ‘One of them offered to accompany me today. I think you should meet him.’
Harry’s jaw tightened. ‘This had better not be a trick, Sanchez.’
‘No trick, my lord, only a regrettable need for caution.’
‘Very well.’
‘I’ll bring him to you now.’