Unknown (20 page)

After the crowded town, she was glad to get back to the peace of Greve de Lecq. She sighed, thinking that it was the perfect spot for a honeymoon.

Her footprints in the sand looked lonely. One pair of prints where there might have been two. Tears pricked her eyelids as she said goodbye to Greve de Lecq, goodbye to Jersey. Then she cheered up a little as she remembered the souvenirs she had to take with her—memories of a warm welcome, little snippets about Rick from her mother, and, most important of all, a photograph of him taken the summer before. Mrs Alexandre had pressed the photo on Anna, assuring her that Rick would be returning to Jersey in the autumn and that she could get one for herself then. It was the best memento Anna could have, and she told Rick's mother she would treasure it always.

The flight home was over almost as soon as it began and Anna's faint hopes of a joyful reunion with Rick faded away. She had half hoped his mother might have telephoned the hospital and begged her son to come home. It was a foolish dream and bore no resemblance to reality. Rick couldn't leave his work just like that. Nor was he likely to rush over to Jersey just to see a girl he could see every day at St Aidan's. It was only a daydream and the sooner she settled back in her routine, the better.

Mrs Jenkins fussed over Anna when she returned. The Jersey sun had brought colour to her cheeks, and she felt fitter, better able to cope with her mother now. But once Mrs Jenkins had bustled away to make tea she saw it wasn't her mother who glared at Anna from the armchair in her father's study—it was Rick Alexandre!

Before she could compose herself, he strode over and shook her. 'Why in heaven's name did you go traipsing off to Jersey? I was out of my mind with worry until Mother phoned!' he snapped, then gathered her into his arms, smoothing back her curls with one hand. With the other he tilted her chin. 'Oh, Anna! How can I live with you? How can I live without you is more to the point!' he continued , with a smile.

Anna's green eyes widened uncertainly. With this man she never really knew anything. No woman could ever be sure of Rick. He was like quicksilver. One minute you had him, the next he had slipped through your fingers. 'Did you miss me then? I thought I was Paul Tester's property, not yours,' she said testily.

He groaned. 'Anna, I never believed that. I wanted to, all the evidence pointed that way, yet ... I hoped you had more sense. Fancy turning me down and taking him! No woman could be that stupid!' he chuckled, and she raised her lips for his kiss.

'I did think you might be pregnant. That day you were buying toys in Middleborough,' he added reluctantly, and Anna gasped. 'I know, I know,' he soothed, 'but you felt sick and I . . .'

'That was because you said you wanted children!' she interrupted. 'I had visions of Beth Sinclair bearing your children, and I was sick with jealousy!'

He chuckled, then drew her close again. 'Beth filled a need. She was good fun but I always wanted you. I still want you, Anna. I want you and I intend to marry you, so let's have no arguments!' he went on firmly. Anna gave her sad-sweet smile.

Want but not love. No word of love. But it didn't matter. She had love enough in her heart for both of them. She returned his kiss, warm and content in his arms.

By mutual consent they refused the housekeeper's offer of tea and sped away in his car to his little bungalow.

There Anna finally found out what it was like to be a woman. She had no qualms, no fears such as she'd experienced at the thought of Mike's love-making. She put her hope and her trust into Rick's safe-keeping, along with her heart, body, and soul, and she was richly rewarded.

This was love. Heaven itself could offer no more. Only one shadow marred the sunshine. Rick still did not, even in the heat of passion, utter one word of love. Anna knew it shouldn't matter but it did.

He'd made love to her, taken all she had to offer, but was it simply a physical need on his part, she wondered, half asleep in his arms.

Then the telephone shrilled. 'Hell! Duty calls, I expect.' Rick, tall and beautiful in his nakedness, shot out of bed, and held a hurried conversation with what she took to be a colleague. 'Yes, all right. I'll be there in twenty minutes,' he sighed, thumping down the receiver.

Anna smiled sadly, then opened her arms to him, reluctant to let him go. He evaded her arms, merely dropping a kiss on her brow.

'Get dressed quickly and I'll drop you off at Millstones on my way back.'

A tired but happy Anna got out of the car outside her home and prepared to wave Rick off. Her cup of happiness would be full—if only he loved her!

As he drove away, his lips formed the words 'I love you'.

She waved until he was out of sight. Rick did love her! Rick loves me, Rick loves me, she chanted to herself as she went indoors. She had given herself in the name of love and had no more fears for the future.

Jersey would be just the place for their honeymoon, she thought dreamily, as she closed the door.