The Last-Minute Marriage

But he wasn’t. He knew what he had to say and when he said it, it sounded right. Even inevitable.

‘You can marry me.’

CHAPTER THREE

SHE couldn’t believe what she’d heard. One minute she was looking defeat and despair in the face. This was the end of the world as she knew it. Tomorrow she’d have to bury Aunt Hattie with all the love and honour she deserved, trying to block out the hurt caused by this appalling last will. Then she’d climb on to an aeroplane and go home to face the boys and tell them that she didn’t have a clue what their future held.

As opposed to…what?

As opposed to facing the man twenty yards away from her and trying to make sense of his crazy statement.

‘I beg your pardon?’ she said at last and there was general laughter among the passers-by. Marcus’s words hadn’t just shocked Peta. More than one person had stilled to listen—to hear her response to this fascinating question.

‘He’s asking you to marry him, love,’ an elderly woman told her. ‘He looks a good sort of catch. I’d think about it if I were you.’

‘She’s young,’ someone else proffered. ‘Plus she’s pretty. She’s got plenty of time to play the field.’

‘No, but look at that suit,’ the older woman retorted. ‘The guy’s obviously loaded. You do it, love, but don’t go signing one of them pre-nup agreements. You take him for all he’s worth.’

‘Pretty funny proposal, if you ask me,’ someone else said. ‘You think she’s got leprosy or something, that he has to stay two shops away from her to ask her to marry him?’

‘Your girl got leprosy?’ someone else demanded. ‘Is that why the crutches?’

Even Marcus smiled at that.

So did Peta. It’s a joke, she thought. It’s a joke in appalling taste, but it’s a joke for all that.

‘Thanks,’ she called, with what she hoped was a vestige of dignity. ‘It’s a very nice proposal but I have a funeral to go to, and then a trip home to Australia. I can’t fit you in.’

‘I’m serious, Peta.’