To Have And To Hold

‘But you did say it.’

‘So I did.’

She looked up at him, her eyes soft and radiant as stars. ‘So will you marry me, Rhys?’

For a long moment he didn’t speak, then bent to lightly kiss her parted lips. ‘You’re very special to me, Alix—but when I want to marry a girl, I’ll do the asking.’

Alix sat back, deep disappointment in her eyes, but then she frowned and said, ‘Well, I must say you’re taking a hell of a long time about it. A girl could die of frustration waiting for you to come home, you know.’

Which unexpected riposte made him give a crack of laughter and completely eased the situation again. His arm was still round her and he gave her a spontaneous hug. ‘Urchin, you are something else.’

Which she rightly took as a great compliment. Wisely, then, she changed the subject, asking him about Australia, which lasted until they reached their village.

‘Can you drop me off outside your house and I’ll walk round to mine?’

‘Don’t you want to go through the gate?’

Alix shook her head. ‘No, your parents will want you to themselves for a couple of hours.’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘Only a couple of hours?’

She grinned mischievously. ‘We’re all having dinner together at my place.’

Rhys gave a mock groan but leaned forward to tell the driver to stop. ‘I might have known. What else have they got lined up for me?’

‘Well, there’s the welcome home party, and your grandparents are coming to visit, and then——’

Rhys raised his hands in protest. ‘Enough! Enough. I can’t take any more.’

‘Well, it’s your own fault,’ Alix pointed out prosaically. ‘You shouldn’t be such a lovable hunk.’

‘“A lovable hunk”!’ Rhys gave her an outraged look. ‘I’ve been called some things in my time, but that…Get out of the car, woman; I’ll see you later.’

Alix did so with a chuckle, and walked home whistling; for the first time Rhys had called her woman instead of urchin, which to her mind was a tremendous step in the right direction.

He was home that time for over six weeks, and to Alix it was wonderful because she saw him not only when he came to Kent, but often in London, too. He drove her back to the office on Monday morning, using his own car this time, but she didn’t see him for the rest of the day. Her own office seemed to be extra busy all that morning as several members of staff seemed to visit it for little reason. One of them was Donna Temple. She had her dark hair down today, sleekly combed behind her ears and turning up at the ends. And she was wearing a dress that would have cost a whole month of Alix’s salary, but which was well worth the money, the way it stressed the length of Donna’s legs and curved in to show the narrowness of her waist. Alix was smartly and neatly dressed, but she hadn’t yet found her own style, and she knew a moment of envy for the older girl’s sophistication.

Donna’s eyes swept over Alix when she came into the room, but she talked for several minutes to one of the men about some papers she had with her, and turned to go before apparently noticing Alix and coming over to pause by her desk.

‘You must be Alix North, Rhys’s little neighbour. Right?’

The other girl’s voice was all sweetness but Alix could recognise a put-down when she heard one. ‘That’s right. And you are…?’

‘Donna Temple.’

‘Oh, yes, Rhys’s little…’ She didn’t finish the sentence, just let it hang in the air. Behind her Kathy smothered an over-awed giggle, and the smile on Donna’s face changed, became fixed.

‘Perhaps you were going to say friend,’ Donna said curtly, breaking the silence. ‘I am a friend of his, yes. I suppose he told you about me?’

Alix shook her head. ‘No, he didn’t mention you.’

‘Well, he will. How are you getting on here?’ Donna asked, abruptly changing the subject.

‘Very well, thank you,’ Alix answered warily.

But it seemed that the older girl wanted to be friends because she gave a gracious smile and said, ‘Well, if you have any problems, just let me know. Rhys wants you to get on in the firm and I’d be happy to help.’

‘Thanks,’ Alix answered. ‘But I think I can manage on my own. And I don’t have any problems.’

The older girl nodded and walked out of the room, all eyes following her.

‘Phew!’ Kathy exclaimed. ‘I rather think our Donna wants you on her side. Probably hopes to get to Rhys’s parents through you.’

‘If Rhys had wanted her to meet his parents he would have taken her down before now. Anyway, he isn’t interested in marrying her,’ Alix said with certainty.

‘No?’ Kathy’s eyes grew round. ‘How do you know? Did he tell you?’

Belatedly remembering Kathy’s love of gossip, Alix thought she’d better be more circumspect, so said, truthfully, ‘I was with him most of the weekend and he didn’t mention Donna once.’

‘Really? How come you were with him?’

‘Our parents are the closest friends. We all had dinner together at my house, then his parents gave an open-house party for him on Saturday; one of those whole day things where people come and go the whole time. I was helping with the food and everything.’

‘You are so lucky, Alix,’ Kathy said soulfully. ‘How about inviting me down one weekend when Rhys is there?’ But then she said, ‘Donna must have been really curious about you, just like all the other people who’ve been wandering in here today.’

For a day or so people continued to be curious about her, but it all died down when Rhys didn’t come into the office again. Alix didn’t see him for a few days, but then he phoned her at home one evening. ‘How about lunch tomorrow?’

‘Of course,’ Alix agreed immediately, shelving a shopping hour with Kathy without hesitation. ‘Where and when?’

‘Meet you in the foyer at one. See you, urchin.’

Alix hadn’t expected him to meet her in the building, hadn’t expected him to take her out in London, if it came to that. Next day she wore a new outfit and was there early, eager to see him as always. But Rhys was a few minutes late, and when he came out of the lift Donna was with him.

The other girl had a possessive hand on his arm and was laughing up at him. Alix felt a harsh rip of jealousy, that was instantly gone as Rhys said, ‘Excuse me, Donna. I have a date. ‘Bye.’ And he smilingly walked over to Alix and kissed her lightly. ‘Hello, little one.’

‘Hi.’ She dropped her voice. ‘Am I being used?’

His eyes immediately filled with laughter. ‘You could say that.’

‘It’s going to cost you a really good meal.’

‘It will be worth it.’

‘She won’t let go, huh?’ Alix guessed.

‘Something like that. But I think she’s got the message now.’

‘Good,’ Alix said with feeling, which made Rhys laugh as he tucked her arm in his and took her out to lunch.