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She watched as he sat in the seat she offered, silently measuring the differences she could see between him and Jasper. Although they were brothers there was little to identify them as such. While Jasper’s hair was dark and thick, Raymond’s was several shades lighter and even though he was only four years older than Jasper, the stealthy creep of baldness was very apparent. His skin too was lighter and failed to catch and keep the kiss of the sun they way Jasper’s did.
He took the seat she offered and drew in a preparatory breath before speaking. ‘I will come straight to the point, Hayley. I have some grave concerns about your marriage to Jasper tomorrow. I really don’t think you should go through with it.’
She waited a beat or two before responding. ‘What are your main objections?’
‘I love my brother very dearly, but there’s no escaping the fact that he’s using you to make himself a fortune he doesn’t need,’ he said. ‘And you are aiding and abetting him.’
‘You make it sound like a crime.’
‘It is a crime to tie yourself to a man who will only use you for his own purposes,’ he said. ‘I hate saying this about my own flesh and blood, but Jasper has an edge of ruthlessness about him. I’m worried about you, Hayley,’ he said. ‘Jasper made your time at Crickglades a misery. You were always crying about something he’d said or done. How much worse might it be being married to him?’
Hayley felt a frown tug at her brows. ‘For G … er … I mean Pete’s sake, Raymond, I was a pimply teenager with hormones going up and down. Anyone could have made me cry at the drop of a hat. I don’t think Jasper meant anything by it. He was hurting too; I was just too young to see it at the time.’
His inspection of her features was speculative. ‘You sound as if you really like him now. I thought you hated him.’
She gave him an ironic look. ‘I thought you of all people would have been encouraging me to put aside such destructive feelings and work on forgiveness.’
‘Perhaps you’re right, but I still feel it’s my responsibility to warn you of what you are getting yourself into,’ he said. ‘You realise that in the eyes of the church your marriage will be considered eternal and sacred?’
‘Listen, Raymond.’ She leaned forward so she could eyeball him. ‘I consider what I feel for Jasper to be eternal and sacred. I don’t care what the church has to say about it. As far as I’m concerned it’s between him and me.’
‘God help you,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘You’ve fallen in love with him.’
‘No. I don’t love him, but I don’t hate him as I did when we were growing up,’ she confessed.
‘And you think you can reform him, do you?’ His tone contained an element of frustration. ‘Do you know how many women I counsel in my parish who for years have foolishly thought they could reform the men in their lives? There are some men for whom no amount of love is enough, and I’m very much afraid Jasper might turn out to be one of them. He’s stubborn and finds it impossible to forgive. How long do you think such a marriage will last?’
‘I guess I’ll just have to pray for a miracle, then,’ she said.
He let out a long-winded sigh and got to his feet. ‘You’ll need more than a miracle.’ He took both her hands in his and gave them a comforting squeeze. ‘If you ever need someone to help you, I will be there for you, Hayley. Please remember that.’
Tears pricked at her eyes at the tender and sincere concern she could see reflected in his. ‘Thank you, Raymond. I will remember that.’
He dropped her hands and let out another regretful sigh. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you tomorrow. Jasper did ask me but I already have another wedding on.’
‘It’s all right, Raymond. Knowing you’ll be thinking of me will be enough.’
He smiled sadly and reached for the door. ‘I hope that you get your mir
acle, Hayley,’ he said. ‘I will be praying for you.’
‘Thanks,’ she said. ‘I think I’m going to need all the help I can get.’
Hayley stood on the portal of the church on Saturday morning with Lucy fluttering about her like a moth around a very bright light.
‘Are you ready?’ Lucy asked as she gave Hayley’s veil one final tweak.
She drew in a long steadying breath. ‘I think so.’
‘Righto, let’s go, then.’
As soon as Hayley met Jasper’s eyes as she began to walk towards him she felt something sharp catch in her chest. She saw the sudden flare of his dark gaze, the slightly shell-shocked expression that briefly marked his features before he got it under control as she came to stand beside him.
He looked down at her through the gossamer of her veil and smiled. ‘You look very beautiful.’
She smiled back, conscious of the indulgent congregation watching them. ‘You look rather good yourself,’ she said, although she couldn’t help noticing he looked a little pale beneath his tan.
The priest began the service and Hayley was swept up in the exchanging of vows, her voice trembling slightly over the words as she realised how deeply she meant the promises she was making. Jasper’s voice wasn’t as convincing as hers, she noted with a flood of resentment, and when he leaned down to kiss her it was hardly what she would have called enthusiastic.
