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'No, don't say that—she sounds a lovely girl. And he only thought he loved me, just as I—'
She broke off, then went on quickly, 'Anyway, I sent back his ring this morning. That's when I found out you were leaving.'
She looked up at him directly and he grimaced. 'Running away, you mean? Yes, I was, my sweet. All my life I've been so sure I couldn't settle down with one woman—my gypsy blood, I think you called it. I told myself that no woman would ever snare me, and even yesterday I managed to convince myself you weren't going to be the exception. I had to run from you when you were sixteen, and I suppose I've kept running ever since.'
'But you went away because of Mrs Kendrick. Her husband found out and—'
'Iris Kendrick?' He looked astonished. 'You don't mean to tell me you believed that story?'
'The whole village did.'
'Well, well.' He laughed softly but, when he saw her expression, sobered instantly. 'I know there were rumours, but there was nothing in them—nothing at all, I swear it. Oh, I felt sorry for Iris with that bastard of a husband—even lent her a shoulder to cry on—but that was as far as it went, I promise you. Married women have never been my style.'
He broke off and gave her a rather strained smile. 'The truth was rather different—but it wouldn't have done much for my macho image, would it, to have people know I was scared to death of an adolescent girl?'
'You mean . . . ?' she began slowly.
He looked down at his thumb, softly stroking across the back of her slim hand. 'I went away, Petra, because when you were sixteen you lay in my arms and told me you loved me. You offered me yourself—the whole world—and I couldn't handle it. You frightened me out of my wits, so I ran away,' he wound up bleakly.
'Oh, Jared.' Blinking back the tears, she gave him a tremulous smile. There was a slight sound behind them, and they both swung round to see Sam, yawning and stretching in the doorway.
'Hi, Sam,' Jared said conversationally, and the big cat deigned to glance briefly in his direction, before stalking across to his blue bowl of milk.
Jared and Petra exchanged looks. 'I think you'd better be the one to break the happy news to him,' he remarked. 'I don't somehow fancy that job.'
'Oh, I'm sure he'll be all right —'
'Just so long as I keep up the liver pate and chicken fillet, you mean? But he'll have to learn one thing.'
'What's that?'
'That there's room for only one male in your bed from now on, and it isn't him.' As she blushed he flashed her a wicked smile, then went on casually, 'But maybe he can console himself with a new hunting ground.'
'New hunting ground?'
'The orchard at the Old Manor House.'
'The Old Manor? But I don't see—'
'I bumped into Peter Eames a couple of days ago—seems he's thinking of putting it on the market and moving into something smaller. So—could Sam be happy there, do you think? He would be, I'm sure, if you were.'
'Yes, but—' The speed of events was taking her breath away.
'I know you love this place, but for myself I prefer a house where I don't risk concussing myself every time I wall under that door beam there.'
'But your home's in California.'
'No, my darling. My home is when you are from now on. I know how you love Cornwall, and it's the same with me. I didn't realise how much, till I came back and felt its magic. I suppose it's in my genes.' He pulled a face. 'Just think of it—half-Celtic, half-gypsy. Quite a potent combination, wouldn't you say?'
'Very potent.' She gave him a slanting smile, and his grip tightened.
'Don't look at me like that, or I'll forget I'm feeling shattered. No,' as she stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips along his hard jaw. 'That's settled, then. I'll run down and see Peter later— make him an offer he can't say no to. If you agree, that is?'
She gave a shaken laugh. 'Do you always work this fast?'
'Not always, no.' For a moment his eyes were sombre. 'Sometimes it takes years to see what I want out of life. And what I want and need is you, my darling. Living at the manor, our children playing in that lovely gar
den, paddling in the little stream.'
