‘Oh, she’s remarried now,’ Sarah said. Seeing the look on Emma’s face, she continued. ‘Society at large may now be open-minded and progressive, but you have to keep up appearances in these circles. Her husband doesn’t care what she does, and she feels the same, as long as they appear together when they need to.’
Emma didn’t like the sound of that at all, but they had arrived at the group surrounding Matt and Alex and the two women split apart.
Alex’s lips came down to her ear. His arm wrapped around her possessively. ‘What did Catherine say to you?’
Emma shook her head. ‘Nothing important.’
Alex studied her face. But whatever he was thinking about was pushed aside as he asked her to dance with him. With her hand in his, Alex swept her onto the dance floor. The sweet melody drifted over them and he pulled her close, leading in his effortless way. Swaying to the music, wrapped in a bubble... This was where Emma wanted to be. In his arms.
‘Emma?’ he said, in a voice that caressed her like smooth velvet.
‘Yes?’
‘I’m happy you’re here.’
She beamed up at him and then tucked her head into his shoulder. There was a part of her that had worried that he didn’t actually need her. Seeing him now, hearing his words, made every second spent travelling so very worth it.
‘Would you like to leave?’ he asked.
‘Can we?’
He kissed her forehead. ‘Of course. I can’t wait to get you home.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THENEXTDAYAlex took Emma to the hospital so he could fetch his father and drive him to the family manor. Robert had flat-out refused to be wheeled out to the black Range Rover that his son had arrived in, already loaded with bags and the exercise equipment Alex had procured to assist in his recovery, and Emma waited patiently while Alex fussed, making sure his father was properly buckled in before he walked her to his low, sleek Porsche and handed over his key.
‘It’s fast. Be careful,’ he instructed.
‘It will be fine, Alexander. Relax. I have the satnav already set and I’ll follow right behind you, I promise.’
He knew he was being a little obsessive; it was just that he needed Emma to be safe. There would be no relaxing until they all arrived at Greenfield House. Alex kissed her sweetly, then opened the door for her. Once she was in, he closed it. Emma started the car with a throaty roar and gave him a thumbs-up.
Alex climbed into the large SUV and pulled out of the parking area, checking his mirrors to ensure Emma was following.
It took them a little under two hours to reach the long gravel driveway of the manor, which crunched under his tyres. Despite the icy weather, the place looked beautiful. Tall trees lined the long drive, hiding the dwelling from sight. But as he rolled forward, the immense redbrick house was gradually revealed. Its Georgian architecture was beautiful, with white accents on the windows and pillars popping brightly against the red background and green scenery.
Emma was absolutely captivated by the house. She brought Alex’s car to a stop, and when she got out revelled in the tranquillity. In front of the house, Alex and a member of staff were already pulling the bags out of the back of the Range Rover and carrying them up the steps into the house.
When Emma entered, she thought she had gone back in time. The walls were panelled in dark wood and a grand, carved staircase took centre stage in the hall. The only word she could think of to describe the place was regal. It had an old-world glamour that she only ever experienced when she’d travelled or read about it. There was so much history here. These walls must hold generations of memories.
She followed Alex upstairs. He had deposited his father’s bags in a large master suite that had its own sitting area and now he led her to his own, situated on the same floor, but at the far corner of the house and overlooking the grounds.
He grinned at her as he put the bags down. ‘Gives us a bit of privacy.’
She giggled at his flirty wink. Following him out and along the many corridors, it started to dawn on Emma exactly who Alex was. What his life was meant to be. The large portraits of his ancestors didn’t help the anxiety blooming in her. He wasn’t ordinary, and suddenly their life in Melbourne seemed like make-believe. More evidence of why this could never be anything but a temporary fixation.
All of a sudden he seemed further from reach than he ever had, and she was even more determined to make the most of this while she could. And when she was old and grey, alone with her cats, she would have memories to keep her heart warm.
The melancholy was hard to push away.
Alex left her when they went downstairs, and went to the room where the nurse he had hired had already set up a gym. The cook was there, listening carefully to the nurse’s instructions as she handed her a list of ingredients that were permitted and those that were now forbidden.
Emma was deep in conversation with his father when Alex came back into the living room.
‘Emma, shall we go for a walk?’ he asked. ‘You’ll need your coat,’ he said from the door.
‘Enjoy it,’ his father called as they left the room.