Accidental Engagement (20 page)

‘It’s magnificent. I can't believe it’s mine.’

‘And I can’t believe you’re mine,’ he said, pulling her up and into his arms again. ‘Tell me,’ he said, some minutes later, when he had released her from a tender embrace, ‘would you have liked to have been a concert pianist if you had had the opportunity.’

She considered. ‘No. I don’t think I would. For one thing, I’m not sure I would have been good enough - that’s not modesty, it’s just a plain statement of fact. And even if I had been good enough, I don’t think the life would have fitted my temperament. It involves an awful lot of practising, and a lot of travelling round.’

He nodded, and there was just the slightest hint of relief in his eyes. ‘I’m glad. Because if you’d wanted to do it, then I wanted you to have the opportunity. But I would have hated the thought of you going on tour.’

‘I think, to lead that kind of life, you have to really want it. But what I really want,’ she said with a blissful sigh, ‘is to be here with you.’

And she turned up her face for his kiss.