Sins of Sarah (35 page)

'I take it he's not coming to the wedding?' she asked.

'No, he won't be back in time,' Cress comforted her. 'You'll be quite safe.'

'I'm looking forward to it!' Sarah assured her.

'Oh, so am I!' Cress breathed. 'And I'm determined I'm going to get pregnant on my wedding night!'

'I hope James is up to it!' Sarah teased. 'Look, I have to see this doctor, can we meet for lunch?' 'Doctor? What on earth for? You look so healthy!'

'I am - it's just some test results. Charlie made me go through this horrendous medical check before we went away. I'm sure he's a sadist under that sweet exterior!'

* * *

Crete was great fun. Paddy had found her a part in the second part of his series, and she had three weeks of action-packed location work in another warm climate. Although they worked hard, she was so fit and well rested that she never felt tired.

She was, however, very grateful for the diving practice she had had in Antigua. Paddy had hired her partly for her skills in that area, and she had been fairly rusty. The diving sequences were difficult, and floored her leading man completely. In sequences where it was impossible to use a double she had to help him several times, much to his fury.

After eating out in a taverna every night she began to wonder if she would ever get into her bridesmaid's dress on her return, but it didn't stop her eating. 'I see nothing has changed your location habits!' Paddy laughed one day, when she was the only one to order dessert.

'Oh, but they have,' Sarah rejoined. 'See - no cigarettes - not for weeks now!' And it was true. She hadn't smoked since Charles had taken her cigarette from her more than a month before. She had hoped Charles would be at the wedding too, she needed the support of his comforting presence, but he was due in Japan that particular weekend.

'He's given us a wonderful wedding present, though,' James told her as he drove her down to Winchester the day before the wedding. 'Cress doesn't know, so don't let on, but we have his helicopter to take us to Gatwick and the use of his suite in Antigua for two weeks.'

Sarah laughed. 'I know, he told me. You'll love it, James, it's absolutely perfect, I promise.' 'Tested the bed, have we?'

'Both of them! Just in case Cress gets fed up with you.' She looked serious for a moment. 'She won't though, will she?' '

Not a chance! Mind you, I can't quite believe I'm actually getting married again - neither can my parents. You'll meet them tonight at dinner. God help us!'

'What's the problem? I bet they're as nice as you are!' 'I hope you think that later! You should hear my mother about you!' He launched into his natural Yorkshire accent. 'Never been so ashamed in my life, our James. Took Mrs Burton from over the road to see that film, and what do we see but you rolling around with all your private bits showing - and as for that brazen little hussy you was doing it with! Well! She was no better than those girls down Whiteley Street, and she's in all the papers chasing some married man!'

Sarah shrieked with laughter. 'I can guess what Whiteley Street is!' she giggled. 'I'd better wear something respectable tonight, then.'

'Don't worry! It's my last night of freedom. Flash your boobs - my Dad will love it - and I might as well have some fun, even if I have to look and not touch!'

'That'll make a change!'

'I've got more respect for my private bits! Cress would chop them off! You'll be quite safe with me in Ireland.'

'That'll be fun, I think.' 'Not bad, is it? Running off with the bridesmaid three weeks after the wedding!'

'I expect the weather will finish us off. I went there a couple of months ago and it was freezing. How did your gun-training go?'

'Not bad - they were quite impressed. I might even take it up as a hobby.' They were playing undercover agents in a modem comedy thriller, and the director, as much a perfectionist as Nick, had asked them to take lessons in using a gun properly. The film was scheduled for American cinemas, and like all Seth's productions had a big budget and a great deal of publicity already. She would have a lot to thank the absent Nick for if this was successful.

She took James at his word that night, and drifted down to meet him in the bar with Ben and his parents, her tan well displayed in a black silk dress and Charles's emerald earrings in her ears making every pair of eyes in the place pop as she walked in. 'What are you trying to do to me?' James demanded as Ben hugged her. 'That dress is indecent! Christ, I don't dare touch you! You can't possibly have any knickers on!'

'Stop being such a prude, James, I'm surprised at you,' she laughed. 'If you must know, it has knickers built in. Satisfied?'

'You are perfectly evil!' he groaned. 'Come and meet my parents before I disgrace myself!' With relief, he watched her work her charm on his overawed parents as he drove to the Blakes' home. Within minutes, it seemed, his mother was clucking over her parentless state, and had forgotten her earlier censure of Sarah's morals.

He and Cress had worried for months over Sarah's grief for Nick. Charles's intervention had been a godsend, he thought, watching her sparkle as she turned in the car to talk again to his mother.

'Not quite Whiteley Street, is she, Mum?' he couldn't help teasing, provoking Sarah to peals of laughter and his mother to complete embarrassment.

It was obviously going to be a fun wedding, Sarah thought.

And it was - from the hilarious breakfast at the hotel, with James and Ben in full flow, through to Cress and James's surprisingly nervous exchange of vows in the flower-filled church. But their happiness was infectious, even to Sarah.

The shock came as she took one of the little bridesmaids back to the marquee after taking her to the loo.

Standing looking around for Rosie's mother, she froze. There, talking and laughing with Cress, was Nick.

How could Cress do this to her? she thought in total panic. He wasn't coming; she had said so. There was no way out. Nick had seen her, standing, trembling, clutching the child's hand. 'There's Mummy,' Sarah whispered in relief. 'Go on, darling.' She gave Nick no help. She was unable to move, her legs turned to jelly, her eyes fixed to the floor as he made his way to her across the marquee. Reaching her, he said nothing, simply drew her into his arms and held her while her heartbeat steadied back to normal.

'You weren't coming,' she accused finally, her eyes at last meeting his. He looked thinner, and the stress lines were etched deeper round his eyes than ever.

'I changed my mind. I got in at four o'clock this afternoon,' he told her. 'Sarah, I wanted to see you again so badly, I took a chance you'd want to see me.'

'How can you be so unfair to me?' she demanded. 'How am I ever going to get myself together if you keep changing the rules?' Nick looked around, taking in the people watching them with frank curiosity. Cress's family obviously read the Unicorn, he thought wryly, and he quickly led Sarah onto the dance floor. Luckily the music was slow, and he could hold her. Sarah knew quite well she would fall down if he didn't.

'That's the one, isn't it?' James's mother hissed at him in complete awe - just wait till she could tell Dottie Burton all this - 'The one there was all the fuss about in the papers?'

'Yes, Mum,' James snapped, unusually for him. 'Just leave them alone, for God's sake! They won't thank you for barging in on them.'

'As if I would!' She was indignant. 'He's really handsome, I must say! That poor little thing. She looked so sad early on, now look at her!' James watched Sarah's face change as she danced from chalk-white panic to glowing joy. He wasn't at all surprised Nick wanted her back, and in that swirling white dress, bare-shouldered and tight-waisted, she looked enchanting that evening.

'I hope we've done the right thing persuading him to come?' he whispered to Cress.

'I don't know, but it's too late now. It's up to them,' Cress said as James led her onto the dance floor.

'One more dance, my darling, and we will have to leave them to it,' he told her. Dancing, they drew level with Nick and Sarah. Completely oblivious to everyone, they could have been alone on the floor. 'They'll be fine,' he assured his wife confidently, and soon guided her to the edge. 'I think it's about time we disappeared to start making a few babies, don't you?' he suggested. 'Come on, let's get changed. I can't cope with this collar much longer - it reminds me of work!' Giggling, they ran into the house and James helped her out of the froth of silk and lace. 'Beautiful as that is, I still prefer you without,' he laughed. 'But can we take your veil with us?'

'Now I find out you're kinky!'

'Too late!' he rejoined, pulling his sweater over his head. 'Let's go, sweetheart, I think our transport is here. I bet Ben won't be able to decorate this wedding car!' Cress watched in amazement as the helicopter dropped down on the lawn behind the marquee. 'Special present from Charlie,' explained James. 'Only the best for my wife - don't forget your bouquet. I think there's someone who really needs it to be thrown at them!' Nick and Sarah stood with their arms around each other, watching the newly married couple make their cheerful farewells until Cress whirled over to them, kissing them both. Sarah hugged her back.

'Thank you, Cress,' she said softly as James caught her hand.

'See you in Ireland, Sarah.' He waved to her, and Cress was laughing as they ran to the helicopter.

'Catch, Sarah!' she cried, and threw her bouquet high in the air to land in Sarah's arms.

Almost in tears, she held the bouquet in one hand as the machine rose above them, blowing her hair against Nick's face as she clutched her wreath of flowers with the other. They began to laugh as they disentangled themselves, and Sarah pulled a white rose from the bouquet to put in his buttonhole. 'I think we can safely leave now,' he said. 'I'm sure no one will mind.'

'I'll go and change,' she suggested, but Nick shook his head.

'Don't,' he said. 'You look so gorgeous in that and I think it'll fit in my car.' Sarah ran upstairs to get her day clothes, bundling them into her bag frantically, and went back to say her own farewells as quickly and gracefully as she could. She was especially charming to James's parents, introducing Nick to them with an almost transparent pride.

He folded her skirts around her in the passenger seat, then swung into the car himself. Only then did he have the chance to kiss her, and he took his time, his soft, warm lips exploring hers. Sarah leant back in the circle of his arms and opened her mouth to him, giving little sighs of pleasure as she did so. 'Lucky I booked into the same hotel,' he told her. 'Your room or mine?'

'What makes you think I'm going to leap straight back into bed with you, Nicholas Grey?' she asked him as he sped down the narrow lane towards the main road. 'I think you're taking a lot for granted.'

'Maybe, but from the way you kissed me just now, I get the impression that I could talk you into it,' he suggested, his eyes twinkling. 'I came a long way to be turned down.'

'How long are you here?'

'About a week - it depends. Then I go away for two. After that I'll be back for good. Jane and Chris have run NGA long enough, and we have new plans, thanks to you.' She was curious, but he was giving nothing away.

At the hotel, he collected their keys and ordered champagne to be sent up to Sarah's room. 'I need to catch up with you,' he said, and smiled.

'I've hardly had a chance to drink anything,' she confessed. 'I still seem to be a magnet for every child in the place!'

'I prefer that to their fathers!' Nick teased as he shrugged off his jacket and loosened his tie.

Sarah threw her bag on the floor and flopped onto the wide window seat. 'I'm whacked!' she sighed. 'Weddings are hard work!' She filled him in on the ceremony that he had missed, repeating the better jokes of the speeches, in which both James and Ben had been on top form - anything, she knew, to slow things down.

* * *

When the room service waiter came with the champagne, she escaped into the bathroom. Staring into the mirror at her shining eyes, she took off the now faded wreath and cleaned off her make-up. Running out of things to delay her, she cleaned her teeth before she went back to him. 'I thought you'd climbed out of the window,' he joked, handing her a glass.

'I probably could parachute down in this skirt,' she laughed back, but she was shaking.

Nick let her take a sip of the champagne, then he took the glass from her and drew her towards him by the wrists. 'Don't panic, Sarah.' His voice was husky with emotion. 'I just... I can't say it... I just want you back, darling. Oh, hell! Are you going to make me beg?'

'I thought you'd left me for good!' She was angry then. 'I've spent months trying to get over you, and just as I think I 'm getting somewhere you come back and throw me completely. I'm not sure I can take it again, Nick.'

'Is there someone else? Charlie or Bruce?' he demanded, suddenly afraid, but Sarah shook her head. He thought of the agonies of the last few months, of the fruitless rows he had had with Diana, the number of times he had wept bitter tears of frustration over his situation, learning just how much emotion he was capable of once the floodgates were open. 'Please, let's try, angel.' He was pleading with her, and Sarah stared at him in amazement. The arrogant, all-conquering Nicholas Grey was really begging her, and she knew she was going to give way. Even as he kissed her she knew. Turning, she lifted her hair so that he could unfasten the tiny buttons down the back of her dress.