Unexpected Blessings (61 page)

‘Congratulations,’ Evan said. ‘I know you don’t want to steal any of Linnet’s thunder today; that’s so nice of you.’

India gave a little shrug. ‘I never thought we would get it together, but he’s been so abject and unhappy and apologetic about the Melinda mess. Edwina told me to stop squawking, grow up and marry him.’

Tessa grinned. ‘She’s such a card! And congratulations, India darling.’

Evan looked over at Tessa intently, and announced, ‘I like your Jean-Claude. He’s fascinating, and Gideon was very taken with him last night at the dinner. So tell us quickly, before they arrive, is he going to become a member of the family, too?’

Tessa blushed. ‘I hope so. Actually, he’s proposed. But I have to get the divorce yet. When Great-Aunt Edwina met him earlier this week she actually told me, in front of him no less, to grab him fast before another woman did. Can you believe that!’

‘She’s incorrigible, that granny of mine,’ India exclaimed and began to laugh.

Tessa also laughed.
‘She’s
no granny either! Oh look, our chaps are heading this way.’ Tessa moved her head slightly, began to wave.

Gideon, Dusty, Jean-Claude and Lorne strolled over, each nursing a glass of champagne. It was Lorne who said, ‘Why are the three beauties huddled in the corner? Are you in hiding? Gosh, the three of you should be circulating, shouldn’t you?’

‘Oh phooey,’ Tessa answered. ‘Anyway, we were waiting for you to get here. Evan discovered something about her grandmother and Uncle Robin, and–’

‘But we all know that story!’ Lorne interrupted. ‘It’s been circulating in the family ever since Ma found out about their love affair during the war.’

‘Oh, but there’s something else, isn’t there, Evan?’ India said.

Evan nodded. ‘Yes, there is. I’ll try and make this short. I’ll cut to the chase as fast as I can. My mother brought me a package of letters from Emma Harte to my grandmother, and also letters from Robin to Glynnis, and you’ll never guess–’ ‘Oh do tell us, darling,’ Gideon interrupted. ‘It sounds very romantic’

‘I will, if you’ll stop interrupting me,’ Evan responded. Leaning against the window frame she told them about Glynnis and Robin and the years they had spent together.

Everyone listened attentively, but Jean-Claude was the first one to make a remark. ‘But what a
magnificent
love story. Unbelievable!’ Tessa put her arm through his, and responded, ‘Yes, it is, and certainly a story a Frenchman like you would appreciate.’

They all laughed, and then Gideon, frowning, asked Evan, ‘How the hell did they manage it? I mean manage not to get caught?’

‘They were careful,’ Evan told him, ‘and they lived in different countries part of the year. I guess that helped and they made it work.’

‘I bet they had an accomplice,’ Dusty pointed out softly. ‘They had to have had help at some time or another. Nobody can do that, not without a third person to give them cover.’

‘Emma!’ Gideon said, looking at Evan, his eyes fixed on hers. ‘Did
Emma
know? Was
she
their accomplice?’

‘I wouldn’t exactly call her that, Gid. But our great-grandmother did know they’d started their affair again. Eventually. After it had been going on for a couple of years, in fact. Since she knew she was unable to stop it, I guess she decided to help them.’

‘I’ll be damned,’ Lorne said, astonishment crossing his face.

Gideon also looked surprised. ‘How old were they when they started up again?’

‘They were both thirty. And they hadn’t seen each other for seven years. Imagine that. But they were hot stuff,’ she said, shaking her head, laughing.

‘How long were they together?’ Jean-Claude asked, intrigued.

‘Fifty years, just about,’ Evan told them all.

‘Mon Dieu!’
Jean-Claude looked at Tessa, and added, ‘That was some love affair. I’d like to meet that gentleman again. Come, Tessa, let us seek out your Great-Uncle Robin. He must be…rather unique.’

‘Oh he is! He sure is,’ Gideon called after them.

‘It’s so sad she died,’ India said, ‘especially since they were both widowed ultimately. They could have been married.’

Dusty said, ‘Isn’t that your mother, isn’t she beckoning to us?’

India followed his gaze. ‘Oh yes, I suppose Grandmother wants us to join her. She’s fallen for you, Dusty.’

‘And I’m crazy about her,’ he replied, leading India across the library.

Lorne bent over, gave Evan a kiss on her cheek. ‘It’s an extraordinary story, it truly is…remarkable. I wish I could find someone to love like that. Oh well, I’ll go and look around. Maybe one of Linnet’s girlfriends might strike my fancy.’

Evan and Gideon laughed, and Evan linked her arm through Gideon’s as they watched the handsome young actor saunter off. And then Gideon stared down at her and asked softly, ‘Do
you
guarantee
me
fifty years, Evan?’

Gazing up into his face, that face she had come to love so much in the past year, she nodded. ‘I guarantee you
forever,
Gideon Harte. I promise I’ll be with you all the days of my life.’

About the Author

Barbara Taylor Bradford was born in Leeds, and by the age of twenty was an editor and columnist on Fleet Street. Her first novel,
A Woman of Substance,
became an enduring bestseller and was followed by many others.
Unexpected Blessings
is her twentieth novel and another top ten bestseller. Her books have sold more than seventy million copies worldwide in more than ninety countries and forty languages. She lives in New York City with her husband, producer Robert Bradford.

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By the same author:

A Woman of Substance
Voice of the Heart
Hold the Dream
Act of Will
To Be the Best
The Women in His Life
Remember
Angel
Everything to Gain
Dangerous to Know
Love in Another Town
Her Own Rules
A Secret Affair
Power of a Woman
A Sudden Change of Heart
Where You Belong
The Triumph of Katie Byrne
Three Weeks in Paris
Emma’s Secret

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Barbara Taylor Bradford asserts the moral right to
be identified as the author of this work

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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