Distracted by her Virtue (20 page)

Along with the very professional darkroom she’d dreamed of, so far they had a bathroom and spa to die for, newly designed bedrooms, and a drawing room with several seriously comfortable and beautiful sofas and armchairs. And having developed a sentimental fondness for her great aunt Mary’s rickety old couch, after initially storing it in one of the unused bedrooms
Sophia had recently had it despatched to a professional upholsterer’s where it was being restored.

Since they had married last year, and Jarrett had moved in with her, they had both become keen to transform the genteel old house into their own vision of a beautiful family home they could be proud of. But even with that aim firmly in mind they both knew what the most important values that made a real home were
love and family
. And today they had invited their friends and family to help them celebrate not only their first wedding anniversary and the restoration of the gardens but the news that they were most excited about of all … that she and Jarrett were expecting their first child together.

‘One fresh apple juice, made with apples from our very own orchard, for the ravishingly beautiful Mrs Gaskill!’

Sophia called a halt to her surveying of the gardens from the newly installed drawing room patio with a start, and spun round to find her husband, casually attired in jeans and a black roll-necked sweater and looking more handsome than ever, theatrically brandishing an antique silver salver with a single glass of juice on it.

‘Now, that’s what I call service,’ she said, smiling and lifted it off the tray.

‘I aim to please,’ he replied with a wink, setting down the salver on a side table and returning to lightly lay his hands either side of her waist. ‘By the way, I love what you’re wearing today.’

She had on a vintage white dress, and had teamed it with a pretty daffodil-yellow ribbed cardigan. She had to admit she did indeed feel pretty in the outfit. Perhaps it was because of the news she was all but bursting to share with their family and friends? It didn’t matter.
All Sophia knew was that she was happier than she’d ever been in her life. The harsh life that she’d led with Tom Abingdon no longer haunted her as much as it had used to. Her only sadness was that her dad couldn’t be there to witness her joy.

‘You always know just what to say to make me feel good,’ she remarked, and received a long, lingering kiss from Jarrett in return.

‘If I do,’ he replied, lifting his head, ‘it’s only because when I look at you I can’t help but speak from the heart.’

‘Well, you look pretty good yourself, if you don’t mind my saying so. I really like you in that black sweater. Makes you look vaguely mysterious … sexy too. Your sister hasn’t invited any of her predatory friends to our little party, has she?’

‘She wouldn’t dare. In any case, even if she has I wouldn’t notice them. Not when I’m married to the loveliest and most alluring woman in the world.’

Sophia emitted a soft groan. ‘Stop saying such provocative things or I’ll be waiting for everyone to go just so that we can get to bed.’

Her husband grinned with pleasure. ‘Once Charlie’s asleep—going by our record so far—that will be our first destination anyway. Are you looking forward to seeing your brother and his troupe today?’

‘Very much so!’

‘Do you think he’ll be pleased about the baby?’

‘Of course he will, my darling. He’ll be overjoyed. How many times has he told us that we ought to have a brood of kids? Five or six at the very least! Talking of kids … do you know where Charlie is? I left him in the kitchen eating chocolate ice cream just ten minutes
ago, and I’ll probably have to get him to change his shirt and jeans before our visitors get here because no doubt they’re covered in the stuff by now.’

‘He wasn’t in the kitchen when I poured your drink a minute ago.’

‘Then where is—?’

Before Sophia had finished speaking the boy in question tore into the room and out onto the patio, pursued by the rapidly growing light cream Labrador puppy that Jarrett had adopted for him on the day they’d got married. Right now, both boy and dog wore the evidence of the chocolate ice-cream on their faces and on their bodies—and in Charlie’s case all over his previously clean white shirt and jeans.

‘What on earth—?’

‘Sorry, Mum, but Sam wanted to share my ice cream and I wanted him to have some. I couldn’t be mean and not give him any, could I?’ Spinning round, her small son gazed hopefully up at Jarrett, as if searching for an ally. ‘I’m right, Dad, aren’t I?’

Jarrett’s colour visibly rose beneath his cleanly shaved jaw and Sophia’s heart turned over, because she knew how much it meant to him to hear Charlie refer to him as ‘Dad’. She almost held her breath as she waited for him to respond.

‘Yes, son … you are right. I agree,’ he answered, and when his eyes next met hers they had never seemed more crystal blue … like the finest-cut diamonds glinting in the sun.

Her heart swelled with love and pride for the two men that meant the most to her in the world …

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