The British Billionaire's Innocent Bride Read online

  With that minor decision made, Theo seemed to cheer up again. ‘I’ve booked the family suite for the children and me,’ he said. ‘The one we’ve had before. Luckily the hotel had a vacant room for you next door to us. Though I can’t promise that you won’t have one or two—or three—small intruders from time to time during our stay…’

  ‘The children are always welcome—wherever I am,’ Lily said coolly.

  Theo looked at her sharply. She suddenly looked very tired, he thought. He hoped the wine hadn’t gone to her head—he knew that she rarely drank. She had been so relaxed and chatty earlier, but now there was a distinct change, a wistfulness about her.

  It was almost eleven o’clock when they left the restaurant, and Lily turned to look at Theo as they drove rapidly through the lessening traffic. They had not said much to each other for the last few minutes, and she thought that he was probably glad that the evening was over. He’d done his duty, given her a little treat, and now he was anxious to get back.

  ‘Thank you very much for this evening. It was lovely food,’ she said formally.

  ‘My pleasure,’ he said, without taking his eyes from the road. ‘You obviously couldn’t find fault with the cuisine?’

  ‘Certainly not,’ she replied, staring out of her side window.

  They arrived home, but before Theo could put his key in the lock Bea had opened the front door, her face ashen. ‘Oh—Theo—Lily—I—I—’

  They came inside quickly, shutting the door behind them, and Theo said, ‘What is it, Bea?’ His voice was commanding, but controlled. There was clearly something wrong.

  ‘I cannot find Freya!’ Bea practically gasped out the words, putting her hand to her mouth. ‘I’ve searched the whole house—I haven’t left the place, obviously, since you’ve been gone, so I know she must be here somewhere, but she’s just disappeared!’ They could see that the older woman was shaking, and Theo immediately put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  ‘Now, Bea…it’s all right. We’ll find her—she’s probably hiding somewhere…’

  ‘Well, yes, that’s what I thought. But I don’t know where else to look…’

  Lily squeezed Bea’s arm. ‘Come on,’ she said calmly, ‘one of us will be sure to discover where the little minx is…’ But she frowned. Freya was quite a deep sleeper, and it wasn’t like the child to leave her bed once she’d been tucked in.

  ‘I’ve checked on all of them three times since you’ve been gone,’ Bea said. ‘About fifteen minutes ago I looked in on them again, and Freya’s bed was empty. I can’t understand it…’

  ‘We’ll do a systematic search, Bea,’ Theo said. ‘Don’t worry—she can’t be far.’

  For the next twenty minutes the house was gone through room by room—under beds, behind cupboard doors. Although Lily wasn’t really worried, a little prickle of something cold ran down her spine. This was silly. The child had to be somewhere near, safe in her own home…but where was she?

  She looked up at Theo. ‘Has Freya done this sort of thing before?’ she asked, and his reply was immediate.

  ‘Never—not to my knowledge.’ He frowned, and Lily sensed that he was becoming irritated. His daughter had proved to be a difficult child to understand since his wife had gone—but she’d apparently never given them the runaround like this before.

  ‘I wonder if she’s gone outside—’ Lily began, but Bea cut in.

  ‘Oh, she wouldn’t do that!’ she said. ‘Not at this time of night.’ She hesitated. ‘Although I have been engrossed in watching something on the box…I suppose she just might have slipped out without my knowing…’

  Almost before she’d finished speaking, both Theo and Lily had reached the door together, going outside into the darkness. It had been a wonderfully warm day, and the heat still persisted as they peered around them.

  Then, quietly, Lily said, ‘There she is.’

  Freya was curled up comfortably on the hammock, fast asleep. Theo went across straight away and looked down at his daughter, shaking his head in disbelief.

  ‘Well, I’d have put money on her not leaving the house,’ he said softly, ‘but you never can tell with kids.’ He was clearly relieved. They had all known that the child couldn’t possibly be far away, but as each minute had passed without knowing where she was it had begun to trouble them.

  By now Bea had joined them, making no bones about her relief.

  ‘Oh, Freya,’ she whispered, ‘please don’t ever give me a fright like that again, darling.’

  Theo bent to pick Freya up, cradling her in his arms and brushing the top of her sleepy head with his lips. The child woke up with a start.

  ‘Oh…where am I?’ She yawned, looking from one to the other unconcernedly. ‘Oh…I remember now…’ She didn’t go on, and they all went back into the house, Theo still holding her tightly.

  When they got inside, he said gently, ‘Now then, perhaps you’ll tell us what you think you’re doing outside in the garden at this time of night?’ He looked down at her. ‘You gave Bea a bad fright, Freya—that’s not kind, is it? Were you too hot to stay in bed?’

  Freya looked rueful for a moment, then turned to Lily. ‘I…I went on the swing, Lily…To see if the fairy would come.’

  Lily’s heart gave a jolt. This was her fault! she thought.

  ‘I was in bed for ages and ages, and I couldn’t get to sleep,’ Freya said. ‘And then I thought if I crept downstairs I wouldn’t disturb Bea, and if I went and started to swing—ever so gently, like you said—I might make the fairy come and grant me my wish…’ The words tumbled out of Freya’s mouth, her gaze fixed on Lily. ‘But she didn’t come, Lily.’

  ‘Well, it doesn’t matter now, Freya,’ Theo said. ‘It’s high time you were back in bed.’ He snuggled her into him again. ‘Would you like a drink before we take you upstairs.’

  ‘Yes, please—can I have some cold milk?’

  Bea made for the kitchen. ‘I’ll get it,’ she said at once, and Lily moved over to Freya and looked down at her fondly.

  ‘I’m sorry if you didn’t see a fairy, Freya,’ she said quietly. ‘But my stories are just that, sweetheart—they’re stories. I make them up in my head. I told you that, didn’t I?’

  ‘Yes—but sometimes wishes can come true, can’t they, Lily? You said that sometimes they can.’

  Lily smiled. ‘Yes. I believe that they can. Sometimes,’ she said.

  ‘So what were you wishing for, Freya? What were you hoping the fairy would make come true?’ Theo enquired.

  Freya turned her head and looked straight into his eyes. ‘I was wishing what we all want…Alex and Tom-Tom and me. That Lily will never go away. That she will live with us for ever and ever and ever.’

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE holiday hotel was as impressive—and as welcoming—as Lily had known it would be. On their arrival they were greeted by the manager, and Theo introduced him to Lily.

  ‘You know all of us, Barry—only too well,’ he remarked. ‘But this is Lily Patterson, the children’s present nanny.’ He glanced down at Lily. ‘Barry has been looking after us for—what is it? Four years, I think—isn’t it, Barry?’

  The man smiled, taking in Lily’s appearance. ‘Yes, it must be, Mr Montague.’ He paused. ‘And you children are growing up so fast I hardly recognise you!’ He looked down at Lily. ‘I do hope you’ll find your room suitable, Miss Patterson. Please let me know if there’s anything else you might need.’

  Lily smiled back at him. ‘I’m sure it will be fine, thank you,’ she murmured, thinking that although she’d spent a lot of time working in hotels, and had stayed with Sam in Rome, she’d certainly never stayed as a guest anywhere as grand as this.

  Although the children wanted to rush in and inspect Lily’s room, Theo was adamant that she should be given some time to herself first. ‘You can all come and have a wash and tidy up,’ he said firmly, pushing them in front of him into the family suite.

  Alone for a few minutes, Lily went to
open her window wide. Their rooms looked right over the sea, and the glorious drift of salty air filled her lungs as she breathed in deeply. Even though her emotions were so mixed up, she was determined to try and enjoy this holiday.

  As she leaned pensively against the windowframe for a moment, her mind kept going back to the other evening, when Freya had slipped out of the house. Theo had not referred to it again, but Lily couldn’t help feeling that the little girl’s unusual behaviour had been all her fault. That she’d been filling the children’s heads with too much make-believe. But she’d always invented stories—stories with happy endings. Which was probably something to do with the emptiness she’d felt in other ways, she mused. But was it wrong to let children think for just a little while that the impossible could happen? That wishes could come true? Surely that was what all stories were—fantasy, meant to entertain, which they had been doing for generations of children?

  But she had been totally unprepared when Freya had announced what her wish was…that Lily could stay with them for ever. She remembered again the rush of colour that had flooded her cheeks. She hadn’t looked at Theo, hadn’t wanted to catch his eye or to see his expression. But he had totally ignored what Freya had said, as if he hadn’t even heard it, merely taking the milk from Bea before carrying his daughter back to bed.

  Now it was late afternoon, and Theo had told her that the children’s supper was always served at five-thirty—obviously much later for the adults. Lily knew they must be ready for something to eat by now, so she had a quick wash, and was just brushing out her hair when an excited knocking on the door made her smile. Straight away they all burst in.

  ‘Where are you going to sleep, Lily?’ Alex asked, going across to the two single beds.

  ‘Oh, probably the bed nearest the window,’ Lily said.

  ‘If I get fed up with the boys, can I come in and sleep in this other one sometimes?’ Freya asked, sitting down and bouncing on it gently.

  ‘If you like. Whatever Daddy says,’ Lily replied. ‘Come on—you must all be hungry.’

  Theo was just locking their door as they all left Lily’s room, and as the children scampered towards the lift he called out, ‘No—let’s use the stairs tonight. We all need some exercise after that long drive.’

  Lily glanced up at him quickly. He’d clearly recalled her fear of lifts. ‘It’s quite OK, Theo—really…’ she said. ‘I’ll be fine if I’m with all of you.’

  ‘No, we’ll go down the stairs tonight,’ he repeated.

  ‘But I wanted to work the lift!’ Freya protested.

  ‘Tomorrow,’ Theo replied firmly. ‘You can do it tomorrow.’

  Their reserved family table was one of the large round ones near a window, and Freya plonked herself down beside Lily. ‘We always sit here,’ she said happily.

  Soon the children were tucking into the ham-and-cheese omelettes the waitress brought, while Lily and Theo were served a pot of tea. The gentle hubbub of childish voices in the room made Lily’s senses swim with pleasure at being here. Theo had described the place as child-friendly, and it was certainly that. Glancing across at him as he lounged back in his chair, she could imagine that he, too, must benefit from a time of complete relaxation in such surroundings. She watched him helping Tom butter a crust of bread, watched him lean forward to hear something Alex was saying—and wondered for the hundredth time what it must be like to have someone like him for a parent. She remembered what he’d said to her many times—that the children were the only thing that mattered in his life. He was totally engrossed in their welfare, she thought, and in the welfare of his patients. There was nothing else that mattered, or would ever matter, to him.

  The days that followed had to be some of the happiest Lily had ever known. A simple routine seemed to establish itself at once. Freya would join the other slightly older children to have a tennis lesson on the hotel’s courts straight after breakfast, and Lily and Theo would take the boys for a walk, or go down to the beach.

  On the Thursday of the first week Lily overslept—an almost unique experience for her. Sitting up quickly, she saw that it was already eight-thirty, and, slipping off the bed, she went across to the window and out onto her tiny balcony. The hotel had its own swimming pool—which was situated almost immediately in front of their bedroom windows—to see the children were already splashing about.

  They saw her standing there almost at once, and Freya called out, ‘Lily, come down…we’ve been waiting ages for you!’

  Lily waved back, and stayed to watch them for a few seconds. Theo was crouching down to encourage Tom with his strokes, then he gave a thumbs-up to Freya as she swam past him rapidly, to show off her expertise in the water…But Lily found herself drawn helplessly to the sight of Theo Montague…to his robust, athletic body. The white shorts he was wearing emphasised his strong, tanned thighs, which tensed and flexed with every movement. His dark glossy hair, shining as usual, was beginning to show the merest suggestion of greying at the temples, she noticed, but it only added to his distinguished, desirable appearance.

  He knew she was watching them, and he looked up and waved briefly, his throat tightening as he saw her clad in her scanty T-shirt nightdress, her hair still in sleepy tumbles around her slender shoulders. He cursed himself inwardly for ever having introduced her into their lives. He had done it for his children’s sake, yet the sight and nearness of Lily never failed to arouse him, threatening to take him off course.

  He turned back to concentrate on his offspring. Soon Lily would be gone. Another line in his world would be indelibly drawn.

  By the time the children were dressed for the day, and they’d all had breakfast, it was time for Freya’s tennis lesson. She looked up at her father as they went outside.

  ‘I don’t want to go to my lesson today,’ she said. ‘I’d rather stay with you instead.’

  ‘Sorry, Freya,’ Theo said firmly. ‘You said you wanted me to book you in, and it was your own idea. We just can’t come and go when we like, can we? Not after we’ve made a promise. They’ll be expecting you to turn up—they’re probably waiting for you now.’

  ‘But what if I was ill?’ Freya grumbled.

  ‘That would be different. But you’re not ill, are you? So come on—no more arguments.’

  Lily looked at Freya. ‘Tell you what, Freya,’ she said. ‘I’d love to see how well you play—why don’t I come and watch while Daddy takes the boys somewhere?’

  That put a very different aspect on the matter. ‘Brilliant!’ Freya cried, then, ‘Cheerio, Daddy…see you later!’

  Theo smiled quickly at Lily. She seemed to know just what was needed at any given moment. ‘I’ll take the boys to the car museum in town,’ he said. ‘See you back here at eleven-thirty?’

  As she turned to go with Freya, Lily spoke. ‘Theo…if you would like me to stay with the children for the rest of the day I’d be only too happy,’ she said tentatively. ‘I mean, you’ve not had any time to yourself…to do what you want to do…and this is meant to be your holiday as well, isn’t it?’

  He looked at her thoughtfully for a second. ‘Isn’t it meant to be yours, too?’ he said.

  ‘Well…perhaps…But I am being paid to take care of your children,’ she said. ‘You are with them night and day, no time for yourself at all. I am their nanny, aren’t I? Which should mean that you can go off and do your own thing whenever you want to…’She trailed off awkwardly. She hoped that didn’t sound churlish, or as if she wanted to be rid of him!

  But he smiled down at her. ‘Thanks for the offer,’ he said easily. ‘If I get desperate you’ll be the first to know.’

  Later, after they’d had a light lunch on the terrace, they packed up to go down to the beach, and after a while Lily decided that she should sample the water. The children had been nagging her to join them ever since they’d arrived, but she’d felt slightly embarrassed to be undressed in front of Theo. It was true that her black tankini was not quite so revealing as her one bikini was, bu
t it didn’t leave much to the imagination. Still, she had to go along with it, so gritting her teeth and using a large beach towel, she slipped out of her underwear, cotton trousers and sun top, and was soon racing towards the water’s edge, both boys holding her hands.

  Theo and Freya were leading the way. Watching him as they ran ahead, Lily was struck by the slight lessening of the atmosphere between father and daughter lately. They made such an appealing sight, she thought, the dainty, long-haired little girl, with such perfect limbs and skin, and the handsome, virile man holding her hand so protectively.

  The sea was so calm and warm they stayed in much longer than they’d meant to, and soon it was a mad scramble for everyone to go back and get dressed. Just as they picked their way across the shingle, Freya suddenly screamed, falling onto one knee dramatically and calling to Lily.

  ‘Oh! Lily…look…I’ve hurt myself! I’m bleeding…Look! Look!’

  Both Lily and Theo turned quickly, and were by her side in a second. Theo stooped at once to examine the damage. ‘It’s OK, Freya,’ he said. ‘It’s just a little scratch from a sharp pebble, I expect.’ He looked around to see if there was any glass, but there wasn’t. He put an arm around her shoulder. ‘Come on, get up. You’ll be right as rain in a minute.’

  But Freya was not going to be so easily pacified. ‘Ow, ow!’ she yelled. ‘It’s hurting…Lily, you look! See? See there?’

  Now Lily stooped as well, carefully wiping some sand away from the affected area with her finger. As Theo had said, it was a small scratch, but the blood continued to trickle down Freya’s big toe, and by this time Alex and Tom were also bending to have a look—both very interested in taking part in the crisis.

  ‘Does it hurt very much, Freya?’ Tom asked sympathetically.