CHAPTER ELEVEN
The study door was closed—not a good sign. For a moment, Guy debated whether he should leave well alone. Then he remembered how harried Ros had looked at breakfast and knocked, pausing a moment before pushing the door open.
Seated at the desk, her head in her hands, Ros was surrounded by leaflets and brochures. Her laptop, the screen displaying a swirling screensaver, sat to one side, and her mobile phone appeared to be charging.
“Simon doesn’t know it yet, but we’re eloping.”
The gritty statement was made through clenched teeth. Guy sympathised, but he wasn’t about to let her get away with taking the easy way out. His eye was caught by one leaflet in particular. “Hey, you’re not going to let a few ribbons and table decorations deprive me of the privilege of giving you away, are you?”
Ros slumped even further, resting her chin on arms folded on top of the desk. If her stubborn pout belonged to the teenager who’d moved in a lifetime ago, her mournful gaze reminded him of the Tregowans’ springer spaniel. That dog certainly knew how to wheedle extra treats out of her humans.
“Tempted though I am, it wouldn’t be the same without you,” she admitted with a soft smile. “Or Heather and Rob, and everyone else on the guest list.”
“And you know what they want most? It’s not some flashy society event where everything’s perfect—it’s to see you and Simon start your lives together.”
The change in her expression acknowledged the truth in his words. “So long as it’s perfect for Simon, that’s all that matters.”
“And what do you suppose will make it perfect for Simon?”
Ros gave him a satisfyingly blank look. At least he could now make a useful contribution. “I’m glad you asked,” he continued with a grin. “Speaking as a mere man, the day will be perfect for Simon if, at the end of it, he’s your husband and you’re his wife. Your signatures on the marriage register—that’s all you need. That’s the big picture. Everything else is the frame. It doesn’t matter what the frame looks like, it’s the picture that’s important.”
Guy planted himself on the corner of the desk. What he was about to suggest would no doubt give rise to an explosion of curiosity and a possible multitude of questions. Sometimes, though, sacrifices had to be made, and it looked like his privacy was going on the altar.
“You know I’ll do whatever I can to help with the wedding. However, you know as well as I do, I’ll be as much use as a chocolate teapot when it comes to, shall we say, the aesthetic side of things?”
“I know.” Ros chuckled. “I’m still not convinced you’re not colour-blind.”
Guy gave a non-committal shrug. He wasn’t, but it was fair to say his interior design skills were somewhat lacking. “I know you don’t want to have Heather working on this. I also know you don’t want to give Simon even more stress while he’s commissioning the research centre. Have you thought about sharing the decision-making with a couple of your friends?”
“I need more friends outside the services.” Ros waved her hand over the sprawling mass of promotional materials. “This sort of thing would be as much a mystery to them as it is to me.”
Which was pretty much what Guy suspected. “There is someone else who could help out with this.”
Ros raised her eyebrows. “Who might that be, and do I need to bribe them? If so, what will it take?”
“No bribe necessary. She’s already volunteered.”
“And you were going to tell me about this when?”
“When you got desperate enough—which is now, by the way.”
For a day that had got off to a spectacularly bad start, yesterday had come to a spectacularly good close. An afternoon of incredibly debauched sex would do that. Guy hadn’t stayed the night with Maddie, but over dinner, their conversation had turned to Ros’ wedding.
Quite how he’d managed to talk her around, Guy still wasn’t sure. He was too grateful for the fact that she no longer saw her relationship with him and her business relationship with Ros as mutually exclusive. He’d even coaxed her into being a little more open about the two of them being a couple now, even if it was only with his nearest and dearest. She’d then amazed him with an offer he regarded as nothing short of a miracle.
“So who is this wonderful person?”
“Maddie.”
Ros’ eyebrows went even higher. “Maddie? Remington Grange Maddie?”
“The same.”
“I don’t recall her saying anything like that.”
Guy shifted, bracing himself for her reaction. “That’s because you weren’t there when she said it.”
Ros’ gaze didn’t waver as she processed the admission. Forever afterwards, Guy would swear he could see the pieces slotting into place.
“She wouldn’t happen to be the reason why you’ve been spending so much time away from home lately, would she? And that trip to Paris? She is, isn’t she? That’s who you’ve been seeing.”
His niece was way too astute.
“I couldn’t possibly comment.”
His effort was valiant but futile.
“Way to go, uncle!”
While his revelation might have been unexpected, it wasn’t unwelcome, if Ros’ grin were any indication. Then again, she’d never seen him date anyone—not even Liz, thanks to the way he’d always compartmentalised his life.
Another source of regret. While he couldn’t undo past mistakes, he could, however, ensure he didn’t repeat them, even if the current situation did take some getting used to.
“So what is it about Madeleine Scott that’s grabbed your attention?”
Ros had suddenly perked up, and was showing far too much interest in his private life. The way she was looking at him made it quite clear he was on the hook and wouldn’t be allowed to wriggle off it.
It didn’t prevent him from trying, though.
“Shouldn’t you be looking at caterers, or something?” He nodded in the direction of a brochure, the cover of which was adorned with a spectacular confection of a multi-tiered wedding cake.
“Not until you spill the beans about you and Maddie.”
“I’m not saying anything more. It’s still early days.” And he was still more than a little raw from almost losing her twenty-four hours earlier.
Ros’ smile softened to one of understanding. “You really like her, don’t you?”
“I really do. She’s a remarkable lady.”
Professional, highly competent, and undoubtedly successful when it came to her work, she was both passionate and vulnerable when it came to the intimate aspects of her personal life. Though he’d only shared a few nights with her, Guy missed her when he spent the night alone. He’d woken that morning with a strong suspicion that there might be more to this relationship than a pleasant way to pass the time in convivial company.
Ros stood and came around the desk to face him. “I don’t know her well enough to know if that’s true or not. There is one thing, though—does she know about Aegis, the lifestyle, and what it means to you?”
Guy took a deep breath. He hadn’t intentionally avoided mentioning the club and the meeting where he’d revealed he was its owner, but he hadn’t made a point of talking about it, either. Perhaps now was an opportunity for them to become more comfortable about something that was important to both of them.
“No. Not yet,” he added, casting his mind back to the odd occasions when he’d seen hints of a submissive nature in Maddie.
“If things get serious, you’ll have to tell her. How do you think she’ll take it?”
The million-dollar question. “I can’t be sure, but I hope she’ll at least meet me halfway.”
“I hope so, too. I’ve seen a change in you recently, and if it’s down to her… then she’s good for you. I’d hate to see you have to give that up.” She grinned. “So don’t screw it up, okay?”
Guy chuckled. “I’ll give it my best shot. But don’t forget what I said—if you need help with the wedding preparations, have a word with Maddie. And before you ask, it wouldn’t be connected to her job at the hotel in any way—it would be as a friend.”
“Okay, I’ll bear that in mind. I need to speak to her about the options for the evening function anyway. Now go away, and let me sort out the bouquets and buttonholes in peace.”
“Does that mean you and Simon have finally agreed on a theme?”
“To be honest… not really.”
“How about your dress?”
Her shoulders fell with the almost melodramatic groan. “Don’t remind me. I told him I’m too old for white or ivory, but he won’t have it. I want to get married in something more colourful. Until I talk him around to my way of thinking, making a final decision on the details for his suit is out of the question. Are you sure we can’t elope? There must be a vacant beach somewhere.”
“Nope. Save the beach for your honeymoon. I’m giving you away—got to make sure you do the job properly. What’s wrong? You’re not still worried about this Nia, are you?”
Over the last couple of weeks, Guy had noticed the way Ros tensed up whenever Simon mentioned the other woman in her presence. To Guy, nothing he’d heard indicated anything other than a working relationship, but then, he wasn’t his niece.
“Not worried, exactly.”
“Have you spoken to Simon about the way you feel?”
Ros shook her head, and if anything, her sadness seemed to increase. “I can’t. He’ll think I don’t trust him. I can’t let him think that, because I know I can trust him. But if I can trust him, why do I feel this way? It doesn’t make sense. I suppose it could have something to do with… but it’s been months…” She turned away.
“Since Simon was kidnapped and you nearly died rescuing him?” Guy stood and placed his hands on her shoulders. “It’s going to take time. You know what the counsellor said.”
“I know. How can I talk to Simon about this without making a mess of things?”
“By being honest with him. He’ll listen to you. As one Dominant to another, don’t you think you owe it to your submissive to discuss anything and everything that affects your relationship?”
“You’re right. I didn’t think of it that way, and I should have done.” She nodded, as if coming to a decision. “I’ll talk to him. And I’m going to tell him about the dress I want to get married in.”
“You found something you like the look of, then?”
“I think so. It’s white with an abstract pattern of painted flowers around the hem and up one side. Perfect for a summer wedding, according to Heather.”
Guy chuckled. The conversation was straying into areas where no sane man would venture. “You know me and fashion—oil and water, although that does sound like it might actually be a good compromise with what Simon thinks. I do know you’ll look beautiful, no matter what you wear. Feeling better now?”
“Much.” She turned to face him, and she did indeed look more relaxed about the situation. “I’m going to finish up here, then take Simon for a ride.”
“Good idea. And don’t forget—this is going to be the happiest day of your life. Make it for the two of you, and never mind what anyone else thinks you should do.”
“I’ll try to remember that.” Her mischievous grin returned. “And I’ll also add Maddie as your plus one on the guest list.”
Guy left his niece to her nuptial dilemmas. Now that his relationship with Maddie was in the open, with his family at any rate, his heart was, at least in part, considerably lighter.
As for the part that wasn’t, that wouldn’t be resolved until he put to bed his suspicions about Maddie’s background. On his return to Stonehaven the previous night, he’d sought the sanctuary of the library, and over a glass of Dalmore, he’d considered what he knew about her.
She didn’t seem to exist beyond her job and their relationship. Any friends she alluded to were connected with her work, she never mentioned anything about her family, and she’d divulged precious little about her past.
He hated being backed into a corner, but that was exactly where he was. He had no choice. With an irritated sigh, Guy headed for the kitchen. Ros could probably use some more coffee, and then he’d get on with putting the doubts out of his mind once and for all.