The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,164

planned on the spur of the moment and decisions made in the blink of an eye. And if Cecily knew one thing, it was that she needed time to think alone. Whatever she decided, that decision would alter the course of her life irrevocably.

But at least she had a choice now, which made everything better, yet at the same time, more complicated.

When she heard Kiki’s footsteps pass her door, heading for her afternoon ‘siesta’, as she called it, Cecily went downstairs to sit on the bench by the lake and commune with her hippos.

‘Could I live here permanently?’ she asked them as she stared across the calm water. ‘It is so very beautiful after all. But more importantly,’ she sighed, ‘could I live with Bill . . .?’

She cast her mind back to his tin shack and tried to imagine herself there. At least he’d promised to build her a new house and it might be fun to create a wonderful garden like this one around it . . . The thought of being in charge of her own home was a mighty tempting one. And Katherine and Bobby would be her near neighbours . . .

Her parents would be thrilled to hear that she was marrying an Englishman from a good background – Bill’s brother, the major, was a friend of Audrey’s after all. But most important of all, she wouldn’t have to give up her baby, because Bill had told her he would bring the child up as his own. Yes, she was sure there would be local gossip about their shotgun wedding, and the subsequent early birth of their baby, yet that was nothing compared to having to relinquish her child for adoption.

‘But what about Bill . . .?’ she asked the hippos. ‘He’s made it plain that this is a marriage of convenience . . .’

On the other hand, weren’t all marriages ‘convenient’ in some way? A simple contract?

Besides, Cecily, you said you were done with love and would never trust a man again, she told herself firmly. So you’ve just got to stop hankering after it once and for all.

At the very least, she knew she could trust Bill to take care of her – he had saved her life after all – and to her surprise, after their first awkward meeting, she had recently begun to enjoy his company.

She wished she could ask him whether he’d want to consummate the marriage, so they could truly become man and wife, but of course, that was out of the question. Cecily squeezed her eyes shut to try and imagine what it would be like to have him kiss her. The thought really wasn’t so bad. He certainly wasn’t unattractive, even if he was fifteen years older than she was.

Or she could go to Switzerland and have the baby, then return to America to resume her life there . . . In truth, Cecily knew it would be impossible to look her parents in the eyes and keep her dreadful secret from them for the rest of her life.

Cecily stood up and walked to the water’s edge.

‘You know what, hippos? I don’t think there is a choice at all.’

That evening, Cecily sat with Kiki on the terrace, Kiki drinking a martini and Cecily a cup of ginger tea.

‘You look a lot better, honey.’

‘I feel it,’ Cecily replied.

‘Good, you’re being a brave girl, and I like bravery. Now, we absolutely must call your mother and let her know you’re not going home. And then make plans to leave for Switzerland as soon as possible. Tarquin says that war is now inevitable; it’s just a question of when it becomes official. But please don’t worry, honey, you’ll be tucked up safe and sound in Switzerland, which really is the most beautiful place.’

‘As a matter of fact, Kiki, it won’t be necessary for me to travel to Switzerland.’

‘Whyever not? We agreed that it’s the only solution.’

‘Yes, but another solution has appeared since we talked yesterday.’

‘Has it? How can that be?’

‘Bill Forsythe has asked me to marry him.’

Cecily couldn’t help but enjoy the look of total incomprehension on her godmother’s face.

‘Why, I . . . Bill Forsythe wants to marry you?’ Kiki repeated, parrot-like.

‘Yes, he does. I’m to give him my answer tomorrow morning.’

‘Well, I’ll be damned!’ Kiki threw back her head and laughed. ‘You dark horse, you. How long has this been going on?’

‘I . . .’

Cecily realised suddenly that she would have to play the game from here on