The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,178

leave paradise and go back to our temporary digs.’

Cecily had subsequently had a carpenter fashion a sign that said ‘Paradise Farm’ to hang on the gate, just in case anyone came to visit them.

‘And I remain optimistic about that,’ Cecily said to Katherine, who was helping her hang curtains in the sitting room.

‘Of course people will come and visit you, darling; they’re all far too nosy to stay away.’

‘Then they might also notice that I’m awful large for what’s supposed to be less than three months of pregnancy.’ Cecily rolled her eyes.

‘Perhaps, but they’ll just assume that the two of you simply couldn’t keep your hands off each other before you got married,’ Katherine shrugged. ‘Seriously, if you’re going to live here in the Valley, or at least on the edge of it, you absolutely can’t be worrying about what people say. Anyway, it’s certainly stopped the rumour that Bill batted for the other side.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘Oh, you know,’ Katherine said, lowering her voice, ‘that he is a homosexual.’

‘No! Just because he never married they thought that?’

‘Cecily, the women round here in particular have far too much time to think. Now, that’s the sitting room done,’ said Katherine as she climbed down from the stepladder and surveyed her handiwork. ‘And isn’t it starting to look lovely?’

The curtains swayed in the breeze from the fan that had been installed in the centre of the high-ceilinged drawing room, and Cecily looked around at the surprisingly pleasing mix of Kenya and New York she had created. She had asked her parents to send over all their old furniture which had been gathering dust in the basement of the Fifth Avenue house, and the sturdy mahogany pieces gave the farmhouse a certain gravitas. Cecily had arranged the chaise longue and leather armchairs around the fireplace, with a large oriental rug between them. She had stowed Bill’s books in the bookcases that lined the room and the air was filled with the smell of polish.

She tried her best not to look at the leopard-skin rug in the entrance hall – Bill’s contribution to the proceedings – fashioned from the animal he’d brought home a few weeks ago.

She pushed one of the leather chairs closer to the fireplace and imagined herself sitting opposite Bill beside the fire, drinking gin and talking about their day.

‘Cecily!’ Katherine laid a firm hand on her arm. ‘You’re in no condition to push anything at the moment, let alone that heavy chair.’

‘Exercise is good for pregnant women and I’ve managed so far,’ Cecily shrugged. ‘I hope Bill will like it, though it might just be too civilised for him.’

‘I’m sure he’ll love it, darling. I certainly do, and how I envy you your indoor bathroom – Bobby has promised me that we should be able to afford the plumbing for one next spring.’

‘Come and use mine whenever you want,’ Cecily suggested.

‘I’d love to, but I’d only get hot and dusty riding back!’

A few days later, Bill returned home. The plan was for him to go to Inverness Cottage as usual, where Katherine would tell him that Cecily was up at Paradise Farm, sorting out the container. Cecily peeped through the curtains as she saw Bill’s pick-up approach and swerve to a halt in front of the house. Picking up two champagne glasses, she walked to the front door and waited for him to enter.

‘Hello?’ he called as he opened the door.

‘I’m here, Bill, right here.’

‘Thank God!’ Bill’s forehead was creased with worry. ‘I couldn’t understand what you were doing at the farm alone so late in the day.’

‘I’m absolutely fine,’ she said, handing Bill the glass of champagne. ‘Welcome home to Paradise Farm.’

‘What?’ Bill looked round the newly furnished hallway. ‘Are you saying that you’ve moved in?’

‘We have, yes! Come and see the living room first.’

Bill accepted the champagne and allowed Cecily to give him a guided tour of the house. She had arranged fresh flowers in vases in each of the four bedrooms and placed photographs and paintings, so that it truly felt lived in.

‘This is where Mama and Papa and my sisters can stay,’ she said to him, as they went into the two guest rooms where the beds were already made up. The main bathroom was sparkling and featured a claw-footed tub with a polished brass faucet, while the kitchen at the end of the house had already been stocked with food.

‘Goodness, this is a real home now.’ Bill seemed bemused as he followed her around. ‘I