His Diamond Bride Read Free

youngsters! You don’t know how to enjoy life. Ow! No need to beat me up.’
    Dee, who’d delivered the lightest tap on his shoulder, chuckled. ‘Behave yourself!’ she commanded.
    â€˜You see how she treats me,’ Mark sighed. ‘I expect you bully your menfolk too, and they wonder where you get it from. They should see what I put up with. Ow!’
    As the two old people collapsed with laughter, Lilian drew her daughter away.
    â€˜Let’s leave them to it. Honestly, they’re like a couple of kids.’
    â€˜Perhaps that’s their secret,’ Pippa said.
    â€˜Yes,’ Lilian said thoughtfully. ‘They do seem to have a secret, don’t they?’
    They went downstairs to get on with the clearing up.
    In the darkness, Mark and Dee listened to the fading footsteps.
    â€˜We’re very lucky,’ she mused, ‘that our family takes such care of us.’
    â€˜True, but I hope they don’t come back,’ he admitted. ‘Right now, I want to be alone with you. What are you giggling for?’
    â€˜I was remembering the first time you ever said that to me. I was so thrilled. Suddenly every dream I’d ever had was coming true.’
    â€˜But it wasn’t, was it?’ he reminded her. ‘I was a dreadful character in those days. I can’t think what you saw in me.’
    â€˜Well, if you don’t know, I’m not going to tell you,’ she teased. ‘We had our troubles, but we reached home in the end. That’s all that matters.’
    â€˜Yes, we reached home and shut the door against the world,’ he mused. ‘And, ever since then, we’ve kept each other safe. Sixty years you’ve put up with me! I can’t imagine how!’
    â€˜Neither can I, so stop fishing for compliments. And, by the way, what game were you playing tonight?’
    â€˜Game? I don’t know what you mean.’
    â€˜Don’t play the innocent with me. All that talk about how you had to court me for years and work to impress me. You know that’s not what happened.’
    â€˜Yes, it is.’
    â€˜It most certainly is not. Don’t you remember—?’
    He stopped her with a gentle finger over her mouth. ‘Hush! I remember what I remember, and you remember what you remember, and maybe it’s not the same thing, but does that matter?’
    â€˜No, I suppose not,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I dare say we’ll never know now which of us has remembered it right.’
    â€˜Both of us and neither of us,’ he said.
    She smiled. ‘You’re very wise tonight.’
    â€˜I’ll swear that’s the first time you’ve ever called me wise. Now, tell me, did you like your present?’
    â€˜I loved it, but you shouldn’t have splashed out on diamonds.’
    â€˜ One measly little diamond,’ he corrected. ‘I was determined you were going to have that on our diamond anniversary.’ Then his voice rose in horror. ‘ Good grief; I almost forgot! Your other present.’
    â€˜I’ve been wondering about that, ever since you told me this morning that the diamond was only the “official” present, and that you had something else for me that meant much more. You said you’d give it to me later, when the crowd had gone.’
    â€˜I forgot until now,’ he groaned.
    â€˜Never mind, darling,’ she said tenderly. ‘People of our age become forgetful.’
    â€˜Our age?’ he echoed, affronted. ‘Are you suggesting that I’m old?’
    â€˜Of course not. You could be a hundred and you still wouldn’t be old.’
    â€˜Thank you, my dear.’
    She couldn’t resist adding cheekily, ‘But give me my present before you forget again.’
    He gave her a look, then switched on the little light by the bed and fumbled in a drawer, producing a small object that he hid behind his back. ‘Close your eyes and hold