She dropped down beside him, her hands caressing Phantom, but her eyes turned up to him in a passion of love and gratitude.
‘You did it,’ she whispered. ‘You kept him alive for me. Thank you, thank you-oh, if only you knew-’
‘I think perhaps I do,’ he murmured, his eyes meeting hers in a moment of total understanding that was normal with them now.
‘I reckon he’s got a little longer yet,’ Darius said.
As if to prove it, Phantom shifted in his arms and leaned forward to lick Harriet’s face.
‘You’ve got to live a bit longer, you hear that?’ she said. ‘I want you there at our wedding. Promise me.’
They were married three weeks later, on the beach. Of Darius’s family, only Amos and his wife were missing; but his brothers and Freya all said they wouldn’t miss it for the world. Mary and Ken said the same thing, watching with satisfaction as Darius laid claim to the most valuable property of his life.
Frankie walked behind the bride, pretty in frills and flowers. And beside her walked Mark, his hand on Phantom’s collar, guiding him to a place at the front where he could curl up and watch the ceremony.
The vet had expressed astonishment at his survival, but Harriet wasn’t surprised. Darius had done what he longed to do-given her something so precious that it was like a jewel. If she had doubted his love before, she could doubt it no longer. She knew now that the jewel would shine for ever.
Lucy Gordon
Lucy Gordon cut her writing teeth on magazine journalism, interviewing many of the world’s most interesting men, including Warren Beatty, Charlton Heston and Roger Moore. She also camped out with lions in Africa, and had many other unusual experiences that have often provided the background for her books. Several years ago, while staying in Venice, she met a Venetian who proposed in two days. They have been married ever since. Naturally this has affected her writing, in which romantic Italian men tend to feature strongly.
Two of her books have won the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award.
You can visit her website at www.lucy-gordon.com.
