‘I hope it’s enough,’ he said, ‘to tide you over until the place is self-supporting. Bluey says you should be able to do it, but ask if you need more.’
‘You can’t give me this.’
‘You’re the mother of my son,’ he growled. ‘I love Munwannay as much as you do and I want it restored. I can give you what I damned well want, and you’ll take it.’
‘Ooh, the arrogance,’ she said before she could stop herself, and there was a pause. When he spoke again the tension had eased a little. She could hear a smile in his voice.
‘As disrespectful as ever, then?’
‘Who, me?’
‘Yes, you,’ he said and she knew he was smiling. ‘My outback girl. My Cinderella princess.’
‘I’m not your anything, Andreas,’ she said softly and she heard the smile disappear.
‘No.’
‘You’re home in Aristo?’
‘Briefly.’
‘You’re still diamond hunting?’
There was a sharp intake of breath. ‘Holly, that stays with you. If it got out-’
‘I’m talking to you-on this phone line you’ve organized that’s encrypted. Honestly, Andreas-’
‘It’s necessary,’ he snapped. ‘If you’re going to be indiscreet-’
‘I have an encrypted phone. I can be as indiscreet as I want.’
‘Holly…’
‘Yes?’ She sounded angry, she thought, but she couldn’t stop herself. This was crazy. A prince calling her his Cinderella princess. Encrypted phones. Money to spare.
‘Are you happy?’
The question caught her off guard. ‘Of course I’m not happy,’ she snapped before she could stop herself.
‘Why not?’
Because I love you, you big oaf, she thought, but she couldn’t say it. ‘I’m missing Deefer,’ she said at last.
‘When can you get him?’
‘Three weeks. I need to collect him at the quarantine station in Perth.’ She swallowed. ‘We have cattle arriving on the same day he’s due for release. He’ll have to wait an extra twenty-four hours until I can fetch him. I know it’s crazy but I got upset when I found out.’
‘Pay someone to collect him for you.’
‘I’ll collect him myself,’ she said, trying really hard not to sound choked up. ‘I… Was there anything else you wanted?’
‘Can I talk to Bluey?’
‘Checking up on me?’
‘Yes,’ he said strongly. ‘Yes, I am. I worry about you, Holly. I’ve heard you’re working too hard.’
‘And so are you,’ she snapped. ‘I can hear in your voice that you’re exhausted, but I can’t ring your henchmen and ask for reports.’
‘I’m not-’
‘How much sleep did you get last night?’
‘That’s none of-’
‘My business,’ she finished for him. ‘No. For I’m not your wife, Andreas. As you’re not my husband. Let’s leave the checking alone. Let’s leave each other alone. Thank you so much for what you’ve done for the farm,’ she said stiffly, forcing herself to say what had to be said. ‘But if there’s nothing else…Thank you for calling and goodbye.’
He replaced the receiver and stood, staring at the phone for a long time. Sebastian, searching for him on business, found him still standing at his desk, and at the look on his face he frowned in swift concern.
‘What is it? Problems? The diamond…’
‘No problem.’ He shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the emotion caused by the call. ‘Not as far as I know. I’m leaving for Spain in the morning. We’re working through every avenue.’
‘I know you’re doing what you can,’ Sebastian growled and, uncharacteristically, he put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. ‘You’re looking like hell, brother.’
‘I’ve just sent my wife to Australia.’
‘Not my idea,’ Sebastian said firmly. ‘In fact, I seem to remember I forbade it. There are repercussions already. The people don’t like you parting so soon, no matter how sensibly you’ve explained it.’
‘So tell me I can go to her.’
‘Bring her back here,’ Sebastian said. ‘You’re needed here. These next few weeks are vital to secure the country.’
‘And after that?’
‘You’re third in line to the throne. You know your place is here. We’re family, brother, whether you like it or not, and you know your duty.’
‘So it’s Spain tomorrow. While Alex honeymoons.’
‘He’ll be back. He knows his place.’
‘And he even enjoys it.’
‘Enjoyment doesn’t come into it. Family does.’
‘Right.’
‘You’re not thinking-’
‘Of course I’m thinking,’ Andreas snapped, shrugging off his brother’s hand. ‘I’m thinking so hard my head hurts. I need to get some rest.’ He paused and a glimmer of a smile returned behind his eyes. ‘Even my wife says I’m tired. My wife.’
‘It’s a marriage of convenience.’
‘Yes,’ he said and closed his eyes. ‘A marriage of convenience. Family…Hell, Sebastian, let me be. Spain tomorrow. Duty calls.’
She bathed away the dust of the day, she picked at the truly excellent dinner Honey put before her, and then she wandered down through the home paddock to the Munwannay gum tree. To sink on the grass round her little son’s grave. To close her eyes and let pain wash over her in waves so great she thought they’d overwhelm her.
‘I can do this,’ she whispered. ‘I can go on.’
For whom?
‘There’s no choice,’ she told the little boy buried deep under the leaf litter. ‘I love Munwannay. It’s my home.’
‘Your home’s with your husband,’ she told herself.
‘He doesn’t need me.’ She knew that. ‘He even agreed I should be here.’
‘It’ll be better when Deefer’s here,’ she whispered but no one answered. No one agreed.
Her little son was gone. Her husband was in another world.
She was alone.
The first of the cattle arrived the day Deefer’s quarantine expired. There was nothing Holly wanted more than to fly down to Perth and fetch him, but these cattle were the beasts she’d chosen herself.
Bluey was good but he’d stayed at Munwannay while she’d attended the sales so
