Wealthy Australian, Secret Son Read online

  “No guilt.” Rohan gave his verdict.

  “Any number of girls and women are brave enough to go it alone.”

  “And any number aren’t. Not at eighteen, without support. I realise how frightened you must have been. How trapped. You had to endure years of being victimised by Martyn. You couldn’t tell your father? Even Gordon Prescott? He would never have countenanced abuse. Nicole shouldn’t have either. That woman needs a good psychiatrist.”

  “Maybe I do too.”

  “So does anyone who suffers abuse in silence.” His voice was as gentle as any man’s could be. “Forgive me for making moral judgements, my love. You were trying to tell me. I was too full of my own griefs. I love you, Charlotte. I’ve never stopped loving you. I gave you my heart. I don’t want it back. We created our monster. His name was Martyn. Time now to lay poor Martyn to rest.”

  Rohan drew her to her feet. “Let’s stroll down to the river. I feel like being out in the clean fresh air.”

  They walked hand in hand through the gardens, past the beds flushed with flowers, right down to the edge of the river. It sparkled in the sunshine, the glassy surface mantled with thousands of dancing sequins.

  “If we could only go back in time,” she said softly. “Mattie would be alive. You and I would be happily married. You would have asked Martyn to be your best man.”

  “A terrible irony in that!” He gathered her into his embrace. “Don’t let’s speak of Martyn any more. Not in this place. We can never go back, however much we want to. What we can do is take control of our future. We’re going to live it the way it would have been. Only better. We have one another. And we have our beautiful son. We’re blessed. Do you love me, Charlotte?” He turned her face up to him, blue gaze intent.

  “Heart and soul!” Her lovely smile was like a sunburst. “I’ve been so alone without you.”

  He held her to him. “We’re together now. You have nothing and no one to fear. The sad years are over. A few hurdles won’t go away like magic, but we’ll contend with them. Believe me?” he asked.

  “My belief in you has never wavered, Rohan,” she answered without hesitation. “I can handle anything with you by my side.” She paused, then added a little shakily, “I thought I would die of shame if you found out.”

  “Ah, no!” he groaned. “I love you, Charlotte. I’ll always take care of you.” He bent his head, touching his forehead to hers, then he kissed her so sweetly, so deeply, so passionately, the tormented element within her broke like a severed twine. “We have peace now, Charlotte,” he murmured. “We have our whole lives. Ready to marry me?”

  The world seemed bathed in a gorgeous brightness. It was as though the sun, moon and stars had come out together. “I can’t wait!” she cried ecstatically.

  Above them in the trees an invisible bird began to sing. The sound was so beautiful, so flute-like, so poignant, so far-carrying it seemed to travel the length and breadth of the river.

  “Do you suppose that’s Mattie?” Rohan asked, lifting his head.

  Charlotte too was filled with such a sense of wonder she was nearly weeping. She stared above her into the green density of leaves. Hard to see a bird, but there was such a glow. It was spilling out of the trees. Pouring over them. “Why not?” she breathed.

  Mattie wasn’t really dead. He was an angel.

  “Who knows what forces are at work in this universe?” Rohan mused, putting his arm around her slender shoulders. “We should be getting back, my love. It’s almost time to pick up our son.”

  Its song completed, the invisible bird rose up into the sky on opalescent wings. It made a full circuit around Charlotte and Rohan before it disappeared.

  Had it even been there?

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7945-6

  WEALTHY AUSTRALIAN, SECRET SON

  First North American Publication 2011

  Copyright © 2011 by Margaret Way, Pty., Ltd

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