Mail-order Bridegroom Part 37

"I wonder if you can get breakfast?" Roslyn joked. "No, seriously, Mumma, as of now. I can cook almost as well as you can. We'll share things untilwe get a capable woman or perhaps a couple. The house girls are used to me.There'll be no problems. ""Except you won't be 'little Rosie' anymore. You'll be Mrs. Faulkner.All the station staff will have to adjust to that. Harry will take it in his stride. He's always said you could take your place anywhere.For myself I'd just as soon stay"Mrs. E." when the family arrives.Going social could give me severe palpitations. ""You can do it, Mumma."Olivia thought for a moment."Darling, it's quite possible I could find it a nightmare. It's too big a change. I'm the housekeeper. Not an old friend. Am I allowed to talk to

Marsh about this?"

"Of course!" Roslyn exclaimed.

"We want your blessing, Mumma."

"If only my blessing would make a difference!" Oh- via sighed.

"I'm not the matriarch of the family."

"You don't have to be so modest, either." Roslyn clicked her tongue."You're a lady, Mumma. A real lady. You're the dearest, most importantwoman in the world."

"My baby!" Olivia pulled Roslyn to her and held her. "I've succeeded with you, if nothing else. So when is it you're going to make your announcement?Knowing Marsh, I'm amazed he's giving you any time at all."

"He plans to tell them Christmas Eve."

For a long moment they remained wrapped in each other's arms.

"Then look out for the shock waves," Olivia said finally.

The week before the family arrived was undoubtedly a happy one. For the first time Roslyn had the complete freedom of the station, which she and Marsh toured from dawn to dusk as business partners, a new thing in Roslyn's life.

Marsh had already begun a crash course of instruction. She was given an overview of the station's current management plan and the horse breeding program. As well, he had taken to filling her in on the seemingly endless list of family business interests, which for the most part she had been unaware of it. It had all been part of a far-removed dream world the Faulkners lived in. It had nothing to do with her.

Now she discovered with Marsh as her mentor she was able to a.s.similate a whole mine of information and ask the sorts of penetrating questions that clearly pleased him. She had a good mind and Marsh made it all sound so interesting she was able to absorb a surprising amount of fact and figures as well as a few cautionary tales. The money Marsh talked was mind-boggling.

How could anyone possibly spend it? Marsh didn't see it that way. He was the custodian for future generations. There was a serious philanthropic program in place, part of which she already knew, but it would be a long time before she felt she would have a good working grasp of the Faulkner money making machine.

One thing had emerged. Marsh had an unswerving dedication to what he saw as his destiny. Was destiny for males alone? Roslyn was thrilled and rea.s.sured Marsh had decided to take her into his confidence, but she wanted to use her own voice. She had sailed through her arts degree and diploma of education.

It wouldn't hurt her to undertake further external study in the coming year.

Business management or commerce. The Faulkner business holdings were ten times bigger than she had imagined. If she really wanted to involve herself in Marsh's life, and it seemed that was what he wanted, she had better prepare herself for a share of the power.

Someday their child would take on the custodian role. The Faulkners had held strictly to the old feudal rule of primogeniture.

Roslyn was of the generation to believe women were capable of big things.Why shouldn't a daughter a.s.sume the role of custodian when the time came? A daughter could do it. For herself Roslyn didn't want to sit back and becomeone of the Faulkner pampered women. That would be the worst thing. Excluded from the 'men's talk'. She knew for a fact Marsh's sisters had not been encouraged to take an active interest in the family's business affairs. Not only that, they hadn't been reared to think of themselves as achievers.Roslyn didn't want that to happen to her and it certainly wasn't going tohappen to any daughter she might have. Further study was in order. If she wanted to be listened to, she had better know what she was talking about.The prospect didn't scare her. With Marsh so much on her side she saw lifting her game as a challenge. It was the others who would do their best to shoot her down. Well, good luck to them! She had lived, a lifetimesubjected to unkind and unfair criticism. It might have made her p.r.i.c.kly but.i.t had also made her strong.

Marsh and Roslyn were out on one of their exhilarating dawn rides when Marshbrought up the subject of his sisters' pending arrival.

They were riding parallel to the silvery green waters of Mali Creek with thebreeze skittering around like a happy child, fluttering the leaves and theswamp gra.s.ses, scattering blossom--a pure white bauhin ia clung like a symbolto the fine cotton covering Roslyn's left breast--and ruffling the gla.s.sysurface of the water breaking up reflections of the flowering trees. Both of them had slackened the reins of their horses, allowing the spirited animals to walk, and now Marsh seemed anxious to talk.

"It could be, Rosa, you're making things more difficult for yourself,"

he remarked, adjusting the rakish angle of his Akubra as the sun gleamed across his sapphire eyes.

"You're like Mumma." Roslyn shrugged."You want to present them with a fait accompli.""I don't need my sisters' permission to marry.""You'd like their approval, though.""Of course, but I'm not going to crack up if they're not absolutely thrilled.""Let's face it! They won't be pleased;' " I had a sinking feeling when Di decided to marry Chris. As far as that goes, Justine's husband nearly putsme to sleep, but I've had to accept them. ""But they are very very establishment.""Times change, Rosa.""For anyone in me real world.""You're saying my sisters are locked away?""It's a closed world of privilege. Marsh. You know that."

His handsome mouth went wry.

"I guess when you get right down to it they don't know how the other half live. It's the luck of the draw, Rosa. To compensate we do our bit as a family."

Roslyn nodded.

"The rich have a moral obligation to help out as best they can."

"Then do allow us to take some credit," Marsh said in a dry voice.

"For heaven's sake, I do!" Roslyn looked up as a flight of parrots as

brilliant as flowers streaked from the sweet-saped trees.

"I don't expect you to sell off everything."

"I'm not going to. Even to oblige you," Marsh said lazily, reaching down to pluck a wild plum which contained more vitamin C than any other fruit.

"Isn't it a glorious morning?" Beneath the wide brim of his Akubra his eyes glittered like gems.

"Here, have a bite."

Roslyn took the plum and tasted of its tangy, dark gold flesh.

"Have you thought the girls are bound to ask Kim Petersen over?"

"I can't see that will do any great harm. They've been friends forever." He

leaned sideways in the saddle, caught her face and turned it to him.

"You've got juice on your chin."

"Lick it off."

"I intend to." His tongue collected the pearls of moisture then moved over

her parted mouth."When are you going to sleep with me?"She let him kiss her, a convulsive little s.h.i.+ver moving through her body."When we're married."He drew away and laughed."What if I run right out of control?""You won't!" She gave him a challenging smile.He continued to stare back into her eyes and the smile stole away."Promise?""Not a hope!"She felt the lick of heat move through her body and sMer her cheeks."Kim will be devastated when she finds out about us.""Then I'm sorry!" Marsh sat his horse splendid as a feudal king."These things will happen. Anyway, I got through to Kim long ago. She ought to accept Craig McDonald before he turns to someone else.That's the bsst offer she's had all year. Lord knows, I never told her Iloved her. Or that I wanted to marry her. "

"Unfortunately for her she was reared to believe you did:' Marsh clicked his tongue in exasperation.

"Blame it on our foolish mothers. What do you really think this holding off is going to achieve?"

Roslyn rapidly veered her horse away so it wouldn't trample a clump ofpurple, cream-throated lilies."I told you. I want to gauge your sisters' reaction to having me back.""I'm sure they can handle it if you don't press them too hard.""What's that supposed to mean?" Roslyn's topaz eyes flashed."Now, now, Rosa, you'll have to wrap up that aggression."

"I don't like getting ha.s.sled," she said more mildly.

"Do you know anyone who actually does'! Another thing that concerns me.

When is Liv going to give up playing housekeeper?"

"She's shy about her new role. Do you mindT' " Such a feisty littlecreature! " He glanced at her beautiful face. It was full of feeling; hisown fierce joy in the morning.

"Tell me, what's happened to the but- toned-in schoolmarm?"

"Scratch me and you'll find she's in."

"So, I'll volunteer."

It was said tauntingly and her body thrummed with response. Many times this

past week his arms had gone around her, caressing, possessive, his murmuredlove talk sweet and hypnotic. Many times she had half expected he wouldoverride her soft, stifled protests, but in the end he had always releasedher, knowing full well she could hardly contain her desire. When he held her there was only his touch.

His inescapable magic.

Ma.s.ses of bauhin ia blossom tumbled down on their heads. Marsh swept off his Akubra, dislodging the floral b.u.t.terflies caught in the wide brim.

"I'm not going to wait long, Rosa," he told her with a sort of thrilling finality. As always he had read her every expression.

"We've wasted enough time. Two months from the engagement, we'll be married."

She felt a fris son of panic, then a great curl of rapture. "How am I goingto organise a big wedding in that time?""I honestly don't know. You want a big wedding?""Yes, I do!" Her voice shook a little."You'll make an unforgettable bride!" His eyes swept over her, amazingly sensual, amazingly blue.

"It's a fantasy, isn't it?" Even now she was experiencing a sensation likedreaming."More, it's a marriage," Marsh answered almost tautly."Two months should be long enough for a clever, well-organised girl like you."She nodded, her mind racing pleasurably ahead."It will take a lot of planning but if we know what we're looking at.""Well, you won't be inhibited by a lack of money," he teased dryly."I thought we'd be married here on Mac.u.mba if you feel the same. We'd have to throw some sort of super party in Sydney for those we can't fit in."

"Mac.u.mba will be fine." Who, then, would invite the shade of the late Lady

Faulkner? Roslyn thought. "Where would we go for our..." She was aghastshe couldn't get out the word."Honeymoon, Rosa?" His voice was almost tender. "Don't be shy.Anywhere in the world you want to go.

Our marriage and honeymoon will be a very important part of our lives. ""Well, then, just the two of us on a tropical island," she said.He turned his head swiftly. His eyes gave off such brilliance!"You're serious?"She nodded."I'm stunned this is happening at all.""I'm walking around in a bit of a daze myself." His laugh was deep and amused."If you want a tropical island for two, that could be arranged. On the otherhand I'd like to ensure your comfort at all times. Perhaps as an alternativewe could cruise the islands of the Great Barrier Reef. The Whitsundays.It's a dazzlingly beautiful world. We could visit your uninhabited islands,anchor in a turquoise lagoon, make love on a secluded beach, pull into one of the luxury islands for a romantic dinner. Actually, it sounds great, but sowould a trek across the Great Stony Desert with you as a companion."Intense joy flooded her."So you'll be skipper?""Aye, aye, ma'am!" He saluted her lazily, yet the depth of expression in his eyes drenched her in blue. "You can leave it to me to organise thehoneymoon. All you have to bring along is you and maybe a pretty dress forwhen we have dinner."

"I'll make certain I have one and a swimsuit besides.""Throw in a s.e.xy nightgown." He smiled."Then I'll have the pleasure of taking it off.""I never could trust you.""You can trust me when we're married," he said, very intensely."Make no mistake about that. But never, never, look at another man.""And if I do?"

"You'll regret it," he said promptly."I didn't mean it. Marsh." Her response was hardly more than a whisper."It's always been you.""And I fell hopelessly under your spell. We're going to make this work, Rosa. Our marriage will be forever and ever." Deliberately he lightened the

severity of his tone."Now, I'm on my way home for breakfast. Juice, fruit, steak and eggs, maybesome hash browns thrown in. Plenty of toast and coffee. Are you coming?"

Roslyn's topaz eyes gleamed.

"Not only that, I'll beat you back."

"You think so?"

Roslyn's hand clasped the reins, gathering them in. "I'm going to give it my

best shot!"

The challenge was taken up, ending in a pa.s.sionate kiss as the victorious Marsh lifted her from the saddle and led her from the stables complex up to the homestead.