Flash of Emerald Read online

  ‘Just as there was never any green ray tradition?’ she accused.

  ‘Just as—You’ll find I’m a facile liar in the “All’s fair in love and war” connection!’ he said, and silenced her protests in a fully acceptable way.

  Later he told her that Victoire had no right to anything but the money she inherited from Roland’s will, but that he proposed to continue paying her a proportion of the income from the estate, as had been the arrangement since Roland’s death. He had power of attorney for Crispin, as the owner of Belle Rose; Victoire had no wish to make a home for Crispin hence Craig’s decision to move in to the Great House until Crispin was of age or at whatever later time he needed it for himself.

  ‘Then you and I, my love, and any encumbrances we may have acquired, will have to move out,’ Craig said.

  ‘Where shall we go?’

  ‘Perhaps I’ll build you a willow-cabin.’

  Hope giggled. ‘A willow-cabin wouldn’t stand up to your—I mean our—rains for long.’

  ‘The sun would dry it out between times. Clay and wattle, then? Or shanty-town corrugated iron and flattened biscuit-tins? Or reinforced concrete? Take your pick—’

  ‘I’m not fussy. I’d settle for a sand-castle with you, if I had to,’ said Hope gaily.

  ‘With a nursery wing?’

  ‘If necessary—’

  They laughed together and at a common impulse turned to go, taking with them in spirit the infinite faith of all lovers that of their future they had nothing to fear.