Paradise Found by Dorothy Vernon Read Free Book Online Page B

arrangements,’ she said, opening the discussion.
    â€˜If it’s about when a new wedding date can be set, I feel that it’s something which Tony and I should decide on our own,’ Zoe said firmly.
    â€˜A new wedding date?’ Nerissa queried.
    â€˜We can be married just as soon as Tony is discharged from the hospital, I don’t see the point in waiting.’
    â€˜My dear, you’re surely not expecting Tony to hobble down the aisle on crutches?’ Nerissa asked, looking scandalized at the idea.
    â€˜Why not? It’s been done before.’
    â€˜And after subjecting him to that indignity, then what? You’d go back to your new apartment?’ Nerissa inquired with the sweetness of someone who had the upper hand.
    â€˜Ah!’ Zoe said, seeing the, flaw in her own reasoning. ‘Tony couldn’t manage all the steps. It would be difficult to get him up them, and once there he would be a prisoner.’
    â€˜Precisely. It isn’t a lot more convenient for him to come back here. We could have a bedroom fitted for him downstairs, but there’s the problem of the bathroom, which is upstairs. Luckily, Matt has come up with the ideal solution.’
    Zoe was suspicions of anything Matt put forward, but she held her tongue.
    â€˜As you know, our mother lives in the South of France. Her house is a split-level and has a ground floor which has bedroom facilities. It will be just perfect for Tony, and his grandmother will be delighted with the arrangement. She’s always complaining that she doesn’t see enough of the family.’
    â€˜You’re whisking Tony off to France?’ Zoe asked, turning to Matt.
    â€˜He’ll be in a cast for at least six weeks after his discharge. He’s out of commission as far as work is concerned. He can’t drive in his present condition, which wouldn’t be a problem, because chauffeur service could be arranged for him, but, as everywhere else, there are too many steps for him to cope with at the works. As Nerissa has already told you, mother’s house in France has ground-floor bedrooms. But of course, if you can come up with something better . . . ?’
    â€˜You know I can’t,’ Zoe admitted, not liking the way Tony was being removed beyond her sphere. If she didn’t care for that, the next bombshell Matt delivered was even less acceptable.
    â€˜That’s all right, then,’ he said. ‘The only thing is, I won’t be whisking Tony off to France.’
    â€˜No?’
    â€˜No. You will.’
    â€˜Me?’
    â€˜We feel that someone should accompany him. Nerissa is tied up with her various committees and charity work. I have a company to run. Also, it will give mother a chance to get to know you. From your point of view there are no difficulties. You’ve given up your job and your apartment. And perhaps it will make it up to you for missing your honeymoon in Portugal.’
    Oh, so that was to be the way of it. Putting on a big smile, she said, ‘I think that’s a wonderful idea. I’m all for it. I haven’t even got round to unpacking my honeymoon suitcase yet, so I’m all set to go.’
    It wasn’t what she had thought at all, just the opposite! Matt was removing her from
his
sphere. She ought to have been relieved that she wouldn’t be in daily risk of encountering Matt; instead it was as if her legs had been kicked out from under her. She felt an intense need to punish both herself and Matt, herself for her own perfidy and Matt for the brutal way he had flung the news at her. So she stuck her chin out at him and said, ‘Only what’s to stop the marriage taking place before we go?’
    It was Nerissa who answered. ‘I should think your consideration for my son would prevent your suggesting such a thing. In Tony’s condition, with his ribs the way they are and his leg broken, it would be too much of a strain. Not to mention the