Bridegroom On Loan. Emma Richmond

in the extension. I’ll join you outside.’ Walking quickly away, she ran down the staircase, pushed open the door to the annexe that ran at right angles to the main building, and cursed herself for a fool. Hands clenched, she strode blindly along the narrow, glassed-in passageway to the room at the end.

      She should never have agreed to work for him. Not after she’d known about Helena. Was honour more important than happiness? she wondered. Helena had left him, and that surely broke the engagement, didn’t it? Unless she’d been kidnapped, or worse…But how could he be attracted to herself if he loved Helena? Some men did. Some men were incapable of fidelity. But not Beck.

      You don’t know him, Carenza. Don’t know what sort of man he is. And hearts weren’t the most reliable organs for judgement. ‘What else can you do?’ she’d asked. ‘Whatever you want…’ Face troubled, she checked the light fitting, and quietly closed the door behind her. Hands shoved into her pockets—Helena’s pockets—she stared out at the small courtyard beyond the windows. The paving had almost been finished. With tubs of flowers, tables and chairs, it would make a nice place for the delegates to sit.