Baby included, p.17
Baby Included!, page 17
‘And so, ladies and gentlemen, I would ask you to raise your glasses to the woman who is about to make me the happiest of men—Miss Lois Shelton!’
As Lois stood turned to stone, totally stunned by this rapid turn of events, one of the young cameramen, obviously a director in the making, quickly turned one of the large spotlights onto her trembling figure.
‘I definitely am not...it’s all a dreadful mistake!’ she wailed as Peggy and Nora laughingly pushed her forward, towards Ace, who quickly bent down and pulled her up on the box beside him.
‘Are you out of your mind?’ she demanded angrily.
‘Shush!’ he cautioned with a grin. ‘Remember your public, darling. Give them a big smile, there’s a good girl!’
‘I’ll kill you for this! she hissed savagely out of the side of her mouth as Ace, clearly playing to the audience, gallantly raised her hand to his lips.
‘You know that I’ve no intention of marrying you...you foul man!’ she added grimly, while trying to keep a warm smile firmly fixed on her face.
‘That’s what you think!’ he laughed, before clasping her tightly in his arms and kissing her soundly, his action increasing the laughter, cat-calls and whistles of the assembled company.
When he finally released her, Ace informed her, beneath the noise surrounding them, ‘I’ve already got hold of a special licence. I’ve booked the church and, you’ll be glad to hear, my dearest one, I have also sent the formal announcement of our wedding to the newspapers. So, I don’t really see how you can back out now, do you?’ He laughed, before turning back to wave at their audience.
‘That’s what you think!’ She mimicked him in a low, furious voice, only her years of training as an actress enabling her to keep a stiff, forced smile on her lips in response to the many cries of ‘Good luck,’ and, ‘Health and Happiness to you both,’ which resounded around the large hall.
‘I refuse to be blackmailed like this, Ace,’ she told him in a fierce undertone. ‘And I definitely won’t marry you—not now—not ever!’
CHAPTER TEN
BUT of course she had married him! Ace told himself, recalling the past with a grin as he gazed across the crowded hall to where his adored wife was sitting, warm and comfortable beside the fire.
It had been a hell of a struggle to get his beautiful Lois to the altar—but he’d managed it, at last! And here they were, eight months later, even happier and more in love than on the day when they’d married, a week after the film crew had left Ratcliffe Hall.
My God—he was a lucky man! And doubly blessed, too, he reminded himself, as Lois gazed tenderly down at his small son, held securely within her arms. Unable to repress a broad smile, he watched as she turned to say something to Emily—sitting beside her on the comfortable sofa and holding his new baby daughter as if she was handling a delicate piece of glass.
He was still having great difficulty in getting used to the idea that he was now the father of twins. Who’d have thought it? Although he would never have any problem remembering the date of their birthday—arriving, as they had, on a cold and crisp Christmas morning three months ago!
Nora was, of course, totally over the moon at having two babies to look after. And she had been much involved, together with Emily, in planning this large party after the christening, and in trying to decide what names to give the children.
Ace had got his own way about his daughter by simply stating that she was to be called Eloise—and refusing to discuss the matter any further. He’d also—thank fully! —managed to firmly squash Nora’s mad idea that his young son should be named after himself.
‘Algernon...? Are you out of your tiny mind?’ he’d thundered incredulously, before insisting that Lois should make the decision.
And when, without a moment’s hesitation, she’d put forward the name of his dead brother, Mark, Ace had known exactly why he’d fallen so desperately in love with such a warm, kind and totally wonderful woman.
‘Hey, man—this is a really cool christening party!’ an American exclaimed, giving Ace a friendly slap on the back while helping himself to another glass of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. ‘And I’m really mad about this huge, crazy old house. Way to go!’
Having absolutely no idea who this extraordinarily good-looking young American might be, Ace merely smiled in agreement, before leading the unknown guest towards where Peggy Fraser and the director, Peter Danvers, were chatting quietly together.
‘You’re so square, Dad, that you’re positively cubic!’ Emily had said earlier in the day, just as they were all about to go to church for the christening. ‘But take it from me that all Lois’ friends from America are going to be drop-dead famous film stars or directors. And I’ll die if you put your foot in it! So, please try and be cool.’
Mindful of his daughter’s strict instructions, Ace now drawled smoothly, ‘I’m quite sure, Peggy, that I don’t have to introduce this gentleman to you...?’
‘I should think not!’ Peggy giggled, before turning to the tall, good-looking American. ‘I just loved your last film, Brad. It’s been a smash hit, here in England, and I can’t wait to hear about the one you’re making at the moment.’
Having done his duty, Ace quickly scanned the room, checking that everyone’s glasses were full to overflowing, before moving over to sit down on the arm of the sofa beside his wife.
‘You’re looking a little tired. Are you sure this isn’t all too much for you?’ he murmured quietly.
‘No, darling—I’m fine,’ Lois told him, smiling lovingly up into his gleaming grey eyes, her nerve-ends tingling as he slipped a hand beneath her curly red hair, gently massaging the back of her neck.
The twins’ birth had not been an easy one, and she knew just how off-putting Ace had found that fact, carefully striving to restrain his ardour when they had resumed their lovemaking. But she was now feeling a great deal stronger, and was aware that her body was becoming eager and impatient to welcome the full force of his passion.
They were so lucky, she told herself gratefully, both in having two wonderful young babies and in the way that Emily had greeted their marriage with such enthusiasm. In fact, there had been no holding Emily back from insisting on becoming a godmother to small Eloise.
‘After all, she is my sister,’ the teenager had announced proudly, clearly feeling far more settled now that her mother and Joe Tucker had followed Lois and Ace’s example by getting married.
And what a christening it was turning out to be! Ace had insisted on choosing the date—a year to the very day from when they’d first met in the Philippines. He really was amazingly romantic, for an Englishman! But then, maybe all the national barriers were fading away, she thought, gazing around at the extraordinary mix of many world-famous film stars and a large cross-section of the local gentry—who all seemed to be getting on like a house on fire.
‘Well, now...Lady Ratcliffe!’ one of her old Hollywood girlfriends said with a grin. ‘I saw that film you made in this house at a showing in Los Angeles, just the other day. I reckon it’s going to be a smash hit! So, what are your future plans? Any films in the pipeline?’
‘Well...’ Lois gazed up at her husband, whose tall figure had suddenly become very still, at the careful, guarded expression on his handsome face. Darling Ace clearly feared the worst. But he really had no need to worry, because she’d had plenty of time to sort out her priorities.
‘I’ve given the matter a great deal of thought,’ she said, turning back to her friend, ‘and finally come to the conclusion that it’s time I retired.’
‘But...but you simply can’t do that!’ The other woman gazed at her in dismay. ‘Not after you won that Oscar. Why, you can just about name your price—for any production.’
‘I really am far too busy at the moment,’ she murmured, grinning as she caught the low, muffled sound of her dearest husband’s deep sigh of relief.
‘Oh—come on, honey! Even I’ve heard all about English nannies, for heaven’s sake. And since you’ve decided to settle down here, in England, it couldn’t be easier to...’
‘No, I’ve made up my mind,’ Lois told her firmly. ‘I’m not knocking Hollywood, or the film business, because I’ve had great fun for a number of years. But I was offered—and have accepted—a far more interesting and important role.’
‘Oh, wow! You mean that you’re actually going to join the Royal Shakespeare Company... at Stratford-upon-Avon...?’ Her friend gasped in amazement.
Lois laughed and shook her head. ‘No, of course not—you idiot! I was referring to my new, truly marvellous, permanent role...that of Lord Ratcliffe’s leading lady!’
‘And let’s not forget our “package deal”,’ Ace reminded Lois with a grin.
‘What deal?’ the actress muttered, clearly confused as husband and wife dissolved with laughter.
‘Oh, didn’t Lois tell you that I was desperate for a son and heir...?’ Ace drawled, his deep voice heavy with amusement. ‘So, when I discovered she was pregnant, I had to force myself—with the greatest reluctance, of course!—to ask her to marry me. In fact, I only agreed to wed my darling wife because, as she so clearly pointed out, she came as a “package deal”—with baby included!’
He shook his dark head in mock sorrow. ‘Unfortunately, something seems to have gone dramatically wrong with the scenario. Because we’ve now got two babies, and...’
But the rest of his words were lost beneath the sound of Emily’s spirited protest as he gathered her stepmother and their new baby son into his arms, before firmly possessing his wife’s lips in a warm, tender kiss of total love and commitment.
‘Get real, Dad! We all know that you’re crazy about Lois. And I think she’s really, really wicked, too!’
ISBN : 978-1-4592-6253-9
BABY INCLUDED!
First North American Publication 1998.
Copyright © 1998 by Mary Lyons.
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Lyons, Mary, Baby Included!
