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dusted in snow. Truly white.’

      Declan put his finger on her mouth to silence her. ‘I’m sure that’s fascinating stuff. But can it wait until later?’ He stamped one foot, then the other. ‘I’m freezing here and I’d rather talk about us than gardens.’

      ‘Us?’ Her breath caught in her throat.

      ‘You. Me. Where you want to live. I can live anywhere, any country, for my work as long as there’s electricity and internet. I don’t want to live in the Bellevue Street house again—it had become a prison. I’m thinking of donating it to a heritage trust. Your professor in Melbourne is working on a proposal with me.’

      ‘My...my professor?’

      ‘Yes. With full recognition to you for having discovered the heritage garden.’

      ‘You did that for me?’

      ‘Yes,’ he said simply.

      She kissed him again. ‘Thank you. That means so much.’ There was no need to elaborate further. His actions proved his love for her and it was enough.

      She didn’t want to live in that house where Declan had been so unhappy either. Though she’d like him to retain control over the garden. It would be criminal for it to slide into neglect again or, worse, be ripped out.

      ‘What about your television career?’ he asked. ‘Have you given up on that?’

      ‘No way. The current presenter decided he wanted to do one more season before he bowed out so that gives me another few months before I’d have to start. The producer likes the idea of him introducing me to the viewers when the time comes.’

      ‘So that means you going back to live in Australia?’

      ‘Not yet. Maybe not permanently. But it’s too good an opportunity to pass up.’

      ‘I agree.’

      ‘But I’m conflicted. I love it here,’ she said wistfully. ‘The ideal would be if I could somehow live between Australia and Europe for a few years at least.’

      ‘That’s entirely possible,’ he said. ‘First-class flights make the long flight bearable. Private jets even more so.’

      ‘I wouldn’t know about that,’ she said with a rueful smile. ‘It’s cattle class all the way for me.’

      ‘Not when you fly with me,’ he said.

      He silenced her gasp with a quick kiss. ‘And if you want to live here, I’ve found a wonderful manor house nearby,’ Declan said. ‘The house is perfect but the garden is crying out for the Shelley touch to make it your garden.’

      ‘Sounds promising,’ she said, cautiously, not really certain of where he was going.

      ‘It also has a stable and a few acres of pastures for a horse.’

      ‘Sold!’ she said. She drew her brows together and looked up at him. ‘What did I just agree to, Declan?’

      He cupped her face in his hands in the possessive way she loved. ‘I hope you’ve agreed to be my wife,’ he said.

      ‘Your wife,’ she said slowly. ‘I... I like the idea.’

      ‘Good,’ he said. ‘I’ll take that for a yes.’

      ‘Not so fast,’ she said, taking a step back, her heart feeling like a parched plant that had just been watered. ‘I want a proper proposal, please.’

      He laughed. ‘Why does that not surprise me?’ He looked down at the mushy ground that surrounded them.

      ‘I don’t expect you to go down on bended knee or anything,’ she said with a catch in her voice.

      He took both her hands in his. ‘Shelley, will you do me the honour of marrying me?’ he asked very seriously.

      She took a deep breath to steady her voice. ‘I would love to be your wife. And...and the mother of your children. That is, if you want—’

      He closed his eyes for a moment. ‘Yes. I do,’ he said as he opened them again. ‘When...when the time is right for both of us to take that step.’

      Shelley pulled him close and kissed him. She realised that might become another challenge. With past tragedy in mind, she could imagine how overprotective Declan would become if she were to fall pregnant. But they could face that challenge together when it came.

      ‘I supposed you’d like a proper engagement ring too?’ he murmured against her mouth.

      ‘Well, yes,’ she said. ‘But I guess you mightn’t have had time to buy one. I mean, what if I’d said no to your proposal? Not that I would have said no. I love you so much and couldn’t imagine anything I’d like more than to be your wife.’

      Declan smiled and her heart missed a beat at the love for her she saw shining from his eyes. He pulled out a small box from the inner pocket of his overcoat.

      ‘Oh...’ was all she could manage to get out.

      The ring was a huge sapphire flanked by two enormous diamonds. ‘The colour of your blue dress, the one that isn’t much dress at all,’ he said. ‘It suited you so well I thought a sapphire might too.’ He slipped it onto the third finger of her left hand.

      ‘It’s perfect,’ she breathed, looking down at her hand and admiring the way it caught the light. At the same time she caught sight of her watch. ‘It’s nearly time for me to finish. I’m sure they’ll let me go a little earlier on the momentous occasion of my engagement.’

      ‘I’ve already cleared it with the head gardener,’ he said. ‘You can come straight home with me.’

      ‘Home?’

      ‘I bought the manor house just on the off chance you’d like it,’ he said.

      ‘As billionaires do,’ she said, laughing.

      ‘You’ll soon be the wife of a billionaire so you can do billionaire things too,’ he said. ‘The income from Estella will be all yours as well. One hundred per cent of it.’

      Shelley pulled back from his embrace, looked up into his eyes. ‘It’s not about your money—you know that, don’t you?’ It was suddenly very important that he was aware of that. ‘I love you, Declan. I’d love you even if we were going to live in the garden shed.’

      ‘That’s one more reason I adore you,’ he said. ‘We’ll have a wonderful life together, Shelley.’

      ‘I know,’ she said, kissing him again.

      * * * * *

       Australian Affairs: Rescued

       Bound by the Unborn Baby

       Bella Bucannon

       Her Knight in the Outback

       Nikki Logan

       One Baby Step at a Time

       Meredith Webber

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

       Bound by the Unborn Baby

      Bella Bucannon

      Deepest thanks to my husband and soulmate, who claims that inside my head is the scariest place on earth but loves me unconditionally anyway. Special thanks to the generous, supportive

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