Read Online A Wedding in Africa (The Africa Series) by Shirley Carnegie - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shirley Carnegie
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it with another man’s fiancée. He wasn’t in the business of splitting people up and breaking hearts. He knew from past experience just how painful that could be.
CHAPTER FIVE
Lacey was pleased with her day’s work and felt she’d earned her short break in the garden. Tate was still in town, so there was no chance of her bumping into him and embarrassing herself all over again. She wanted to die when she recalled her eager response to his innocent touch. If he’d had even half a notion of how she’d reacted to his gesture, he’d have laughed in his boots at such nonsense. She was acting like a hormonal teenager, rather than a woman who was about to be married.
Anxiously, she fiddled with the expensive engagement ring that Mortimer had presented her with. It was from the De Beers collection and featured three large princess-cut diamonds in their signature platinum setting. It had cost a bomb, and Lacey hadn’t wanted to say that it was just a tad too showy for her liking. She would have preferred something more discreet. But she didn’t want to appear ungrateful, so she’d politely accepted it, together with the admiring glances it drew from anyone and everyone who saw it.
She wandered along one of Matshana’s wooden pathways, bordered by fragrant frangipani and English Heritage roses specially imported from the UK. Fire finches, blue waxbills and bronze mannikins squabbled amongst themselves for crumbs on the bird table, watched half-heartedly by two very lazy dogs who were way too sleepy to care about the antics of a few silly birds.
Their doleful eyes followed Lacey as she ambled past, but it was too hot for them to raise their heads from their front paws. They were visibly relieved when she took a seat on the bench under the jacaranda, so they didn’t have to move from their comfy positions to follow her. As soon as she was settled, they stretched out fully on their sides with deep, contented sighs.
The minute Lacey sat down, her cell phone rang. It was Mortimer calling from Cape Town. Lacey stared at the caller ID for a moment, then took a deep breath before answering the call.
‘What took you?’ Mortimer’s voice was clearly irritated. ‘I was just about to ring off.’
‘Sorry. I couldn’t find my phone. How are things down there? How’s Dad?’
‘He’s fine. We’re all fine. More importantly, how’s it going up there? What’s he like – Maddox?’
Lacey watched the birds playing on the bird table. ‘He’s okay. Nice enough.’
‘ Nice !’ Mortimer spluttered. ‘ Nice ! What kind of word is that? You’re supposed to be a writer ! “Nice” isn’t going to pull in many readers.’ ‘You’re right. Sorry. Actually, he’s a lot more complicated than that. It’s hard to work him out.’
‘Well, that’s what you’re there for, Lacey. Our readers want to know exactly what makes Tate Maddox tick. They don’t do “complicated”, okay? So, what does he look like? Good looking? Average? Ugly?’
‘He’s okay. Average to good looking, maybe. Dark hair. The photographer up here’s going to email you the shots. You can judge for yourself.’
Mortimer grunted and Lacey could almost picture his eyes rolling in frustration. She knew she wasn’t being very helpful, but she found it impossible to talk to Mortimer about Tate Maddox. And she certainly couldn’t trust herself to describe what Tate really looked like! She wasn’t even sure Mortimer would actually want to hear the truth - that she was staying with the most devastatingly gorgeous, sexy man she’d ever met. She’d leave it to the readers to see that for themselves. Much safer!
‘What’s the place like - Matshana? I’ve checked it out on Google Earth. It’s absolutely vast.’
‘It’s also absolutely beautiful, Mortimer. It truly is the most magical place I’ve ever seen. If you could see it, you’d love it. The people here are wonderful, and we’ve got glorious views of the Sabie River with
CHAPTER FIVE
Lacey was pleased with her day’s work and felt she’d earned her short break in the garden. Tate was still in town, so there was no chance of her bumping into him and embarrassing herself all over again. She wanted to die when she recalled her eager response to his innocent touch. If he’d had even half a notion of how she’d reacted to his gesture, he’d have laughed in his boots at such nonsense. She was acting like a hormonal teenager, rather than a woman who was about to be married.
Anxiously, she fiddled with the expensive engagement ring that Mortimer had presented her with. It was from the De Beers collection and featured three large princess-cut diamonds in their signature platinum setting. It had cost a bomb, and Lacey hadn’t wanted to say that it was just a tad too showy for her liking. She would have preferred something more discreet. But she didn’t want to appear ungrateful, so she’d politely accepted it, together with the admiring glances it drew from anyone and everyone who saw it.
She wandered along one of Matshana’s wooden pathways, bordered by fragrant frangipani and English Heritage roses specially imported from the UK. Fire finches, blue waxbills and bronze mannikins squabbled amongst themselves for crumbs on the bird table, watched half-heartedly by two very lazy dogs who were way too sleepy to care about the antics of a few silly birds.
Their doleful eyes followed Lacey as she ambled past, but it was too hot for them to raise their heads from their front paws. They were visibly relieved when she took a seat on the bench under the jacaranda, so they didn’t have to move from their comfy positions to follow her. As soon as she was settled, they stretched out fully on their sides with deep, contented sighs.
The minute Lacey sat down, her cell phone rang. It was Mortimer calling from Cape Town. Lacey stared at the caller ID for a moment, then took a deep breath before answering the call.
‘What took you?’ Mortimer’s voice was clearly irritated. ‘I was just about to ring off.’
‘Sorry. I couldn’t find my phone. How are things down there? How’s Dad?’
‘He’s fine. We’re all fine. More importantly, how’s it going up there? What’s he like – Maddox?’
Lacey watched the birds playing on the bird table. ‘He’s okay. Nice enough.’
‘ Nice !’ Mortimer spluttered. ‘ Nice ! What kind of word is that? You’re supposed to be a writer ! “Nice” isn’t going to pull in many readers.’ ‘You’re right. Sorry. Actually, he’s a lot more complicated than that. It’s hard to work him out.’
‘Well, that’s what you’re there for, Lacey. Our readers want to know exactly what makes Tate Maddox tick. They don’t do “complicated”, okay? So, what does he look like? Good looking? Average? Ugly?’
‘He’s okay. Average to good looking, maybe. Dark hair. The photographer up here’s going to email you the shots. You can judge for yourself.’
Mortimer grunted and Lacey could almost picture his eyes rolling in frustration. She knew she wasn’t being very helpful, but she found it impossible to talk to Mortimer about Tate Maddox. And she certainly couldn’t trust herself to describe what Tate really looked like! She wasn’t even sure Mortimer would actually want to hear the truth - that she was staying with the most devastatingly gorgeous, sexy man she’d ever met. She’d leave it to the readers to see that for themselves. Much safer!
‘What’s the place like - Matshana? I’ve checked it out on Google Earth. It’s absolutely vast.’
‘It’s also absolutely beautiful, Mortimer. It truly is the most magical place I’ve ever seen. If you could see it, you’d love it. The people here are wonderful, and we’ve got glorious views of the Sabie River with
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