Read Online The Bridesmaid's Baby by Barbara Hannay - Free Book Online Page B

chest rose and fell. Above his open white shirt, the muscles in his throat rippled. His eyes smouldered in the cool white light. ‘You’d make a wonderful mother, Lucy.’
    The compliment made her want to cry, but she gave him a shrugging smile. ‘It’s a terrible waste, isn’t it?’
    She hadn’t expected to say more but, now that she’d started, it was surprisingly easy to keep going. ‘To be honest, I worry constantly about the state of my ovaries and whether I can expect them to go on delivering, month after month.’
    ‘The old biological clock?’
    She nodded. ‘Early menopause runs in my family. That’s why I’m an only child.’
    Will frowned. ‘But I have it on good authority that you’ve turned down at least three proposals of marriage.’
    Heat flooded Lucy’s face. ‘I suppose Gina told you that?’
    He nodded.
    ‘OK, so I’m fussy, but that’s because I’m not so desperate that I’d settle for just any guy as a husband. Willowbank isn’t exactly swarming with Mr Rights, you know. I’d rather be a single mother.’
    Abruptly, Will came back to his chair and sank downinto it, long legs stretching in front of him. ‘Why would you want to be a single mother?’
    ‘Because it’s better than not being a mother at all.’
    He looked surprised and thoughtful.
    Lucy made herself comfortable with her legs curled and an elbow propped on the chair’s arm, her cheek resting on her hand. ‘I’ve been to a fertility clinic,’ she told Will. ‘And I’ve already tried one round of IVF.’
    ‘IVF?’ he repeated, sounding shocked.
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘Isn’t that a bit…extreme?’
    ‘It seemed logical to me. I’ve inseminated hundreds of animals and it worked beautifully for Mattie and Gina. But, unfortunately, it didn’t work for me.’
    Will made a soft sound, a kind of strangled gasp.
    ‘I’m sorry. That’s probably too much information,’ she said.
    But Will shook his head and, a moment later, a smile played around his lips. He tapped at the arm of his chair. ‘It’s a pity Mattie can’t have a baby for you.’
    Lucy knew he was joking and forced a weak laugh. Uncurling her legs, she sat straight in her chair. ‘Don’t worry, that thought’s occurred to me but I imagine Mattie has other plans now she has a husband.’
    ‘I’m sure she has.’ With a thoughtful frown, Will scratched at his jaw. ‘But it’s a pity there isn’t someone who could help you out.’
    ‘Do you mean a good friend? Someone like you, Will?’

CHAPTER FIVE

    L UCY could not believe she’d just said that.
    What had she been thinking?
    How on earth could she have boldly suggested that Will could help her to have a baby—out of friendship?
    What must he think of her?
    The only sound in the room came from Seamus, the Irish setter, snoring softly at Will’s feet. Lucy stared at the sleeping dog while her heart beat crazily.
    ‘You know that was a joke, don’t you?’ she said in a small voice.
    To her dismay, Will didn’t answer and she wished she could crawl away and hide with her tail between her legs, the way Seamus and Harry did when they were in big trouble.
    If only she could press a rewind button and take those words back.
    When the silence became unbearable she looked up and saw Will’s serious expression and her heart juddered. ‘Will, I didn’t mean it. It was my warped sense of humour. You know I’ve never been very good at making jokes. They always come out wrong. I’m sorry. Honestly, I feel so embarrassed.’
    He looked shaken. ‘For a moment there, I thought you were serious.’
    ‘I wasn’t, Will. You can calm down.’
    Suddenly a cloud covered the moon and the room was plunged in darkness. Lucy turned on the lamp beside her and the return of light seemed to clear the air.
    Will rose abruptly and stood towering over her. ‘Perhaps I’d better get going before I say something outrageous, too.’
    As Lucy stood she prayed that her legs were steady enough to support her.