The Final Falcon Says I Do. Lucy Gordon

that made him clench his hands in agony. From inside came the sound of gasping sobs, telling all too clearly of the grief Freya could only release when she was alone.

      Unable to endure it, he opened the door, ready to go in, take her in his arms and comfort her. But wisdom held him back. She wouldn’t be glad of his comfort. She would hate it, wanting no curious eyes.

      He backed out and closed the door, knowing that he wasn’t wanted.

      * * *

      Freya awoke early the next morning. Briefly she wondered where she was, then remembered and groaned. Creeping out of the room, she searched for Jackson on the sofa, but it was empty except for a scrap of paper that read, I’ll be back soon. Don’t go away.

      She thought of the hotel, where the family was staying, and knew she should return to them, but the thought made her shudder.

      If only Jackson were here. She’d always considered herself a strong person, but suddenly it seemed terrible to be alone.

      ‘That’s his fault for supporting me so well,’ she muttered wryly. ‘Now I can’t cope without him. All his fault. Oh, where is he?’

      It was an hour before he returned and it seemed like for ever.

      ‘I’ve been to the hotel,’ he said, dumping a large suitcase on the table. ‘I took the wedding dress with me and your mother’s going to pack it away for you. She gave me some clothes to bring you.’

      Her wedding dress had been hanging up in the bedroom, which meant he must have crept in and removed it while she was asleep. Then her attention was taken by the clothes she found in the case.

      ‘Why did you bring this?’ she asked, lifting a glittering cocktail dress.

      ‘You can wear it tonight, when we go out.’

      ‘Are we going out?’

      ‘Yes. I’ll take you back to your hotel at the end of the evening, but before that we need to give Dan a taste of his own medicine. He flaunted himself before the cameras, so you have to do the same. Then everyone will know you don’t give a stuff about him.’

      ‘Don’t I?’

      ‘No, you don’t. You mustn’t. I know what I’m doing, Freya. Trust me.’

      ‘I do,’ she said.

      ‘But you think I’m giving you orders again, don’t you? Laying down the law, acting like my father?’

      ‘No, he never takes so much trouble about people’s feelings,’ she said. ‘I don’t mind taking a few orders from you.’

      ‘What was that? Did I hear you right? My bolshie Freya being meek and mild? I don’t believe it.’

      ‘I can do meek and mild if there’s a good reason.’ She managed a smile. ‘I can even say, Yes, sir. No, sir. Three bags full, sir.’

      ‘This I have to see,’ he said dramatically. ‘It’ll be a whole new experience.’ Then abruptly he dropped the humorous manner. ‘Don’t worry. I just mean to look after you.’ He took her face between his hands. ‘That’s all that matters now. Please believe me.’

      ‘I do,’ she said. ‘It’s strange how content I feel to leave everything in your hands. I didn’t know it before, but there’s nobody I trust like you.’

      To her surprise Jackson looked uneasy, but she thought she understood. He was more used to her sparring with him than trusting him. But now those days seemed a long way off.