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To Veronica, the secrecy surrounding her liaison with Luc only served to intensify the acute sense of intiether All too aware that her holiday was drawing to a close, she was as eager as Luc to ether, to store up the precious ate the pain of eventual loss But the present joy orth the future pain, she told herself as each day she fell a little ave hiift of her passion

Yesterday he had coolly offered her a first-class ticket fro her the option to cancel her train to London and flight fro to worry about the financial penalties, but Veronica still hadn’t been able to bring herself to make the decision to travel with hi of their affair—there, where it all began…

‘Don’t look so desolate, chérie’ Luc slid his long li his blue-black hair from his face ‘You’re not responsible for my decisions, or the personal risks I choose to take There are some losses insurance never covers I o bankrupt if the worst happens…’

The worst already had happened—unrequited love was a forht later as they toasted Zoe’s health after she had opened her huge pile of presents, protesting she couldn’t possibly afford the excess baggage to take everything hos and housewares for her new St Romain hos and thanks

Justin, slightlyin the company of a local vintner and his wife, chose an unfortunate lull in the conversation as the cake was being cut to say teasingly to Luc:

‘Don’t we have so else to celebrate, Luc? When are you two lovebirds planning to make your announcement?’

Veronica, standing just behind Luc, blanched as Justin’s words rang out in the silence with the clarity of the village bells

‘Young idiot,’ growled Luc, steadying his stepbrother’s slightly swaying body with an overly firm hand

‘What announce about?’ Melanie’s blonde head swivelled towards Luc fro of the cake, a look of dawning dismay in her blue eyes as she saw his annoyance

‘Oops,’ Justin hiccupped and covered his remorseful mouth with his hand ‘Didn’tIt’s just that I saw you in the jeweller’s in Avignon when that photographer was going totally ape outside’ He gave Veronica a woe

begone look over Luc’s shoulder ‘Sorry, I knew you ht e day’

‘Well, you’ve certainly h Veronica noticed in the midst of her e at him in consternation

‘You never said anything! You could have at least toldher thile Ross smirked at the idea of so end of her ire

‘Your engage on? What have you done?’ Melanie looked alht Veronica uneasily, as Miles placed a protective hand on her uninjured arm

She stepped forward to explain that it was all a ploy to throw off an aely restraining look from Luc