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"Yes. Yes, I know the couple."

As she continued to avert her gaze, he said,

"What is it? Something fishy here. Oh, don't tell me" comhe drew his chin in- "Don't tell me old Comwallis has proposed to Mrs Newton."

She lifted her head quickly, "Doctor Comwallis

and Mrs Newton? No; no. I didn't know they were even friendly."

"Oh, they've been friendly for years; at least, they meet once a week for cards and wine. She can put it back as much as he can."

"Really?"'

"Yes, really."

"Well, if it isn't him, who is it?"'

Now looking him straight in the face, Helen said, "No, John, not Doctor Comwallis, but another doctor. Y."

"More...m...me? What on earth are you talking about, Helen?"'

She was now pressing him back into the pillows, her hand on his shoulder, saying, "Don't excite yourself, please. Listen to me. I've waited long enough, and let's face facts, you could be in here another three months or more before you're on your feet and able to walk down an aisle. So it has been arranged." She now smacked his shoulder, saying,

"Be quiet and let me speak. I've listened to your protests on this matter long enough. It has been arranged that we're to be married tomorrow in the hospital chapel. Haven't you noticed there's an air of excitement among the nurses? It's been going on all week. They've been petting you and pampering you; they even got you the barber twice yesterday because you were grumbling about your growth." She now tapped his chin.

"No! Helen. No way. Seriously, this business, Helen, no way am I having it.

You've already seen to one invalid in your home; I'm determined you're

not having another. I'll take you to the altar-oh!

so gladly-but only when I can walk out of here in some fashion."

She suddenly sat down, then demanded, "Why not?"' And he answered, "You don't need me to go into why not. First of all, I know I'm stronger, and I know it might sound ungrateful, but sometimes I'm sorry they kept me alive."

"Oh John; that's an awful thing to say, and to me, knowing how I feel."

"I'm sorry, dear." He took hold of her hand now. "But look at me" comhe motioned down the bed- "let's face it, dear, I'll never walk straight again. That leg was so fractured, it's the biggest mystery to me how they saved it. But having saved it, it's not going to be much use. I'll never be able to put much pressure on it. I'll have to use crutches at first, and then hopefully, sticks. And sticks will be with me for the rest of my life.

Beatrice did a good job on me. I can imagine she enjoyed it."

Helen pulled her hand away from his, saying,

"Oh, I hate to hear you feeling sorry for yourself."

"I'm not feeling sorry for myself; although, I seem to be stressing I have enough to be sorry for. But I am not feeling sorry for myself; I am simply stating facts."

"And you're not going to marry me tomorrow?"'

He closed his eyes tightly and his voice sounded like a whimper as he said, "Oh, Helen.

Helen."

There was silence between them for some moments before she said,

"Everyone's looking forward to it, particularly your mother, and, of course Daisy.

He had his head down as he muttered, 'I loved you before. I feel I've always loved you, but I never thought I could love you as much as I do at this moment." When he lifted his head his eyes were moist, but his hands were firm as he gripped hers, saying, "Oh, Helen. Helen."

When she bent over him he held her tightly, and their kiss was long and hard. Then, pushing her aside, he said, "How on earth am I going to get into a church like this?"'

"That's all been seen to, sir. Every last detail. You'll be in a long basketchair."

"Good Lord! Going to our wedding in a basketchair." He was biting tightly on his lip now, his head shaking from side to side, and then he said softly, "You know something? You're the most wonderful woman in the world. No, not a woman, a girl, a girl who sat by my side on the top of Craig's Tor and let me sleep, then drank warm beer with me before suddenly walking out of my life, leaving me devastated."

Again there was silence between them because neither of them at this moment wanted to dwell on Leonard.

Presently, Helen said brightly, "And there'll be another surprise for somebody tomorrow."

"Who?"'

"Rosie and Robbie" "Surprise for them What do you mean?"' "The land. Well, it didn't legally pass on to you. Doctor Comwallis had already started proceedings, before the fire, to have the marriage annulled, so the property did not pass legally on to you, but came to us three girls; and Marion was agreeable to my suggestion that we legally pass it all over to Robbie. He'll have nearly fifty acres now. Rosie's in her seventh heaven." "No!"

"Yes." She was nodding at him. "Oh, Helen, that's a wonderful thing to do. He always wanted a farm. He'll make a

wonderful farmer." And when his arms came out again to her, she said, "You're ore excited about that than you are about marrying every."

And to this he rplied flatly, "Yes. Yes, you're quite right, I'm much more excited about that."

They were holding each other again. Then, taking her face between his hands, he said, "D'you know what I'm realising now?"' and at this she shook her head, and he went on softly, "Well, I know now that until this moment I've never been really happy in my life. My work has given me what they call satisfaction, and yet at the same time, boredom and frustration. But now I know that come what may we shall spend our lives together. Tomorrow will seal it, but it is already accomplished in my mind. Thank you, my dearest, dearest Helen."

She cupped his face with her hands, and looking into his eyes she said, "Do you know something?

You're a lovely man."

At this, there was a joy in him that surpassed even the feeling of love he had for her, for he was recalling the night when he had left Henry with the thought that he doubted if anyone would say of him, after his death, what Henry had implied about Leonard.

But here he was; he wasn't dead; and he was to be married tomorrow, and she bad called him a lovely man.

From the bestselling author of Suspicion coes a tale of romantic suspense certain to deliver cills and thriUs!

mmm backslash backslash more backslash Accident or Murder?

Simon Bennett-one of the country's most talented and controversial architects-is dead.

Everyone believes it to be an unfortunate accident- everyone except his daughter Jill. And in her quest for answers, she finds lies and evasions.

Jill needs help. Ex-homicide

detective Dan Santini would be the perfect candidate, except that he's also her ex-husband.

But as they begin to delve into the past for answers, Jill starts to suspect that the truth is more frightening than the lies!

0--

Available mid-September '98 MRA where books are sold.

Look us up online at httpwww.roiiance.net Available mid-September from New York Ties bestselling author

Had he given his heart to the enemy?

Robert Cannon feels there is little doubt that Evangeline Shaw is the key to the conspiracy that threatens his company. Classified software developed by Cannon's group is being sold to a foreign government, and it isn't just theft or a case of corporate espionage-it's treason. And the trail leads to Shaw-a woman who by all accounts has the means and motives.

Even though the facts still seem pretty black-andwhite, Robert's heart tells him she's no Mata Han- her small-town innocence is the real thing.

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Available mid-September 1998 where books are sold.

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Liz Jerome is an expert in pubic

relations. But when she's hired to do some daage control for Donovan Grant, the dividin line between professional and personal suddeny disappears.

Donovan threatens her safe, isolated world, making her want things she can never have. But a painful secret keeps Liz from trusting him, and yet only by taking a chance will she begin to heal the past.

Chances Are

Womens fiction at its finest. comRanumtic Times

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On sale mid-September 1998 where

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Discover the real magic of Christmas with

. . DEBB1Every MACOMBE

A group of travelers, stranded in a shabby train depot, spend Christmas Eve with strangers instead of their loved ones. Anticipated joy becomes disappointment;

excitement becomes despair.

Then the depot's reservations clerk brings them a small, leftover tree. Local kids come caroling. It's beginning to feel like Christmas!

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Sharing Christmas cookies, stories and presents, hanging makeshift decorations on the tree, these strangers open their hearts to each other and discover the real magic of Christmas.

Christmas comes but once a year; a Christmas like this comes once in a lifetime.

[*reg] Available beginning October 1998 fl wherever books are sold!

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By the bestselling author of Romancing the Stone and Elusive Love

On a cold December evening, a shot rang out in a wealthy Chicago suburb and the lives of three women were forever changed. Bud Pulaski, successful businessman, committed suicide, leaving behind a shattered wife, an estranged sister, a bitter mistress and many unanswered questions. Now these three women are lef to find strength, compassion and a ray of hope in love's shadow.

MIRA

"Lanigan knows her genre well."

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On sale mid-October 1998 wherever paperbacks are sold!

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