Taming Graeme (Taming the Billionaire) (60 page)

 
“But such a charming, delightful, intelligent, beautiful handful, Graeme.”

 
Graeme laughed. “You’ve got it bad, Nick. So when are you proposing?”

 
“I was going to wait until Christmas day, but…”

 
“She won’t last that long without a nervous breakdown, Nick...why don’t you propose this weekend and get married in a month. I’ll lend you Rose as the wedding planner, get Mrs. Hall to stay and run my office until after your wedding.”

 
“I haven’t got a ring yet.”

 
“Ah, I wanted to talk to you about that.” Graeme put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a red velvet ring box. “I bought this for Carrie, Julia’s mother, to give her for Valentine’s Day. It would have been our wedding anniversary. But she was killed two days before. I’d like you to give it to Julia, if it doesn’t offend your sensibilities?”

 
“Graeme, I think that would be very generous of you and Julia would be thrilled.”

 
“But you can’t tell Julia, Nick, or Louisa’s nose will be out of joint...I always wanted Julia to have it as the oldest daughter, but I’ve always treated them the same, so it was a problem...this way, you and I will know, and my favourite daughter will have it. You can never tell her she’s my favourite, though...”

 
Nick opened the case. It was an emerald and diamond ring, diagonal rows and rows of emeralds and diamonds. “Graeme, she’ll love it.”

 
“I know she will. Please take it with my blessing, and Carrie’s.”

 
“You’re going to be a hell of a father in law, Graeme.”

 
“You’re going to be a hell of a son in law, Nick. Welcome to the family.”

 
They were interrupted by the arrival at their elbows of William.

 
“And when’s your moving date, William?” William was already on his third double whiskey of the evening, having downed two waiting for Louisa to get ready. His nose was glowing.

 
“Well, Graeme, probably about February first, that’s a month before the baby is due, because I don’t think the renovations will be finished before that. That Llewellyn fella has assigned one of his top decorators to us. You know how exacting Louisa is.”

 
“I do, William. Her mother was like that, very house proud.”

 
Sir David and Lady Christine arrived next with Aunt Betty.

 
“Graeme, I’m so sorry I had Olivia exposed to all that publicity. I never thought…”

 
“Don’t worry, Aunt Christine. Not an issue. Eh, are all the arrangements made in Bermuda?”

 
Lady Christine smiled. “Oh, yes, everything’s ready. It will be beautiful, really beautiful this time of year. Golfing will be great.”

 
John Taylor and his wife came next with Gideon and his wife. Mrs. Hall and her husband were right behind them.                    

 
Ragnar was the last to arrive. He hurried over to Michael and handed him the wedding rings.

 
“Sorry, Mike, bad accident a few streets over…”

 
“Never mind, you’re here now…”

 
“Michael, who’s that beauty in the taupe ruched dress?”

 
“Rose, Graeme’s P.A., but she’s married. And vanilla.”

 
“Too bad. I think I just fell in love. Rose…the name suits her. She looks like a creamy English rose, doesn’t she? I wonder if she likes Danish men.”

 
Michael did a quick head count. “Right, I think everyone’s here,” he said to Graeme. “I’ll just get the music started, shall I?” He disappeared through the doors to the large reception room, and shortly a jazz quintet could be heard playing
So In Love
.

 
Michael held up his hand, “I say, everybody, I think everyone’s here now, so if you would all like to go through the double doors which I’m just opening, and have a seat, we’ll get the main event underway, shall we?”

 
Amanda and Hailie, chatting away, followed the crowd through and saw the flower filled room. Pink roses and deep pink peonies were everywhere. Chairs were set up in two rows, arranged in a semi-circle. A priest stood in front of the fireplace. The jazz quintet was playing
It Had to be You.
Graeme and Michael moved to the front, to stand in front of the priest.

 
Louisa and Julia came down the stairs, beaming, and sat beside William and Nick in the front row, with Sir David, Lady Christine and Aunt Betty. The others filled the second row. James and Mrs. Green slipped in to take the last two seats.

 
Michael looked to the top of the sweeping staircase and saw Linda there, ready. He nodded to the musicians, and the music became
Here Comes the Bride.

 
Everyone followed Michael’s eyes and turned to face the staircase. Linda walked down slowly. She turned at the bottom and waited. The guests saw the creamy stiff satin bell shaped skirt slowly descend. A veil obscured the face of the bride wearing the wonderful shimmering gown, with the low square neckline and the long Juliette sleeves. The yellow diamond heart from Louisa and Julia hung beneath the platinum collar. Linda slowly walked to the front of the salon. The bride followed a measured two steps behind her. Linda stepped aside, and Graeme stepped forward, and tenderly folded the veil back to reveal Olivia’s face. She was so beautiful, glowing with her love for Graeme. He could not resist. He kissed her softly, so softly, a brush across her lips. Every woman in the room felt her eyes fill with tears.

 
The Bride and Groom knelt facing each other before the priest.             

 
The priest began, “Dearly beloved, we are here this evening to join these two people in holy matrimony. Graeme and Olivia, Please repeat after me,”

  “
I, Graeme Darius Christian am filled with joy and wonder as I gaze on your beauty, my lady, my love. I promise to care for you, a protect you and cherish you for all the days that God gives us together. I promise to put your safety always above my pleasure, and to care and nurture all your hopes and ambitions to the best of my ability, to support all your aspirations and to help you become all that you can be. I promise to be true to you only, forsaking all others, and keep myself only for your pleasure, to be the best husband and father that I can become, as long as we both shall live.”

  “
I, Olivia Elizabeth am filled with joy and wonder as I gaze on your manly perfection, my lover, my Sir. I promise to care for you, obey you and cherish you for all the days that God gives us together. I promise to put your wellbeing above my pleasure, and to care and support all your hopes and ambitions to the best of my ability, to help you make all your dreams your realities. I promise to be true to you only, forsaking all others, and keep myself only for your use and pleasure, to be the best wife and mother that I can become, as long as we both shall live.”

 
The priest asked them then to stand. He turned to Michael and asked for the rings.

 
Graeme slipped Olivia’s wedding ring onto her finger.

  “
With this ring, I thee wed, and promise to be as wise and as fair as I can be, with God’s guidance, as I lead you through our life together. With this ring, I endow thee, Olivia, with all my wealth, all my love and caring. You will always be first in my heart, first in my love, first in my life. I take you into my care and protection with all the love in my heart, to become my wife, the mother of my children, my Olivia.”

 
Olivia slipped Graeme’s wedding ring onto his finger.

  “
With this ring, I thee wed, and promise to be as wise and as fair as I can be, with God’s guidance, as I follow you through our life together, obeying your wishes, acquiescing to your commands, pleasing you as best I can. With this ring, I endow thee, Graeme, with all my worldly goods, and my body, to be used and enjoyed as you see fit, and all my love and caring. You will always be first in my heart, first in my love, first in my life. I accept your care, guidance and protection with all the love in my heart, my husband, the father of my children, my Graeme.” 

 
The priest addressed the guests.

“By the power vested in me by Church and Country, and since no man here has stepped forward with any reason these two consenting adults may not be joined together in holy matrimony, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

 
Michael smiled to himself. Graeme hadn’t given anyone an opening to step forward and interrupt this wedding.

   The priest beamed
at  the crowd.

 
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Graeme Browning. Graeme, you may kiss your wife.”

 
Everybody wanted to hug the Groom and kiss the Bride.              

 
Eventually, Michael ushered everyone into the formal dining room, and they all sat down to enjoy the feast that Mrs. Green and her assistants had produced.

 
The food was the most delicious and the wines the finest that money could procure.

 
The toasts were made with Cristal, the Bride’s favourite champagne, although she drank sparkling water.

 
The cake was a traditional dark fruitcake, and the bottom layer was carefully saved, wrapped and frozen to be served at the christening of the first baby. That of course, would be sooner than most guests present realized…

 
The band began to play dance music, and everyone moved into the large reception room, which had been cleared to provide room for the guests to enjoy themselves.

THIRTY NINE

 
Rose and Brian were decidedly cool to each othe
r
. They’d been having a quiet row all evening about moving to Liverpool to please his mother. Rose told him he was crazy to even consider it, with her promotion.

 
Brian texted his mother and decided to follow her advice and spend the weekend in Liverpool with Mother to teach Rose a lesson. He left at ten to catch the train, grunting to Rose he’d be back late Sunday night. Rose told him not to hurry back.

 
Rose had one glass of champagne more than perhaps she should have. She decided to find a solicitor on Monday.

 
Ragnar noticed Brian leave, and smiling, asked Rose to dance several times, each time holding her closer.

 
Rose didn’t object. This tall Dane, so talented, was so much more intriguing than Brian, so much sexier. He was so...compelling. He had the same air of command, or being in control that Graeme had.

Ragnar looked at her speculatively. Rose blushed and lowered her eyes. Ragnar smiled above her head. Not an improper word was spoken between them.

  An hour passed by. Rose and Ragnar continued to look at each other surreptitiously across the room.

 
Rose saw Linda, alone for a moment, leaning on the bar, watching Michael chat to Julia, Nick and Ragnar.

 
“Linda?”

 
“Yes, Rose?”

 
“Michael and Graeme own that club, the one you went to. I know that now. I’m doing a lot of very confidential work for Graeme. He trusts my discretion.”

 
“Ah.”

 
“Your life changed when you went there, didn’t it? Changed for the better.”

 
“It simplified things for me, Rose. It taught me a lot about who I am, and allowed me to accept that, and through that, I have Michael.”

 
“I’d like that, Linda. I’m leaving Brian. I’m sick of his mother and you were right all along, our sex life sucks. He’s a two minute wonder and he thinks he’s good, correction, he thinks he’s great in bed. Do you know, I’ve never had an orgasm?”

 
“Oh, that’s awful, Rose. Mind you, I never had a proper orgasm myself, until Michael... What a waste.”

 
“That’s what I think, Linda. What a waste. So, could I come to The Club as your guest?”

 
“Ah. Perhaps I could ask a Dom to let you be his guest, Rose. You’ll have to be prepared, though to do whatever he tells you.”

 
“I’ve read the books, Linda. I’d like that.”

 
“I saw you dancing with Ragnar, Rose, dancing quite close with Ragnar.”

 
“Is he a Dom?”

 
“Hmmm….”

 
“Do you think he might let me be his guest?”

 
“I think there’s a very good chance he might,” Linda smiled.

 
“Do you think he might let me be his guest tonight?”

 
“What about your husband?”

 
“Didn’t you see him leave? He caught the ten o’clock train to Liverpool. He won’t be back until late Sunday night. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s moving out Monday morning. The flat belongs to me. I bought it before we married.”