sky. Eventually he spoke. “I’ll be putting down on Nowra, as arranged. You’ll want time with Kerry to settle in. But we’re hoping you’ll both come to us for the weekend. My mother thought she’d throw a little party to welcome you back. We’ll be having a few houseguests, as well.”
“How very kind of her.” Toni was a little wary. “But I really don’t need a party, Byrne.”
“You’re dam well going to get it,” he drawled. “You’ll need to try on your gown. See if it’s just right.”
“I’m sure it will be lovely.”
He gave her a glance that, had she been standing, would have made her legs buckle. “In your case, an understatement. The gowns are in one of the upstairs rooms swathed in muslin, outrageously expensive.”
“Bridesmaids usually pay for their own gowns.”
“Who would put such a cost on you? No, it’s going to be Cate’s perfect day, and I’m delighted to make sure it will happen. I’m also delighted she’s marrying Kerry. Apart from the fact he loves her so much, our families have always been close. He’s a fine young man. Rock solid.”
“You’re making him sound the least bit dull,” Toni protested.
“He is a trifle earnest at the moment. Nothing Cate won’t put straight. Kerry’s had it hard. He felt his mother betrayed you all. He’s missing his father. Both as a parent and Nowra’s boss. Kerry’s young to take on so much responsibility.”
“No younger than you were when your father was killed,” she pointed out.
He frowned as if at some remembrance. “My father put me into training at a very early age. I knew what was ahead of me. I knew my obligations. I was mature enough.”
“And tough. Unless Kerry has changed a good deal he was never tough. He’s more sensitive than anyone knows, except Cate.”
“Well, Cate’s taking him on now.” He smiled at her, a smile that left her shaken. “They’ll be together for the rest of their lives. Kerry is now family.”
“And he can turn to you when he wants help?” she said quietly.
“I very much hope so. He comes to me now, as it happens.”
“I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful brother-in-law.” Toni couldn’t keep the irony from her tone.
“That help applies to you, too.”
“I’m not asking for it, Byrne,” she said with edgy defiance.
“No, you’re not, but it’s there all the same.”
CHAPTER TWO
THE farther west they flew the more emotional she became. She was home. Really home. She loved Paris with all its wonderful buildings, its bridges, the trees, the restaurants, galleries, museums, the fashion houses, the effortlessly chic women, the charming men, the whole atmosphere that made Paris the most beautiful and evocative city on earth, but this was something else again. Unique.
This was Australia, the great island continent of eight million square kilometres with vast areas of precious wilderness changed little in thousands of years. Here in a land separated for so long from the rest of a war-torn world, peace, freedom and a wonderful sense of the wide-open spaces were inherent in the landscape, in the people. They had passed over sheep country. Now they were heading into the southwest, the fabled home of the cattle kings, descendants of the pioneering fathers, hugely brave and enterprising men who had left their safe, settled homes in the British Isles to make their own fortunes and found their own dynasties.
Like the Beresfords.
It wasn’t until after the first World War, in which he had served, that her own great-grandfather took up his huge section. The Beresfords had arrived some sixty years before, every last one of them, despite family tragedies, with the Midas touch. It was the Beresfords who had diversified early, shoring up wealth against the hard times on the land. Where others had gone under despite the fact Australia was the biggest beef exporter in the world, the Beresfords had managed to ride out the storms. Toni knew their portfolio of interests was large. They also did a lucrative trade in polo ponies as the sport gained huge popularity.
Byrne’s voice brought her out of her reverie. “How’s it going?” he asked, aware of the intensity of her feelings.
She turned her head toward him, her eyes a deep hyacinth. “I love it all so much, the wilderness.”
“It’s where you were born. It’s where you come from. Didn’t you ever find even Paris just that bit claustrophobic?”
“On occasions, yes,” she admitted. “The noise used to get to me. But the thing I really missed was the smell of the bush, that characteristic scent from all the oils in the leaves and the stems of the eucalypts. I even burned a pile of eucalypt leaves once so I could inhale the fragrance of home.”
He glanced at her. “Hard to believe then you’re going back to Europe.”
“Zoe is expecting me. She relies on me for lots of things.” She looked at her linked hands.
“What is she, a child?”
The answer to that was yes. “What is there for me here?” she countered. “I may have a half share in Nowra, but I can’t live there. Cate will be mistress of Nowra.”
“Which puts you in an unfair position,” he commented. “The station wouldn’t be returning all that much at this time. You’ve never approached Kerry for your share?”
“Good-Lord, no. Nowra is Kerry’s life. He loves it with a passion. How could I possibly ask him to sell out our heritage?”
“He couldn’t do it now,” Byrne warned. “But it could be done.”
“Despite your earlier offer, I can’t accept any help from you, Byrne,” she said swiftly.
“You could have softened that a little.”
“You don’t pull any punches.”
“Perhaps not. But what I meant was, and this could be discussed with Kerry, he could take out a loan.”
“And you’d be guarantor?”
“It’s an idea.”
“Certainly. It’s also quite possible you want me out of Nowra altogether.”
He swung his handsome head. “Hang on, now,” he said crisply. “I was thinking of you.”
She thought about it a moment, reasoned it could be true. “Then I apologise. But the issue has to be faced. Nowra will be Kerry’s and Cate’s home. They’ll have an heir who will want to continue the family tradition. The fact I own half of Nowra complicates matters.”
“It does a little,” he conceded.
“So it’s just as I thought.”
“Have it your own way, Toni. You will. I can see it in your eyes.”
There was a brisk crosswind blowing when they touched down at Nowra. Despite that, they made a textbook landing. Kerry was waiting for them outside the silver hangar, waving at them, looking so utterly dear, Toni burst into tears.
“So you’ve missed him more than you think?” Byrne murmured, touched by her lovely tear-tracked face.
“Of course I have.” Her voice was shaky as she fought to level it. “This is my brother. My dearest friend.”
He saw it in her eyes.
As soon as her feet touched the ground Kerry was there, throwing out his arms, swinging her off her feet and hugging her tight. “Toni, Toni, it’s so good to see you.” He held her away from him. “You’ve grown even more beautiful.”
“So have you,” she said,