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meant her to misunderstand. She felt annoyed, then felt annoyed that she was annoyed. She didn’t usually let people irritate her.
    ‘Feeling better? Are you sure you shouldn’t have a lie down?’
    ‘Positive, and I’m fine, thank you,’ Serenity answered calmly. He wouldn’t be above picking her up and flinging her into bed if he thought she needed it.
    ‘Good. As soon as you finish this, you must go and ring your fiancé, then your insurance company. I’m sure there’s one locally, as they have branches throughout New Zealand. But John must be told first, he’s first on the agenda. I bet he’ll be a bit shaken to know he nearly lost you.’
    ‘I can’t reach him, he’s overseas.’
    ‘For how long? When’s the wedding?’
    Serenity drew a deep breath. It felt like a third degree; that blasted wedding dress, she should have snipped it to pieces, then she wouldn’t feel such a fool. ‘He’ll be back in six to eight weeks.’
    ‘So why are you carrying your wedding dress with you?’ He took another scone and bit into it with relish, his hazel eyes watching her with bright curiosity.
    ‘Mind your own damned business!’ Serenity was appalled to hear herself shout. She rarely swore, it showed a certain lack of vocabulary, but he infuriated her. Still, he had been kind. ‘I was to have been married last week, then John had to leave unexpectedly. I had already given my notice, so I just threw everything in the car and here I am. Sorry to bite your head off. I’m just a bit touchy on the subject.’
    ‘That’s understandable. Have another scone. You haven’t quarrelled or anything? He still wants to marry you, does he?’
    ‘Oh yes, he still wants to marry me,’ Serenity told him gravely, glad he had not worded the question towards her attitude about the wedding.
    ‘That’s okay then. Why didn’t he take you with him? He’s a bit of a fool in my opinion, leaving a pretty girl like you hanging about.’
    Serenity felt her colour rise at the compliment. ‘We did consider it, but the firm wasn’t at all keen.’
    ‘So you’re at a loose end for a month or so; that’s very interesting. What are you doing in this part of the world?’
    Carefully avoiding the last part of his question, she demanded, ‘What’s interesting about me having nothing to do for two months?’
    ‘Well, as I told you, my housekeeper has left, and I need someone to take over. I prefer not to employ someone long term. I might be getting married myself ... so it would suit me to have an interim arrangement until I make up my mind.’
    ‘And you’re offering me the job?’ Serenity’s grey eyes opened wide in surprise. ‘You don’t even know that I can cook. I can positively assure you that I would not spoil you.’
    He threw back his head and laughed. ‘I wouldn’t expect you to, my dear girl. Just cooking and cleaning, and if you care for it, a bit of outside work. Do you like riding?’
    ‘Oh,’ she drew a deep breath, ‘that would be wonderful. I love riding.’ Then added quickly. ‘That doesn’t mean I’m accepting the position.’
    ‘Of course not, but it helps. Are you a good rider?’
    ‘No. But I love horses. I had my own pony when I was a kid, and I ride whenever I get the chance. I belonged to a pony club for a while, but Ebony hated going over the jumps, and I wasn’t competition minded. I just like riding for my own pleasure.’
    ‘Well, we’ve got plenty of horses here, and if none of them suits you, I might take you out on the riverbed and you can choose your own. My father loves horses too. He put some Arab mares out there, and we’ve still got about ten or fifteen careering up and down the river. You can take your pick. I’ve a friend who is breaking them in and selling them in his spare time. He’ll train it for you.’
    Serenity closed her eyes, and as if in a dream saw a mob of wild horses galloping through the bush, and plunging in and out of the river, the spray flying and their