A Very Special Marriage

“Because it might be two years but I haven’t come to terms with what happened even if you have! What happened between us left scars, Sophie. The only way we can rid ourselves of them is by talking it all through and getting the truth out in the open at last.”

“You want the truth, do you? Well, the truth is that I don’t give a damn about what happened in the past. It’s over and done with, and all I’m interested in now is the future….”

Dear Reader,

Finding lasting happiness is something we all aspire to, but sometimes life and circumstances get in the way of achieving our dreams. When I decided to write Sophie and Liam’s story I wanted to show just how strong true love can be. This couple has suffered a great sadness in their life and parted because of it. Now they have a chance to clear up their past misunderstandings and start afresh….

But Liam seems involved in a new relationship and Sophie has decided to completely change her way of life. Their marriage is over and they are confident that once they have talked about the mistakes they made in the past they will be able to move on.

The one fact neither of them allowed for was that they still care about each other. After all that has happened, can they recapture the magic of being in love?

I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you have any comments you’d like to make then please contact me at: jennifer@jennifer-taylor.com.

Best wishes to you all,

Jennifer

A Very Special Marriage

Jennifer Taylor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

CONTENTS

Cover

Dear Reader

Title Page

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOGUE

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

HAD she made a terrible mistake?

As she stepped out of the taxi into the bustle of Palma harbour, Sophie Patterson suddenly found herself beset by doubts. Up till that point she’d been quite confident that she was doing the right thing. She’d handed in her notice at work, given up the lease on her flat and said goodbye to her friends, sure in her own mind that she’d made the right decision, yet all of a sudden she found herself wavering.

Had she been right to turn her back on everything she knew? Maybe it did feel as though she’d been in a rut ever since her divorce but how could she be sure her life would improve by making such drastic changes to it?

Sophie grimaced because it really wasn’t the right time to start having second thoughts. The letter she’d received had made it clear that she should report for duty at eleven a.m. sharp and it was almost that now. Picking up her suitcase, she scanned the dock.

Several of the major holiday companies used the harbour at Mallorca to berth their vessels and it was difficult to decide which of the liners moored there was the one she would be working on for the next three months.

Mindful of the minutes ticking away, Sophie hurried along the quay, sighing in relief when she discovered that the ship nearest to her was the Esmeralda. There was a member of the crew on duty at the bottom of the gangplank, checking names against a list, so she waited in line until it was her turn.

‘I’m Sophie Patterson. The new nurse.’

‘Welcome to the Esmeralda, Miss Patterson.’ The young man put a tick against her name. ‘If you’d like to board the ship, the purser will direct you to your quarters.’

‘Thank you.’

Sophie squared her shoulders then made her way up the gangplank. There were a lot of people milling about when she reached the deck, mostly people like her, she guessed, hired to look after the passengers, so once again she waited in line until it was her turn to speak to the purser.

‘I’m Sophie Patterson, the new—’

‘Nurse.’ The good-looking, fair-haired young man smiled at her. ‘Welcome aboard the Esmeralda, Miss Patterson. I am Yuri Markov, the chief purser. My role is to make life as easy and uncomplicated as possible for staff and the passengers alike. So if you have any problems whilst you are on board ship, please, do not hesitate to consult me.’

‘Thank you.’ Sophie returned his smile, feeling a little colour touch her cheeks when she saw the admiration in his eyes. She had steadfastly avoided any involvement with the opposite sex in the two years since her divorce and it was rather flattering to realise that she could have this effect on an eligible male. ‘That’s very kind of you.’

‘It is easy to be kind to a beautiful young woman like yourself, Miss Patterson.’ Yuri’s smile was warmer than ever and Sophie laughed, her deep blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

‘Now you’re flattering me!’

‘I was merely stating the truth.’ Yuri’s gaze held hers fast for a moment before he glanced at the list he held. ‘Your cabin is in the hospital bay, Miss Patterson. I shall get a steward to show you the way.’

‘Please, call me Sophie,’ she said quickly, her head whirling because she wasn’t used to being showered with compliments like this. It seemed ages since anyone had made such a fuss of her, not since the early days of her marriage, in fact, when Liam had never let a day pass without making sure she’d known how much he’d loved her.

The memory still had the power to hurt so Sophie hastily put it from her mind as Yuri summoned a steward and told him to take her to the hospital bay.

He turned to her as the man picked up her case.

‘Perhaps you would do me the honour of joining me for dinner tonight, Sophie? I shall add your name to my table if you don’t think I am being too presumptuous?’

‘Thank you. I would like that very much,’ she declared, throwing caution to the winds. She managed to hold her smile when Yuri took her hand and raised it to his lips, but she couldn’t ignore the soulful way he was looking at her.

‘This promises to be a wonderful trip,’ he murmured.

Sophie quickly withdrew her hand and hurried after the steward, relieved to make her escape before the situation developed. It did make her see how long it had been since she’d played the dating game, however. She’d met Liam when she’d been just nineteen and they had married a year later. She’d had little experience of men before her marriage and none since. One of the first changes she would have to make would be to bring her ideas in line with more modern thinking. The days of one man, one woman and happy ever after had long since gone out of fashion!

‘This is the hospital bay, Miss Patterson. I may as well give you a tour while we’re here.’

The steward, whose name badge identified him as Charlie Henshaw, elbowed his way through the swing doors. He nodded towards a door on their right. ‘Through there is the clinic where you and the doc will see your patients each morning and over there is the operating theatre.’

‘I didn’t realise there was a theatre on board!’ Sophie exclaimed, peering through the glass pane set in the door. She took rapid stock of the state-of-the-art facilities and sighed. ‘It’s far better equipped than some of the NHS hospitals where I’ve worked.’

‘The ship’s owners had the hospital bay refurbished last winter and decided to install a theatre while they were at it,’ Charlie explained. ‘Doc Hampson wasn’t keen on the idea but they thought it would be a big selling point. A lot of passengers feel happier knowing there are proper medical facilities on board if the worst happens. It’s certainly increased trade because we’re fully booked all season.’

‘I see. Why wasn’t Dr Hampson keen on the idea, though?’ Sophie asked curiously, following the steward along the corridor. She glanced into a small sick-bay furnished with all the usual equipment she would have expected to see in any modern hospital ward. The difference was that the room was beautifully decorated in a soothing sea green and there were tasteful water-colours on the walls.

‘The doc’s a nice old chap but he just isn’t up to operating nowadays.’ Charlie stopped as they came to the end of the passage. ‘It’s high time he retired, in my opinion. He might have reached that conclusion himself because I just heard that he’s not joining us this trip. They’ve had to hire a last-minute replacement for him.’

‘Oh, dear! I had no idea,’ Sophie exclaimed. The elderly doctor had sat in on her interview and had seemed very pleasant. It was rather daunting to discover that she would be working with a complete stranger for the next few months.

‘This is your cabin, miss. It’s not exactly luxurious—none of the crew’s quarters are—but there’s everything here that you’ll need. The doc’s cabin is just across the passage.’

Sophie tried to shrug off her concerns as she looked around the cabin. It was very compact but, as Charlie had said, there was everything there that she would need during her stay. A single bunk bed and combined vanity and wardrobe unit would solve her sleeping and storage problems whilst the tiny ensuite bathroom with its shower cubicle, basin and lavatory would fulfil her other needs.

‘It’s fine,’ she said, turning to smile at the middle-aged steward. ‘I’ve lived in nurses’ quarters in the past so I’m used to not having a lot of room to spread myself around.’

‘You’ll only really need it for sleeping,’ Charlie advised her, lifting her case onto the bed. ‘You and the doc are regarded as officers whilst you’re on board so you’ll have free run of the ship. You’ll be able to use the lounges and other facilities—that’s if you can cope with folk coming up to you all the time and asking about their ailments!’

‘I shall bear that in mind!’ She quickly hunted in her bag for some change as the steward turned to leave, but he stopped her with a shake of his head.

‘No need for that, miss. We’re all here to work so none of us expect tips. If you need anything, just use the bell and give me a buzz. The passengers won’t arrive until late afternoon so we’re not too busy at the moment, although it will be bedlam later.’

‘Thanks, Charlie.’

Sophie decided to unpack after the steward left then explore the ship and get her bearings. She unlocked her case, then hung her clothes in the wardrobe, smiling to herself when she saw how colourful they looked.

Buying herself some new clothes had been another step on the way to remodelling her life and an enjoyable one, too. She’d gone a bit mad, in fact, choosing the bright cotton outfits which she planned to wear in her off-duty time. While she was working she would wear a smart new uniform but the colourful clothes had been chosen in a fit of defiance. The old Sophie Patterson no longer existed and in her place was a woman who intended to make the most of her life instead of wasting it.

All of a sudden Sophie felt her doubts disappear beneath a renewed surge of excitement. She had been right to do this. Three months spent cruising the Mediterranean and then the world would be her oyster!

Dinner on the first night, she’d been told, was always an informal affair and casual clothes were the order of the day. She showered and changed into white cotton jeans and a vivid blue T-shirt then ran her fingers through her short blonde hair until she’d achieved the spiky look which the hairdresser had told her suited her so much. She’d had her hair cut only the previous week and she still wasn’t used to the new style, although it was certainly easier than the shoulder-length bob she’d had before. A quick wash and her hair was done!

Stepping in front of the mirror, she studied herself critically. She had to admit that the end result was rather pleasing. The vivid blue of the T-shirt was the perfect foil for her colouring although she experienced a momentary qualm when she read the logo that was printed in sequins across its front.

Telling herself that it was just a bit of fun, she let her gaze move on and nodded in satisfaction when she saw what a difference the new make-up she’d purchased had made. Her eyes looked enormous thanks to the mascara and shadow whilst the lipgloss made her mouth look seductively full. The only flaw she could spot was the tiny mole at the corner of her mouth but there was nothing she could do about that. Anyway, Liam had always said that it made him want to kiss her…

Sophie blanked out that thought. She’d promised herself that she wouldn’t look back but focus on the future and at the present moment that meant dinner. She left her cabin then paused when she saw that the door to the cabin opposite hers was open. She hadn’t heard the doctor arriving but she could have been in the shower at the time. It was a shame that she’d missed him because she would have liked to have broken the ice by introducing herself.

She glanced at her watch but there were still ten minutes to spare before she needed to be in the dining room. She tapped on the door and grimaced when she heard a muffled voice calling from the bathroom to come in. She hadn’t realised he was getting ready for dinner but she could hardly walk away now that she’d knocked on the door.

She looked curiously around as she went inside but the cabin was an exact replica of her own, apart from the fact that it was nowhere near as tidy. It looked as though the doctor must have unpacked in rather a hurry because there was a heap of clothes tossed onto the bed and a stack of books piled haphazardly on the bedside cabinet.

She wandered over to look at them, grinning when she saw the eclectic mix of paperback thrillers and weighty medical tomes. Obviously, her new colleague believed in being prepared for every eventuality.

‘Sorry to keep you waiting.’

Sophie felt the shock hit her like an actual physical blow when she heard the man’s voice. She rocked back on her heels and had to grab hold of the cabinet to steady herself. She knew she should turn round but it was impossible to move a single muscle. It couldn’t be him! a small voice was screaming inside her head. It was just her mind playing tricks…

‘Are you all right, Sophie?’

There could be no mistaking who he was now that he’d called her by name, even though he’d spoken to her in a tone she hadn’t heard him use for a long time. Their last conversations had been so angry and bitter that it still made her feel sick whenever she thought about them. It felt as though a lifetime had passed since she’d heard such concern in his voice.

‘For pity’s sake, say something, Sophie. Don’t just stand there looking as though your worst nightmare has come true!’

There was a catch in that deep voice now, an echo of pain that made her ache as well. She was actually trying to think of a way to comfort him when it struck her what she was doing.

This man had broken her heart and he most certainly didn’t deserve her pity!

Anger gave her the strength to turn and face her ex-husband at last. ‘What are you doing here, Liam? Exactly what is going on?’

Liam could feel the waves of antipathy flowing across the cabin and suddenly found it impossible to think clearly. Why hadn’t he allowed for the fact that he would feel so…emotional? he wondered dazedly.

‘I’m the new ship’s doctor,’ he said tersely, struggling to keep a grip on himself. He’d known when he’d accepted the post that Sophie might be upset by the thought of them working together, but he’d told himself that he would find a way to convince her it would be all right. All he wanted was a chance to set matters straight and it had seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. The last few months had convinced him that he needed to lay the past to rest, once and for all.

‘Th-the new doctor?’

Liam’s hands clenched when he heard the tremor in her voice. It was obvious how shocked she was and he suddenly found himself wondering if he was being selfish. Maybe Sophie had come to terms with the past and he was in danger of opening up wounds that had already healed? Just because he hadn’t been able to rid himself of the memories, it didn’t mean she’d had the same problem. He only had to look at her to see how much she had changed, in fact.

His slate-grey eyes skimmed over her as he drank in the differences two years had brought about. The new hairstyle suited her, he realised in surprise, even though he would never have expected her to opt for such a funky style. Sophie’s choice of hairstyle and clothing had been very conservative in the past but there was nothing conservative about that spiky halo of blonde wisps or about the outfit she was wearing, for that matter.

Liam’s mouth curved into a reluctant smile when he read the logo on the front of her T-shirt. Treat me like a princess! it implored, and it amused him greatly although he couldn’t for the life of him imagine the old Sophie wearing anything like it. Ditto the snug-fitting jeans which hugged her pert little bottom like loving hands.

His smile faded abruptly as his gaze travelled on. Although she was of no more than average height, she had incredibly long legs and the tight jeans set them off to perfection, highlighting their shapeliness. Liam felt a funny buzzing sensation in the pit of his stomach and hastily lowered his eyes another few inches. He just managed to bite back his gasp when he saw her bare toes peeping through the straps of her sandals.

She’d painted her toenails bright blue to match her T-shirt but Sophie had never worn nail polish in the past. Even if she had, she certainly wouldn’t have dreamt of wearing such a crazy colour. Adding up everything he’d seen—the funky hairstyle, the trendy clothes, the nail polish—and he was more convinced than ever that he’d made a massive error of judgement. Sophie had moved on with her life and the proof of that was clear from her appearance. How could it be fair to rake up the past when it would be bound to upset her?

‘Let’s get this straight, Liam. Are you saying that you’re going to be working on board this ship?’

Liam took a deep breath when he heard the mounting anger in her voice. Maybe he had made a mistake but there was little he could do about it now except to try and make the coming weeks as easy as possible for both of them.

‘That’s right. I’ve signed on for the summer season,’ he explained, trying to disguise his hurt when he saw her mouth thin with displeasure. Surely he hadn’t been foolish enough to hope that she might be pleased to see him?

‘Dr Hampson has decided to retire,’ he continued hurriedly before the idea could take root. He knew why he’d taken the job and it had nothing whatsoever to do with winning Sophie over. ‘Apparently, he’s been having chest pains and his consultant has advised him to take things easy. I was hired at the last minute as his replacement.’

‘So you had no idea I would be working on this ship when you took the job?’

Liam saw her frown as she tested out that theory and sighed. He was tempted to take the easy way out but he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he didn’t tell her the truth. There’d been enough half-truths in the past and he refused to let them spill over into the present.

‘No. One of your friends at the Royal Memorial told me that you’d got a job on board this ship when I went up there to see you. She wasn’t sure when the Esmeralda actually set sail but she gave me the name of the agency who’d hired you so I could check with them.’ He shrugged. ‘To cut a long story short, I phoned them and during the course of the conversation they mentioned they were looking for someone to replace Dr Hampson so I offered my services.’

‘This just doesn’t make sense!’

She shook her head so that the spiky wisps of blonde hair shimmered as they caught the glow from the overhead light. Liam’s hands clenched again but this time because he had an almost irresistible urge to run his fingers through that silky halo. All of a sudden he could remember with alarming clarity just how soft her hair had always felt, how wonderful it had smelled when he’d woken each morning and taken her in his arms…

‘You seem to have gone to a lot of trouble to track me down, Liam, but surely it must have occurred to you that you were the last person I would want to work with? I would have thought I’d be the last person on your list, too, so what is going on? Why did you really take this job? If it was your idea of a…a joke then I have to say that I don’t find it the least bit funny!’

Liam dragged his mind back from such nonsensical thoughts when he heard the fury in her voice. ‘I didn’t do it as a joke, Sophie. Far from it. I realised a couple of months ago that we needed to talk to one another. There are a lot of things we need to sort out so when I found out there was a job going on board the Esmeralda, it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.’

‘I can’t believe I’m hearing this!’ She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. ‘It’s two years since our divorce, Liam, and not once in all that time did you make any attempt to talk to me. You didn’t make much of an effort before that either, so why have you suddenly decided that it’s time we sorted things out?’

‘Because it might be two years but I haven’t come to terms with what happened even if you have!’

All of a sudden Liam could feel his own anger igniting. He took a couple of steps, which were all it needed to cross the cabin. He stared down into her angry blue eyes, feeling the pain welling inside him as the memory of all the hurtful things they’d said to one another came rushing back.

Sophie should have trusted him! She should have had enough faith in him to know that he would never have had an affair!

‘What happened between us left scars, Sophie, and I’m not too proud to admit that either. The only way we can rid ourselves of them is by talking it all through and getting the truth out into the open at last.’

‘You want the truth, do you?’ She laughed shrilly. ‘Well, the truth is that I don’t give a damn about what happened in the past. It’s over and done with, and all I’m interested in now is the future.’

‘So you’ve put it all behind you, have you? Every single thing that happened no longer means anything to you?’

He couldn’t keep the bite out of his voice and he saw her flinch. When she went to push past him he caught hold of her arm and made her stop.

‘Maybe you’ve erased me from your memory, Sophie, but can you honestly say that you’ve forgotten our child?’

His fingers tightened as grief suddenly overwhelmed him. ‘Look me in the eyes and tell me that you’ve forgotten about Zoë and then I’ll believe you when you say that we have nothing to talk about!’

CHAPTER TWO

‘DAMN you, Liam! Damn you to hell for doing this!’

Sophie’s voice broke on a sob and Liam felt his anger drain away when he saw tears streaming down her face. He already had hold of her so it was the easiest thing in the world to pull her into his arms and cradle her against him.