Most of the food had been grown or raised on Champion land. The centrepiece was a huge sirloin of beef spit-roasted to mouth-watering tenderness and served with a vast array of home-grown vegetables and salads. The menu included Jessie's famous pumpkin soup and a fish course of Moreton Bay bugs, miniature lobster-like crustaceans which were barbecued to crisp succulence. Then followed the traditional Australian dessert of Pavlova, a frothy meringue filled with tropical fruits and freshly whipped cream. It was a meal fit for a sultan but Keri was too preoccupied to do it full justice. 'Not hungry, Keri?' Theo asked, finally noticing her lack of appetite. She pretended to be full. 'I've eaten so much since I came here that I'll have to go on a diet when I leave.' She recognised her slip of the tongue as soon as she saw Ben frown. If she was really marrying him, there would be no question of her leaving.
