Chapter 21
21
Daisy wanted the floor to swallow her up. No, she needed the floor to swallow her up, because the only other options were storming out of the room, having some very choice words for her fiancé with his parents there watching, or bursting into tears. And she had a horrible feeling that she was closest to the latter.
She swallowed hard repeatedly, feeling Penelope’s eyes boring into her, but what was she supposed to say? That she knew Theo had already used this ring to propose once? And that she didn’t mind? She’d have had a hard time sounding truthful, considering she hadn’t even known that Theo and Heather had ever been engaged before. Besides, at that moment, Daisy wasn’t even sure she could speak. Once again, she attempted to swallow down the lump that had lodged itself up in her throat, but before she managed to clear it, Theo was speaking.
‘Heather and I didn’t get engaged, Mother, as you know,’ Theo said. His voice sounded remarkably calm and at any other time, it might have put Daisy at ease. But Penelope’s smile only broadened, and it had the same effect on Daisy as nails on a chalkboard. A cold shudder ran down her spine.
‘Yes, darling, of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring that up.’ Penelope looked at Daisy. ‘She rejected him, you know, but good thing too, or else you wouldn’t have that pretty little ring on your finger, would you?’
That was it. Daisy couldn’t take any more. Tears of betrayal were clogging her throat. She needed to get out of the room and fast, but she didn’t want it to look like Penelope had won. She hadn’t. None of her tears were for Penelope. It was the fact that there was yet another omission by Theo – another part of his life that Theo had kept from her – that hurt so badly.
In as controlled a manner as she could, she stood up and smiled graciously.
‘Sorry, if you don’t mind, I’m just going to get some water. I think the organic flapjacks needed another ten minutes in the oven. They’re somewhat undercooked and a little cloying.’
With that, she walked out of the room.