Chapter Twelve
Ophelia
‘ B oo!’
Ophelia jumped as someone tapped her on the back.
‘Hayley.’ She turned around. ‘You gave me a fright.’
‘You look great.’ Hayley admired her riding jacket. ‘This is Oliver.’ She tugged on the arm of a tall, very handsome, dark-haired man.
He put out his hand, and Ophelia shook it.
‘Nice to meet you,’ she said. ‘I’m Ophelia. I met Hayley at the salon the day you sent her a wonderful bouquet of roses.’
‘Oh, that.’ He smiled a little awkwardly and his cheeks went pink.
‘He’s a real closet romantic.’ Hayley cuddled his arm. They were a beautiful couple. That little twinge of jealousy Ophelia often got in the company of friends and family who were clearly in a happy, loving relationship reared inside her. The thought of trying to achieve this kind of bliss with James Charlton turned her stomach. She hated herself for thinking it because James wasn’t a bad person. In fact, he was charming, polite and hardworking. Nothing about him should elicit such disgust in her, but she just didn’t fancy him. Whenever he was close by, she felt completely flat, even when she tried really hard. It just wasn’t happening.
‘You’re the divorce lawyer, aren’t you?’ she asked Oliver.
‘Yes. That’s me.’
‘Well, I hope I never need to visit you in a professional capacity. Though as I haven’t found anyone to marry yet, it’s unlikely to be any time soon if I do.’
‘I hope that’s the case too.’
‘Oliver, would you mind grabbing me a drink?’ Hayley said. ‘I could murder a coffee. Do you want anything?’ she asked Ophelia.
‘No, I’m fine, thank you.’
Oliver gave Hayley a quick peck on the cheek and strolled off.
‘Are you ok?’ Hayley asked.
Ophelia leaned on a fence and sighed.
Hayley stepped up next to her. ‘Is your father still trying to set you up with the rich guy?’
‘Yup. He invited James and his family here today. I still haven’t met them yet, but they’re coming home with us after. It’s such a mess. I just don’t find him attractive, but I know I should. I mean, he’s nice, polite, handsome… What’s not to like?’
‘You can’t help who you’re attracted to and you can’t force it. Sometimes it’s the most unlikely people we’re drawn to.’
‘Don’t I know it?’
Hayley leaned over and gave Ophelia a hug. ‘You need to follow your heart a bit more. It’s your life.’
Ophelia sat quite still; she wasn’t used to being hugged by friends – not more than as a cursory greeting. This was quite pleasant really.
A little way off, Dagmar sat astride her steed; both looking completely poised. Ophelia had never mastered the perfect posture – she couldn’t be bothered with the hours of practise.
‘I should get ready.’
‘What for?’ Hayley said.
‘I decided to ride Conker in the show. I wasn’t going to bother, but why not? I’m hopeless, but it’s more fun than hanging around with my family.’
‘I’ll come and watch,’ Hayley said. ‘I bet you’re really good.’
‘Honestly, don’t get your hopes up. But by all means, watch. I should fetch Conker and get him ready.’
‘I thought you had a groom.’
‘Dagmar? She’s competing herself. I can’t expect her to do this too.’ Ophelia cringed at the fact that Jacinta and her father thought it ok to leave her unpaid. Covering Dagmar’s wages was something Ophelia was willing to do for a loyal employee and to ensure the horses were ok, but she didn’t want her father and Jacinta to think this was something she could do indefinitely.
‘I hope your ride goes ok.’ Hayley hugged her again, and Ophelia went to get Conker from the trailer. She led him around the marquee towards the prep area.
A little way off, she saw Brann leaning on the fence, beside a pretty girl with long glossy hair, a similar colour to his own. Was that who he was meeting? She looked really young. Ophelia wasn’t sure what age Brann was, maybe mid-thirties at a guess, but that girl looked no more than twenty. Her stomach squirmed at the thought of Brann dating people, especially beautiful young people. She knew nothing about his circumstances. Christ. She’d kissed him, not knowing if he was in a relationship. His flirting and the fact he’d kissed her back implied he was single. But it was crazy to think other people wouldn’t find him attractive. Of course they did. He was a laid-back guy who happened to be super sexy.
Unbidden, he looked over. She couldn’t help but stare at him. Her knees might actually have given way. She clung so tightly to the saddle strap it dug into her palm. As she mounted Conker, her foot slipped on the stirrup. Hastily, she rode off. Last-minute practice wasn’t necessary. She wouldn’t win or even come close, but she needed a warm-up and so did Conker.
Ophelia spotted other people she recognised and said hello to several as they passed. Dagmar was also in the practice area. She headed over to Ophelia. ‘I saw your father going about with James Charlton. I was at school with him, you know?’
‘Were you?’ Ophelia raised an eyebrow. Dagmar hardly ever spoke about anything personal, so this was new. ‘Was he a friend?’
‘Not really.’ She gave a little shrug. ‘He was my neighbour for a while, but… Well, we weren’t close or anything.’
‘Ah.’ Ophelia felt there was more to the story, but Dagmar said no more.
An announcer called the next three riders, and Ophelia was one of them.
‘Good luck,’ Dagmar said.
‘Thanks.’ Butterflies were unusual for her before a ride – mostly because she wasn’t bothered enough to care. No one ever watched her, so it made no difference. They rarely had even as a child. She remembered Dagmar’s mum religiously watching her at every competition, while Ophelia was dropped off and picked up at the end by one of her parents. She didn’t make a thing out of it normally, but suddenly she felt sick. ‘I better get to the start.’
She waited in the holding area as the previous competitor went over the final jumps before she rode into the arena. Conker managed the first jumps easily, and her queasiness subsided a little. Relaxing, her eyes strayed to Brann. He was still in the crowd with the young woman. He looked incredible – there was something so effortlessly attractive about him, especially in that tight t-shirt and the kilt. The nerves flooded back. Why was he watching? So he could take the piss? Her legs shook like jelly. Conker jumped awkwardly and the saddle became almost uncomfortable. It was Brann and his body she could feel. Nothing else. ‘Come on, Conker.’ A rail fell at the next turn. Maybe she was imagining it, but she thought she could hear Brann laughing. She and Conker got into a rhythm and the remainder of the course wasn’t too bad, though he clipped the final fence.
‘Well done.’ She gave him a rub as they left the arena. Her heart was pounding. She didn’t make eye contact with anyone. Please do not let me see Brann again! But at the same time, she yearned for it. He was probably in hysterics with his friend about her terrible miss, and her cheeks burned at the thought. This was like having a schoolgirl crush… On the boy who was all wrong for her.
Oh, get over him!
She took Conker for a cool down ride, before finally setting off to find her family and face the James-themed music.
Oh no!
Too late to change direction.
Brann was in front of her, standing in a crowd of people, laughing and joking. His arm was around the shoulder of the young woman, and she leaned in and rested her head on him. Brann hugged her close.
‘Keep walking,’ Ophelia muttered, but she wanted to vomit. ‘And don’t look.’ She strode behind a hotdog stand to avoid passing him face to face.
‘Ah, there you are,’ Rupert said, when she arrived at the hospitality marquee. ‘We were getting worried.’
James gave her a half smile and the guilt mites moved in as she spotted the older couple beside him.
‘Oh, I was riding Conker in the show jumping, then I hung about and watched Dagmar while he was cooling down.’
‘Dagmar?’ James said. ‘I think I was at school with her. I recognise the name anyway and it’s not that common.’
‘Yes, she said she knew you.’
His lip quirked up a little and Ophelia watched him. Was there some history here she should know about? ‘I wish I’d known you were riding,’ he said. ‘I’d have come and watched.’
‘I’m glad you didn’t. It wasn’t that good a ride, but Dagmar was brilliant as always.’
‘I haven’t seen her for years, but I recall she was very horsey.’
‘Oh golly, yes. She’s fab with horses.’
The announcer’s voice droned from the speakers with stories and information.
‘Sorry I missed you both,’ Jacinta said with a smirk. ‘We’re going to watch Francesca’s ride in the afternoon.’
Ophelia didn’t waste a reply on her. She turned to James’s parents.
‘Let me introduce you,’ he said. ‘This is my father, Laurence, and my mother, Sherri.’
‘Delighted.’ Ophelia shook their hands, smiled, and made the right noises. She was well trained at this. James gave her a funny little look that she took as an upfront apology for anything they might say. Apparently, they were as keen to bring about a marriage as her parents. But they may as well have been speaking Greek, because all that kept rattling about in her head was Brann. Who was the woman he was with? His previous actions implied he didn’t have a girlfriend, but it was unreasonable to think he was a perpetually single man who would be readily available whenever she fancied a kiss – just as he’d accused her of earlier. He wasn’t wrong. Since when had she been like this? Even now, she could hardly believe thoughts like this were going through her head.
‘Oh, I better be off.’ Rupert checked his watch and got to his feet. Ophelia bounced back to the present. ‘Got to get to the chieftain’s procession.’
Thank god for the blaring sound of bagpipes and drumming. It drowned Jacinta’s incessant babbling at the Charltons and also the intense silence between Ophelia and James. She couldn’t find any words to cover it. The situation was so cringe. I just don’t fancy you. She willed the message to him with a vague smile. He returned it like he understood perfectly and felt exactly the same.
They moved into a better spot to watch the procession, Francesca tagging along like a spare part. Ophelia stood next to her and smiled, not sure what to say, but maybe just being there would make her feel less out on a limb. The Earl of Dairvin led the way and Jacinta looked like she might break her neck to get a glimpse of him and the countess. What a spectacle: Jacinta, the groupie for a short, balding man and his shrew-faced wife. The Earl’s taut face had turned beetroot in the heat of his full highland dress, as he marched ahead of the pipe band, swinging his sceptre.
‘The countess looks stunning,’ Jacinta said as they reached the stage close to the hospitality marquee.
Ophelia tried not to yawn. The Earl began his speech, thanking the usual people and praising the competitors for their effort.
When the speech was done, Rupert found them and took them to the Earl’s table for lunch.
‘Such an honour,’ he said. ‘But we’re cousins, after all. The old boy sometimes makes a fuss, but he’s on good form today.’
James rubbed his palms down his trouser legs, and his parents huddled around Jacinta, soaking up her stories about how close she was to the countess.
‘Are you alright?’ Ophelia caught up with James.
‘I’ve never met an earl before.’
‘Oh, no need to stress,’ she said. ‘He’s pretty down-to-earth. His wife can have a sharp tongue, but Jacinta will entertain her, so nothing to worry about.’
‘If you say so.’
Rupert introduced the Charltons, and they all took their seats. Jacinta almost did herself an injury trying to get next to the countess. But when the countess sat next to Ophelia, Jacinta’s nose was shoved right out of joint.
‘So, that’s the Duchan Fayre boy, is it?’ the countess said aside to Ophelia.
‘Yes.’
‘The family seems nice, but he doesn’t look quite like how I imagined.’
‘Oh?’
Perhaps the countess also wished him a bit more rugged, but Ophelia wasn’t sure she dared comment. Usually, it was simpler to go along with what she said.
‘But more to the point, are you engaged to him yet?’
‘What?’ Ophelia almost choked on her drink. ‘No. We haven’t even dated yet.’
‘Well, you better get to it. Doesn’t look like he’ll be about for too long. If you don’t grab him, someone else surely will.’
Ophelia smiled sweetly and let the words wash over her. The end of lunch couldn’t come fast enough. Not only because she wanted away from the countess, but she really wanted to watch the final tug-of-war. She’d have missed the semis by now, but hopefully the Brawny Briars had got through and would have a chance in the final.
Thankfully, everyone else wanted to watch too, so when lunch concluded, they left the earl and countess and made their way to the athletics arena. On the way, Ophelia spotted her mum and a friend walking the same way.
‘Dear, dear,’ Rupert muttered. Jacinta took his arm and they and Francesca marched past. Laurence and Sherri Charlton followed, but James stayed with Ophelia.
‘Your father showing his class, as usual,’ Edith said.
‘Hi, Mum.’ Ophelia kissed her mum on both cheeks.
James gave her an awkward glance.
‘This is James Charlton.’
‘Oh, you’re James.’ Edith smiled and shook his hand. ‘Delighted to meet you. I’m Edith, Ophelia’s mother. And this is my friend, Nancy. Ophelia, you might remember meeting her at my party.’
‘I do,’ Ophelia said. ‘How are you?’
‘All good, thank you.’ Nancy adjusted large red-rimmed glasses. ‘We watched you riding, but I don’t think you saw us. You went off very quickly at the end.’
‘I didn’t think anyone was watching, and it wasn’t much to write home about.’ Ophelia ran her hand over her forehead.
‘It wasn’t that bad,’ Edith said. ‘The one after you was much worse. She fell at the first fence and her horse practically completed the course itself before they could catch it.’
‘Oh dear…’ Ophelia laughed. ‘We’re going to the arena to watch the tug-of-war. Why don’t you both come with us?’
‘I’m not sure a bunch of sweaty men wrestling a rope is our cup of tea,’ Nancy said. ‘But you never know.’ She exchanged a little smile with Edith.
‘Let’s go find out,’ Edith said.
‘We can get into the hospitality section. I have my pass.’ Ophelia touched the badge on her lapel.
They took their place in the reserved area ringside. James slid onto the bench between Rupert and Ophelia. Rupert threw his ex-wife an unpleasant look but said nothing. Ophelia sighed. She should have warned James to sit somewhere else.
‘The team leader is a sexy beast,’ a voice from behind said, and Ophelia’s heart stopped. They were obviously talking about Brann. And she agreed with them one hundred per cent.
Edith rolled her eyes, and Ophelia glanced around. ‘What?’
‘All this chat about Brann the builder,’ Edith whispered.
‘What do you mean?’
‘He’s got quite a following.’
‘He’s a very nice man,’ Nancy said. ‘He did me a new kitchen last year and he couldn’t have been more helpful. Very efficient and left no mess.’
‘Well, he is a good builder.’ Ophelia kept her eyes on the arena for any sign of him. ‘He’s done work at Glenvorneth, and I can’t fault it.’
‘Your father was talking about the work he was doing when you went to ride,’ James pipped in. ‘He seemed to think he’s exceptionally good.’
‘Rupert talks a lot of shit most of the time,’ Edith muttered to Ophelia. ‘So I wouldn’t take anything he said as a glowing recommendation.’
James eyed her like he wasn’t sure how to respond, and Ophelia silently held her breath. Her parents were nothing like each other, but they both had their little foibles – sometimes not so little.
The team entered the arena and Ophelia’s knees buckled. Thank goodness she was sitting down. Brann was so mind-bendingly attractive. Her face filled with heat, she fanned herself with her programme – despite the black clouds lingering, it was a warm day. No one would notice.
‘He is totally hot,’ the voice behind said.
Edith chuckled. ‘Someone’s got a crush.’
Someone did, and it wasn’t just the woman behind them.
‘Oh no. Rain.’ Edith pulled up her hood.
More hoods and umbrellas shot up as Ophelia reached below her seat for her own brolly.
The teams stood facing each other, the rope taut. Ophelia couldn’t take her eyes from Brann. It felt so wrong, even though everyone else was watching too.
The drizzly rain made strands of his hair stick to his forehead. His damp navy t-shirt clung to his sculpted chest, the words Brawny Briars emblazoned across his broad back. Ophelia recalled the feel of that chest, the heat of his embrace, and the sizzling kisses. The memories made her tingle all over. Her heart fluttered against her ribs like it was eager to take wing, fly to him, and take its place next to his.
A tap on the rope, a cry and the tussle began. He was like a mighty warrior engaged in mortal combat. A row of feet scraped the ground, heaving. Ophelia’s heartrate sped up. They took the strain – and the fracas began. Willing them on silently, Ophelia watched Brann intently. His grim determination showed in every heave. The rain got heavier.
‘Come on,’ she muttered.
James glanced at her. She kept her face impassive until he looked away. Just as well they weren’t together yet. Her eyes were having a virtual affair with the sexy builder.
Hiding beneath her umbrella, she watched. The opposing team, named The Highland Haulers, were mostly broad and beefy. They looked strong, and they seemed to have the upper hand. Slowly they pulled the Brawny Briars towards the line.
No!
Ophelia clutched her face, wincing.
The cheering and screaming hit fever pitch. Brann shouted so loudly Ophelia heard it. The sound brought renewed strength to the team, and they gained traction. The momentum shifted to them again. Now they were dragging the Highland Haulers closer to the line. Come on . Her eyes strayed past Brann to the crowd opposite. She saw the girl with the glossy hair clutching her face. Next to her was the guy who worked with Brann, the one Ophelia assumed was his brother. He was yelling and making fists. That was what it was like to have people who cared about you. Supportive people. Ophelia couldn’t imagine anyone cheering her on like that.
It made her a little ill. That woman looked too young for Brann, but she clearly cared about him. Who am I to judge? Maybe love really was blind, and they’d stumbled into each other and fallen for each other.
How would it be if there were no expectations on me? Ophelia sighed. He was a man from a different background, sure, but did that mean he was wrong for her?
An almighty roar rose from the crowd. The Brawny Briars had pulled The Highland Haulers over the line. Tumultuous clapping and cheering ensued. Ophelia joined in, and James stood up to applaud.
‘Marvellous,’ Edith said.
Ophelia joined in the excited recounting of the match. Shortly after, the team was presented with medals. The Earl of Dairvin approached them, beaming. Gold glinted as he swung the medal around the first neck.
Oh god.
When Brann smiled, he was even more gorgeous than ever, even when covered in mud from head to foot.
The crowd began to disperse, Brann and the team vanished from sight to the competitor’s tent. A crack in the clouds let through a ray of sun.
‘That was quite something,’ Edith said.
‘It really was.’
‘Shall we get a drink?’
‘Let’s.’
James came with them. Their route took them to where Brann’s brother was standing with the young woman and a group of other friends gathered in a small huddle, all talking excitedly.
‘Ophelia!’ Hayley waved from amidst a group of onlookers. ‘Did you watch that?’ she burst out excitedly.
‘Yes.’
‘It was amazing, wasn’t it? I can’t believe they won!’
Cheers from behind made them look around. Brann emerged and was hugged, clapped on the back and congratulated by his well-wishers. He held his hair off his forehead, grinning. His t-shirt, arms and legs were covered in mud. The young woman ran up to him and hugged him. He laughed and hugged her back, lifting her off the ground and swinging her around.
Ophelia tore her gaze away from the embrace. Her eyes met with Hayley, who winked and grinned. She wasn’t sure what the gesture meant and wasn’t sure she wanted to.
Her head fizzed; she veered around Brann and his admirers. She hated him with a furious passion. Why did he mess with her mind until she couldn’t think of anything else? How dare he make her feel this way? He was forbidden. He had no right to be in her mind at all. It was time to get rid of him. She’d enjoyed an afternoon of depraved entertainment watching him in all his masculine glory, but it must stop. She’d had her virtual fling and now it was over.