Chapter Thirty
Ophelia
O phelia and Hayley turned into The Back Wynd and headed up the hill. For a Sunday afternoon in March, the weather was great. The black clouds from the previous day had hurried away on a gentle breeze, leaving only a fluffy aeroplane trail to part the bright blue sky.
It had been a long time since Ophelia properly walked around Glenbriar. Hayley knew all the streets and shortcuts better than she did, and after having had a nice lunch together, they’d decided to walk back to Hayley’s house.
‘I can’t wait for you to see it,’ Hayley said. ‘It was Oliver’s house before we got together, but I never want to move from it. It’s on the Fairways Estate.’
‘That’s quite new, isn’t it?’
‘Yeah. Oliver bought his house before it was even built.’
‘Sounds amazing.’
‘It’s not as brilliant as the boathouse, but I like it.’
‘I’m sure it’s just as good.’
‘Well, I quite like being near other people. I don’t fancy living in such an isolated place.’
‘Hmm.’ Ophelia was getting used to it, but the night she’d spent there with Brann still stood out as the best night she’d had there, not just because of the sex they’d had, but because she’d liked his company.
‘How’s the husband hunting going?’
Ophelia sighed. ‘I meant to tell you. I had a message from James the other day.’
‘What? I thought you and him finished before you got started.’
‘We did. But he asked if I wanted to meet without any family pressure and take things from there… Without telling his parents, or my father or Jacinta, that is.’
‘And are you going to?’
‘Maybe. I said I’d think about it.’ And really, she should. James was by far the best of the people she’d met that year, but it still didn’t solve the problem that she didn’t actually fancy him.
They passed by a row of old boxy-shaped tenement houses, much smaller than the ones in big cities, but with the same tiredness about them. They had tiny little patches of gardens on either side of the paths. Some were overgrown or littered, but others had daffodils bobbing in the gentle breeze. This area was like a forgotten part of Glenbriar, hidden behind the fancy shops and restaurants in the main street and masked by the tourist attractions and hotels.
‘Hi, Ophelia.’
Ophelia lurched into the present. Who was talking to her? She didn’t know anyone here. Her gaze landed on another row of boxy tenements on the other side of the road, where a young girl was waving to her.
‘Oh, hi.’ She waved across, recognising Caitlin.
A silver van was parked at the kerb. For a thrilling moment, Ophelia thought it was Brann’s van, but it wasn’t. His was white.
Caitlin beckoned, and Hayley gave Ophelia a quizzical look. ‘Who’s that?’ she asked quietly.
‘Er… Caitlin. A friend of Francesca. Let me go and say hello.’ They crossed the street, Ophelia’s heart doing somersaults. This wasn’t where Kristalee lived. She knew that as she’d picked them up for the riding lesson from Kirk Lane. So… Did Brann live here?
‘How are you?’ Ophelia asked.
‘Yeah, good. Harrison’s new flat is up there. I’m just here to nosey, but they’ve sent me to get stuff from the van.’
‘The van?’ The thrill returned. Ophelia’s head flicked to it. There it was, large as life – Brann Duthie she could see him out the corner of her eye.
The heel of her suede ankle boot clicked reflexively on the pavement, and she forcefully stopped it, but her legs were restless.
‘Are you ok?’ Kristalee tapped her on the upper arm.
‘All good, thanks.’
‘Can I come riding again soon?’ Caitlin asked.
‘Sure. Just arrange it with Francesca. I can give you a lift most weekends.’
‘I’ve suggested she does some volunteer work to pay for the lessons. She could help muck out and that kind of thing.’
‘Absolutely,’ Ophelia said. ‘Dagmar would be delighted with some help.’
Brann came out of the van with his arms full of boxes. He barely glanced at them as he passed by and headed inside. Hell . Why could she not stop looking at him even when she was trying to look the other way?
‘Why don’t you come in?’ Kristalee was watching Ophelia. ‘Have a look around. I’m sure Harrison won’t mind.’
‘What?’ Ophelia blinked and her heart tremored again. ‘We wouldn’t want to intrude.’
‘Not at all. Come on.’
‘Have you met his girlfriend?’ Caitlin asked.
‘Er… no.’
‘Colette, she’s really sweet.’
‘Colette?’ Hayley beamed. ‘Of course. I work with Colette. I didn’t realise Harrison was the boyfriend she was moving in with. She always calls him Harry.’
‘She’s the only person allowed to call him that. He normally hates it,’ Caitlin said.
Now there was no getting out of it. Hayley was champing at the bit to get upstairs and see her work friend.
They followed Kristalee and Caitlin up the stairs. Ophelia hung back, her pulse drumming like crazy.
‘Hey, Colette, you’ll never guess who’s here,’ Caitlin said.
‘Oh my god.’ Colette screamed when she saw Hayley and Hayley laughed, disbelieving that she hadn’t put two and two together and worked out Harrison was Colette’s boyfriend. Ophelia recognised her too from her salon appointments, and maybe there was a flicker of recognition from Colette as she smiled at Ophelia.
Ophelia fiddled with her fingers, sensing many eyes on her as they entered the living area.
‘Lots of potential here.’ She aimed to keep her tone carefree.
Harrison chuckled. ‘That’s exactly what Dad said.’
Caitlin glanced at him, and they both laughed. Kristalee gave a weak smile, but her eyes held a hidden warning as she looked between the two of them.
‘Well, it does…’ Ophelia didn’t want to read anything into their exchanged glances. Caitlin’s gaze moved to the door behind Ophelia, and she turned her head, following the look. She stiffened. Brann was leaning on the frame. He didn’t flinch or betray anything as their eyes met.
‘Great minds and all that,’ he said.
‘Like you’ve got one of them,’ Harrison quipped.
‘Watch it, or you can put that wardrobe in yourself.’
‘Great street view.’ Hayley grinned, crossing to the window. ‘I used to live in a flat and I loved looking out the window at everything.’
‘Haven’t you got some handiwork to be getting on with in the bedroom?’ Ophelia murmured to Brann, sensing him behind her.
‘Maybe,’ he muttered.
Hayley started talking about something funny, but Ophelia’s attention was cut off by a low whisper in her ear.
‘But it’s not as much fun on my own.’
She shuddered. He was so close to her.
‘You found a husband who does the job yet?’ he murmured.
She turned her head towards him with narrowed eyes. ‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’
‘Not really.’
Everyone laughed, and she turned back to the group. Hayley was eyeing her with a know-it-all grin.
‘Do you want to stay for food?’ Colette asked.
‘We’ve just had lunch at a cafe,’ Ophelia said.
‘Thanks anyway,’ Hayley added. ‘We’ll let you get on.’
Brann stepped aside, casually holding out his arm to let them pass. Ophelia gave him the briefest glance. The heat was intense, and she loosened the top button of her waxed jacket as they went down the stairs.
‘What were you saying to Brann?’ Hayley asked.
‘Nothing.’
Hayley raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh really? Say what you want, but it looked to me like you were flirting.’
‘We certainly were not.’
Hayley shook her head and smiled. ‘Really?’
‘Why would I do that?’
‘I think you like him a lot more than you let on. Why not go out with him for a bit?’
Ophelia’s heel caught between two paving slabs. She wobbled slightly, before pulling it out. ‘I can’t.’
‘But you do like him.’
‘Yes, Hayley. If you really must know. I do like him.’
‘Fancy him?’ Her smile was annoying but infectious and Ophelia found herself smiling back despite her irritation.
‘Alright, yes. But, really, you know nothing can happen.’
‘So, you’re going to settle for James?’
‘He’s not that bad. And liking him and respecting him is better than nothing.’
‘Better than being with someone you love?’
‘Who said I loved Brann?’
‘Do you?’
‘Oh Christ. Just stop now.’
‘I’ll take that as a yes.’
‘Don’t you see how impossible it is? Can you imagine a life where we’re together? We don’t belong in each other’s worlds.’
‘That’s a bit insulting,’ Hayley said. ‘You don’t belong in mine either and yet we’re friends.’
‘That’s true, but different.’
‘Not that much different. Also, what happens if you marry some rich man, and it turns out he doesn’t want to spend all his money saving Glenvorneth? I know you thought about a prenup, but I bet Oliver wouldn’t let anyone sign all their money over to saving the estate. So your big plan might not work anyway.’
The last remnants of her father’s flimsy plan drifted away, leaving Ophelia tumbling into the abyss.
‘You told me your grandparents fought for you to inherit Glenvorneth. Why did they?’
‘Because they didn’t want some random male relative inheriting it.’
‘Then maybe you shouldn’t be considering letting some random rich man save it now. They picked you to avoid that situation.’
Ophelia frowned. It wasn’t exactly the same thing, but Hayley had a point. Her grandparents wanted her to carry out their plans and continue their legacy. What if she had the power to do it herself? Maybe she didn’t need the cash upfront. What if all she needed was a new approach? Something that wouldn’t only save Glenvorneth, but save her from signing up to a marriage she didn’t want. She wasn’t the one who needed to sign up to anything. The germ of an idea started in her mind. But could it work?