Chapter Thirty-Three
Brann
B rann leaned back on a fence post, sipping a coke and watching Caitlin as she rode around the paddock.
‘She’s taken to that quickly,’ Harrison said, with half an eye on his sister, and the other on Colette who’d wandered away to chat to Hayley.
‘Yeah. She’s enjoying it.’
‘Weird, huh? It’s like we’re connected to this family of nutters, whether we like it or not.’
‘They’re not all nutters.’
‘Don’t tell me. I know the one you think isn’t. When are the two of you going to admit it and get it on?’
‘We already did that.’
‘What?’ Harrison goggled at him.
‘Yeah. Ages ago. But that doesn’t mean we have a future together, does it?’
‘You hooked up with her?’
He shrugged. ‘I guess you could call it that.’
‘Holy fuck. I knew it. Then go and do it again. Jesus Christ, it’s so bloody obvious. But if you marry her, please god don’t start wearing that Toad of Toad Hall outfit. Otherwise I’ll disown you.’
Brann folded his arms, balancing his coke can on his elbow. ‘Ok, let’s get something straight. I’ll never dress like that and I’m not marrying her.’
‘Aye, aye. So you say.’
Brann shook his head but couldn’t help a smile growing on his face. Harrison’s confidence was annoying but kind of sweet.
Caitlin finished her ride and made her way over to them.
‘The official opening is on in a few minutes. Let’s go and watch.’
Brann looped his arm over her shoulder, and they walked to the main door of the stables where a crowd was gathering.
Before long, a microphone sprang into action and Rupert’s voice spoke.
‘Hello. Isn’t this wonderful?’ he said. ‘So nice to see such lovely people out and about.’
Brann looked heavenward. Why was he making the speech? He better not claim everything that Ophelia had done here as his own.
‘It gives me great pleasure to welcome our family friend, the countess of Dairvin, to do the honours and cut the ribbon.’
The countess smiled and held up a pair of scissors big enough to be shears.
‘Thank you, indeed,’ she said. ‘It’s wonderful to be invited to Glenvorneth to carry out this task, and it gives me very great pleasure to declare the new stables officially open.’ She made a swooping cut, and the ribbon fell away.
Brann joined in the clapping but pulled a face. This felt off. Where was Ophelia and why wasn’t she up there, getting the credit she deserved?
‘Before I stand down,’ the countess said. ‘I’d like to invite one more person to join me. None of this would have been possible were it not for the absolutely marvellous efforts of Ophelia Chattan-Blythe. Up you come, Ophelia. I insist.’
It looked like both her mother and Hayley were shoving her onto the stage. She blinked and glanced at her feet as the countess smiled at her.
‘Well done, Ophelia, on a wonderful job.’
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘And I appreciate your words, but in all honesty, these stables weren’t built by me. I made the designs and decided what I thought would work well, but Brann Duthie, the builder, his son and his workers did the hard labour. They were the ones who put all this together and if Brann’s here, maybe he’d like to come up.’
A hand landed on his shoulder, shoving him forward. It was like doing the walk of shame, only it wasn’t shame. People were clapping and patting his back like he’d won the tug-of-war again. He reached the front where Ophelia, the countess, and Rupert were standing on the steps up to the stables.
Ophelia looked at him for a moment, then put out her hand. He took it, and she held it tight as he stepped up beside her. ‘Thanks, Brann,’ she said. ‘Just so you know how much I appreciate the work you did here.’ Although she still had the microphone in her hand, it wasn’t close enough to her mouth for the words to be very loud and it felt more like she was talking just to him.
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. Before she could pull away, he slipped an arm around her waist, tugged her close, and planted a kiss on her lips. She relaxed and smiled as she returned it. People cheered and wolf-whistled. Brann drew back with a grin and winked like he was just a lad stealing a kiss.
In the crowd, he saw Hayley almost jumping up and down. Harrison and Caitlin were looking at each other with irritating know-it-all happy faces, but they were smirking. At the Timeless Butterfly stall, Ophelia’s colleague had her hand clapped over her mouth.
‘Er, yes.’ Rupert took the microphone, eyeing Ophelia and Brann. From the lowest step, Brann spotted Jacinta gaping with her hand sprawled across her chest. ‘Well, thank you, Brann and Ophelia, for the work,’ Rupert continued. ‘And thanks to everyone who came out today. I hope you have a wonderful day.’ He switched off the microphone and blinked, first at Ophelia, then at the countess.
‘Thank you for having me,’ the countess said.
‘Can I get you some tea?’ Jacinta asked, still half eyeing Brann and Ophelia.
Ophelia continued to hold his hand, but seemed to be deliberately avoiding his eye.
‘No, thank you,’ the countess said. ‘I need to get back. I have another appointment later.’ She turned to Ophelia and winked, then bent in and whispered something in her ear.
‘Nice to meet the man behind all this.’ She shook Brann’s free hand. ‘I daresay we might be seeing more of you in the future.’ She left with a little grin.
‘Well, um.’ Rupert cleared his throat. ‘Is everything alright here?’ He glanced between Brann and Ophelia.
‘Never better,’ Brann said.
‘Am I missing something?’ Jacinta said.
‘Probably,’ Ophelia replied.
‘And would you care to enlighten me?’
Ophelia turned to Brann and took a few short breaths. ‘I love Brann.’ She turned back to Jacinta. ‘I don’t want you to set me up with anyone. I only want him.’
‘What,’ Rupert said.
‘You heard me. And even if nothing comes of it, I’ve set the estate up with a plan. I’m going to choose my own life and the people I want in it.’
‘Of course, that’s fine. It’s just a little surprising.’ Rupert stared at her for a moment, half-frowning, half smiling.
‘Well, I’ll let you be surprised for a moment. I need to talk to Brann in private.’
She led him inside the stables and turned to face him.
‘That was interesting,’ he said.
‘And true.’
‘I know.’ He took her face in his hands. ‘I’ve known for a long time.’
‘I’ve loved you since forever. Even when I hated you. Maybe I never really hated you. I hated not being allowed to have you.’
‘And now you’re allowed. What are you going to do?’
‘I thought I needed a rich man to help me save Glenvorneth, but all I need is a loving man to stand with me.’
He gazed at her. ‘I want you. You know I do. I need you with me too. We’re the perfect fit. But this life… How can I?’
‘I can’t force you to do anything, but if you want, we can try. You can learn to live with my family, and I’ll learn to live with yours. Though I don’t mind if we avoid mine as much as possible.’
He grinned. ‘I said once before I’d do anything for you. And I will. I love you so much.’
Ophelia laughed as he dipped into kiss her.
‘Who’d have thought it?’
‘Well, if you believe my kids, everyone’s been thinking it for months and we’re the only ones who can’t see it.’
‘Hayley says the same.’ Ophelia flung her arms around his neck, still laughing, and he lifted her off her feet. ‘Let’s go and find them then. They’ll enjoy gloating over us.’
‘I don’t think I’d ever have believed I could be this happy, but I am,’ Brann said.
‘Me too.’ Ophelia took his hand and led him out. Wherever she was taking him, he would follow.