Chapter One
James
J ames swirled the wine in his glass, watching the ruby liquid catch the light from the modern chandelier above his parents’ sleek, minimalist dining table.
‘Sales are up another fifteen per cent this quarter,’ his father, Laurence, said, slicing into his steak. ‘The new artisanal cheese is a real hit. People can’t get enough of those truffle-infused gouda wheels. They are delicious, mark you. I’ve got one in for later.’
‘It’s delightful to see such enthusiasm for local produce.’ Sherri Charlton beamed at James, her designer dress sparkling under the lights. James smiled back at his mum, who was so perfectly turned out she might have been dining with the royal family, not her husband and son on a Thursday evening. ‘And I love having Genevieve Harrington onboard. Her cookware range is wonderful. Pity things didn’t work out there, but I see now she was all wrong for you.’
The open-plan dining room, with its glass walls, seemed to close in on him a little. The heat was stifling. His parents’ conversation topics were two-track, they either talked shop – literally, because they owned Duchan Fayre, the famed country shopping centre near Glenbriar – or they discussed his love life, which they micromanaged with the same precision and attention to detail as they did with the business. Was there no way to break free without hurting them – or his prospects?
Maybe it had been rash making the promise he had, but at the time – when his father had been in hospital hooked up to machines and drips – it had seemed like the right thing to do. And now he was bound by it.
He turned his attention to his dinner. Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and an assortment of side dishes that could feed an army. His parents never did anything by halves and with the produce at Duchan Fayre at their disposal, they always ate well. Succulent beef was a welcome distraction from the mention of Genevieve. James had dated her a few years back, somewhat disastrously, and subsequent relationships hadn’t exactly gone to plan either – his parents’ plans anyway. The ones he’d promised to go along with for the good of the business – as well as himself. Sometimes he was grateful. It was one less thing to worry about when he was so busy with work; he didn’t have much time to meet people himself. The same problem, however, seemed to surface again and again. None of the women his parents set him up with were right for him. Something was always missing.
‘Oh, I forgot. She’s not Genevieve Harrington anymore, is she?’ His mum took a sip of wine. ‘She got married, didn’t she? I heard a funny story about her getting drunkenly engaged and going through with it, but I doubt it was true.’
It could well be. Genevieve and James had dated more as an arrangement than anything else. It had kept both sets of parents off their backs for a while. He could do with something like that round about now to save him from what he knew was coming. Something that would keep on coming until he actually settled on one of these women.
Laurence dabbed at his mouth with a linen napkin. ‘So, James. You’re doing splendidly at work, but we can’t help but notice you’ve yet to make any significant progress in… other areas.’
James stabbed a roast potato. Here we go. The way his father spoke to him sometimes, like they were at a review meeting, was so ridiculous. ‘Other areas?’
Sherri leaned forward and took his arm. ‘You know what we mean, darling? We’ve found you some lovely young women from good families. And yet, here we are, still waiting for you to find someone suitable.’
‘Yeah, but…’ How could explain it? He’d met these women, and they’d all been nice enough, but he just hadn’t clicked with them. Perhaps the last one, Ophelia Chattan-Blythe, had been the most promising. She’d grown on him, but when he’d suggested trying again after a couple of disastrous meetings, she was already in a relationship with someone else, so that was that.
‘I wonder.’ Laurence took a large swig of wine. ‘We agreed that it should be someone of status. An insurance policy, so to speak.’
James gave him a tight smile. This was the promise he’d made after his father’s heart attack some years back. Laurence was so worried something would go wrong, and they’d lose the business that he’d made up his mind the only way to secure it would be to link it to some high-ranking family. James, being paranoid that his father might die, had agreed. At the time, it had seemed almost a throwaway thing, but his parents now viewed it like a blood oath. The number of times his mother had thrown the words “remember your promise” at him must be in the thousands by now. And really, he wouldn’t mind. If he could just meet someone of status who he actually liked.
‘I’ve been thinking a lot about this.’ Laurence tapped his finger on the table. ‘Trying to figure out why things haven’t worked out. I mean, you have the money, the looks, the charm. What’s missing?’
James raised his eyebrows and gave a half shrug, not sure he wanted to know where his father was going with this.
‘Maybe it’s because you’re just not… not posh enough.’
James almost choked on his potato. ‘Posh enough? Really, Dad?’
‘Actually, that’s a good point.’ Sherri sat back and covered her mouth. ‘We’re all guilty of it. Remember last year when we went to the Highland Games and met the earl and countess of Dairvin for the first time? I was petrified.’
‘But we’re also good at learning and adapting,’ Laurence said. ‘It’s why we’ve done so well in business.’
‘So, what are you saying?’ James asked. Where was this leading? Did they want him to buy a title or something? Surely that would defeat the point.
‘I’m not sure.’ Laurence glanced at his wife. ‘It was merely an observation.’
Sherri’s eyes softened. ‘We just worry, darling. After what happened to your father. It’s thrown so much into perspective. If Duchan Fayre was connected to one of the big families around here, it would just give us a sense of security. These families might not always have the money, but their estates have lasted for hundreds of years.’
James ground his teeth. He’d heard this argument repeatedly. He couldn’t deny that a part of him liked the idea, but at the same time, he couldn’t wholly get behind it. Not when he lived in fear of being forced into a relationship with someone he didn’t really like. ‘What if, well, what if there isn’t anyone? I mean, we’ve tried. I don’t want to settle for someone just because they have an old family name. What if I did that, only to end up fighting for the next several years trying to force a marriage to work?’
His parents exchanged a look. ‘No one’s forcing you.’ Laurence pulled a nonchalant face. ‘But I admit there aren’t a lot of options. However, I subscribe to the belief that there’s no such thing as “the one”. It’s such a silly idea. If you’re at all compatible with someone, then you can make a relationship work. Marriage is almost like business. Obviously, different emotions are involved, but ultimately there are principles, routines, transactions, and compromises that can make the relationship a success or not. If you’re holding out for love at first sight, destiny, or some other nonsense, then you’re wasting time that you could be using making real connections.’
‘Look.’ James pushed his plate away. ‘That’s not what I’m doing, and I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but it hasn’t worked so far. Maybe it’s time I looked for someone on my own. Someone who fits me, not just the family’s image.’ Though when he would find the time, he wasn’t sure… or where to start looking.
Sherri sighed dramatically. ‘We just want you to be happy.’
James couldn’t help but laugh. ‘And do I have to marry someone “posh” to be happy?’
‘Not necessarily.’ Laurence put his cutlery across his empty plate. ‘It’s the stability that we need.’
‘And the connections wouldn’t go a miss,’ Sherri said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
James raised his glass in mock salute.
‘And actually, speaking of connections, I have some very good news.’ Sherri leaned forward. ‘I recently met the Countess of Dairvin again. She’s such a charming woman, which goes to show we shouldn’t be worried about meeting people from the upper class. She’s quite normal really.’
James stifled a groan. Seriously?
‘We got to talking, and I told her all about you and Eloise.’
James frowned slightly at the mention of his sister. She’d escaped this circus by marrying her college sweetheart at twenty-five. If only James had been so quick off the mark. But he’d spent his time learning the family business and working at Duchan Fayre – successfully, yes, but it had left other areas of his life woefully empty.
‘She remembered meeting you at the Highland Games, which was nice.’ Sherri splayed her hand on her chest. ‘Then, you’ll never guess what she told me. She has a single daughter. And I think she only mentioned her because she saw the potential in a match with you.’
‘Oh yeah?’
This was Ophelia all over again. He remembered his parents introducing her in much the same way. They’d insisted on him making plans to meet her and doing all number of silly things to appear like the kind of person she’d be attracted to, including wearing a hideous pair of salmon pink trousers to the highland games to impress her – apparently that was what everyone “in her set” wore. He’d spent the whole day feeling like a spare part and was pretty sure Ophelia hadn’t noticed his trousers or given two hoots about what he was wearing.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Sherri said. ‘We tried this already with the Chattan-Blythes.’
‘Exactly.’
‘Have you heard who Ophelia took up with, by the way?’
‘No.’ He lifted his glass with a frown.
‘Her builder.’
James raised an eyebrow, recalling a couple of times he’d met the builder. ‘Wow. I wouldn’t have put them together. He’s…’ Well, he certainly didn’t go about wearing pink trousers, that was for sure.
‘All very strange,’ Sherri said. ‘I heard the estate is falling to bits, but I’m not sure shacking up with the builder is the way to save it. Anyhow, the countess’s daughter. Lady Victoria Bruce.’ She widened her eyes dramatically. ‘Is a very promising horse rider. Apparently, she adores horses and always does well at the horse trials. She’s even sponsoring a new event at the castle this year.’
Laurence nodded. ‘I looked her up; she’s rather pretty too.’
James rolled his eyes. ‘So, you want me to date her because she can ride a horse and looks good in jodhpurs?’ This really was Ophelia all over again. No one rocked a pair of jodhpurs the way she did.
Sherri laughed. ‘Oh, darling, it’s not just that. I have a really good feeling about her.’
‘It wouldn’t hurt to meet her.’ Laurence added. ‘As far as I can discover, she’s well-educated, accomplished, and sensible. All the qualities you might admire in a partner.’
James leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. ‘This is exactly what you said about Ophelia.’ And she was all those things and then some. She was beautiful, charming, ran a successful business, rode horses and all the rest, but something was missing, not from her, but from him. The feelings, emotions, passion, desire.
Sherri reached across the table, patting his hand. ‘There’s no harm in trying. Just because it didn’t work out with Ophelia doesn’t mean it’ll be like that with everyone.’
‘Look at it as business.’ Laurence waggled his finger. ‘It’ll change things completely. I promise. Approach it in exactly the same way. Look at how you’ve grown to love Duchan Fayre. The same will happen here, you’ll see.’
James shook his head. ‘You think?’
‘He’s right.’ Sherri nodded. ‘Love is a nice idea, but that excitement surrounding it only lasts a short while. After that, it’s more… Well…’ She wafted her hands around, but didn’t seem to have the words to say what she wanted.
‘Let’s say I’m interested,’ James said. ‘How do you propose I meet her? It was easy with Ophelia; her father was desperate to marry her off to anyone with money, but the earl and countess of Dairvin don’t need our money.’
‘I wouldn’t be too sure.’ Laurence leaned back. ‘These old families often have the title and not the cash.’
‘Ooh, I have a really good idea.’ Sherri held up her hands and wiggled her fingers.
‘Oh yeah?’ James had a really bad feeling about this.
‘What’s the best way to get to know someone?’
‘I… er… talk to them, I suppose.’
‘Yes.’ Sherri wound her hand, as if trying to wheel out a better answer.
What the hell did she want him to say?
‘You have to find something to talk about,’ she said, as though it was obvious. ‘Common ground. And to do that, you have to have a shared interest.’
‘But I can’t know what her interests are until I meet her.’
‘Aha, that’s where my plan comes into play. It’s so good.’
James sighed, picking up his wine glass again. ‘Uh-huh?’
Sherri beamed. ‘You need to learn to horse ride.’
‘Pardon?’ James choked on his wine. ‘No way am I getting on a horse.’
‘Actually, that’s a great idea.’ Laurence nodded at his wife, looking very impressed. ‘It’s like what I said before about not being posh enough. I think part of the problem is that you don’t have enough in common with these women. If we’d had the means when you were at High School, we would have sent you to private school and you’d fit in with their set a lot better. But sadly, Duchan Fayre didn’t start paying off until later.’
‘They all went to schools where riding was on the curriculum.’ Sherri pulled a face somewhere between approving and annoyed. ‘So if you learn, then you’ll instantly have something they can relate to.’
‘You see.’ His father winked. ‘Good business skills. All it takes is critical thinking and we’ll crack this.’
Jesus Christ. His parents had lost the plot. But then, what did he have to lose… Assuming he didn’t fall off the horse and break his neck?
Laurence raised his glass. ‘To new possibilities.’
James clinked his glass against his father’s. ‘Indeed.’ He glugged it back. Now he needed to engineer a meeting with this woman before his parents booked him into an intensive riding course. Wouldn’t it be lovely if this time they just clicked? Even better if she was someone he knew already, and they could have a good laugh about this. But his dad was right, he’d grown up in different circles from these people. He’d attended a big high school in Perth and done well for himself, becoming head boy and getting top grades. But it meant he hadn’t grown up with the kind of people they now wanted him to be rubbing shoulders with. At thirty years old, he should be further on with his life than this, but still, maybe Lady Victoria Bruce would be the one – or someone he could build a steady relationship with if he followed his dad’s rather emotionless approach. But Laurence and Sherri had been happily married for over thirty years. They’d had two children, built a business, and made a name for themselves, so they must be doing something right.
If horses were the answer and ended up being what brought James together with his life partner… He let out a sigh. Well, it could be worse. Couldn’t it?