Chapter 37
“S carlett?” June called after her. “Are you okay?”
Scarlett didn’t stop her march back to the main house. “I’m fine. I’ll see you later.”
It was clear she was far from fine .
A million thoughts were racing through her mind, none particularly cohesive, but there was little point in trying to make sense of them now.
She had a job to complete, and neither the Shrewsburys nor Edward would distract her from it.
The wedding was the priority, and time was no longer on her side.
Walking in through the French doors of the main hall, she was pleased to see that the guests were oblivious to the events happening in the background, milling around in small groups, making pleasant conversation, and sipping their bellinis.
Skirting around the outskirts of the room, she thought she was safe when a very well-groomed woman stepped into her path, looking down at her.
“Excuse me, dear.” Scarlett couldn’t place the accent– potentially Scottish, but she couldn’t be sure.
“Yes?” Scarlett smiled politely.
“Could you be a sweetheart and let the laird know Evelyn has arrived and is waiting for him. In fact, even better, could you point me in his general direction?”
Scarlett looked the woman up and down and realised she was almost a carbon copy, if not a bit older, of Briege, immediately making her blood boil.
He clearly has a type!
Deciding violence wasn’t the answer, Scarlett leaned closer to Evelyn and lowered her voice so only she could hear. “I’ve just told him to go to hell, so maybe go look for him there.”
Evelyn moved away as if an electric shock had jolted her, her mouth gaping open at Scarlett’s comment.
Scarlett smiled again, nodding politely, and made a beeline for the stairwell, heading straight up to Ana?se’s room.
The horde of makeup and hair artists, their assistants, and all the paraphernalia that went with them were nowhere to be seen. Ana?se stood in the centre of the room and looked exquisite. Even Eva, who was inspecting the stunning off-white Vera Wang gown, looked on with appreciation.
Scarlett spotted Miranda sitting in the chair in the corner, with the usual expression of contempt on her face, but Scarlett, and seemingly everyone else in the room, chose to ignore it.
“Scarlett, there you are!” Ana?se’s face brightened. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show. The dress looks incredible on you!”
“Thanks, and apologies, some last-minute hiccups.” Scarlett saw Eva raise an eyebrow, so quickly added, “Nothing to worry about though.”
“Are the guests all arrived and looked after?” Eva asked, moving to the mirror to check her own makeup and hair.
The old woman was clearly itching to go downstairs, but something told Scarlett she was worried her daughter was a flight risk and would stay to physically force her down the aisle if needed.
“Yes, except Lady Cameron-Reid. I checked and her flight landed on time, so I expect she should be here any minute now.”
Eva pursed her lips. “I can’t abide a lack of punctuality.”
And don’t we all know it!
“Can I get anybody anything in the meantime?” Scarlett plastered on her best winning smile.
“We’re all fine, Scarlett, thank you.” Ana?se sighed. “I’ll be glad when it’s all over.”
“That is not the attitude, Ana?se.” Eva narrowed her eyes at her daughter. “You will remember who you are here to represent today– you will carry yourself in the right manner and frame of mind, you hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ana?se responded, quickly dipping her head, possibly to hide the depth of resentment in her eyes.
“Hurry along, Scarlett. Do whatever is necessary to make sure the great Lady Cameron-Reid has everything she needs when she arrives. I want no more delays.” Eva waved her hand to dismiss Scarlett.
“Of course, just call if you need anything, and good luck– not that you’ll need it.” Scarlett smiled at Ana?se, who smiled warmly in return.
“Run along then,” Eva snipped.
Scarlett nodded and left the room.
These people, honestly.
Lady Cameron-Reid’s rooms were ready for her arrival. A small team waited to help her with hair, makeup, and everything else; everyone was prepared and knew they had less than half an hour to work their magic once she arrived.
To keep herself busy, Scarlett went to the orangery to check the harpist was hydrated and not becoming overly restless because of the delay. Upon entering the room, she stopped, surprised to see Edward and Leonard already there.
Michael, the monk, was sitting cross-legged at the altar in meditation, no doubt readying himself to do the service.
“Hello.” She offered them a thin smile. “Just checking in on everything.”
“Thorough as always.” Leonard beamed at her.
She hadn’t been alone in the same room as him since the incident , and she was grateful that Edward was there now, even though she was still massively pissed off with him. She felt safer with him there.
Scarlett noted Leonard had returned to his earlier smarmy self as he held her gaze, his lopsided smile playing on his lips.
“Needed to see Faye has everything she needs,” Scarlett said, looking over at the harpist, who appeared uninterested and bored.
Faye was to play just before the guests were guided through, but seeing it was only Scarlett, the young harpist went back to scrolling on her phone.
Scarlett didn’t want to stand making awkward conversation with the two brothers and turned to leave the room again.
“I’m surprised you took it so well, brother,” she heard Leonard say, making her stop at the doorway. The tone in Leonard’s voice told her he was up to no good, and she was right.
Why can’t he leave well enough alone?
“Took what well?” Edward’s tone was clipped, tiring of his brother and his obvious games.
Scarlett looked over her shoulder to see Leonard’s smug smile as he slowly looked her up and down. She glanced across to Edward, whose jaw was twitching.
Please God, no. Don’t do this.
“She obviously told you.” Leonard rolled his eyes.
“Told me what?” Edward’s voice was calm to the point of being terrifying.
Something in Leonard shifted then. Had he realised his error? Was it nervousness?
Scarlett felt nauseous.
“Leonard, don’t be an arse,” she said, her voice shaky.
“Tell me what?” Edward turned to face his brother full on.
“You didn’t tell him?” She saw Leonard swallow, a mixture of emotions washing across his face. “I genuinely thought you would have?”
Scarlett shook her head slowly, unable to form words as she saw a flash of panic in Leonard’s eyes.
“It was a misunderstanding of sorts, that’s all.” Leonard shrugged, looking down at Edward’s fists, which Scarlett also noticed were now clenched. “She was upset, I consoled her, and then one thing led to another—”
“Scarlett, there you are. I’ve been looking for you. What…” June’s voice trailed off as she took in the scene. “Is everything alright?”
Words still escaped Scarlett, but June read the room fairly quickly.
“Boys?” June spoke calmly.
Edward ignored her.
“What did you do?” His words were slow and laced with icy rage.
Leonard stepped back, but Edward grabbed the lapel of his jacket, making Scarlett, June, and the harpist gasp in unison.
“Edward.” Scarlett found her voice. “Don’t!”
“Someone better tell me what the fuck happened, or this will not end well!” Edward’s nostrils flared, his forehead almost touching Leonard’s.
The three women froze, afraid to act or speak and make things worse.
A voice from behind them startled Scarlett.
“Jeez.” Miranda half laughed. “Y’all like keeping it in the family, huh?”
Scarlett could smell alcohol on Miranda, who gave Scarlett a side-eye before concentrating on the two men.
“What are you talking about?” Edward growled.
“I mean, I honestly can’t see what all the fuss is about.
” Miranda looked Scarlett up and down. “But you’re all getting a little heated about her, and the whole thing is a bit ick , don’t you think?
” She looked at Leonard. “Especially as you’re already aware it’s a possibility.
But you should both really know that sleeping with your half-sister, I mean, isn’t that illegal or something? ”
Edward loosened his grip on Leonard, who pushed Edward away.
“Miranda, shut the fuck up,” Leonard told her sharply.
Scarlett noticed the harpist was watching the scene with interest as Miranda’s words slowly sank into her conscience. She looked across at her mother, who was slowly shaking her head.
Miranda leaned against the doorway, enjoying the catastrophic bombshell she’d so carelessly dropped. Scarlett stepped further into the room, away from Miranda’s stench. The woman’s eyelids were heavy as she swayed slightly.
Leonard tried to move too, but Edward was too quick for him to react. He grabbed his younger brother by the throat and pushed him hard against the wall.
“Talk,” Edward said, the words barely audible through his anger. “Fast.”
“She found letters– Ed, I can’t actually breathe.” Leonard tried to pull Edward’s hands off his throat, but Edward was too strong. Too angry.
“Talk,” he said again.
“She found some letters between Dad and June. They’ve known each other for years– before Scarlett– and were still seeing each other a couple of years after you were born.”
“Edward!” another voice from the doorway called out. “Put your brother down. Now.”
Edward looked across the room, and his face lost some of its fierceness.
“Now, I said.” A woman in her early seventies paused beside Scarlett and her mother. “June,” the woman said in acknowledgement as she walked past. Scarlett looked at her mother for answers, but June looked away.
“Mother, I—” Leonard began speaking, but she raised her hand to quiet him.
She approached Edward and kissed him on the cheek, using both her hands to unclench his fists. Edward reluctantly relaxed a little. She walked across to where Leonard stood and straightened his shirt and jacket before kissing him.
“You know.” She looked over at the three women before continuing. “They’ve always been like this. Squabbling and fighting over toys, bikes, girls. It never stops. It’s exhausting.” She looked at the two men again before settling her gaze on Scarlett. “So, this is Scarlett, I take it?”
Lady Cameron-Reid assessed Scarlett, not unkindly. “I see what all the fuss is about, but Leonard, it’s your wedding day, for Christ’s sake.”
“This isn’t my fault.” Leonard’s voice was almost childlike. “It was ages ago that I kissed her and—”
“I will end you!” Edward made to move towards Leonard, but their mother stepped between them and raised her hand.
He didn’t push past her.
“Your sister! You kissed your sister? Does this not bother anyone else here?” Miranda piped up again.
“Whose sister, now?” Thomas Marsden-Beasley walked into the room with Tara close behind him.
“Ah, Verity, you’ve made it! Thank God for that.
Eva is just about ready to have kittens.
” He chuckled loudly. “So, what’s happening here.
What’s all the commotion? Guests are getting restless.
Young lady over there with the instrument.
How about you play some tunes? Settle these folk down a little.
Now, what’s this about someone’s sister? ”
The harpist looked at Scarlett, puzzled by the events in the room. Scarlett nodded at her to go ahead, feeling numb.
Nothing felt real anymore.
But she looked around the room, which she realised was perfect.
The sun had now set outside and the lights of the marquee and the pathway up to it twinkled invitingly.
It all looked like something from a glitzy wedding magazine.
The flowers and subtle lighting from the chunky candles and lanterns provided a gorgeous atmosphere, and with music from the harp now filling the room, Scarlett saw she had done her job well.
As the voices in the room all meshed into inaudible tones, she came to the sudden realisation that her services were no longer needed and she was, in fact, free to leave.
She didn’t want to know what Miranda was referring to, but whatever it was she must be wrong, or confused, or misinformed– there was no way on this earth her mother would have allowed her to continue with Edward if, if– Oh, God, what if it’s true?
It couldn’t be. It mustn’t be.
But Scarlett had no intention of hanging around to find out. She needed air. Needed to leave. Had to get as far away as possible from all these people. It was all too much. She couldn’t breathe.