Chapter 20
20
Downstairs, a pot of tea was waiting on the kitchen island, along with a tin of flapjacks and a packet of shortbread rounds.
‘Not homemade,’ Penelope said with that same tight-lipped smile. ‘But they are from the farmers’ market and they do make everything fresh, with organic ingredients. I can’t remember… is your little café organic, Daisy?’
Daisy drew in a long breath as she forced her lips into a smile.
‘Of course,’ she said, knowing it probably wasn’t true. It wasn’t like Penelope was ever going to come down and see for herself.
‘Well, shall we take the tea into the drawing room?’ Penelope continued, as if she hadn’t even asked Daisy a question, let alone heard Daisy’s reply. ‘We don’t want to sit out here in the kitchen, do we? Theo, can you take the tray, please? Daisy can help me with the plates.’
There was no question in her sentence, and so Daisy instinctively moved to pick up the large set of plates set on the counter, but no sooner had she moved than Penelope barked at her.
‘No, not those, Daisy. Not for biscuits. Archibald, get Daisy the proper plates.’
Daisy pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a smirk. Being named Archibald was one thing; having your wife use it was another. Penelope sounded like she was ordering around a child.
The drawing room was, like the rest of the house, exactly as Daisy had expected: an outdated cliché of how the wealthy would dress their rooms, with a miniature grand piano in one corner, and velvet curtains with large drapes folding down. A large pink rug sat on the faded carpet and none of the furniture matched, with a floral sofa, two large leather armchairs and several small tub chairs.
After Theo had placed the tea tray on the coffee table, Daisy put the plates down next to it before taking a seat and allowing Penelope the room to pour the drinks.
‘I didn’t bring sugar, but I assume no one will need it,’ she said. ‘I do not understand people who suffocate the taste of tea with sugar, do you, Daisy?’
‘Well, I let my customers choose how they want their drinks,’ Daisy replied. ‘I’m not sure they’d pay me for them otherwise.’
‘Of course, of course you do,’ Penelope said, fixing them all identical drinks with milk and no sugar. When everyone had a cup of tea, Theo’s mother took a seat in one of the tub chairs, but despite the softness of the fabric, she looked anything but relaxed. The way she placed her hands upon her knees reminded Daisy of a poster she’d seen from the 1940s, demonstrating all the good qualities a wife should have. She didn’t know whether she should laugh or cry.
‘Well, this trip was a welcome surprise,’ Theo’s father said, as he helped himself simultaneously to a shortbread and a piece of flapjack, seemingly able to ignore Penelope’s glare. ‘I have to say, we were talking only the other day about how long it’s been since we’ve seen you. Not that we’re not pleased, but is there any particular reason that you’ve graced us with your presence today?’
Daisy’s heart began hammering in her chest. She had assumed telling people about her engagement would be exciting. That it would be the type of moment when people would sweep around you and congratulate you, pat you on the back, and say how excited they were for you. But she had the distinct impression that it wouldn’t be that way today. She glanced at Theo, wondering if he was going to say anything, and it was only then she realised she had kept her hands folded the entire time, the antique ring tucked out of view.
As she held Theo’s gaze, he offered her a warm smile before reaching out and taking her hand.
‘Actually, there is. We have a bit of news to share.’
Daisy didn’t want to look at Theo’s parents’ faces. She wanted to keep her eyes on him only, but she knew that couldn’t happen. Steeling her breath, she slipped her hand out of his, displaying the ring in all its beauty.
‘Theo asked me to marry him. And I said yes.’
She waited for the snarky comment, the cutting remarks that made Daisy feel less than two inches tall. But instead, Penelope smiled broadly, her face beaming as she reached forward and took Daisy’s hand in hers.
‘Oh, I’m so pleased,’ she said.
‘You are?’ Daisy and Theo spoke simultaneously.
‘Yes, I’ve been so worried that you lost that ring after you asked for it to give to Heather. Tell me, Theo, you did give that ring to her when you proposed then, didn’t you?’