Fifty-Four
‘Just to the village, dear. It’s not far.’
Ari stared straight ahead, unsure how to handle this. Nancy, beside her, had gone completely still.
‘Right, the village,’ Ari said finally. ‘Of course. Love a good… village.’
She glanced in the rear-view mirror. Paris’s elderly aunt, small, immaculately dressed, and possessing the air of someone who had never taken no for an answer in her entire life, smiled at her.
‘Good girl. And do step on it. I’ve got several Afghan hounds at home by themselves. They’re sweethearts, but I’ve always had this suspicion that they’re one missed meal away from eating the cat.’
Nancy made a strangled noise. ‘Ummm, Madam?’ she said in a voice of forced politeness, ‘I think you might have the wrong idea—’
‘Nonsense! Paris said there would be cars available. And this is a car, is it not?’
Ari found herself nodding. ‘You got me there.’
Nancy elbowed her. ‘You’re being kidnapped by an old woman,’ she hissed.
‘What would you like me to do? Throw her out?’
‘Yes!’
‘Rude,’ Margot said crisply. ‘Now, what kind of driver are you, my girl? Chauffeur? Ride-share? I hope not one of those gig-economy disasters. No benefits, dreadful treatment.’
Ari opened her mouth, fully prepared to explain everything to her. But then it occurred to her it was probably quicker to comply. ‘Fine,’ she muttered, glancing at Nancy. ‘We’ll drop her off. How far’s the village?’
‘Ten minutes,’ Nancy told her.
‘Then let’s just go,’ Ari said, just as Margot gave a dainty little cough. Then another. Then a wheezy sort of inhale, followed by an alarming clutch at her pearls.
Nancy and Ari exchanged a horrified glance.
‘Er…’ Ari said. ‘Are you…’
‘Fine!’ Margot gasped. ‘Just…a little…tightness in the chest.’
Nancy’s entire body tensed. ‘Tightness?’
‘Nothing to fuss over!’ She gave another, more rattling breath. ‘Just drop me home, there’s a dear.’
Ari was already turning the car off. ‘Nope. Absolutely not. Not on my watch. You need to see a medical professional. Now.’
Nancy sighed. Ari was glad there was at least no argument from that side of the car.
‘You’re overreacting,’ Margot said, but her voice was weaker now, and she was pressing a hand to her chest.
Ari got the car started and took it jaggedly back into the grounds, parking up at the main entrance. The moment she came to a crunchy stop, Nancy leapt out of the car, yanking open the back door. ‘Out. You’re going back inside.’
‘I don’t—’
‘You are not dying in this car,’ Ari said firmly. ‘I cannot stress that enough. I have enough problems without adding homicide via kidnapping to the list.’
‘I would hardly—’
‘OUT!’
Between the two of them, they managed to coax, drag, and half-carry Margot inside.
As they stumbled back inside, past confused-looking waitstaff and gaping guests, Paris herself turned, mid-conversation, and spotted them.
She looked from Ari to Nancy. ‘How in the hell did you…’ It was only then that she took in the full situation. ‘Why are you carrying my great-aunt?’
Ari, panting, hoisted Margot a little higher. ‘She’s had a bit of a health situation.’
Nancy’s voice was tight with forced calm. ‘We need somewhere for her to sit down. And possibly a medic.’
Cal, now at Paris’s side, paled. ‘Oh god, she’s not dying, is she?’
‘Not if someone fetches a doctor,’ Ari said, shooting a look at the frozen, scandalised guests.
At that, people finally sprang into action. Someone fetched a doctor, who was apparently a guest. Someone else fetched a chair. Margot, now looking both peeved and slightly amused, was gently deposited through the double doors and onto a velvet-upholstered armchair back in the great hall.
Ari turned to Nancy. ‘I think we should probably…’ she began quietly with a nod to the doors. But she didn’t reach the end of the sentence.
‘Lock those doors!’ Paris told security. ‘I can’t have criminals running loose.’
They did as told, locking the heaving doors with a loud clunk.
Ari couldn’t believe it. They’d been so close. But fate had bounced them straight back into the wedding from hell.