Chapter Twenty-Two
The following day Paddy began packing. She loved her little house by the sea and she was beginning to feel a little more settled, but the discovery of her pregnancy had bowled her sideways. She had never been particularly regular and with her move to Cornwall she had paid little attention to her periods. Their absence was more a blessing than a concern. How could she have been so stupid? Now, after her initial shock she was both delighted and terrified…and remained in a perpetual state of swinging between the two states. She spent half her time staring in the mirror but despite a slightly enlarged chest, her body hadn’t changed shape at all. What would she look like as she started to change? Her face and her body were her place of work, despite having chosen to step away from modelling, she found this new development terrifying. How would she cope?
Obviously, she would have wished things were different. For a start, she’d like the baby’s father to be in love with her but that clearly wasn’t on the cards. She wasn’t even sure if he would want to be involved in the baby’s life. What would his fiancée say? His reaction had been one of horror but she understood it was a lot to take on. He sleeps with a girl just the once and just like that he’s married to her and about to become a father. That was some heavy piece of news to deal with. She hadn’t ever imagined being pregnant on her own, but she had her sisters, they would be there for her and gradually she’d work things out.
Duncan had asked her if she was certain she wanted to keep it and the thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. In this Hal had no say. And because she wasn’t prepared to even discuss it with him, she had some sympathy with the position he found himself in. She wouldn’t even approach him regarding child maintenance. But when she had stood there with his arms around her, she had a sense of everything settling into place. When he had suggested that they go and sit down and chat, the way he had looked at her had overwhelmed her. She felt as though he would always be by her side or standing in front of her, protecting her. And then the fiancée turned up.
At least now Paddy understood her sudden bouts of tiredness; she thought she might have had flu. Calling Ari, she had mentioned she was planning to visit but hadn’t said why. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have over the phone. She’d probably just end up bawling her head off. But more than anything right now she wanted to go home, she loved Cornwall but it wasn’t home yet and there was no one here to turn to.
The phone rang and she wondered if it was one of the girls doing their sisterly voodoo thing, but she saw with pleasure it was Jemima and answered eagerly. It would be great to have a simple conversation and she was thrilled to hear Jem invite her to a charity bash the following evening. It was short notice and she was probably already booked. As Jem trailed off, Paddy jumped in eagerly. God knows she needed to get out of her own head. Some company would be a good diversion.
‘What should I wear? I don’t think I’ve ever been to a charity fundraiser before. Well, not one in the countryside, anyway.’ The truth was, she was usually employed to attend these things, often modelling the clothes or jewels that were up for auction. Paddy was excited. A night out with a friend was exactly what she needed. Her mind was too full of things she didn’t want to think about, a party would be perfect.
‘Oh, you know, the usual.’ Paddy rolled her eyes so hard that Jemima must have heard as she laughed. ‘Sorry. That wasn’t very helpful. It’s not formal. Trousers will be fine.’
‘What about the men?’
‘Oh yes, they can wear trousers as well if they want.’ Both girls giggled as Paddy felt more relaxed than she had in weeks. Having established it wasn’t black tie, she then hit Google and various society pages and by the end of the afternoon she had a clear idea of what to wear. Her sister was an up-and-coming fashion designer but there was no point in calling her. Clem would only have fabulous suggestions for next year’s look. Paddy wanted to blend in, not stand out. Last year’s look would suit her just fine.
***
Pulling up outside a beautiful sandstone manor, she switched off her engine and sent Jem a text telling her she’d arrived.
Paddy clicked send and waited. She felt extremely nervous sitting out here in a dark car park in the middle of nowhere. She’d seen lots of cars arriving and groups of people heading into a very large country house. It had been a good thirty miles away and closer to Jem’s neck of the wood. Judging from what she could see of what others were wearing, she had judged her outfit correctly. Working on a country house weekend party she reined it back a bit to take in the Art Auction and felt she had hit a happy blend with one of Clemmie’s knee-length shift dresses. It was camel satin with a pretty cream cropped cashmere cardigan. She kept her heels to an inch, patent coffee-coloured sling backs. All in all she thought she looked great. Her bump was non-existent and she felt happy that no one would be able to tell she was actually pregnant.
Fingers crossed she blended in. As usual there was nothing she could do about her hair, but she pulled it back into a low plaited chignon. The damp air had been playing havoc with her curls so she didn’t expect the rigid hairstyle to stay in place too long. But once she felt comfortable, she could either let it down, or tie it back into a discreet ponytail.
-Do you want me to come out and find you?
Paddy wanted to say yes but was determined not to be a baby.
-No worries. Where are you?
-I’ll be at the front door. I have a carnation.
-Will you be waiting under a clock?
-If I hold my phone above my head will that count?
-Well I suspect I’d notice that!
-Are you going to type all night or get in here? Malc is hovering around the champagne stand and at this rate there’ll be none left!
Paddy laughed and put her phone in her bag. Tonight looked like it was going to be fun. As promised, Jemima was waiting for her by the pillars in front of the house, and as soon as she saw Paddy she promptly put her phone on her head, making both girls laugh.
‘Where’s the carnation? You promised me carnations?’
Jemima looked her new friend up and down and snorted. ‘Like I’m going to give you flowers, poor things would wilt in comparison. You look amazing! We aren’t going to get a sensible word out of Malc all evening. Right shall we do this?’
Linking her arm through Paddy’s, both girls headed into the building and towards a noisy room where people were coming and going.
‘You have no idea how pleased I am that you said yes. These things can be such a drag if you don’t have a good group of friends.’
Paddy had thought a fundraising event for an art gallery would be a quiet and thoughtful event, but looking around she saw it was just an opportunity for friends to get together and catch up, whilst donating money to a cause.
The girls made a beeline for Malc, who promptly did a double take and then made a goofy bow. ‘Ladies’, and he presented them both with a glass.
Looking at him Paddy thought he was utterly endearing. If she had a brother this is what he’d be like she decided.
Moving away from the champagne, Paddy and Malc headed towards a large unlit fireplace, whilst Jem went off in search of Angus.
‘I’m going to monopolise you now,’ said Malc, grinning, ‘before all the other chaps spot you and you’ll be gone.’
Paddy scoffed ungracefully. ‘As if. I bloody hate that. You know, when you’re talking to someone and they keep looking around the room to see if there’s anyone better to talk to.’
It was then Malc’s turn to laugh ungracefully. ‘Like that’s ever happened to you.’
Grinning, Paddy waved her glass at him. ‘All the bloody time, mate.’ She wanted a soft drink but was enjoying her chat with Malc too much. It was so refreshing to have a conversation where there were no charged undertones.
‘Now I know you are pitying me.’ He gave a sad dog face and, spotting that she wasn’t drinking, asked if he could get her an orange juice instead.
Paddy declined. Not only was she enjoying her conversation but she had also gone off orange juice. In fact her entire palate at the moment seemed upside down. ‘Honestly, in my line of work being overlooked happens all the time. Seriously, being good-looking is just the entrance fee. Influence and money are what’s important.’
‘Oh dear, I don’t think I’d do very well in your world.’
‘Why, what do you do?’
‘Art restorer. I was in New York last week trying to track down arsenic. Can you imagine? I kept telling people I was Sherlock Holmes but I don’t think we quite understood each other as they kept talking about my tattoos.’
Paddy explained the current TV show, featuring a heavily tattooed actor playing Holmes, and then asked about the old paints. She had a feeling he would love Otto, or maybe not, in fact the more she thought about the irascible art forger, the more she decided he probably wouldn’t. As the two of them got chatting Jemima returned and told Malc off for hogging her.
‘At least let her meet the others; honestly Malc, where are your manners?’
Paddy laughed and assured Jemima that she could happily chat to Malcolm all night long. However, she did need to find the loo before she met the others. As she headed off, Malc turned to his sister.
‘She’s a bit fabulous, isn’t she? Completely out of my league. I’d love to go out with her but I think I’d spend the whole time being miserable, wondering when she would get bored or when someone would swoop in and try and take her away. I think I’m going to aim for friend. She has a wicked sense of humour and I like that in a friend.’
***
Hal’s knee was throbbing. Every now and then his knee injury would twinge. The Army surgeons had done the best they could, but had warned him that it wasn’t a guarantee and it might snap again. Two years of on and off pain; Hal was certain that the off periods were getting fewer. He was worried that he might be facing another round of surgery.
He’d been putting it off for months but thoughts of becoming a father had changed his thinking. He didn’t want to be acting like an old man. He dreamt of showing his children how to ride and swim, how to build a fire, ride a bike. Hal shook his head laughing. At the moment he hadn’t even established if Paddy was going to keep the baby. When Bianca had said she was pregnant his heart sank at the thought of being linked to her for the rest of his life, even if the thought of becoming a father had filled him with joy. When Paddy broke the same news, he was shattered. He was elated but he was in the very worst position. Tied to a woman he didn’t love, dreaming of a woman who didn’t love him.
When she’d disappeared into the taxi on Wednesday, he realised he didn’t even have her address. The first time he had met her had been at a film shoot, the following morning she had scarpered. He then met her in London to find out they were married, and he had insulted her. The next time he met her at been at the race meet and again following his dreadful behaviour she had legged it again. When they next met in London, the ending had been predictable. He had lost control of his emotions and she had run away. He terrified the mother of his child and for that alone, he felt deeply ashamed of his recent conduct.
Paddy’s news had sent him reeling. That day, he was supposed to be going for lunch with Bianca followed by some new exhibition. Apparently, it was a sound installation on the death of consumerism. He’d have rather pulled his eyelashes out, it sounded like just the sort of tedious virtue-signalling show that was currently so popular in London. Hal found the total absence of irony excruciating; he imagined that Bianca would find at least one thing she couldn’t live without in the exhibition gift shop.
He found these events turgid at the best of times but that day he couldn’t face it. He had no idea how to explain his predicament to Bianca without her having a complete meltdown. He wanted to spend some time trying to think it all through and have a solution in hand before he sat down with her. He needed to break off their engagement and work out how to do it with the least amount of pain for her.
When Paddy dashed off in the taxi, he had told Bianca to go on ahead of him as he had a few more details to sort out with the production company. What he discovered had knocked him for six, and he drove back to Cornwall in a dream, completely forgetting to meet her. For the past three days she had ignored all his texts and phone calls and now she was due at his home. This was the worst possible timing.
His family were hosting a fundraiser for the Johnston Art Institute. Another one. Why couldn’t the Institute just sell one of their wretched paintings, instead of always asking for money from the patrons? Fed up, he made his way downstairs to greet his guests. His father and stepmother were already downstairs making everyone welcome. Bianca was late, as usual, so he still hadn’t had a chance to speak to her. But time was running out. How could he tell her the wedding was off. This was the worst possible moment for her to throw a massive sulk.
As he came downstairs, he saw the back of a tall redhead who was wandering down the corridor, her long hair flowing loosely down her back. His heart leapt and then slumped; he was going to have to stop reacting every time he saw auburn locks.
James Ferguson watched as his son came downstairs. He looked on edge and James wondered if it was his knee or his fiancée playing him up. Earlier in the day Hal had explained the wedding was off but that he hadn’t told Bianca yet. James didn’t know what had happened but the fact that Bianca was no longer going to be his daughter-in-law brought him joy. She’d arrived earlier; too late to be useful and had even brought a friend from London, an Argentine polo player of all things. Odette, James’s second wife, had been about as impressed as he was, but if the man had deep pockets, then it was all to the good of the charity. Even so, he was surprised that Bianca hadn’t gone straight up to join Hal. Maybe Hal had already had a chance to speak with her and it hadn’t gone well? James felt a storm building around him and he felt edgy and alert. He didn’t think the evening was going to end well. As he reached the foot of the stairs, James watched fondly as Odette kissed Hal on the cheeks and told him he was even more dashing than his father.
Gallantly, his son pointed out that, once more, his father had the prettiest girl in the room on his arm. As he bantered with his stepmother the tension began to unwind from his face.
Odette enjoyed watching these two together. After the grief they had both suffered when Eleanor had died, James could never imagine another woman even being able to hold a candle to her flame. And yet Odette with her quiet calm way, fell in love with both the father and the son and had helped them through their grieving. As the three of them broke off to start mingling with their guests Odette spotted a stranger following one of the waiting staff back to the kitchens and, excusing herself, she followed to make sure everything was all right.
‘Hello, can I help you with anything?’
Paddy smiled as she heard the unmistakable tones of a native French speaker. Turning she looked at an older French lady and instantly relaxed. She loved the French, they never judged her and they always sounded so elegant and in control. Plus this one was wearing vintage Chanel and she knew Clem would be asking to look at the seams.
‘Oh hi. It’s a bit of a cliché, isn’t it, ending up in kitchens at parties? I was looking for a drink.’
The lady tilted her head slightly, smiling as she looked pointedly at Paddy’s full glass of champagne.
‘Oh I know. I’m just holding this so I don’t fiddle. I’m driving so I can’t drink alcohol.’
The woman looked concerned and beckoned one of the staff. ‘This lovely young lady says we’ve run out of non-alcoholic options. Please could you rectify that?’ The man nodded his head and turned to go, but Paddy stopped him, aware she may have got him in trouble.
‘No, no, I’m so sorry. That wasn’t what I meant. I simply had a hankering for tomato juice, so I just popped in to see if there was any?’
The waiter turned to her and smiled. ‘I’ll pour you a glass straightaway.’
‘Make it a Virgin Mary, would you? My recipe please.’ Turning to Paddy the lady introduced herself as the host and went on, ‘I hope you’ll excuse the liberty but I think a Virgin Mary will hit the spot.’
Paddy was embarrassed; she hadn’t wanted to slight her host. ‘I’m so sorry. I hope you don’t think I was being rude. Your home is beautiful and there is everything I needed. I was just,’ she paused, ‘oh, I don’t know, I just suddenly had an overwhelming hankering for something less sweet.’
Thanking the waiter as he handed her a tall glass, she took a sip and then her eyes widened in delight. ‘This! Is delicious.’
Smiling, Odette turned to the waiter. ‘Peter, could you make sure our guest has a Virgin Mary whenever she wants one. Now,’ she said, turning to Paddy, ‘let’s join the others. Who are you with this evening?’
As the pair of them wandered through the corridors back to the party, Odette wondered when this lovely girl’s pregnancy would begin to show. She also hoped that she would have a ring on her finger by then. She was all for a modern life but raising a child by yourself was never easy. No matter which decade you were in.
Paddy was about to explain she was here with Jemima when Jem bounded up.
‘Found you! I thought you might have got lost. Hello, Odette,’ she said giving her a small hug, ‘what a fabulous evening. You always make Vollen so inviting. I was just going to introduce Paddy here to some of the others.’
‘Go on the pair of you, and Paddy, I shall let the waiters know you have gone outside.’ With a smile she wandered off to greet her other guests.
The corridor was getting quite crowded and the two girls squeezed their way through to some side doors that had been opened to a large outdoor terrace. A group of twenty-somethings were all lounging around on tables and benches, arranged around a large fire pit. Everyone was chatting and laughing, their faces animated by the flames. As Jemima and her guest walked towards them, they turned and smiled. One peeled away from the group and walked towards them with her head tilted curiously.
‘Hello! Jem you never mentioned you were friends with Holly McDonald.’
‘What, who?’ Jemima looked between Paddy and the girl in confusion. ‘Are you famous? You said you weren’t famous! Should I know you?’
The tall blonde laughed. ‘Good one, Jem. Of course she’s famous, this is Holly McDonald. The model Holly McDonald?’
Jemima looked her new friend up and down. ‘Are you ever in Horse Hound?’
Paddy smiled. ‘Honestly, I have no idea but I don’t think so. Although I did once do a photoshoot with Ackle’s Revenge, if that helps?’ She could see that Jem was going to say something and she cut her off, turning to the newcomer. ‘Seriously though, I’m really enjoying being at a party where no one knows who I am. And it’s Paddy,’ she said shaking the girl’s hand, ‘Holly’s my professional name.’
‘Fair enough. Well look, come and meet the others. I’m sure some will recognise you but they’ll be cool about it.’
Paddy wondered what Jemima had been about to say. She hadn’t deliberately deceived her but she supposed different people saw things differently. She watched nervously as Jem took a deep breath. ‘Look before we meet the others I just have to know.’
Paddy braced herself.
‘Is Ackle as sweet as he seems? My friend trains over at his yard and she says he’s a total softy but she might have just been humouring me.’
Paddy released her breath. She had been worried she might have spoilt her new friendship by being evasive about her background. Pausing, she made a play of looking around and leant in confidentially. ‘He is a sweetie but he’s also really, really naughty. When I was there, he ate an apple I had in my pocket for him. The trouble was he ate the pocket as well and the jacket had been worth three grand! The designer went ballistic.’
‘No!’ Jemima exclaimed. ‘What a beast!’
Laughing as they joined the others, Jem waved her arm in their direction. ‘Paddy, may I introduce you to the honourables and the disgracefuls. I’ll leave it to you to discover who is who.’ Turning to the others, she introduced Paddy. ‘Paddy’s new to the area and likes her privacy. I don’t know if she’s single but if she is, we’re all screwed.’ Everyone laughed and invited her to join them.
At that moment the blonde piped up, introducing herself as Vix and said, ‘I knew there was something else about you I’d forgotten. You need to go sit with the honourables, unless you think sitting with us disgracefuls would be more fun?’
Sipping on her divine tomato juice Paddy looked around the group. ‘What did she mean by disgracefuls?’
‘Well some of us here are Right Honourables or Ladies, so they are the Honourables but the rest of us thought it would be more fun to be Disgracefuls. Lucy over there is both an Honourable and a Disgraceful at the same time.’
A short girl holding two glasses waved one of them at Paddy saying, ‘I resemble that remark!’
Vix went on, ‘Our host, Hal, is a disgraceful rather than an honourable, which I think disappoints his fiancée, Bianca, no end!’
‘Oh God, is she here?’ Paddy was appalled. This was Hal’s house? She was having a lovely evening; the last thing she wanted to do was bump into the fiancée of her child’s father. Or indeed her child’s father. It was such a daytime TV scenario. Besides, she was struggling with her feelings towards the woman. She knew she should be apologetic and sympathetic, the trouble was she just didn’t like her.
‘Oh ho,’ called out one of the girls, waving a bottle at the rest of the group, ‘so you’ve met her then!’
‘Where is our host anyway?’ asked one of the men, who introduced himself as Angus. He’d been chatting to Malc about the currency exchange but was looking forward to Hal’s arrival. Things always livened up when he was around.
‘Probably being told to go and change his clothes.’
Paddy tried gamely to say something nice. ‘I’m sure she’s lovely.’
‘Deep down,’ said Jem.
‘Very deep down,’ muttered Lucy. ‘The other day she told me she didn’t like dogs.’
This proclamation was met by a stunned silence as the group contemplated a life without dogs.