Chapter 18 #2
Walking out towards the tree line, Eliza was surprised to find Phil standing a few feet away from her, drink in hand, posture relaxed but his eyes sharp and intense. She stiffened, Bella’s words ringing loudly in her head. The last thing she wanted now was an altercation.
‘Hiding from your own handiwork?’ asked Phil.
She forced a smile. ‘I would never do that, not when it’s as good as it is! I just popped out to get some fresh air. And you?’
Phil moved closer, taking a slow sip of his whisky. ‘Well, you’ve done a sterling job with the wedding, that’s for sure; everyone’s singing your praises.’
‘Thank you,’ Eliza said cautiously, ‘Fenella deserves a perfect day, don’t you think? I’m glad I could help her.’
‘Ah yes, the Stanleys always deserve the best, don’t they?’ There was an unmistakable edge to his words, and Eliza suppressed the urge to take a step back. ‘Or at least, Luke seems to think so.’
Eliza didn’t say a word – she wasn’t keen to get drawn into whatever game Phil was playing, and glancing back towards the barn, she wondered if she could politely excuse herself. Whatever history Phil and Luke had definitely didn’t concern her, and this side of Phil seemed slightly terrifying.
‘Did you know,’ Phil continued, his voice deceptively casual, ‘that our families have been intertwined for generations? The Stanleys and the Westons, always competing, always watching each other, whether it’s over land, women or money.’
‘I didn’t, no,’ Eliza replied, trying to sound casual and uninterested.
‘But I’m not sure it’s really any of my business.
I’m just passing through, Phil. Anyway, I should go back inside and make sure they’re ready to cut the cake.
Maybe you should come back inside, too; you wouldn’t want to miss the big moment! ’
Phil leant against the wall beside her, close enough that she could smell the whisky on his breath.
‘Luke likes to paint himself as the victim in our story – poor, poor Luke, whose family lost everything.’ He gave a hollow laugh.
‘What he doesn’t tell you is that his grandfather made terrible business decisions, and my father simply helped them out. He’s not exactly hard done by.’
‘Phil, I really have to get back inside,’ said Eliza, feeling a bit like she was about to be cast in a new episode of Midsomer Murders and not too sure if she wanted to sign up.
‘I wonder,’ Phil continued, grabbing her arm, ‘if he’s told you about him and Bella yet. He was always her one true love. But at the time, he didn’t have enough for her. To satisfy her needs. But now he does. So, it’s only a matter of time. You know what they say – first loves last forever.’
‘I . . .’ Eliza faltered. Somehow hearing this from Phil made it worse.
‘Luke Stanley is very good at keeping secrets, at playing his cards close to his chest. He always has been. You think you know him, but trust me, there’s always more beneath the surface. What’s the saying . . . still waters run deep and all that.’
Eliza wanted to run away from it all, from Phil, from Henry, from Luke, from everything.
Part of her wanted to defend Luke, but the revelation about the engagement was ringing through her head.
Why the hell should she defend him when he’d lied to her?
She just needed to get through tonight and get the hell out of Farmington, leaving all its gossip and history behind.
‘The cottage was just the beginning,’ Phil said, swaying slightly. ‘Did he tell you how he really afforded to buy back the whole farm?’
‘That’s enough, Phil.’
Luke’s voice, hard as steel, cut through the night air. Whirling round to look at him in a mixture of relief and fear, Eliza saw the glint in his eyes, his expression unreadable.
‘Ah, Luke, perfect timing as always.’ Phil smirked.
‘Are you all right, Eliza?’ asked Luke, his arms coming around her.
‘I’m fine,’ said Eliza, her voice strained, as she backed out of his embrace. The tension between the two men was palpable.
‘I was just having a friendly chat with your tenant, Luke. Calm down, nothing to get overexcited about.’
Luke’s jaw tightened. ‘Whatever grudge you’re nursing, this isn’t the time or the place. It’s my sister’s wedding day, so at least find it in yourself to respect that.’
‘On the contrary,’ Phil replied, downing his whisky.
‘Celebrations always bring out the truth, don’t they?
All those toasts to truth and honour. And if we’re going to talk about grudges, Luke, aren’t you the one with the grudge?
All that resentment, just because Bella chose me.
My money spoke louder than anything you could offer her.
It’s funny really. You lost your money, your land, your family home and love all in one fell swoop.
And I won them all.’ Phil locked eyes with Luke and grinned slowly.
Luke took a step forward and pushed Phil hard up against the wall, his eyes blazing a warning. ‘Don’t push me, Phil. You’re drunk. Go home.’
‘Though it looks like you managed to tempt her into bed one last time. Wanted to show her what she was missing, did you? Or were you just trying to piss me off?’
Luke lifted his fist, but Bella came running out and grabbed his arm. ‘Luke, don’t, he’s not worth it!’ Turning wild eyes on her husband, she spat, ‘He’s just pathetic!’
‘I’m pathetic now, am I, Bella? I’ve put up with your shit for years.’
Bella sighed. ‘No, Phil, I’ve put up with your shit.
You’re drunk because you can’t cope with the fact that I’m finally strong enough to serve you with divorce papers, you philandering piece of shit.
Not to mention that Luke is now the success story around here, and you’re just a worthless arsehole who can’t keep his cock in his pants. ’
Phil’s face contorted with rage. ‘So, that’s it? You’re leaving me for him? I always knew you two would get back together,’ he said, as he gestured wildly at Luke, whose grip on Phil’s collar loosened slightly in his surprise.
‘God, Phil, not everything is about you versus Luke!’ Bella shouted, her composure finally breaking.
‘I’m leaving you because I deserve better than a husband who cheats on me.
And I’m not the only one tired of your crap.
Your father sold that land to Luke because he’s bored of watching you run everything into the ground. ’
Phil lunged forward, but Luke tightened his hold, his body a solid wall of muscle. ‘That’s enough, Phil. Go home before you make an even bigger fool of yourself.’
For a moment, Eliza thought Phil might actually throw a punch at Luke, but instead, he let out a bitter laugh. ‘Always the hero, aren’t you, Luke? First my wife, now my land. Well, enjoy it while it lasts. It’s not as good as it’s cracked up to be.’
Phil backed away, stumbling slightly. Then straightening his jacket, a sneer twisting his features, he turned to Bella. ‘We’ll discuss this at home.’
‘There’s nothing to discuss,’ Bella said firmly, looking more powerful than Eliza had ever seen her. ‘I’m done.’
Phil’s face darkened, but before he could respond, Dan appeared at the doorway.
‘Everything okay out here?’ His voice was casual, but his stance suggested he was ready for trouble. ‘Luke, they’re asking for you inside.’
‘Perfect timing,’ Luke muttered, his eyes still locked on Phil. ‘We’ll be right there.’
Phil looked at them all with undisguised contempt. ‘This isn’t over,’ he said quietly, then turned and stalked off into the gathering darkness.
‘Bella,’ Dan said gently, his hand on her shoulder, ‘are you okay?’
‘I’m fine,’ she said, turning to him, though her hands were shaking slightly. ‘I should have done this years ago.’ Dan guided her over to the bar, no doubt to get her a shot of something strong.
Eliza stood frozen, the evening air suddenly feeling icy against her skin. The perfect wedding she had created seemed to be crumbling around her, and the man she’d been falling for seemed to be at the centre of a storm she hadn’t even known existed. This was not meant to be happening today.
Her mind was reeling – Luke and Bella’s engagement, and Phil’s bitter accusations – had Luke fucked Bella again? It was too much. She was meant to be recovering from heartbreak, not falling headfirst into another one.
‘I need to go,’ she whispered, backing away.
Luke’s eyes snapped to her, his expression softening immediately. ‘Eliza, wait—’
‘No,’ she said firmly. ‘I have a wedding to run. We’ll talk later.’ Eliza just needed to walk the twenty steps back to the barn, then she could find Aggie, and everything was going to be absolutely fine. She could do this; it was just one foot in front of the other . . .
‘Let me explain,’ Luke said, reaching out to her.
‘Explain what?’ Eliza snapped. ‘That you and Bella were engaged? That you were so in love with her that you were going to marry her and you never thought to tell me? That you’re still screwing her?
That everyone knows but me? And that you’ve been my landlord this entire time and never thought it might be a good idea to mention it? ’
‘I was going to tell you, but every time, it just never seemed right. I didn’t want to complicate things.’
‘Complicate things? Luke! You’ve complicated everything!’ She took another step away from him, bristling with inexpressible rage. ‘Was everything just a lie?’
Luke took a step forward, eyes desperate, but she couldn’t see it. ‘No – everything I’ve told you is true.’