Chapter 18 #3
‘Except,’ screeched Eliza, ‘except for the tiny detail that you and Bella weren’t some high school romance, but were planning on sharing a life together?
That every time I asked a question about you and Bella, you made me think I was being crazy.
’ She paused, panting as she stared up at him, this gorgeous man who had made her, ever so briefly, believe that she could trust again.
‘Do you know how that makes me feel? Like I’ve been manipulated all over again.
Because after all those promises of leaving the past in the past, here it is.
Do you really expect me to believe that nothing happened between you two? Are you sleeping with her?’
Scrubbing his hand through his hair, Luke stepped towards her, like he was trying to calm a horse about to kick.
‘I can’t change the past, but I’ll tell you everything now.
There was a moment, three months ago, before you and I met.
She wanted us to try again. One thing led to another, we drank a bottle of wine, reminisced, and we ended up having sex.
But it meant nothing. You have to believe me—’
‘I don’t know what to believe anymore,’ Eliza hissed, painfully aware they were still within earshot of the barn. ‘Every time I think I understand what’s happening here, there’s another revelation. It’s exhausting, Luke.’
‘Bella and I were just kids. It was over long before it really began.’
‘But you were engaged. And from what you’re saying, it sounds like she’s still in love with you.
’ Eliza felt tears threatening to come at the corners of her eyes.
She blinked them back furiously, determined not to break down in front of him.
‘And from where I’m standing, it looks like everyone in this village knew and no one told me.
’ She hated how her voice cracked, the fight going out of her. ‘I trusted you.’
‘Eliza, listen to me – we got engaged at nineteen. It was a lifetime ago. I was young and foolish, and it was something that I did on a whim. And yes, I slept with her, but I couldn’t give her what she wanted back then, and I can’t now. It was never going to work.’
‘Money, I assume,’ Eliza said flatly.
Luke’s jaw tightened. ‘It wasn’t that simple. Her parents didn’t approve of her marrying a Stanley anyway. And Bella, she always wanted more than Farmington, and I, could offer.’
‘But you can offer her everything she wants now,’ Eliza said, the realisation hitting her like a bucket of ice water. ‘The farm, the success, the money. No wonder she’s divorcing Phil.’
Luke grabbed her hands. ‘Listen to me. Bella is leaving Phil because he’s been unfaithful to her for years. It has nothing to do with me.’
‘Then why didn’t you tell me about any of this?
Why hide that you own my cottage?’ Eliza pulled her hands away, wrapping her arms around herself, feeling like if she didn’t she might break into a million pieces.
‘I can’t believe you anymore, Luke,’ Eliza said, voice barely above a whisper.
‘All those nights we spent together, and you never thought to mention any of this? God, I feel like such an idiot.’
‘I didn’t tell you about the cottage because I was afraid you’d think I was manipulating the situation,’ Luke said, his voice lowered.
‘I wanted you to stay because you wanted to stay, not because your landlord was making it easy. And Bella is ancient history. I want this, you and me, to be my future.’
‘But you didn’t think I deserved to know any of this? That I was walking into a hornets’ nest of village history and your ex-fiancée’s regrets? You didn’t trust me enough to let me make up my own mind about any of it?
‘And you know what hurts the most?’ she continued. ‘It’s that after everything you said about honesty, about no more secrets between us, you still kept this from me. How am I supposed to trust anything you say now? First Henry, and now you.’
‘I am nothing like Henry!’ Luke said fiercely, his eyes burning into hers.
‘Did I hear my name being called?’ asked Henry, as he wandered over in the dark, drunk. ‘LiLi, looking as bang-able in that dress as ever. Should’ve mentioned it earlier, but this is a top wedding; you always were good at arranging events. You’ve outdone yourself.’
Eliza wanted to laugh, but somehow she thought it might come out in a sob.
‘Luke, meet Henry. Don’t ask. And Henry, can you just fuck off? I’m in the middle of something, and I really can’t cope with you being in the mix as well.’
Henry looked at her and laughed. ‘Well, well, well, there’s that fighting spirit I used to love so much. Don’t worry, darling, I can take a hint. Go gently with her, Luke, she’s a fiery cat.’
‘OH MY GOD!’ shouted Eliza. ‘Why is this happening? All I wanted was to experience some uncomplicated hot sex, my first ever rebound, and now look where I am. I can’t do this, I have to get back to the wedding!’
Luke’s face nearly broke into a smile. ‘For the record, I like the hot fiery cat. Can you just give me another minute and listen? Please, Eliza, I really am sorry.’
The sound of laughter and music spilled out from the barn into the night, creating a surreal backdrop to their argument. Eliza could feel the tears threatening again and she turned away.
‘I have to go back inside, Luke. I have a job to finish. For your sister.’
‘Eliza, please—’
‘Not now, Luke. I can’t do this anymore.’ She straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath. ‘This is Fenella’s wedding day. Let’s just get through it.’
And with that Eliza headed towards the bar, before diving off to the left to grab her bag from the cloakroom.
Everyone was happy, Agatha could oversee the cake cutting, the bride and groom would leave when they were ready, and Eliza knew she needed to get the hell out of there.
She would deal with the fallout tomorrow.
But as she reached to get her coat, she heard a muffled cry.
‘What’s that,’ she said, ‘is somebody in here?’
She pulled back another trench coat on the rail and there, lying on a bed of coats, was Henry on top of one of the local farmgirls, her boobs spilling out of her dress, his trousers half-way down his legs.
Eliza just stood there. ‘You have got to be kidding me. Jesus, Henry, you’re never not fingering someone in a cupboard. I’m actually not sure this night could get any worse!’
She grabbed her stuff and stormed out into the night air.
As she jumped into Daisy, her one true love, grateful that the engine started first time, she glanced back at what she had thought for a short moment was going to be her new life.
Luckily, she still had a key to Nancy’s house, whilst she was away with her in-laws, so she had somewhere to hide while she gathered her thoughts and came up with her next big life plan.
Maybe it really was time to consider building huts in Africa, because one thing was for sure, she couldn’t stay here any longer.