Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
The grand dining room of the Parkes family estate had been transformed into a winter wonderland.
Garlands of evergreen and holly adorned the walls, their rich green hues punctuated by the bright red of berries.
Twinkling fairy lights were woven through the greenery, casting a warm, magical glow over the room.
The enormous crystal chandelier that hung above the table had been adorned with delicate glass icicles, catching and refracting the light in mesmerizing patterns.
At the center of the long mahogany table stood an elaborate centerpiece – made of pine branches that surrounded tall candles. The fine china place settings gleamed in the soft light, each one accompanied by polished silver cutlery and crystal wine glasses.
Camilla glanced around at her family, all dressed in their holiday best. Aunt Vivian wore a shimmering gold cocktail dress, while Uncle Robert looked distinguished in a dark green velvet jacket.
Of course the children, Emma and Jack, had been coaxed into festive attire too, though Jack was already fidgeting with his bow tie.
The kitchen team had truly outdone themselves this year, pulling out all the stops to create a memorable feast. For the starter, they had served a delicate butternut squash soup, garnished with a swirl of crème fra?che and a sprinkling of toasted pumpkin seeds.
The rich, velvety texture and warm, comforting flavors had set the perfect tone for the meal to come.
The main course had been a masterpiece of culinary artistry – a perfectly roasted rack of lamb, its exterior crisp and golden, and tender and pink within, accompanied by a medley of roasted winter vegetables glazed with honey and herbs and creamy dauphinoise potatoes.
As the main course was cleared away and dessert was being prepared, Uncle Robert stood at the head of the table, tapping his wine glass with a spoon to call for attention. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to him expectantly.
"If I could have everyone's attention for a moment," he began. "I'd like to propose a toast."
Camilla felt a flutter of anticipation in her stomach. Her uncle's toasts were always heartfelt, often touching on family history and shared memories. She reached for her wine glass, her other hand finding Jade's under the table.
"First and foremost," Uncle Robert said, "I want to remember my dear brother, Weston." He paused, taking a deep breath as his eyes glistened. "This is our first Christmas without him, and his absence is... deeply felt."
Camilla felt a lump form in her throat, her vision blurring as tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked rapidly, trying to maintain her composure.
"Weston was more than just my brother," Uncle Robert continued, his voice wavering slightly.
"He was my best friend, and one of the finest men I've ever known.
His passion for life, his dedication to this family, and his unwavering love for his wife and daughter were truly inspiring.
" He turned to Camilla, a sad smile on his face.
"Camilla, my dear, I can only imagine how much you must miss him tonight.
Your father loved you more than anything in this world, and I know how proud he was of you. "
A tear trickled down Camilla's cheek, and she felt Jade’s arm slip around her.
"To Weston," Uncle Robert said, raising his glass. "May his memory be a blessing to us all."
The family echoed the toast, a chorus of "To Weston" filling the room as glasses clinked together. Camilla took a sip of her wine, the rich flavor barely registering as she fought to control her emotions.
After a moment of respectful silence, Uncle Robert cleared his throat. "Now," he said, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, "I don't want this evening to be solely about our loss. Weston wouldn't have wanted that. In fact, I'd like to propose a second toast - this time, to love."
All eyes were fixed on Camilla and Jade now, and Camilla shifted in her seat, a little uncomfortable.
"You see," he said, "all your father ever wanted was for you to find someone to love as much as he loved your mother. And if he could see you now, Camilla... well, I think he'd be over the moon."
Camilla felt a rush of conflicting emotions - joy at the genuine happiness she'd found with Jade, however new and fragile, guilt over the deception that had brought them together, and a gnawing anxiety about what her uncle might say next.
"The love between you two is palpable." Uncle Robert gestured to them with his wine glass. "It's a joy to see, truly. And I think I speak for all of us when I say how happy we are for you both."
Murmurs of agreement rippled around the table, but Camilla noticed Theresa remained silent.
"In fact," Uncle Robert continued, his expression growing more serious, "I genuinely believe that's why in his will-"
Panic surged through Camilla. Her heart began to race as she realized where her uncle's speech was heading.
She couldn't let him reveal the details of the will - not here, not now.
Jade didn't know about the marriage clause behind their fake arrangement.
Camilla had been planning to tell her, of course, but back in LA, when they were alone and she could explain everything properly. But not now. Not here.
Without thinking, she reached out and struck the neck of the wine bottle. Time seemed to slow as she watched the expensive bottle of Barolo topple, red wine gushing across the pristine white tablecloth like a crimson tide.
There was a moment of stunned silence, and then chaos erupted.
Chairs scraped against the floor as family members leapt to their feet, trying to avoid the spreading stain.
Aunt Vivian let out a dismayed cry as wine splashed onto her golden dress, while Jack and Emma giggled at the unexpected excitement.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" Camilla exclaimed, grabbing her napkin and ineffectually dabbing at the rapidly expanding puddle. "I'm such a klutz, I don't know what happened!"
Jade was on her feet in an instant, helping Camilla mop up the mess while simultaneously trying to salvage the elaborate centerpiece. Uncle Robert, his toast forgotten, was calling for the staff to bring more napkins and a fresh tablecloth.
As the family and staff bustled around, trying to contain the damage, Camilla caught sight of Theresa. Unlike the others, her cousin hadn't moved to help. Instead, she remained seated, her narrowed eyes fixed on Camilla with an intensity that made her blood run cold.
In that moment, as their gazes locked across the table, Camilla knew that Theresa had seen through her clumsy act. Her cousin's lips curled into a knowing smirk, and Camilla could almost see the wheels turning in Theresa's mind, calculating how to use this information to her advantage.
Camilla turned away, her hands shaking as she continued to dab at the spilled wine. She felt Jade's arm wrap around her waist, steadying her.
"Hey," she murmured. "It's okay. Accidents happen."
Camilla nodded, not trusting herself to speak. How long could she keep up this charade? How long before Theresa found a way to expose her?
"Don't worry about it, dear," her aunt Lara said kindly, patting her arm. "We’ll have this cleaned up in minutes."
“But your dress…”
“It’s just a dress and look, they’re already bringing over a clean tablecloth. See? Nothing to worry about.”
Camilla wasn’t worried about her aunt’s dress or the tablecloth, but she couldn’t tell her that.
Then her eyes drifted to Theresa again, who was still watching her like a hawk.
She knew that her cousin wouldn't let this go, and she had to make absolutely sure not to leave Jade alone with Theresa.
Perhaps it would be best if she told Jade the truth sooner rather than later.