Chapter 14
I kept my eyes on the tablecloth and fiddled with the fork, moving it to and fro and back again.
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
Gently, he laid his own hand over mine, stilling it.
‘Look at me.’
The command was gentle but I did so and found his gaze studied, searching mine for an explanation.
‘My mother’s impetuous manner has led her down several unexpected paths in her time, one of which was marrying my father.
Theirs was a very happy union, full of love and laughter, so not all of her whimsies are bad.
This last one, however silly, seems to be the cause of much upset for you and I am sorry for that. ’
‘Edward…’
His hand was still on mine. ‘I did not wish my mother to look foolish but she will get over it and laugh it off as she is able to, or together, we will construct something that lays the blame on me. Either will suffice and be managed. This, however,’ his other hand was on my chin, tipping it gently towards him.
‘This is unacceptable and I’m sorry,’ he breathed out as the hand on mine momentarily tightened, ‘so sorry that it has caused you upset and worry. Please, now, put everything out of your mind as much as possible and enjoy your lunch and be reassured that by the end of the day, everything will be as it was when you arrived.’
‘Great, so Isaac will go back to trying to get me fired every five minutes and grunting.’
Edward removed his hand and moved it to the stem of his champagne glass. ‘OK, not quite as it was.’
I met his eyes and he smiled. It was gentle and warm and I returned it without thought.
‘I don’t want your mum to feel foolish and I certainly don’t want people laughing at you.’
‘If I don’t value those people’s opinions, then I don’t really care what they are.’
‘Well, I do.’
‘You shouldn’t.’
‘Tough!’
He grinned and finished his champagne. ‘You really were an army brat, weren’t you?’
‘Yep. But most of this comes from my last job.’
‘An advertising executive, if I remember rightly?’
‘Yes. And there were a few people there who didn’t think my ideas were as good as theirs because I don’t have a—’
‘Fish pie?’
‘That’s me. Thanks.’
‘And the salmon. And two side orders of creamed spinach. Is there anything else I can get you?’
‘Would you like another champagne?’ Edward asked me. ‘Or something else?’
‘The water is fine, thanks.’
‘Nothing else, thank you.’
The waitress nodded in acceptance. ‘Enjoy.’
I placed the white linen napkin on my lap and cracked the cheesy, piped potato crust. Steam rushed out as though from a geyser vent in the earth and, having come a cropper with a literal hot potato before, I knew it would be of a similar temperature to the geyser.
‘That looks good,’ I said, glancing at Edward’s meal as I allowed some of the steam to escape for a few moments while adding spinach to my plate.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal here. Although, saying that, I’m aware I’m tempting fate.’
‘Don’t worry about it. It looks, and smells, delicious.’
Edward and I were both right and a short time later, clean plates were cleared and, despite a mild protest, we were now looking at the dessert menu.
‘What’s your favourite?’ I asked.
‘Anything listed under puddings.’
‘Huh.’
‘What?’
‘What? Nothing?’ I lied through my teeth.
‘Oh, that was so not a “nothing” sound. Come on. Spit it out.’ He folded his arms.
Some people have eyes that appear to see into your soul. Or at least far enough to know when you’re telling a porky. Edward, annoyingly, was one of them.
‘Fine. I was just a little surprised that you have such a fondness for puddings.’
‘Why?’
‘You’re not exactly… I mean, you’re kind of…’
‘I’m on tenterhooks now so I do hope you’re going to finish at least one of those sentences.’ He leant back against the booth now, arms still folded, looking confident and ridiculously sexy.
What was the most delicate, and professional, way of telling my boss he was super fit without saying he was super fit?
‘You obviously have a good metabolism.’
‘Ha! Not really. I run several times a week and am lucky enough to have a home gym. Pudding comes at a price!’
‘So which one do you recommend and is it worth the price?’
‘Are you torn?’
‘No. Apple crumble all the way.’
‘Custard?’
I looked at him in astonishment. ‘Obviously!’
‘Excellent choice.’
The waiter arrived back and Edward ordered two apple crumbles and custard, with Darjeeling tea to follow.
‘Thanks, Edward. This has really been lovely.’
‘You’re welcome. I’ve very much enjoyed the company and I’m sorry about… I promise I’ll get it sorted out. Today.’
‘Edward. You asked me to tell you why I was upset and you deserve to know.’
‘Emmeline, you don’t owe me anything. You’ve been dropped into this from a great height.’
‘OK, then I want to tell you. I don’t want you thinking that—’
‘Whatever you’re going to say, I promise it won’t be true.’
‘I was engaged.’ I caught his eye. ‘Properly engaged with a ring and everything.’
‘Ah, so already way ahead of me.’
‘You’d think, right?’
The shine of amusement disappeared from his eyes.
‘You really don’t have to do this, Emmeline.’
‘I know. And yes, you have dropped me in it but your mum was kind to me. And you’ve been kind to me and the champagne has gone straight to my head so I’m going to tell you whether you like it or not.’
‘If it’s the champagne talking then you should definitely stop.’
‘I was joking. I could drink you under the table. And I want you to know.’
He rested his hands in his lap and waited.
‘I was so happy. Howard and I had only been together a year but it seemed both shorter and longer. It felt like we’d known each other forever but everything was also new and fun and exciting.
Other than his name, which I wasn’t thrilled about, everything was perfect.
Most of the time, he was known as Monty, a shortening of his surname, so it didn’t really matter.
And yes,’ I said, ‘I’m aware that makes me sound like a character from a 1930s novel.
Also, this?’ I pointed my spoon at the bowl. ‘Heaven.’
‘Agreed,’ Edward said. ‘On both counts.’ Then waved his spoon for me to continue.
‘Dad and I had had a couple of conversations about the relationship but when it came down to it, there was never anything he could put his finger on that he opposed. I was twenty-three and thought I knew everything and accused him of reverse snobbery which really upset him. He’d served with some really posh types – even more aristocratic than you, if you can believe it. ’
‘Frankly, I can’t but carry on.’
‘Anyway, he’d assured me that wasn’t the case and with nothing to actually object to, he went along with it.’
‘What about your mother?’
I looked up. ‘Oh.’ My fingers fidgeted with the edge of the table. ‘I… My mum died when I was nineteen. A car accident.’
‘Emmeline, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.’
‘Don’t be silly. Why would you?’
He gave a little shake of his head. ‘I don’t know but it feels like something I should have.’ He pulled a pressed, crisp cotton handkerchief from his inside pocket.
‘Thank you.’ I took it and surreptitiously dabbed at my welling eyes. ‘I didn’t think anyone carried these any more. Especially not all pressed and nice like this.’
‘I’m rather a throwback, I’m afraid.’
‘Don’t apologise. I think it’s lovely. Plus I never have a tissue on me when I need one.’
I took a sip of the Darjeeling that had now arrived in a large, ornate silver teapot, along with a matching strainer and china so delicate, the design became almost transparent when it caught the light.
‘That’s when Dad left the army even though I told him I was more than capable of looking after myself.’
‘You were at university then?’
‘Yeah, I was studying at Kew then.’ I slid him a look, wanting an interlude of brevity, if only for a moment. He replied in kind and I felt his smile warm me exactly as I needed.
‘Dad insisted. He’d been planning to re-enlist but when Mum died, he finished his term and came out.’
‘What does he do now?’
‘He set up a security business but stayed on the administration side of things.’
‘He wanted to keep himself as safe as he could. For you.’
‘Exactly.’ I rolled my eyes at Edward. ‘Which, as Mum’s accident showed, was no guarantee of anything.’
‘No. But I suppose it did lower the odds, considering what you’ve hinted at with your father’s position.’
‘Which is pretty much the same words he used.’
‘Great minds.’
I held Edward’s gaze for a moment and thought that he was most likely right. I also knew that Mum would have loved him.
‘So, there I was, engaged with a wedding date set for six months’ time. Happy as Larry.’
‘To quote you earlier, I sense there’s a but coming.’
‘But…’
Edward pointed.
‘What I omitted to mention is that Monty’s family were, I suppose still are, absolutely loaded.’
His brow wrinkled and I knew he’d already guessed what was coming.
‘I, clearly, wasn’t. And that’s when the gossips started. All the time we were just seeing each other, I was no threat. Monty was just “sowing his oats” as one relative kindly informed me, and it would never go anywhere. I wasn’t a threat but they also wanted to make sure I knew my place.’
‘People are such arses.’ Edward’s voice was low but the menace in it took me by surprise. I noticed his hands, previously resting casually in front of him, were now tense.
‘Is there any more tea?’
‘Of course!’ The movement caused his hands to unclench and his brow to unknot. ‘Here.’ My drink was deftly poured and the teapot, recently renewed with hot, fresh tea, together with a plate of handmade chocolate mint thins, was placed back on the table.
‘Thanks.’ I popped one of the sweets in my mouth and then took a sip, letting the two melt together.
Freddy and I disagreed about chocolate and tea.
Her chocolate had to be teeth-shatteringly hard and cold from the fridge.
I melted mine with tea in my mouth. Other than that, we agreed on nearly everything.