Chapter 15
It definitely was a surprise. Edward looked back at me, panic written clearly on his features.
Through the small gap in the doorway not filled by Edward’s frame, I could see his mum, beaming with happiness, surrounded by at least thirty people.
I couldn’t do it. How could I? How could we march in there and say, This woman made up a fake engagement.
None of this is real. Thanks for coming.
I stepped forward, took Edward’s hand and gave him a gentle shove in the door.
‘I’m going to make an announcement,’ he spoke out of the corner of his mouth.
‘No, you’re not,’ I replied, beaming at him with my mouth but warning him with my eyes. ‘Your mum will look an idiot and I’m not having that on my conscience.’
‘Darlings!’ The woman in question rushed forward and enveloped us in a group hug.
‘Mother! What have you done?’
‘Nothing!’ she said, pulling back, still beaming.
‘Bloody Verity arranged it. I went over there to tell them I’d got the wrong end of the stick, silly old woman, that sort of thing and before I could say a word, she came rushing up to me all thrilled and telling me not to worry, that she’d taken over arrangements for the party and everyone would be here at four today. ’
‘Probably miffed she hadn’t had an invite to the imaginary one. This way she could be sure to be part of it,’ Edward grumbled in a low tone.
As far as the guests were concerned, the three of us were sharing our joy and love. In truth, we were having an emergency crisis meeting. My face was beginning to ache from the rictus smile glued to it.
‘I’m so sorry. I’ll tell them all now. It was such a stupid thing to say the other night but Fenella was really getting on my tits.’
Although the smile had been fake, the burst of laughter that shot from me at elegant, gracious Lady Penelope coming out with such a phrase was entirely genuine. In turn, the other two’s smiles also turned real.
‘Mother, what are we going to do with you?’
‘Put me in a home, I suspect, after this.’ She pulled a face.
I leant and kissed her cheek. ‘Never. We’ll come up with something.’
Edward looked down at me, a question in his eyes. ‘You mean…’
I nodded and relief flooded his face. He bent and kissed my temple. ‘I promise that I won’t let anyone say a thing.’ I turned as he said it and saw the truth in his eyes. He meant it and my emotions went off in a spiral.
‘Say a thing about what?’ Penelope whispered, seeing others beginning to approach.
‘Nothing for you to worry about,’ he said.
Penelope looked to me. ‘Emmeline, is everything all right? I mean, apart from my massive cock-up?’
And I was off again, laughing and hugging this woman who had, in one impulsive flash, brought my life into chaos. But right now, I couldn’t have loved her more.
‘Edward! Darling!’ A tall, slim brunette dressed in red rushed over on sky-high heels with double CCs on them. ‘I’m so thrilled for you. You must let me arrange the wedding! I’ve already made some calls.’ She gave a tiny clap. ‘It’s so exciting! Oh, hello! You must be Esmerelda.’
‘Emmeline.’
‘Oh God, of course!’
I could just imagine the invites if this woman was left in charge.
‘Easy mistake to make.’ I smiled at her. Even though it wasn’t.
‘Thanks for the offer, Verity, but Esmerelda and I have decided we’d like to do it ourselves.’
I kicked him. Verity looked horrified. Edward laughed.
‘Thanks for this, though. We’d better mingle.’ With that, he drew me off to where Barnaby was chatting with a stunning redhead. At our approach, he bounced up and threw his arms around us.
‘Sorry, old bean. It was all done before Mum or I could do anything. She’s been stressing about it all and marched over to Fenella’s this morning and got utterly steamrollered by Verity.’
‘Don’t worry, Barn. Not your fault.’
‘Rather like the idea of you as a sister-in-law, though!’ His blue eyes flashed with mirth. ‘About time he had someone to cheer him up and stop him being such a grouch.’
‘He’s not a grouch!’ Edward had hooked my arm around his and I squeezed it as I spoke.
‘See?’ Barnaby elbowed his brother. ‘Defending you already!’
‘He doesn’t need anyone to defend him. I’m just stating facts.’
Barney took a sip of champagne and raised his eyebrows in what I assumed he felt was a knowing manner.
‘Oh, do let me see the ring!’ Verity was back.
Barney hid behind his champagne glass but not before I caught the widened eyes and mouthed, ‘Uh oh!’ as he did so.
‘I… I don’t have one…’
‘Really?’
‘Really, what, dear?’ Fenella had joined us.
Penelope had been mingling but, sensing trouble, now set a direct course for us.
‘She doesn’t have an engagement ring.’
‘Oh! Isn’t that a little unusual?’ Fenella peered up at Edward. ‘Obviously, this whole scenario is rather unconventional but still…’
‘Scenario?’ I felt Edward tense beside me.
Fenella, momentarily, looked wrong-footed.
Verity swept in. ‘What Mother means is that it’s all quite sudden.’ She gave a tinkly laugh, trying to disperse the tension that surrounded the small group.
‘Is that what she means?’
‘Everything all right, darling?’ Penelope shot a concerned glance at her youngest son before looking back up to Edward, her arm around his waist.
‘It’s fine, Mother.’
‘I was merely saying it’s unusual there’s no ring,’ Fenella stated.
‘Oh, well…’
‘We’ve been at the jewellers today talking over a design. I don’t want just any ring for Emmeline because she’s not just any woman.’
Edward’s voice had risen slightly and I wasn’t sure if it was because he was annoyed with Fenella and Verity’s snooping or because he wanted to avoid any more questioning in that direction. Possibly both. The effect of his explanation was a chorus of ‘aaahs’ from the rest of the room.
Fenella was smiling. I think. Either that or she had sucked in a wasp.
‘That’s lovely!’ Verity cooed. There was something behind her smile which at least looked more genuine than her mother’s but it didn’t reach her eyes. When Edward smiled, as he did now when he looked down at me, it lit up his whole being. I wished he’d do it more often.
* * *
All the other guests were genuinely pleasant and chatty and seemed pleased about the announcement but I couldn’t relax until the last person had gone.
‘Is that everyone, Dawkins?’
‘Yes, milady.’
‘Thank God. Bloody Verity. You’re not actually going to let her plan the wedding, are you? And what about a ring? Verity and Fenella already commented on it and people will talk if one doesn’t show up soon.’
‘Mum.’ Barnaby grabbed three tiny crustless egg and cress sandwiches from a large plate and transferred them to his side plate, along with two ham and mustard and two cucumber ones.
He began demolishing them. ‘There isn’t going to be a wedding,’ he said through a sandwich. ‘This is all fake, remember?’
‘Oh! Yes. Of course. Good Lord, I’m getting rather swept up in it all! Don’t talk with your mouth full, dear.’
‘Don’t get too swept along.’ Edward swiped a sandwich. ‘And if anyone else says they want to throw any more parties, please decline on our behalf.’
Penelope looked from her son to me.
I nodded vigorously. ‘Please!’
‘Sorry. It was sprung on me!’
‘I know how you feel,’ Edward muttered.
‘Mum is right about the ring, though. People will talk,’ Edward said.
‘I’m pretty sure people will talk anyway bearing in mind the circumstances.’ I exchanged a brief look with him.
‘What circumstances?’
The three of us looked at Penelope for a moment to see if she was being serious. It appeared she was.
‘I believe Emmeline is referring to the fact that the eldest son of an old money family is apparently engaged to the under-gardener and thereby forfeiting a more advantageous match that may bring fortune, better connections and a more reliable provenance,’ explained Barnaby.
We all stared at Barnaby, open-mouthed. Well, I was open-mouthed. Clearly, my provenance wasn’t up to hiding emotions.
‘What? You did ask.’
‘I don’t think we needed it to be quite such an in-depth examination though, thank you, darling.’
Edward’s brow was drawn down and he was glaring at his younger brother with a menace that Barney was yet to realise. Then he did.
‘What?’ he asked again, this time a little more unsure.
‘This might not be a genuine engagement but for all the time the charade is going on, I hope you refrain from spouting such rubbish or even thinking it. And, in fact, once it is over, I hope that you continue to pay Emmeline the respect she is due. We are long past such snobbery in this house, Barnaby.’
‘Edward…’ I touched his arm.
‘I don’t think Barney meant anything unkind by it, Edward.’ His mother stepped in as peacemaker.
‘Obviously, I didn’t!’ The sparkle was now gone from the blue eyes and he was glaring right back at his brother.
‘Right,’ I piped up. ‘That’s it. If this engagement is only fictitious and already causing ructions between you two, then I’m calling it off right now and that also puts an end to any nonsense about needing a ring.’
‘What?’
‘What?’
Both the brothers rounded on me.
‘You can’t do that!’ Barney said. ‘You only just got engaged.’
‘Yes, but we can use the party here today as the catalyst. Don’t you see?
We can simply say that we got swept up in the excitement of a new relationship but in the cold light of day, we’ve both realised that it’s not a good idea.
’ I was on a roll. ‘It’s the perfect get-out when you think about it.
No one has to lie any more and everyone comes out relatively unscathed. ’
The smile on my own face was not reflected by any of the family.
‘You can’t! Not yet.’ Penelope looked positively panicked.
‘I’ve only just got used to the thought of having a sister-in-law and you’re fun. God knows if Edward ever does get around to finding someone, they’ll be far more dull than you.’
‘But a better provenance?’ I teased him.