Chapter 27
‘Cheers to the happy couple!’ Isaac raised his glass and Edward raised his eyebrows but we all laughed and joined in the toast.
Isaac, Freddy, Edward and I had decided on a last-minute dinner out at a pub buried deep in the middle of nowhere and we were having the best time.
It was easy to see, in this setting, the affection and respect the two men had for each other.
Isaac and Freddy had been seeing more of each other too but, I noticed happily, that Isaac was giving her the space she needed when she needed it.
Her last relationship had been lengthy and the ending painful.
She was keen on Isaac but, for once, she really wasn’t jumping in head first, and she and I appreciated that Isaac, despite being absolutely besotted with my friend, was happy to take it at her pace.
My initial wariness about him had long gone as we’d found our feet with each other and built our own respect.
Had I been asked at the start of my job if he was worthy of my best friend, it would have been a categorical no.
But now, I couldn’t think of anyone who would be better for her.
‘Edward!’ Verity’s nasal twang cut through our laughter at a dad joke Isaac had just told. We all looked up. ‘I thought it was you.’ She swung an assessing glance around the table.
‘Verity,’ Isaac acknowledged purposefully. It was clear she wasn’t about to make the first move in greeting him.
‘Isaac. How lovely to see you.’ Her tone suggested entirely otherwise.
‘Likewise.’ Isaac mirrored it. Freddy was seething at the obvious snub of him. I saw his hand move to hers and he turned away from Verity to smile at her, reassuring.
‘I’m surprised to see you out this far, Verity.’ Edward steered the conversation away from the snub and also from her obvious staring at my ‘engagement’ ring.
‘You’re right.’ She fluttered her lashes at him.
‘You know me so well.’ She tinkled a laugh and laid her hand on his arm a fraction too long.
‘But this place has such a great reputation, my friends just begged me to venture out with them.’ She made it sound like the pub was at Everest base camp.
‘You should have told me you were thinking of coming. You could have joined us.’
Freddy and I exchanged a look and she glared with fury.
It was quite obvious from Verity’s words, tone and the fact she was gazing into Edward’s eyes, that the invitation would have been for him alone.
I switched my gaze to Isaac and he fluttered his lashes then gave a dramatic eye roll that made Freddy and I struggle to swallow our sniggers.
‘I believe these are ours.’ Edward nodded towards the waiter approaching us with a tray of coffees.
‘Oh. Right.’
His hint was both subtle and obvious.
‘I’ll see you around then,’ she said as Edward thanked the waiter and set about helping him dish out the coffees.
‘Yes, I expect so. Bye, Verity.’ He gave her a brief smile and turned back once more to our party.
Freddy was still livid. Loyalty was one of her best and strongest traits and now Isaac was one of those protected by it. ‘I see what you mean about her now! Rude cow.’
Isaac smiled into his coffee.
‘She’s really not worth worrying about,’ Edward replied. ‘Here, have one of these biscuits. They make them on site and they are absolutely the bee’s knees.’
Freddy, like me, was easily distracted by a good biscuit and I laid my hand on Edward’s thigh briefly in thanks. His own hand covered mine in acknowledgement.
‘Soooo good!’ Freddy declared, her eyes wide in enjoyment, hand over her mouth.
‘Aren’t they?’ Edward agreed, as he too took one and munched down on it.
* * *
We retrieved the light jackets we had brought with us, but the July weather was being so kind, there was barely any need for one. Filing out, in two pairs of twos, we were just approaching a banquette when we heard Verity’s unmistakeable voice.
‘Of course, I knew this would happen. Having dinner with his gardeners, for goodness’ sake!
Poor Lawrence, such a lovely man. I was rather a favourite of his, you know, and I’m sure he’d be horrified by such lowering of standards.
Inevitable, though. She could hardly be brought up to his, and our level, so I suppose the only other option is for Edward to sink down. Such a shame and what a waste.’
Freddy took a step forward but Isaac gently wrapped one burly arm around her and whispered something in her ear.
Verity’s friends noticed Edward, and his look of fury, first. They glanced up then immediately back down, suddenly finding the wine list of the utmost interest.
Verity frowned, or at least appeared to try to. The Botox made it hard to tell.
‘Edward!’ She gave him her most winning smile but it was clear to everyone she hadn’t won anything. ‘Are you off? I was just saying to my friends that we could invite you over to join us for drinks.’ Her lie was silky smooth.
‘I heard exactly what you were just saying to your friends, Verity, and it certainly wasn’t an invitation for drinks.’
Her smile faltered just a fraction.
‘Yes, it—’
‘No, it wasn’t. And although none of this is your business in any way, I’d like you to have the facts before spreading gossip.
Dinner tonight was my idea and because I wanted to spend time with my fiancée, who is in no way dragging me down.
And in the same manner, she has no need to be “brought up to our level”, as you put it. ’
I was standing behind him hoping for a large hole to open up in which I could be swallowed. Even a small one would do. I’d squeeze in.
‘Emmeline is, in fact, perfect just as she is and I would appreciate it if you gave both her and I the respect we deserve by not speaking about her in such a derogatory manner.’
‘Edward.’ I spoke quietly.
He took my hand but didn’t stop. Clearly, he was on a roll.
Verity opened her mouth to, I assume, defend herself, but he didn’t give her the chance.
‘As for disrespecting Isaac, he is, as you very well know, a lifelong friend and was such before he took on the post as head gardener. That is how we look at each other. Your family might not approve of such friendships but mine do, including my father, who was always very pleased to see Isaac and considered him another son. I do not appreciate you speaking badly of my friends and I certainly do not appreciate you putting words in the mouth of my deceased father. I’m afraid, while I’m about it, I will have to disavow your friends of the view you gave them that you were a favourite of his.
You were, and are, a neighbour’s daughter to my parents.
Nothing more. Don’t ever use my father’s name in your machinations again. ’
Verity’s mouth had dropped open. The woman next to her leant across and closed it. I tucked in behind Edward’s shoulder to hide my face. Freddy turned closer towards Isaac’s chest.
Edward then addressed Verity’s friends. ‘I apologise for the scene, but some things cannot be left unsaid. I’m sure you understand.’
To Verity’s clear horror, they all nodded and made sounds of agreement.
‘Goodnight, Verity. Enjoy the rest of your evening.’
With that, Edward turned back to me, looked into my eyes and lifted my left hand and kissed it. I knew it was part of the performance but frankly, I reckoned this part was worthy of an Oscar. For a moment, even I believed it.
‘Come on, darling.’ He caught his arm around my waist and the four of us walked out into the warm twilight.
When we got to the car, Edward beeped it unlocked and Isaac held open the back door for Freddy before following her in. I laid my hand on the front passenger door handle, ready to open it, but Edward placed his hand on mine. I looked up.
‘I’m sorry about all that in there.’
‘It’s fine. I’m already acutely aware that neither Verity nor her mother think I am anywhere near good enough for you. At least they’ll be relieved, and possibly proved right, when it’s all over.’
Edward turned his head, looked at the moon that was lazily rising into a gradually darkening sky before returning his focus to me.
‘Firstly, I don’t give a shit about whether they’ll be relieved.
The fact that they might be only makes me want to extend things, if I’m perfectly honest.’ He continued before I could speak.
‘Secondly, as I pointed out to her, the idea that she thinks you’re somehow below me is entirely wrong, incredibly rude and makes me so angry, I could punch something and I’m not really a punching kind of person.
’ He swallowed and took a deep breath. ‘But what I actually wanted to apologise for is that I know you would rather do anything than make a scene so I’m extremely sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. ’
I was still absorbing Edward’s previous statement and it took me a moment to figure out what I wanted to say.
‘You didn’t,’ I began. ‘Admittedly, when you stopped and began to call Verity out, I did want to die on the spot. But it wasn’t just about me.
It was about Isaac. It was about your choices too.
She criticised those and that was wrong.
Plus, she brought your dad into it. You had every right to make a scene, as you put it, and frankly, that wasn’t a scene.
If you want to see a scene, stick around with Freddy for a while.
She’s definitely not one to be crossed.’
‘Duly noted. And thank you.’
‘For what?’
‘For understanding. For being you. For going along with all this ridiculousness and,’ he stepped closer, ‘for bringing joy back in to all our lives.’
‘Edward.’ I tilted my head to meet his eyes.
Freddy had gone full four inch heels but I didn’t own any that high these days.
All the things I’d bought back when I had more confidence and the need for such things, I’d sold or donated.
Even my work wardrobe had become very utilitarian, with sensible shoes and muted colours.
Freddy had sometimes suggested livening things up a little but I’d never really seen it until we’d spent that afternoon with Penelope and her wonderful collection of clothes.
It was only then that I realised, that I saw what Freddy could see.
Once I’d met Monty, I’d felt like I’d finally begun to blossom.
His mother took me shopping, guided me how to dress, and all the time, I’d thought it was because she liked me.
That she wanted me to feel part of the family.
But that night, when I’d overheard them talking, I knew that it wasn’t.
They didn’t think I was good enough. And Monty had said nothing.
I was his real fiancée and he’d said nothing.
Which is probably why I did what I did next.
‘Emmeline? Are you—’
The handful of linen I had grabbed as I pulled Edward towards me felt soft and expensive and I didn’t care that I was creasing it as I planted my lips firmly on his.
I saw his eyes widen and I waited for the inevitable step back and polite rebuff so I closed my eyes and decided I’d deal with that in a minute.
Except it never came. Instead, I found myself turned and pressed against the door of the car, Edward’s hands now at the sides of my face as he deepened the kiss.
Automatically, my arms reached up and looped behind his neck as I stood on the very tips of my toes.
Edward moved his hands down and wrapped them under my bum, lifting me so that I was no longer straining to reach him.
I didn’t care that none of this was real, that this was a fake relationship – right now, this felt the most real connection I’d ever had.
The sound of gravel crunching underfoot pulled us back to reality.
We both turned our heads to see Verity and her friends approaching the car next to us.
From her sucked-lemon expression, it was obvious she’d seen the kiss.
Edward gave her the briefest of nods, then turned back to me, his smile returning as he gave me another quick kiss before lowering me gently to the floor and opening the car door.
I climbed in and he closed it behind me.
‘Don’t say a word,’ I said before either of the other passengers could speak.