Chapter 32
‘Emmeline! EMMELINE!’
Almost at the car, I finally turned around. ‘What?’
‘I… I’m sorry.’ The words seemed to stick in her throat. Not ones she was used to saying it appeared.
I remained silent.
‘Please would you help me?’
Opening the back of the Landy, I reached in and pulled out a tow rope.
‘Hold this,’ I said, handing her the torch and, giving up on any hope of keeping part of me dry, crouched down and tied the rope around the tow hook of her car then fixed it to mine.
‘Does it start at all?’
‘No. Nothing. I can try again. Should I do that?’
‘Worth a go.’
She turned the key but the thing was a brick.
‘OK,’ I said. ‘Put it in neutral and let it take up the slack. There’s a layby just ahead. We’ll take it to there. It’ll be out of the way of other traffic and can be picked up tomorrow.’
‘Can’t you just do it?’
‘I can do many things, Verity, but I’m yet to master the art of being in two places at once. Just steer it, make sure the key is in the second position so that the steering lock doesn’t engage.’
‘I can’t! I can’t do this!’
‘Yes, you can,’ I said, placing my hands on her arms. ‘Look at me. Right. I’m going to go super slow.
Keep your hazards on. It’s a few feet. OK?
Just up there. That’s it. And when I slow, apply the brakes.
You might need to give them some welly depending what the problem is as they might not be assisted. ’
‘Assisted by whom?’
‘Power. Don’t worry about it. Just when we get into the layby and you see my brake lights, whack on the brakes. OK?’
‘Emmeline, I can’t. Can’t we call someone or—’
‘You can. I promise. We can!’
Her glazed eyes appeared to clear. ‘We can,’ she repeated, as though they were strange new words she was trying out.
‘Exactly. OK. Switch it to that position, that’s it. I’ll beep when I’m about to pull off, right?’
‘OK,’ she replied, sounding anything but, but the car couldn’t stay where it was. Either she or someone else was going to come a cropper with it in that position.
I jogged back to my car, jumped in and switched the lights back on to full, then gave two long beeps and crept forward until I felt the rope take up the slack.
Keeping an eye in my mirrors, I checked for traffic and began towing Verity’s tank up the road.
As promised, in a couple of minutes, I was pulling into the layby and Verity steered the Range Rover in and slowed to a halt. Please don’t prang me… She didn’t.
Jumping back out into the rain, I hurried over to the Range Rover and opened the door.
‘Well done! That was—’
Verity was folded over the wheel, sobbing hysterically.
‘Hey! It’s OK, you did it. That’s the worst bit done now.’
Now I had to make myself heard over not only the wind and rain but also Verity’s wailing.
‘I’ve got a signal. I’m going to make a call.’
The crying continued. Best to make arrangements now. I could deal with Verity in a minute.
‘Where are you?’ Isaac said. ‘Freddy’s worried sick. She said you were leaving early.’
‘I did. I came across Verity broken down in the forest. I’ve towed her to a layby but her Range Rover’s dead. Can you let her parents know we’re on the way? They’re probably in a state as I get the idea she’s been here a while.’
‘OK. Surprised you bothered to stop.’ He paused. ‘Actually, I’m not, but you know what I mean.’
‘I know. But it seems she might be kind of human after all.’
‘Never!’
I chuckled, which was something bearing in mind the rain was now trickling down into my pants.
‘I’ll make the calls and get a tow truck sorted.’
‘Tell them to leave it to tomorrow. The weather’s awful and it’s not going anywhere. I’ll take her home now. Tell Freds I’m sorry I worried her.’
‘Will do. I’m going to stay until you’re back if that’s all right.’
‘Stay anyway. Freddy loves it when you’re there. But don’t tell her I told you.’
‘Deal. Drive carefully.’
I peeled an exhausted Verity out of her car and half-carried her to the Land Rover.
‘In you jump.’
She did so but in the manner of an automaton rather than the elegant, snooty demeanour I was used to witnessing. Pulling a blanket from the back, I laid it over her then, shutting the door, I walked round to the driver’s side, got in and pointed us in the direction of her home.
We drove on, the wind and rain enough accompaniment.
‘Why did you stop?’ Her voice was small with none of the confidence it usually held.
‘Because you looked like you needed help and that’s what people do.’
‘Not all people. I wouldn’t have expected you to.’
‘That’s probably because you don’t know me very well.’
‘No, I don’t.’
‘I’m sure you’d have done the same.’ I wasn’t at all sure but it seemed the right thing to say.
‘I’m not.’
I looked round briefly before returning my eyes to the road. It was such a blatant admission, it had taken me by surprise.
‘That’s a horrible thing to say, isn’t it?’ Her voice was teary again. ‘I mean, I’d like to think I would but…’
‘But you’re not sure.’ I glanced over. Verity looked miserable. ‘Don’t beat yourself up about it.’
‘I actually don’t think I’m a very nice person at all and I wouldn’t have blamed you if you hadn’t stopped. I’ve been beastly to you ever since you got here.’
‘But I did stop so it doesn’t matter, does it? And maybe another time, you’ll return the favour.’
‘Hmm.’
‘But not to just anyone, OK? Don’t risk yourself, ever! You can just call the police and let them know someone’s broken down. All right? Promise?’
‘I promise,’ she replied. ‘Thank you.’
We continued home. The radio was on quietly; soft classical music had been keeping me company and I left it on in the hope that, a, it would help prevent awkward silence and b, that it might calm Verity down.
I began humming along to a Strauss waltz.
‘You’re different to what I thought you were. I’ve misjudged you.’
‘You aren’t the first and won’t be the last.’
She didn’t reply and I was pondering over what she might have thought I was. I considered asking, out of interest, but the truth was, I don’t think even Verity knew. I was different from her and in her eyes that had been enough.
‘Here we are,’ I said, pulling the car onto the circular gravel drive of her family pile.
As I did, the front door flew open and Fenella, together with a man I assumed was Verity’s dad, came rushing down the stone steps towards us.
The rain had eased now but neither of them appeared to notice the weather.
‘Verity! Oh, my love, are you all right? Are you hurt?’ Fenella was fussing over her daughter and it was interesting to see another side of her. Tonight was full of revelations.
‘Thank you so much for this,’ the man said. ‘I’m Arthur, Verity’s father.’ He held out his hand.
I shook it. ‘Emmeline Buchanan.’ I was well aware he likely already knew exactly who I was but it was the polite thing to say.
‘These are Verity’s.’ I handed over the keys.
‘I dropped a pin over to Isaac where the car is and he’s arranged a tow truck for it first thing tomorrow.
We thought it better to leave it for tonight as it was safe enough but obviously, if you want to arrange something… ’
‘No, that’s a very sensible idea. I’ll speak to Isaac first thing and coordinate. It’s very kind of you both to go to the trouble.’
‘So, so very kind,’ Fenella said, and I saw the tears in her eyes as she wrapped her child close against her. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much!’
‘You’re welcome. I’ll be off now. Take it easy, Verity.’ I gave a brief wave and turned back to the Land Rover.
‘Wait.’
I looked over my shoulder.
‘Please?’ Verity un-Velcroed herself from her mother’s arms and took a couple of steps towards me. She was still pale and looked exhausted. ‘I need to say something.’
‘It’s fine, Verity. You look shattered. What you need to do is go to bed.’
‘And I will but I want… I need to apologise. I…’ She looked round at her mother.
‘We were very judgemental and unkind. Admittedly, I was jealous that Edward had chosen you. I’m sure you know that part of my plan in coming back here was to have Edward fall in love with me,’ She gave a small, hollow laugh.
‘But that was never going to happen. I know that now. I knew that then but…’
‘Do you love him?’ I asked. I don’t know why. The words tumbled out by themselves.
‘No. I don’t. I do respect him and he was quite right when he told me off.
I lost his respect then, if I ever had it at all.
But no, I don’t love him. He’s the right age, the right status, has the right family.
All of that but I don’t love him. And obviously, he doesn’t love me so what’s the point in that?
I thought all the rest made up for that but it doesn’t. ’
‘Verity—’
‘No, please. Let me say this.’
I waited.
‘Edward loves you.’
‘No, Verity, he—’
‘He does!’ She spoke over me. ‘Everyone could see it! The way he looks at you is the way I’ve waited my entire life for a man to look at me. I’m not sure I’ll ever find that person but I do know now that I’m not settling for anything less.’
Behind her, her parents exchanged a look.
‘And you and Edward shouldn’t settle for anything less either. Have you seen him since you split up?’
‘No.’ I’d done everything I could the last few months to avoid just such a meeting and on the odd occasion I’d seen him heading for the garden to speak to Isaac about something, I’d made myself scarce.
Pathetic? Yes. Necessary? Also yes. For the moment.
Until I found a new position. I didn’t want to leave Ashington Manor but every time I thought of Edward, or caught a glance of him, my heart broke a little bit more.
I wasn’t sure how many more pieces it could break into and each one cut like glass.
‘He’s miserable. I’ve never seen him like this. Actually, that’s a lie. When he came back from a particular deployment and when his father died. Usually, he’s stoic, as you know. Gets on with the things expected of him but he’s broken, Emmeline.’
‘Please, don’t.’ My words were quiet as the tears flowed down my face and dripped off my chin, mixing with the rain that had now begun again harder. Still we all stood there.
Verity grabbed my hand. ‘I have to, Emmeline. He loves you so much and you clearly love him madly. I don’t know what it was that broke you up.
I very much hope that I had nothing to do with it, but I’m sure I didn’t help, doing my best to make you feel less than you are.
I’m so sorry. But whatever it is, I’m sure it can be fixed. ’
‘It can’t.’ I shook my head.
Much to my, and I think her, utter surprise, Verity pulled me into a massive hug then stood me back, the frightened woman of earlier momentarily replaced by the efficient, brusque personality I was used to.
‘It can, Emmeline. Don’t throw this away.
Don’t throw him away. He loves you! He’s bloody bonkers about you in fact and believe me, that doesn’t happen all the time with Edward.
I’ve known him since we were children and I’ve literally never seen him the way he is with you.
He looks at you like you’re the sun, stars and moon all rolled into one. ’
My broken-hearted sob pushed its way through.
When she spoke next, it was softer. ‘And I don’t think you’d be this upset if you didn’t feel exactly the same way.’
‘I need to go home now.’
She hugged me again. ‘Thank you so much for this evening.’
‘You’re welcome,’ I hiccupped through my tears before doing a fast walk back to the car, trying desperately to stem the flow of tears enough to see where I was driving.