‘The tiara? What’s this got to do with Nadia’s beloved tiara?’
‘I’m so ashamed, but when the divorce was going through, I was given one afternoon’s access to go back to the matrimonial home where I’d lived for more than twenty years to collect my belongings and… well, I took the tiara. I figured that I was entitled to at least something from my twenty-year marriage. Nadia never wears it, in fact the last outing it had was our wedding day. When I got home, I had a copy made, and I…’ George gulped before forcing out the painful words. ‘I sold the original, then went back to the house on the pretext that I wanted some shrubs from the garden and replaced it.’
‘Oh, Dad…’
‘Sorry, Son, what must you think of me? I used the cash as a deposit on the flat, donated ten percent to the children’s Christmas party at the hospital, and the rest just about covered my half of the wedding here at Dalston Manor.’
‘Oh, George…’
Zara scrambled in her handbag for a tissue to wipe away her tears.
‘When you told me that Rachel was a jewellery designer and she was making a copy to wear at the wedding, I knew she’d be able to tell it wasn’t the real thing as soon as she saw the original, so I decided to, well, to leave a couple of messages in the hope that she would keep her discovery to herself until after the wedding when I promise I was going to tell you, Jason, and ask for your support while I told Nadia.’
‘Oh, Dad, you should have told me sooner! I know what Mum’s like, and you know I had words with her about her selfishness during the divorce. I should have realised how bad things were, I should have been there for you.’
‘We both should have,’ said Zara, getting up from the bed and coming to give George a hug before dropping down onto her knees in front of him. ‘We love you, George. You mean the world to us. You are an amazing person. You’re kind, gentle, generous, and I’m blessed to have you as my father-in-law.’
‘Thank… thank you, Zara,’ muttered George, overwhelmed with emotion.
‘Look, Dad, Mum’s made a few mistakes, too. Why don’t we park all this for tonight and then tomorrow morning we’ll sit down, just the four of us, and talk until we’ve ironed out all the issues? Then Zara and I can sail off on our honeymoon without worrying about what our family is getting up to when our backs are turned. I’m sure Mum can be persuaded to accept that she was less than fair during the divorce negotiations.’ Jason flashed a look at Rachel. ‘And I’m sure Rachel will forgive you for showcasing your artwork on her duvet.’
‘And for trying to make me look like a raging alcoholic!’ grinned Rachel, joining them to give George a hug and dropping a kiss on his papery cheek. ‘Although I do a pretty good job of that one my own!’
‘I’m sorry, Rachel.’
‘Nothing to forgive, George.’
Lexie exchanged a glance with Theo, who nodded in reply, and together they made their way out of the room and into the corridor where Lexie exhaled the breath that she felt she’d been holding for the last half an hour.
‘Oh my God, if I’d have known how tough a gig being a wedding columnist was going to be, I would have asked for an extra fee to cover the cost of the counselling!’
Lexie laughed. ‘I’m with you on that. I thought directing a fashion show with highly strung designers and gaggles of neurotic models was complicated and stressful, but wedding planning has to take the biscuit! How on earth Marley is still sane is completely beyond me, I feel like I’ve been mowed down by a bulldozer then reversed over for good measure!’
‘So I take it you’re up for a glass of prosecco?’
‘That’s the best offer I’ve had all day! Lead the way!’
Chapter Twenty-Three
After checking that the evening reception was in full swing, that the Caribbean steel band was entertaining everyone with a selection of high-octane calypso tunes, and the lethal tropical fruit punch was oiling the wheels of the questionable dance moves, Lexie said a quick goodbye to Zara and Jason and made her getaway. It had been the longest day she could remember, apart from the day of Pierre’s fashion show, and she desperately wanted to take off her heels and relax.
The whole tiara-switching confession had meant she had completely forgotten about Elliot’s call and as she made her way back to the manor to meet Theo in the bar, she realised that she had already consigned their relationship to the shelf labelled ‘past history’. She knew there were still tricky conversations ahead as they wound up their life together, but she would deal with them in a mature and non-judgemental way because, if she searched her heart, she knew what had happened was for the best, even though it had hurt.
Now that her wedding day duties were at an end, she craved a few moments alone in which to reflect on everything that had happened that day, but she was equally keen to sit down in a quiet corner with Theo and enjoy a glass of cold fizz and ask him how on earth he was going to distil everything that had happened at the Carter-Jones wedding into a two thousand word article!
When she arrived at the bar, she scoured the room, but was surprised to see there was no sign of Theo. Puzzled, she ordered a bottle of prosecco and as there were a few wedding guests lingering, she took it, and two glasses out to the terrace, which was thankfully deserted. She sat down on the wall next to the pond, before changing her mind when one of the koi came up for air next to her and gave her the fright of her life. Settling at the table next to the gazebo, she poured herself a drink, relishing the tickle of the bubbles on her tongue, then kicked off her shoes and tipped back her head to gaze at the stars.
Within minutes she could feel all the day’s stresses slipping away and she was suddenly filled with an acute appreciation for the comfort she always felt whenever she found herself at home in Cornwall. The county would forever hold a piece of her heart, and whilst the Caribbean was no doubt a glorious place to get married, so too was Cornwall and she suspected that Zara and Jason might have missed a trick.
Didn’t Cornwall also have amazing sandy beaches, endless blue skies and turquoise sea? They had palm trees, grew grapes with which they made sparkling wine, and even cultivated tea! The food was amazing too; from the best grilled lobster available anywhere in the world, to the famous, internationally recognised Cornish pasty, clotted cream teas, and cider from the apples grown in the extensive orchards. The scenery was atmospheric, almost fairytale-esque, and the people were warm, welcoming and hospitable – even if she did say so herself.
‘All sorted?’ asked Theo, appearing in front of her, a tall, dark silhouette against the night sky.
‘Yes, thank goodness!’ She straightened up and was about to pour Theo a drink when she saw his forehead was creased and his eyes were not quite focused on her. Her heart dropped like a pebble down a well, then bounced back to lodge uncomfortably somewhere between her stomach and her ribcage. ‘Where’ve you been? Is everything okay?’
‘Oh, I had a few things to sort out, everything’s fine.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Sure,’ said Theo firmly before meeting her enquiring gaze with a smile and changing the subject. ‘Hey, fancy a moonlight stroll around these gorgeous gardens? I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had chance to appreciate their horticultural wonders yet. If I’m going to produce a well-rounded piece for the Gazette, I feel I should explore the whole estate, don’t you?’