Page 6 of The Silent Bride
Once I have my emotions under control again, I look up, confident that the dismay I’m faking will be accepted as real. Yet, all the while, I’m laughing inside with actual glee.
The wedding is ruined and I’m ecstatic.
Chapter Five
THEN
As I stride along the street to work, I hum a tune to myself, still enjoying yesterday’s high. Even the freezing rain can’t dampen my mood. I’m engaged to be married. I’m a fiancée! How mad is that? Even though it’s tricky in this icy wind while trying to hold my umbrella, I extend my hand to admire my ring for the fiftieth time. It’s so elegant and understated. I love it.
Daisy was subdued at breakfast this morning and I think it’s partly down to my engagement. Maybe it’s highlighted the problems with her own relationship. I’m a little sad that she can’t set aside her feelings for one day to be pleased for me. I love her like a sister, but surely you’re supposed to celebrate your friends’ good news. Is it selfish of me to want her genuine best wishes? Maybe. I don’t know.
I’d have thought, after my troubled dating history, that Daisy would want me to be happy with someone. My previous boyfriend, Damian, was emotionally abusive, and Daisy and Laurence both helped give me the courage to leave him. Since then, I’ve had a hard time trusting men, and I didn’t have any serious relationships for five years. Until I finally met Seth.
During those years, my friends and family were constantly trying to set me up, but I just wasn’t ready. I threw myself into work instead.
Seth helped me to trust again, with the added benefit of shutting everyone else up. I hadn’t realised how wearing it was to constantly have my family ask: Have you met anyone yet? When are you getting married and having babies? Stop working so hard and pay more attention to your love life. Your sister has a career and a relationship, why can’t you do the same? And on and on, ad infinitum. No. I don’t miss that at all.
Faraday Accounting is situated halfway along the High Street above a busy bakery. The building is old and the decor desperately needs updating, but my boss Paul Faraday is good at what he does, and business is thriving.
I shake out my umbrella and climb the narrow flight of stairs to our offices. When I joined the practice as an accountant almost five years ago, Paul told me that if I worked hard and hit my targets, I’d have the opportunity to become a partner further down the line. Well, I’m now a chartered accountant, I’ve consistently hit my targets, and I’ve also brought in a ton of new clients, mainly those specialising in the equestrian world. Word of mouth has worked really well for me in an industry where everyone knows everyone, so I’m confident that Paul will soon make good his promise and offer me a partnership. I work my arse off, so I know I deserve it.
‘Afternoon, Alice,’ says our other accountant, Charlotte Emerson, looking up from her desk, her glossy dark-brown hair tied back in an elaborate chignon.
I’m only five minutes late and I’m in too good a mood to rise to her jibe. ‘Morning, Charlotte. Want a coffee?’
‘No thanks, I had one half an hour ago.’ This is obviously her way of telling me she came into work early.
Miriam Patel, our office manager, gives me a look of solidarity over Charlotte’s head.
Charlotte joined a couple of years after me. She’s a hard worker, but she’s also sneaky and very ambitious. I worry that she’s also going after a partnership and will throw me under the bus to get there. Mysaving grace is that she can be a bit snooty and abrupt with her clients. They don’t necessarily like dealing with her and I’ve had to field more than a few complaints over the years, including requests for me to take over their accounts – which obviously hasn’t gone down well with Charlotte. Consequently, she’s not my biggest fan, which is a shame because we’re a small team of four, and it’s an open-plan office.
‘Morning, Alice.’ Paul looks up from his desk and peers at me over the top of his wire-rimmed glasses. ‘I’ll take a coffee if you’re making one.’
‘No problem, Paul.’
‘Good weekend?’ Miriam asks.
‘I had a great weekend, thanks,’ I reply, hanging up my dripping coat on the peg.
‘What’s that smile for?’ she asks, folding her arms across her chest.
‘Nothing.’
Her dark eyes narrow and she walks over to where I’m standing. Charlotte’s interest has also now been piqued and I feel them both staring. I was planning to keep the news on the down low until after talking to my family, but it’s almost bursting out of me. I’ve already told Daisy and Laurence, so I guess it won’t hurt. I do an elaborate twirling movement with my hand, before thrusting my ring finger under Miriam’s nose.
‘Is that what I think it is?’ she asks. ‘It’s gorgeous!’
‘Seth proposed on Saturday night,’ I say with a skip in my heart.
Paul looks up at my news. ‘You’re getting married?’
‘Congratulations, Alice!’ Miriam gives me a hug. She’s so tiny that her arms barely reach my shoulders. ‘We should go out for lunch to celebrate.’
‘Yes, congratulations, Alice,’ Paul echoes. ‘Isn’t your boyfriend in London?’ I can tell he’s already wondering what this might mean for my work. He needn’t worry; I love my job and won’t let my personallife interfere with it at all. It’s part of the reason Seth loves me – he likes my independence and ambition.
‘Is this the imaginary boyfriend that none of us has met yet?’ Charlotte drawls.
‘Very funny.’ I give her my unamused look, but even Charlotte’s bitchiness can’t dampen my mood.
