Page 137 of Kiss Me Like You Mean It

‘So you were happy to let us tie ourselves in knots because you’d already decided we were going to fail the assessment?’ Nico sounds furious.

‘No, no,’ Charles sighs. ‘You misunderstand. I was under instructions to make sure you passed the assessment.’

There’s a stunned silence.

‘What?’ Nico asks.

‘I had to make sure all of the paperwork was in order, do my due diligence, but there was never any question of you failing,’ Charles says.

‘But why wouldn’t you tell us that?’ I ask, bewildered.

He looks offended. ‘Because that would be deeply unethical! Which is what I told your grandmother when I spoke to her. Not that she seemed to appreciate the fact.’

‘You… what?’ I’m glad Nico’s arms come around me again, because I’m having trouble standing. ‘When did you speak to my grandmother?’

‘Yesterday.’ Charles looks nettled. ‘She’s the other person listed as inhabiting your London address. Of course, at first she tried to go along with the story, even though she obviously had no clue what I was talking about. It was simply part of the consultation process, dotting every i, but eventually she asked me why I didn’t just tell you the truth… got quite angry in fact. And I’ll tell you what I told her and His Grace… we must be extremely careful to keep everything above board, in case any other beneficiaries ever challenge this decision in court. I have simply been trying to do my job to the best of my abilities while protecting your interests.’ He removes his bowler hat, produces a handkerchief from his pocket and dabs at his forehead. ‘This whole thing has been extremely stressful if you must know.’

‘Oh, Charlie!’ Claudia throws her arms around him, and he goes even pinker.

‘Yes, well,’ he blusters. ‘If you could all forget that I told you any of this, that would probably be for the best. That envelope contains a letter from your brother that should hopefully explain things more fully. Now,’ he draws himself up, ‘Claudia, might I buy you a drink back at the hotel?’

‘I’d be delighted,’ Claudia purrs, and the two of them make a hasty retreat.

‘Charlie’s got game,’ Luke whistles.

‘So it’s over?’ Tara asks.

‘Just like that?’ Nico sounds dazed.

‘But I didn’t even get to do my bit,’ Phil moans. I’d actually forgotten he was here, which just goes to show how wild the last few minutes have been because the man has several pillows strapped to his stomach and is wearing a codpiece.

‘He told Gran,’ I whisper, ‘she knows I lied!’

‘It’ll be okay,’ my brother says. ‘We’ll talk to her together.’

‘Tomorrow. There’s nothing we can do about it now,’ Nico says gently.

I nod, knowing that letter must be burning a hole in his pocket. ‘Magda’s already picked up Phoebe and Taco. We should head off.’ A thought strikes me and I turn to Jack and Cynthie. ‘Where on earth are you two staying? Darlene’s wig room is already taken.’

‘I have no idea what that means,’ Jack says, ‘but we’re staying at the inn. Magda organised it for us, she said the place is just about ready to open again, anyway.’

‘Wow, Magda, a heads up might have been nice,’ Nico grumbles.

Jack winces. ‘I think she was under the impression we were invited.’ He throws his hands up when Nico glares at him. ‘It was supposed to be a surprise! A nice one! I didn’t know we were walking into the middle of a French farce.’

‘Don’t worry, we’ll look after them,’ Kat says to me. ‘Darlene’s doing two-for-one cocktail hour so we can show these Hollywood types that Roseport knows how to party.’

‘Come on, Daisy,’ Nico throws his arm around my shoulder, ‘let’s go home.’

The house is quiet when we get back, and I feel wrung out. I change out of my gold dress and into my cosiest pyjamas and a pair of fluffy socks while Nico puts the kettle on.

In the bedroom I stare down at my hand for a moment, twisting the rings on my finger. The truth is out and Nico has what he needs. Our relationship might just be starting, but our marriage is about to come to an end. With a sigh, I slip the rings from my finger and leave them on the bedside table. Claudia will want them back.

Pushing my complicated feelings aside, I head back for the living room and Nico. ‘How are you feeling?’ I ask as we sit on the sofa. He pulls my feet into his lap, absently running his hand up and down my calf.

‘Honestly, I’m not sure.’ He shakes his head. ‘Mostly confused, I think.’

I eye the envelope on the coffee table. ‘What do you think it says?’