A Summer of Secrets

by Lorna Peel

  Lady Heaton inclined her head, reached forward and opened one of the drawers in the coffee table. She extracted some sewing and placed it on the table. In the bottom of the drawer, Sophia saw some condom packages with needles threaded through them. She struggled to her feet, sure she was about to throw up.

  “Sophia?” Thomas frowned.

  She pulled the drawer open further, reached for the condoms, and threw them onto the coffee table. “You bitch.”

  Thomas reached for one and held it up with a hand which began to shake. “After choosing Sophia for me, I thought you couldn’t possibly sink any lower.” He threw it down. “How bloody wrong can I be? What if it hadn’t been Sophia? Eh?”

  “It was only ever going to be Sophia, Thomas. She may not have a title and ancestry but, as we all now know, she is more than capable of breeding an heir.” Lady Heaton smiled at her little joke. “And now, thanks to the two of you, there will be new blood in the family.”

  “Thomas.” Sophia reached for his hand. “Come on.”

  She led him out of the flat on wobbly legs and they went slowly down the stairs, across the stable yard, and into his office. Thomas closed the door and then the blind before turning to face her.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

  “My father is never to know.”

  “No. Sophia—”

  She shook her head and covered his lips with her fingers. “I want to marry you. And I want to have our baby. She’ll have to come to the wedding for appearance’s sake but I want her moved back to the farmyard apartments. I don’t want to see her any more than is absolutely necessary.”

  He nodded. “She can go in the small corner one.”

  They jumped as someone began knocking at the door. “It’s Stephanie. Are you decent?”

  Thomas went to the door and opened it. “Come in.”

  “What on earth’s the matter?” Stephanie looked from Thomas to her. “You both look awful.”

  “Sophia’s pregnant,” Thomas told her. “Thanks to Lady Heaton.”

  Stephanie’s face creased in bewilderment. “I don’t understand. Unless you’re telling me that’s she’s really a man?”

  “Lady Heaton replaced my condoms with some she had taken a sewing needle to.”

  His sister’s eyes bulged. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Well, that’s a first,” Thomas muttered.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Move her to the small corner apartment in the farmyard so we don’t have to see her unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Sophia told her.

  “Is that all?”

  “I want to marry Thomas and I want to have the baby. I don’t know what else we can do.”

  “Have her locked up.”

  “And explain why, exactly?” Thomas demanded.

  Stephanie sighed. “I don’t know.”

  “My father is never to know,” Sophia added.

  “No, of course not. Do we need to change the date of the wedding?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, good. Well, can I now congratulate you both?” she asked with a little smile.

  “You can,” Thomas nodded, and she hugged him before kissing and hugging Sophia.

  “Have you told Michelle?”

  “No. I’ll go round tomorrow morning.”

  Michelle sat on the sofa in her living room, mug of coffee in her hand, staring at her open-mouthed. “No, of course, I won’t tell your dad. Bloody hell, Sophia.”

  “Yeah.”

  “How are you?”

  “Fine, considering. I haven’t had any morning sickness, thankfully.”

  “And how’s Thomas?”

  “He feels terrible, even though it’s not his fault. If I’d gone on the pill this wouldn’t have happened. I mean, we did want children, just not this soon.”

  “Are you bringing the wedding forward?”

  “No, there’s no need. Stephanie’s really relieved, she’s put a huge effort into it all. She was dreading having to move the date and me the church because of the press but they seem to have left us alone. You haven’t had any more trouble?” she asked and, to her relief, Michelle shook her head.

  “No, there’s been nothing. Will your dress need altering?”

  “No, I doubt it.”

  “So, who’s going to tell Lady Heaton she has to move again?”

  Sophia grimaced. “Both Thomas and me. Strength in numbers, and all that.”

  Lady Heaton took the request to move surprisingly well. “The corner apartment with the oddly-shaped rooms? Quirky, I think the television property programmes would call it. Yes, it will suit me. I will ask Stephanie to help me pack. I take it she knows?”

  “Yes,” Thomas replied. “Please speak to Des Fields about the furniture.”

  “I will.”

  Thomas nodded and they turned to leave.

  “Thomas?” Lady Heaton called and he spun around.

  “No. Nothing you say will ever make up for what you’ve done. We don’t expect to see you before the wedding.”

  “So you are going ahead?”

  “Of course,” he replied and they went out.

  A week before the wedding, the rehearsal was held at the church. If the vicar wondered where the groom’s mother was, he kept it to himself.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sophia spent her last night as a single woman on a camp bed in her father’s living room. The bed was uncomfortable but it was better than the lumpy couch. Stephanie and Michelle arrived at nine in the morning and the hairdresser half an hour later. By a quarter past ten, Sophia was ready and went to the kitchen to be out of the way as the others got dressed.

  “Dad?” she called softly from the door and he turned. She smiled. He was wearing a grey morning suit, and she’d never seen him so smartly dressed.

  “Oh, lass,” he whispered. “I wish your mother was here to see you…”

  “Become a baroness?” she finished and he chuckled.

  “She’d have liked Thomas.”

  “I know.”

  The cars arrived at a quarter to eleven for the short drive to St Margaret’s Church. In the graveyard, Stephanie gave The Dress a final once over then grinned.

  “Perfect. All set to marry my little brother?”

  “I am.”

  “I still can’t believe you’re going to Ireland on honeymoon. It’ll rain.”

  “I know, but we’re still going.”

  “All right. Now, let’s take our places.”

  As the bridal party neared the top of the church, Thomas turned and Sophia smiled. He was wearing a black morning suit and had never looked more handsome.

  “Hello,” he whispered.

  “Hello,” she replied.

  Half an hour later they were married and, after greeting the congregation at the door of the church, the new Baroness Heaton took her husband’s hand and led him to her mother’s grave. She carefully crouched down and laid her bouquet on the grave.

  “I hope you like the flowers, Mum. White roses were always your favourite. This is Thomas, Mum. Your new son-in-law. Oh, and I’d better tell you now – you’re going to be a granny. I’ll come and see you when Thomas and I get back from Ireland. We’re going to see where Thomas’ ancestors lived. Love you, Mum.”

  She straightened up and Thomas kissed her forehead.

  During the group photographs, Lady Heaton stood stiffly next to an equally rigid Thomas on the front steps of Heaton Abbey House, before she went back to the marquee as the more informal photographs were taken. She was seated next to Thomas at the meal but apart from exchanging pleasantries about how well the day was going, in order to keep up appearances, they didn’t speak.

  “Happy?” he whispered to Sophia as they began the dancing.

  “Tired,” she admitted. “But happy.”

  “Tell me when you want to go to bed.”

  She smiled. “I will.”

  “You look so beautiful. Is that really
one of Stephanie’s dresses?”

  “Yes.” She laughed. “We did experiment with a more Renaissance style but I looked like a Pantomime Dame.”

  “Come outside for a few minutes.” He took her hand and led her out onto the lawn. “I’m melting in this suit.”

  “You look gorgeous…” She followed his gaze, watching as Andrew and Stephanie hurried into the wood on the other side of the lawn.

  “Well, well,” he murmured. “Did you know about them?”

  “No. Did you?” she asked and he shook his head. “Well, good for them.”

  He didn’t reply and she frowned then jumped, hearing someone approach. Turning around, her heart sank on seeing her new ‘mother in law’.

  “I wanted to speak to you both before you left.”

  “Yes?” Thomas prompted.

  “I wanted to say what a handsome couple you make and I hope you’ll be very happy.”

  “Is that it?”

  “Thomas.” She laid a hand on his arm.

  “No. After all you’ve done – after all you’ve done to interfere – you can just stand there and hope Sophia and I will be very happy. You bloody-well know we’ll be very happy – you wouldn’t have matched us up if you hadn’t known we’d be very happy.”

  Lady Heaton nodded. “Have you seen Stephanie?”

  “No. We haven’t.”

  “Very well. Enjoy your honeymoon.”

  Sophia watched as she walked away before turning to Thomas. “Let’s do a circuit of the lawn then go back into the marquee. It’s a bit early to go to bed.”

  “All right.” He sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I can hardly bear to even look at her now.”

  “Come on.” Taking his hand, they began to walk around the edge of the lawn. Passing the wood, they could hear Stephanie giggling and Andrew shushing her.

  “It’s all right, it’s only the baron and baroness.” Stephanie stepped out from behind a tree, Andrew following.

  “Sorry,” Thomas told her. “We didn’t mean to spy on you.”

  “It doesn’t matter. We were going to ‘come out’, so to speak when you got back from Ireland. We’ve been seeing each other for a couple of months now.”

  “Does anyone know?”

  “No. Not even Lady Heaton.”

  “Lucky you,” Thomas muttered.

  “Now, now.” Stephanie wagged a finger at him. “You’ve just married this beautiful woman, you’re going to be a father, and you’ve never been so happy. So enough of that. Yes?”

  He smiled. “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  “What time are you off tomorrow?” Andrew asked.

  “I’m driving them to the airport at ten,” Stephanie told him. “Can you pass me my camera?”

  Andrew pulled a pink digital camera from the inside pocket of his morning suit and passed it to her.

  “I want to take a couple of informal photos, Sophia,” Stephanie added and Thomas groaned. “Mr and Mrs Heaton-type photos, not Baron and Baroness Heaton portraits.”

  “Thomas.” She nudged him. “I can count on one hand the number of photos you actually smiled in. Kiss me?”

  He smiled, tilted her face up, and kissed her lips.

  “Excellent.” Stephanie circled them, her digital camera beeping. “Now, put an arm around her. Good.”

  “Can I take a couple of you and Andrew?” Sophia offered.

  “Wow – photographed by the bride. Thank you.” Stephanie handed the camera over and threw her arms around Andrew’s neck as Sophia began to photograph them.

  “Maybe a couple of you not trying to strangle my best man?” Thomas suggested.

  “Okay.” Stephanie let Andrew go and planted a noisy kiss on his lips. “Oh, Sophia, you’ll never guess?”

  “No, probably not.”

  “Michelle’s just told me that your friend Gavin’s just been outed by his mum.”

  Sophia’s eyes bulged. “What?”

  “Apparently, his mum’s known he’s gay all along.”

  “What about his dad?”

  “She sat him down and told him when Gavin turned twenty-one.”

  “I don’t believe it. They’ve known for the best part of fifteen years and not let on to Gavin?”

  Stephanie shrugged. “Michelle said the whole thing would be perfect for Jerry Springer. Once we’ve all been on, of course.”

  “There you are.” Turning, Sophia saw Danielle approaching them carefully across the grass in her high heels and returned the camera to Andrew. “I wanted to see you before you left.”

  “We’ll go back to the marquee.” Stephanie kissed Danielle’s cheek as she passed. “And chat to you later.”

  Danielle nodded before turning back. “You look beautiful – both of you.”

  “Thank you,” Sophia smiled, feeling Thomas squeezing her hand. “So do you.” She glanced up at him, knowing he wanted to tell his mother about the baby, and smiled.

  “While we have you on your own, we want to let you into a little secret.”

  “Oh?”

  “Sophia’s expecting a baby,” he told her softly.

  “Really?” Danielle clapped a hand to her cheek. “Oh, congratulations.”

  “Very few people know yet,” Sophia told her. “We’re going to announce it when we get back from Ireland.”

  “How are you?” Thomas asked.

  “Very well. I haven’t had a drink in four weeks.”

  “Keep it up, won’t you?”

  “I promise.”

  Returning to the marquee, they mingled and danced for a further two hours before giving Stephanie and Andrew a quick wave and slipping out otherwise unnoticed. Thomas was quiet as they climbed the steps to the front door.

  “What is it?” she asked softly as he opened the door.

  “Come inside.” She did as he asked and he closed the door. He led her out into the middle of the vast hallway before stopping. “I never thought I’d find anyone to share this place with me. Look at it – it’s old, it’s huge – and it’s cold.”

  “It’s also historic, people want to see it, and we need to make the most of that.”

  “I know. Dance with me?”

  She smiled as he took her in his arms and began to waltz her around the floor.

  “You’re beautiful, Mrs Heaton.”

  “Mrs Heaton?” she echoed.

  “What do you want people to call you?” he asked.

  “Just Sophia,” she replied and he nodded. “I didn’t know what to call you in the beginning,” she went on. “Everyone called you, ‘Lord Heaton’, or, ‘my Lord’, and you never invited me or them to call you anything else.”

  “One thing I’ll always have to be grateful to Lady Heaton for is bringing you here. You were a breath of fresh air. If it weren’t for you, some archaeologist a few hundred years from now would have discovered a mummified me in my office.”

  Sophia couldn’t help but laugh and hugged him. “I love you.”

  “And I love you.” Taking her hand, he led her across the hall and up the stairs.

  THE END

  Other Books by Lorna Peel

  The Fitzgeralds of Dublin Series

  A Scarlet Woman: The Fitzgeralds of Dublin Book 1 - http://mybook.to/ascarletwoman

  Dublin, Ireland, 1880. Tired of treating rich hypochondriacs, Dr Will Fitzgerald left his father’s medical practice and his home on Merrion Square to live and practise medicine in the Liberties. His parents were appalled and his fiancée broke off their engagement. But when Will spends a night in a brothel on the eve of his best friend’s wedding, little does he know that the scarred and disgraced young woman he meets there will alter the course of his life.

  Isobel Stevens was schooled to be a lady, but a seduction put an end to all her father’s hopes for her. Disowned, she left Co Galway for Dublin and fell into prostitution. On the advice of a handsome young doctor, she leaves the brothel and enters domestic service. But can Isobel escape her past and adapt to life and the
chance of love on Merrion Square? Or will she always be seen as a scarlet woman?

  A Suitable Wife: The Fitzgeralds of Dublin Book 2 - http://mybook.to/asuitablewife

  Dublin, Ireland, 1881. Will and Isobel Fitzgerald settle into number 30 Fitzwilliam Square, a home they could once only have dreamed of. A baby is on the way, Will takes over the Merrion Street Upper medical practice from his father and they are financially secure. But when Will is handed a letter from his elder brother, Edward, stationed with the army in India, the revelations it contains only serves to further alienate Will from his father.

  Isobel is eager to adapt to married life on Fitzwilliam Square but soon realises her past can never be laid to rest. The night she met Will in a brothel on the eve of his best friend’s wedding has devastating and far-reaching consequences which will change the lives of the Fitzgerald family forever.

  A Discarded Son: The Fitzgeralds of Dublin Book 3 - http://mybook.to/adiscardedson

  Dublin, Ireland, 1881. Isobel Fitzgerald’s mother, Martha, marries solicitor James Ellison but an unexpected guest overshadows their wedding day. Martha’s father is dying and he is determined to clear his conscience before it is too late. Lewis Greene’s confession ensures the Ellisons’ expectation of a quiet married life is gone and that Isobel’s elder brother, Alfie Stevens, will be the recipient of an unwelcome inheritance.

  When a bewildering engagement notice is published in The Irish Times, the name of one of the persons concerned sends Will and Isobel on a race against time across Dublin and forces them to break a promise and reveal a closely guarded secret.

  Historical Romance

  Brotherly Love: A 19th Century Irish Romance - http://mybook.to/brotherly-love

  Ireland, 1835. Faction fighting has left the parish of Doon divided between the followers of the Bradys and the Donnellans. Caitriona Brady is the widow of John, the Brady champion, killed two years ago. Matched with John aged eighteen, Caitriona didn’t love him and can’t mourn him. Now John’s mother is dead, too, and Caitriona is free to marry again.

  Michael Warner is handsome, loves her, and he hasn’t allied himself with either faction. But what secret is he keeping from her? Is he too good to be true?