by Annie Dyer
Imogen was drinking coffee and looking through a magazine, a bridal one, which settled the nerves that had ganged up in my stomach. Her hair was down again, the slight wave it had untamed, and she was make-up free, making her look younger.
“Did you sleep well?” I took the chair across the table from her.
She nodded. “If that mattress was a test to see if I was a princess, I failed. I slept so well. I need that mattress. Will your mother mind if I take it home?”
“Probably. But I can order you one for my house.”
Sunlight streamed through the window, the early morning mist having lifted.
“We should talk about sleeping arrangements. If I’m living with you, it’ll look strange to any visitors if we have different bedrooms.” She closed the magazine. “Maybe I could keep my stuff in your room, and sleep in a spare? When people do stay, or we go anywhere, we’ll need to share the same bedroom.” She swallowed hard. “And bed.”
I shrugged. I’d already thought about this and come to a similar conclusion. “We’re adults. We’ve already discussed the sex thing. I don’t snore and I’ve never had any complaints about sheet hogging.”
There was a knock at the door, and Suzette arrived with breakfast, settling everything on the table. I studied Imogen as she watched her, unused to this way of life.
“Do you have staff at your place in London?” she asked when Suzette left.
“I have a housekeeper who keeps everything clean and does the laundry, and I have someone I can call if I need meals prepping, but I generally fend for myself. There’s a driving service I can use, but that’s everything. I grew up with staff, which is a luxury, but it can be problematic too. If there’s anything that can be done to make your life easier too, then tell me and I’ll make it happen.” Carla had expected a whole staff team that mirrored Wastham, but she had no idea how to manage them and I suspected she’d treat them without the kind touch that Lady S had.
Imogen took the cover off the plate Suzette had given her. “Having someone do laundry is just amazing. I’m used to fending for myself, although we have a cleaner. We have to make a point to tidy up before she comes around though, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to see where to clean.”
“When do you want me to meet your sisters?”
“Sunday? You mentioned we could leave after breakfast, which means we could be back in time for Sunday lunch. You can experience revenge.” She grinned evilly. “My brother has already sent me nine questions about you today. He wanted to know what you were doing with me when you’d been out with Sophie Manegra?” She was some singer-model person he’d been seen with.
I groaned. “Seriously?”
She nodded. “I want to know what she was like, and did she leave any of her shoes in your closet?”
After breakfast, I toured her around the hall and some of the estate, covering the areas that weren’t open to the public. As it was a Saturday and autumn, there were tours going ahead, and an autumn nature trail aimed at children had been arranged for visitors to attend. The income from tourists was invaluable for the upkeep of the estate, and the hall was big enough to still maintain the privacy we needed.
What I didn’t need was for Imogen to be scared off by the slightly public life we had to live, and while it was by no means a celebrity existence, there was a role that I had to play occasionally, mainly because it helped to keep the history of the place alive and gave Wastham Hall a future.
We saw the wing that was more modern, the suites that Gus used when he stayed with his family, including the children’s rooms that Lady S had agreed didn’t need to look like they belonged in the last century. I showed her the ‘downstairs’, which were the staff quarters, half a dozen or so of them still living on site.
Then we walked round the gardens, my father’s greenhouse included, the last of the summer flowers still showing colour.
“It’s another world,” was her comment as we headed back to meet with my mother. “I can’t imagine what it was like to grow up somewhere like this.”
“Your childhood wasn’t that normal either. We went to the same school.” It was a way to probe what things had been like for her.
Imogen sat down on the bench next to the rose garden. “My parents were wealthy, but they were both away working a lot, so we spent summers on the farm in Ireland, and boarding school, like you know, but only when our parents thought we were old enough. When we were together it was good, but we didn’t live anywhere like this. New York was an apartment, and the farm in Ireland was pretty vast and there was a team of people who worked there, but nothing formal. We had to do most stuff for ourselves – there was a list of chores a mile long every Saturday and most evenings.”
“We had that too. Don’t think we got away with being sat on our arses doing nothing.” My father had words when I’d tried to get out of the jobs list once. And there had been an occasion where he’d made me do all the jobs of one of the housekeepers for a week when I’d driven his car into a ditch because I’d been going too fast.
A clock chimed the hour, meaning that we were officially late to tea with Lady S. I offered Imogen my hand. “We’d better go.”
“I’m nervous. I don’t think I’m ever this nervous – even when I’m in court.” She gave a half laugh, taking my hand and standing up.
“Don’t be. It’s just my mother, and she has no say over what decisions I make, or in this case, who I marry. Trust me, she’s been trying that one for years.”
We walked inside, heading towards the morning room where Lady S and my father would be waiting for us.
I opened the door for Imogen, allowing her to walk through first, then took her hand in mine. She gripped tightly, her nerves translating into her nails digging into my skin, which only made me have to stifle a smile.
“Morning, Noah. And this is Imogen.” My mother stood up, showing the full glory of her five feet nothing. She wasn’t dressed formally, in fact, she was wearing trousers and a blouse that suggested she’d be heading into the garden straight after this, which was a good sign. If she wanted to scare someone, she’d be in full formal mode.
“It’s lovely to meet you.” Imogen smiled, taking the seat that had been situated for us, a two-seater chair that I knew to be fairly uncomfortable after about twenty minutes.
“You too. I remember you from Noah’s school. You won the debating award two years in a row, if I recall correctly.” Lady S sat down. “But before we reminisce, this is my husband, Lord Soames-Harrington. He has the pleasure of being Noah’s father.” She glanced at my dad. Clearly he’d fallen into the bad books this morning.
He stood up, reaching over the table where a tea pot and cups had been arranged.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Imogen, although I do remember seeing you at your school once. You were with one of your sisters. I believe you work for your family’s law firm now?” He offered his hand, and she shook it before sitting down next to me.
Our legs pressed against each other, her warmth seeping through to my skin, and I inched a little closer, my arm slipping round her back.
“I do. I’m in the commercial department, although my speciality is dealing with property. I really enjoy my job, although it can be a little busy at times.” She smiled at my parents.
Lady S leaned over and poured the tea, clearly deciding on her next chess move.
“This announcement is very quick, Imogen. I’m not going to insult you; you’re clearly very bright, possibly much brighter than Noah, so you’ll be aware he’s only just about becoming a responsible adult. Are you sure this is what you want?”
My mother’s words almost had me on my feet, apart from the elbow my supposed fiancée jabbed into my side.
“I think everyone’s a work in progress, myself included, and so far, I think Noah and I bring out the best in each other.” She took her tea, even though I knew she’d find it far too hot yet. “I know it’s very sudden, and moving quickly, but there’s no reason to wait. Neithe
r of us are in our twenties.”
Lady S peered at her. “Tell me about your family. How have they taken this news?”
I half listened as Imogen explained we hadn’t told them yet; we’d been waiting to tell her first, which I knew my mother would approve of. The better she could control any fallout, the happier she generally was.
While they spoke, my attention was filled with Immy. The way she spoke, the way her hand would fall to my thigh after she’d made some gesture while explaining something, the way she kept up with my mother who sometimes considered conversation a weapon of war – I genuinely liked her.
Something felt right about this. The warning bells that had sounded a few days ago had completely stopped, and I couldn’t think of any reason why we shouldn’t go ahead and get married, apart from that she was planning on us being divorced in a year’s time.
That could change.
Chapter Ten
Imogen
Despite my nerves, I found Lady Soames entertaining. She was quick witted, skilled with words and thought quicker than most judges I’d gone up against. In fact, she’d have done well as a judge or a magistrate, something I mentioned to Noah, who just laughed and joked that she’d have just hung them all – at least I thought it was a joke.
We spent the rest of the afternoon looking round the rest of the hall and the estate, or at least some of it. It was too much to take in, the size and grandeur.
“We need to get Claire to tighten up the pre-nup,” I said to Noah as we sat on a sunny patio area, drinking sparkling wine from a family-owned vineyard in the south of England. “Although she won’t be able to do it anymore – I’d forgotten that. Conflict of interest with her being related to me.”
Noah nodded. He’d been quiet this afternoon, and I had wondered whether he was having second thoughts.
“I can recommend someone. It’s as much to protect me as you – I don’t want anyone accusing me of being in this for the money.” It had been playing on my mind a little too much.
He finished his glass of fizz and poured water into a tumbler, downing it in one. “Does this put you off? Having a foot in this world?”
“Honestly? No.” I shook my head. “Are you having second thoughts?” Best to get it out of the way.
“No.” His answer was swift and direct. “I’m more bothered about how us getting divorced will go down with everyone, including my parents.”
I nodded. I’d thought the same myself, and then I’d thought about how it would be for me with Noah as my ex-husband after that, whether we’d remain friends or just go our separate ways. That wouldn’t be easy. “Do we want to go through possible scenarios now?”
He shook his head. “You know, I think I’d rather just enjoy this as a big adventure. There’s one thing I’d like you to add to the agreement.”
“What’s that?”
“An option to extend. That if neither of us have met anyone else, and we’re happy to continue beyond a year, we can.” He didn’t look at me as he spoke, instead concentrating on something in the distance.
“We can add that. In the same way that we can end it earlier if we need to.” I reached for his hand.
He hadn’t tried to kiss me since the night at the restaurant, and I was disappointed. I couldn’t work out whether he was putting this in the ‘convenience’ box, or whether he was panicking. Tomorrow with my family would work it out.
He took my hand in his and intertwined our fingers. “As long as there are options. My mother’s sent her apologise for not eating with us this evening. They’re off to dinner at a friend’s house so won’t be joining us.”
“Is that good or bad?” I felt a jolt of panic.
Noah chuckled. “Good. She doesn’t feel the need to grill you anymore and we don’t have to put up with her.”
“I quite liked her. She’d get along with my Aunt Marie.” I’d thought as much while I tried not burning my mouth on the cup of tea. “Neither of them put up with any nonsense.”
Noah smiled. “Lady S has put up with enough nonsense with three sons. I think when Gus met Vivi she breathed a sigh of relief that she had another woman in the family.”
“She likes Vivi?”
“Yes. Vivi doesn’t waste her words and she’s good with people – hence being a doctor. Are you happy to eat here this evening, rather than go out?” He stood up, letting go of my hand.
“Sure. I think I’ll sit here for a little and read, if that’s okay?”
Noah nodded. “Dinner at eight in the Salon?”
I smiled, wishing I could see inside his mind.
He was the perfect gentleman, meeting me at the door to my suite, handing me a bunch of flowers he’d picked – read stolen – from his father’s greenhouse, and escorting me to the salon. He’d dressed down, wearing chinos and an untucked shirt, his hair still slightly damp from a shower. Him looking like this made me want to back him into a corner and kiss him again, just to see if that spark that I was sure was there last night still existed.
We talked about everything and nothing. More about his childhood, some about mine. I described my cousins in detail, ending up demanding a pen and paper so I could write down how everyone fitted together.
“You have a big family,” was Noah’s summary when I’d gone through the twelve of us that were round and about London, including Lainey in Severton. “Do you want your own some day?”
“I don’t know. It’s like I said – I see my cousins with their children and how difficult it is for them to balance work and family and the kids. Claire’s got three now; she works part time and somehow she makes it look easy, but that’s because she runs everything like a military operation. I don’t know how I’d manage. And I really like my job.” I felt bad saying it, because a lot of people expected a woman of my age to be hearing her biological clock tick and I just hadn’t yet. It made me feel guilty sometimes.
“Vivi was kind of the same. Their first child was an accident, and I know some days she’d happily send him back, but most of the time she’s happy he came along. I think sometimes stuff just works out how it’s meant to and it’s best not to overthink it.” He sat back in his chair, hands going behind his head. “Maybe that’s where I’ve ballsed up – I’ve not thought enough.”
A bottle of wine between us later, and a dessert that was sweet enough to keep any nightmares away, and I was walked back to my room through the winding corridors.
“I’m getting up early in the morning to see to some stuff at one of the farms – I need to speak to the tenant and it’s the best time to do it, so are you okay to have breakfast on your own?” he said, my door slightly ajar. “If you’d rather not, I’ll rearrange.”
I wanted to ask him to rearrange. I wanted to ask him to come in, so we could carry on talking, pull back some of the formality that he’d wrapped around himself today, and get back the flirt that had been there at the restaurant.
“You do what you need?”
And I did what I needed, so I put my hands on his shoulders and kissed him, half sweetly, half with that tinge of passion that I’d had burning all day.
I didn’t have to wait long for him to kiss me back. His hands went straight to my ass, cupping it and pulling me closer into him, while his mouth devoured mine. The kiss asked more of me than anything else he’d done that day, even meeting his parents, and that kiss made me forget everything.
I smouldered for him, toes curling, heart pounding, panties melting, all from just a kiss.
“Fuck.” He hissed the word as he pulled away. His eyes were heavy with lust. “You need to go to bed before I seriously scare you, Imogen Green.”
“I’m not sure how you’re going to do that.” I kissed him again, this time lightly, nipping his lip. “But I think I’d like to see you try.”
“Seriously, go to bed.”
I swallowed. He hadn’t let me go yet.
“Why don’t you come with me?” I heard the shake in my words as I said them, yet for the first time in
forever I felt I could be vulnerable in front of a man.
Noah shook his head. “Because as soon as we do, that agreement gets far more complicated.” He didn’t say anymore, just kissed me again, not as demanding this time, not as needy. There was a promise to it instead, only I wasn’t sure what for.
There was rarely a Sunday when my London family didn’t get together in some way, shape or form. Sometimes it was at someone’s house, an informal turn up with a dish, which could be surprising. Other Sundays, when Marie and Grant were staying in London, we’d end up at their townhouse where Marie would cook enough food for the family and any waifs and strays that might turn up on the way. Now Seph was with Georgia, there were less waifs and strays, but that didn’t stop Marie from still over-feeding.
Today, someone had the ingenious idea of booking a room at a restaurant that served a bottomless Sunday lunch, which included food and prosecco. I had no idea which of my cousins or siblings would be there – it was anyone’s guess what had happened the night before – so I couldn’t prepare Noah in exactly the same way he’d prepared me for meeting his parents.
We arrived fifteen minutes later than the given start time, which I knew wouldn’t make us the latest. Payton ran generally an hour behind; Ava could sometimes be later depending on what she was distracted by, and now there were several babies to add to the equation, when everyone arrived was anyone’s guess.
But I didn’t want us to be first there. The thought of having to introduce Noah over and over again wasn’t filling me with joy, hence the deliberate lateness.
There were about ten adults there when we arrived, including Seph and Georgia, Maven and Shay. Max and Vic were settling Lucy down for a sleep, or at least trying to, and there was no sign of Claire and her brood.
Marie and Grant were there, talking to my brother about something serious, but we went fairly unnoticed to begin with, until Shay noticed.
My brother had never felt the need to interfere with anything to do with anyone I’d dated before. Until today. As soon as he saw us, he put down his glass and headed over to us. The rest of the room, like sheep, looked over at the same time.