by Alison Jack
The bar was buzzing with conversation as Louis and Theo walked in, Theo's guard in close attendance. However, there was no sign of either Catherine or Matilda. Making his way to the bar Theo could feel Philip and Simone's eyes on him, and suspected that their gazes were probably less than friendly.
‘Theo!’ Flamboyantly dressed as ever and sporting a couple of diamante grips in his hair, Alan held out a hand from behind the bar. ‘Welcome to The White Lion, where later on the magnificent Dory's Avengers will be performing.’ Looking at Alan, Theo was struck by two obvious facts about him – he was quite clearly gay and he was quite clearly Matilda's father.
‘Well, how did that happen then?’ said Theo, immediately embarrassed when he realised he'd spoken out loud. Following Theo's train of thought, Alan threw back his head and laughed, the family resemblance becoming even more obvious.
‘Tried being straight for one night only; found it wasn't for me, but ended up with the loveliest souvenir. I'm Alan Santiago; I think you've already worked out that Matilda is my daughter…’
‘Who's currently upstairs with my daughter,’ interrupted Philip Lorimer, his words taking Theo completely by surprise. At that moment, Catherine and Matilda walked into the bar together. Catherine's eyes were still a little red-rimmed, but there didn't appear to be any hostility between her and Matilda.
‘Put things right,’ hissed Philip in Theo's ear, before picking up his drinks and returning to his wife.
Smiling briefly at Theo, Matilda went immediately behind the bar to help serve. Looking helplessly from Louis to Alan, who both just shrugged, Theo went over to Catherine still hovering awkwardly by the door.
‘Cathie…’ he began at the same moment she started saying, ‘I'm sorry…’
‘Let's start the conversation again, shall we?’ Theo said gently.
Seeing Lord Theodore lead Catherine Lorimer over to a table and sit down next to her, His Lordship's security guards relaxed a little. The Lorimer girl was company that Lord William deemed suitable for his son.
‘Cathie, I'm sorry about earlier,’ Theo said. ‘I was behaving selfishly – you're quite right, this isn't all about me…’
‘But it is, Theo! This whole weekend's about getting you away from…’ Catherine's voice trailed off, and she looked around to make sure no one was listening. ‘I behaved like a jealous fool,’ she said when she was happy no one was eavesdropping. ‘I admit I was upset when I saw Matilda talking to you, especially because of…you know…what she wrote in that letter…’
‘She didn't know I had a girlfriend…’
‘I know, Theo. Matilda and I have been talking. Yes, I know; it rather took me by surprise too when she turned up at the door of my room. She's not shy; in fact, you could say she's the antithesis of me. Mum was sitting with me, and I'm afraid she had a few choice words to say to your Matilda…’
‘Cathie, she's not…’
‘I know, Theo,’ Cathie smiled sadly. ‘Not yet, anyway. Shush, Theo; let me finish! Mum was all for telling Matilda to get lost, but Matilda said she needed to speak to me. I was upset, as you know, but I wanted to hear what she had to say. Mum reluctantly joined Dad in the bar; they're not very happy with you, I'm afraid…’
‘I know!’
‘Matilda was quite blunt and to the point.’ Theo couldn't help smiling at the accuracy of this description of Matilda. Seeing the smile, Cathie sighed then carried on.
‘She told me that she didn't know you had a girlfriend when she sent you that note. She'd heard all about you, liked the look of you in photos and decided that message would cheer you up. She told me she'd never have sent it to you had she known you were with someone else, and she said she was sorry about upsetting me this afternoon. She does fancy you, she was quite blunt about that, but while you've got a girlfriend she won't go near you.’
As Catherine fell silent, Theo looked over to where Matilda was dancing seductively around her pole. Try as he might, and knowing it was highly inappropriate at that moment, he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. Catherine continued, her voice low and wobbly.
‘I think I knew right from the start that this would happen,’ she said, looking at her hands. ‘I spoke to you about it that afternoon when you told me about your past, remember? The afternoon we first made love. I knew all along it was too good to be true. Now look me in the eye – that is, if you can tear your eyes away from Matilda for a second – and tell me if you'd have ever got together with someone like me if you'd been free to go out and meet other girls? Meet someone like Matilda, for example?’
Theo turned and looked into Catherine's eyes, but found he couldn't say the words she wanted to hear.
‘The only thing I wish you'd never done is told me you loved me…’
‘I believed it at the time, Cathie…’
‘But not anymore. Do you? If I'm honest, she's far more suitable for you anyway. Good luck, Theo; although I'm torn apart inside I wish you all the very best of luck for the future. Get away from Lord William! In doing so, you'll get away from me anyway, give me a chance to get over you. I know it didn't look much like it this afternoon, but I am capable of behaving with dignity for the duration of this weekend. Now, I'm going to tell Mum and Dad I've got a headache and go to bed. You're free from me, Theo. Consider yourself dumped! God knows; you've been trapped by His Lordshit for long enough; you don't need me trapping you too.’
Theo watched Catherine walk over the room, speak briefly to her parents, and then leave the bar with her head held high. It struck him as slightly sad he had more respect for her at that moment than he'd had for her at any time during their relationship.
Chapter Eighteen
It was unfortunate that the lovely weather of the previous day didn't carry on into Chris and Georgia's wedding day. Listening to the rain beating against her bedroom window as she woke, Georgie sighed briefly before grinning and stretching her limbs. She would end this day as Chris's wife, and no amount of rain was going to spoil a thing for her. Showering quickly she then dressed casually in jeans and T-shirt, it being way too early to put on her dress. Pausing to look at her beautiful dress hanging from her wardrobe, Georgie clapped her hands with excitement then went in search of coffee. She wasn't at all surprised to find Matilda and Alan already drinking tea in the kitchen.
‘Don't you two ever go to bed?’ asked Georgia, laughing and putting on a pot of coffee.
‘Loads to do, Georgie dear; simply masses,’ replied Alan, his attempt at a hang-dog expression not hiding the twinkle in his eyes. ‘If only you'd allowed me into the marquee after the rehearsal yesterday…’
‘Alan! You've got nothing you need to do until the flowers arrive three hours from now. You've got even longer to wait before the Unsponsored volunteers arrive to set out the food…’
‘I wish you'd let me set out the food, Georgie…’
‘You'll be at the wedding, remember? Your boyfriend's sister's wedding, yes? You've talked the volunteers through every detail so many times, I'm sure they could set things out in their sleep by now.’
Alan was mollified for a second, then his brow furrowed once more.
‘Are you sure you can't get the florist here earlier? I'll need time to get ready you know; I want to be looking gorgeous…’
‘I'd give up now then,’ said Matilda, grinning at her dad and putting the kettle on again.
‘Oh yes, young lady, getting back to the subject of not going to bed last night…’
‘Drop it, Dad!’ Matilda's grin broadened as she remembered her stolen, magical hours with Theo in his room the night before.
‘Matilda! I know Theo's gorgeous, but what if one of those thugs had caught you…?’ began Alan, before Georgie interrupted.
‘What's this? You and Theo, Matty? What about Catherine Lorimer?’
‘She dumped him. Poor Theo, he had to find solace by smuggling me into his bedroom and…’
‘Spare me the details, darling,’ said Alan, getting up to make more tea. ‘It's
more than your old dad can bear!’
‘So,’ said Georgie, grinning back at Matilda. ‘Are you and Theo an item now?’
‘As far as we're concerned: yes. As far as His Lordshit's concerned: better keep it quiet. He was banging on the door at one point last night,’ Matilda started to laugh, ‘Banging on the door while we were banging away…’
‘…Matilda…!’
‘…While we were making lurve – OK, Dad? His Lordshit was hammering on the door going: ‘‘Theodore! Keep the noise down! We all know you've got Catherine in there…’’ Oh yeah, like little Miss Prissy would ever have sucked him off…’
‘MATILDA! NOT LISTENING!’
‘Oh sorry, Dad, but poor Theo! He'd never had a blow job until last night…’
‘AAARGH!’ yelled Alan, clapping his hands over his ears and fleeing to the bathroom, leaving Georgie and Matilda helpless with laughter.
‘I don't really think your dad wants the graphic details of your sex life,’ said Georgie, wiping her eyes and settling on the bench next to Matilda to drink her coffee.
‘I know, Georgie. I just can't help winding him up sometimes. Oh good grief, look! The walking dead!’
Dex had drifted, bleary-eyed, into the kitchen, helped himself to coffee, and sat down at the kitchen table opposite Matilda and Georgie.
‘Who's been upsetting Al this time?’ he asked, looking at Matilda over the top of his mug. ‘As if I don't already know. Has it got anything to do with you spending most of the night with Theo?’
Georgie and Matilda started laughing again as Alan walked back into the kitchen.
‘Don't talk about it!’ he said. ‘As if I haven't got enough on my plate today…’
‘Like what, Al? Putting a few flowers onto tables?’
‘Dexter! How could you? This is serious, and I'm so nervous…’
‘You're nervous? I've got to make a speech!’
‘And all I've got to do,’ said Georgie, smiling serenely, ‘is get married to the man I love.’
In the Applethwaite Guesthouse, Lord William and his family were gathered at the best table in the dining room for breakfast. The security guards were sitting at other tables around the room, not daring to complain about their lack of service as all the waiting staff fawned around Lord William. Enjoying having a group of people to boss around, His Lordship was barking out orders.
‘More toast here! Coffee; piping hot this time, not lukewarm! Full English for young Adam and for me, scrambled eggs for Lady Marina. Just fruit for you, Rosanna dear? Sure? I do love a wedding…oh! Good morning, Theodore. I wasn't sure if you'd join us.’
Beaming indulgently at his son, who was asking for a full English breakfast with extra toast, His Lordship commented, ‘Extra coffee too, I'd expect, being as you didn't get a great deal of sleep…’
‘None of us did,’ said Rosanna sourly. ‘What with him testing the bed springs and howling his head off all night.’
‘Your brother's a red-blooded man now, Rose, not a little boy anymore. I'm so excited, I do love a wedding…’
The conversation all passed over Theo's head. Smiling dreamily, he helped himself to coffee and remembered the ecstasy of spending the night with Matilda as the rain continued to beat against the window panes.
The wedding of Georgia Montfiore and Christopher Farrell was due to take place at two o'clock in the afternoon. By twelve noon the marquee was looking beautiful, and even Alan couldn't realistically find anything else to move around. The team of Unsponsored volunteers was all ready to set out the food for the reception while the wedding was taking place, and the floral displays were stunning. Torn between one last tweak of the decor and getting himself ready, Alan finally decided on the latter, knowing that Georgie had only given him a small window of bathroom time.
‘If you're not in and out of that bathroom between twelve and half past,’ she'd said earlier, ‘then you'll have to attend the wedding as the great unwashed.’ Knowing her brother's boyfriend as she did, Georgia realised that the only thing Alan feared more than the marquee not being perfect for the wedding was not being perfect himself. By twelve thirty Alan was showered, clean-shaven, dressed unusually soberly in his best suit and enjoying a drink with the growing crowd of wedding guests.
‘By order of the bride,’ he called out as he entered the bar, ‘all drinks on the house.’
Glancing around, Alan noticed that Catherine Lorimer was in the room with her parents, looking admirably calm and composed. Walking over to her, feeling vaguely guilty, Alan said, ‘May I get you something to drink, Catherine? You look lovely by the way.’ Wearing a figure-hugging dress in dusky pink, silver high-heeled shoes and carrying a matching clutch bag, Catherine did indeed look lovely.
‘Dry white wine, please, Alan, and the same for Mummy. Daddy likes a pint of bitter. Oh, and don't worry on my account! Finishing with Theo was my idea.’
Amazingly, finishing with Theo seemed to have given Catherine a confidence she'd never had before. Although she felt saddened by the turn of events, she didn't feel heartbroken and she began to wonder if her feelings had been nothing more than infatuation. Smiling warmly at Catherine, Alan said, ‘Coming up right away, Miss Lorimer,’ then went off to fetch her drinks.
About twenty minutes before the wedding Alan and Louis started to coerce the wedding guests out of the pub and into the church. Gideon and Chris had left a little earlier to take their place at the front of the church. Chris felt as calm and collected as his fiancée, while Gideon was a mass of nerves.
‘Good grief, Gideon,’ said Chris, laughing as he wheeled Gideon's chair into the church, ‘if you're like this about being my best man, what state will you be in when Louis performs at the Games?’
Laughing nervously, Gideon replied, ‘I was so pleased to be asked for today, I don't want to let you down.’
‘I know you won't, Gideon, that's why I chose you…’
‘We both know it would have been Elliot had he been alive…’
‘Of course it would. We also both know that Elliot would be delighted that I chose you in his absence. Now, come on! The guests are starting to arrive.’
The guests were indeed starting to file into the church, with Alan and Louis hurrying about showing them to their seats.
‘I thought Cameron was supposed to be helping you,’ said Chris, catching Louis's attention briefly as the young man hurried past.
‘I'll try one more time to prise him away from Chloe,’ replied Louis, grinning. Exiting the church, Louis was delighted to see Theo coming up the path with the rest of his family.
‘Cad! Bounder!’ whispered Louis, laughing as he passed Theo.
‘Heartbroken man, actually,’ whispered Theo in return, looking anything but heartbroken as he grinned and winked at his friend.
Louis was glad to see Chloe coming up the path behind the St Benedicts to join her father and friends in the church, an apologetic Cameron in her wake. Having been rushed off their feet, Alan and Louis sat back for the last five minutes and left Cameron to usher the final guests into the church on his own. Finally, everyone was seated, the only slight hiccough being Chris's parents’ obvious distaste at having Lord William placed right behind them. Hugging their grandchildren Theo and Marina warmly, they refused to even acknowledge the man who'd made their daughter's life so miserable. In return, they were ignored by their eldest granddaughter, Rosanna. Determined not to let the nastiness spoil their son's big day, Richard and Eleanor Farrell turned their attention back to Chris with warm smiles.
Outside, Alan signalled across the road to Matilda in The White Lion to let her know that the guests were all in the church and the wedding could begin.
Georgia Montfiore looked beautiful. It's said that every bride looks beautiful on her wedding day, but Georgia was a truly jaw-droppingly gorgeous bride. Dressed in a long gown of cream silk which clung to her curves, its sweetheart neckline complimenting her full breasts to perfection, Georgie swept down the grand old staircase of The White
Lion Inn on her brother's arm. Out on to the main street of Applethwaite she stepped, where the rain had finally given way to a soggy dullness, as her favourite love song started to play in the church. Hearing the music start Chris Farrell stood up, tall and proud, happy in the knowledge that he would soon be marrying the woman he loved. The Unsponsored photographer was capturing every moment as Georgie crossed the road, Jenny directly behind her followed by Matilda and Abi, while yet again a wall of Unsponsored volunteers kept the Sponsored cameras at bay. The Sponsored photographers weren't too disappointed; they'd got what they really wanted when Lord William emerged from the Applethwaite Guesthouse and allowed them to photograph him and his family in their wedding finery. After all, how could some Unsponsored bride compete with the head of the Sponsorship Scheme?
Georgie entered the church on Dex's arm as her song reached its crucial point, and there was nothing to compare to his Unsponsored bride as far as Chris was concerned. Nothing in the world. To Louis there couldn't be a more lovely sight than Abi; stunning in a simple dress of blue silk, her hair adorned with flowers. Looking over his shoulder, Theo felt pretty much the same about the identically attired Matilda; and he tried, unsuccessfully, to push memories of their wild lovemaking to the back of his mind in deference to being in church. Lysander had eyes only for his beautiful little daughter, looking more like her mother by the day, while Alan's gaze never left Dex for a second. Georgie walked slowly up the aisle beside Dex, smiling happily the whole time, until she stood level with her groom and the ceremony began.
Shortly after half past two the familiar music of the ‘Wedding March’ boomed from inside the church, and the Unsponsored wall totally lost its form as everyone rushed forward to greet the bride and groom. The doors flew open as the church bells started to ring, sending their joyful message into ’Thwaite's Wood and up to the fells that Georgia Montfiore and Chris Farrell were married. As the happy couple came out into the drizzly day to cheers from the Unsponsored crowds, Georgie kissed her new husband and whispered that she felt like royalty. The rain held off long enough for a few photographs to be taken in the church garden, before another downpour drove the wedding party back into the church and the Unsponsored in the street back into their homes. Formal photographs complete, the photographer followed the wedding guests into The White Lion to get some more informal shots of the celebrations.