‘Thank you so much.’ I slip out of my hiding spot behind a thick pair of curtains at the window at the end of the corridor when Tom emerges from the pool room by himself. My phone is tucked safely in my handbag, the video saved and ready to unveil Archie as the real villain at Durban Castle. ‘You got him to reveal everything. I can finally show Alice his true colours.’
Tom shrugs and scratches the back of his neck. ‘His confession was a long time coming. At least now everyone will know I was telling the truth.’
‘Speaking of telling the truth…’ My hands are clasped in front of me, wringing like Lady Macbeth trying to wash away the blood. ‘Do you think we could have that talk now? So I can explain?’
Tom doesn’t say anything, and he doesn’t look too convinced, but he gives the briefest of nods. I lead him outside, and into the rose garden at the front of the castle, and tell him everything, starting at the very beginning. Starting a year ago, when Mum died and I ended my relationship with Edward. How I let the fear take hold of me, how it suffocated me until I freed myself. Freed us both, really, as I’d never been able to give myself fully to Edward. He’d wanted marriage and babies and joint mortgages, while I’d wanted safety, independence, a way out.
I tell Tom about Alice’s matchmaking. The exhausting merry-go-round of first dates, second dates, sometimes – occasionally – a third. I tell him about our pact: one week of intense matchmaking, one chance to finally find my Prince Charming, and then I would be free to live the life I wanted to. A life without complications and fear. A life on my terms. A life on my own.
I tell him I found a way out. A way to appease Alice while protecting myself: Archie. Prince Charming personified – or so Alice thinks. I used him. I pretended to like him, even when I thought he genuinely liked me. I played a silly game that neither of us could win.
And I tell him about meeting a wonderful man. A man I thought was gruff and insolent, but was actually battling his own demons. A man who seems to understand me, which is a first as I’ve never let anybody get that close to me before. I’ve never let anyone peek behind the wall I began to build up around myself when I was just a little girl. But I let Tom in. I’ve shown him everything I am, and it’s terrifying. But I would never take it back.
This is me, the real me, laid bare before him. Never have I felt so exposed, and I feel raw by the time I’ve finished. Tom has yet to say a word, simply listening as I empty everything out. I haven’t looked at him the whole time, my gaze fixed on the plump pink roses in front of me, but I peer up at him now, trying to gauge his reaction. Does he despise me? Think I’m a fool at best? I don’t even want to think about the ‘at worst’ option.
‘Tom?’ He hasn’t said anything, and I’m finding it difficult to read him.
‘I thought… When I kissed you…’ He shakes his head, his hands in his hair. ‘I felt terrible. I’ve been on the other side, and it doesn’t feel good.’
‘I know.’ I want to reach out to him, but my hands are glued to my sides. ‘But Archie isn’t the good guy in this, remember?’
‘Still.’ Tom puffs out his cheeks before releasing the air slowly. ‘It’s just all way too complicated for me at the moment, you know? I just want life to be simple again.’
I nod, totally getting where Tom is coming from. ‘I’ve been there. A lot. I’ve pushed so many people away because I was afraid of getting hurt, and that’s what you’re doing now. Pushing me away to protect yourself. Running away from your feelings because of what Lydia did to you. And I get it. I totally do. But I also know I don’t want this to be it for us. I don’t want to leave tomorrow knowing this is all we’ll ever be.’
Tom scrapes back his hair with a sigh. ‘What is it that you do want, Emily?’
‘You.’ I answer without hesitation. ‘Before I got here, I didn’t think I’d ever find someone like you. Someone I can be myself with without fear. I don’t want to lose that, Tom. I don’t want to lose you.’ I lift my hand, but it doesn’t reach Tom. ‘But I also know this is your decision to make. You know everything about me, the good and the bad. Only you can decide if you want me too.’
I turn then, much as it pains me to do so, and start to wander back towards the castle. Hope surges when Tom calls out my name.
‘What are you going to do about Archie?’
I swallow my disappointment as I grab my phone from my handbag and hold it up to show Tom. ‘I’m going to expose him for what he is by showing this video to everyone. He’ll be mortified, plus I’ll get to clear Alice’s name.’
Tom gives a slow nod of his head. ‘I like the idea of that. But won’t it take ages to get round to everyone?’
‘Not necessarily.’ I tuck the phone back into my handbag. ‘I have a plan up my sleeve, but I’ll need Carolyn’s help.’
Tom gives a sad, half-smile. ‘Good luck.’
‘Thank you.’ I start to move away again, but stop and turn to look at Tom. ‘You’ll think about what I said, won’t you?’
He nods, but doesn’t say anything more, so I head back to the castle to carry out my mission.
Everybody has gathered at the far end of the ballroom, in front of the little stage where the wedding band is set up, though there’s no longer any music playing. I find Alice in the middle of the throng and make my way towards her, but she barely acknowledges my presence, let alone speaks to me. Hopefully that will change when she finds out what I’ve discovered about her precious Archie.
‘I think Carolyn’s about to throw the bouquet early.’ I start when Alice finally breaks the silence between us. She was practically jumping up and down on the spot at the idea during the run up to the Big Day, but now she’s subdued, and I feel bad that I’ve put a dampener on her sister’s wedding. Perhaps the Archie reveal can wait until tomorrow…
But it’s too late. Carolyn gives a little wave in our direction from her position on the stage. She grabs the microphone and strides to the centre. My stomach churns in anticipation of what is to come.
‘Sorry about the little delay, and I’m afraid there’s going to be another one before we all head into the great hall for our delicious meal. Sorry.’ She holds up her hand. ‘I know how ravenous you are, but I’ve got a wonderful little presentation for you.’
Alice frowns and leans in to whisper, ‘She never said anything about a presentation.’
I shrug as my stomach churns again. ‘Change of plan, I guess.’
‘Francelia and I have been working hard for months to put together a slideshow of photos and video clips spanning the duration of my relationship with Piers, from our very first date to our rehearsal dinner last night.’ I’m sure I hear a few groans as Carolyn indicates the huge projector screen set up on the wall to the right. ‘We had a little preview last night, but now it’s time for the main show.’ She leans her head briefly on Piers, who’s standing to her left, before placing the microphone in its stand. She gives the nod to Piers, who starts to fiddle with the laptop connected to the projector. The huge screen comes to life, but it isn’t displaying a shot of the happy couple. Instead, there’s a rather shaky video image of a doorway, with a row of sunloungers coming into view.
‘The silly little tart was only cosying up to me to make Alice jealous anyway.’
Alice’s eyes widen at the unmistakable voice of Archie, and she looks among the crowd to try to spot him.
‘And do you know what? I was doing the same.’
Alice looks at me, and I give an apologetic shrug. I am sorry Alice’s bubble is about to burst, however necessary it is.
‘It isn’t a “little crush”,’ the video continues, and I see Alice’s mouth widening more and more with the video’s revelations.
‘What? You actually think you’re in love with her?’
There’s a commotion from the crowd, and then Archie appears, darting towards the stage.
‘What is this? Stop it immediately.’ He’s up on the stage, heading for the laptop, but Carolyn blocks his path. ‘This is an obscene invasion of privacy!’ He attempts to manhandle Carolyn out of the way, but Piers steps forward, leaning in close to Archie’s ear. I can’t hear what he’s saying from here, but Archie blanches and stumbles backwards, hands held aloft in defeat.
‘There was this one guy who had a criminal record. I mean, he’d only been cautioned for possession of cannabis when he was fifteen, but my info was enough to convince Francelia he had to go. Bad for the family image and all that. The funny thing is, it was a much lesser offence than Alice would have been slapped with if I hadn’t convinced Old Francie not to press charges when Alice stole her necklace.’
Archie’s face is a picture. He knows he’s about to be busted, big time, and there’s no way he can charm his way out of this.
I feel Alice tense next to me, but I place a soothing hand on her arm. All will be put right in a few seconds.
‘She didn’t steal anything.’
‘We know that, but everybody else thinks she’s as guilty as.’
‘What?’ Francelia seems to pop up out of nowhere. She pushes her way through the crowd as the whole confession unravels on-screen and the true culprit is revealed. Archie, still on the stage and with a complexion that resembles an overripe tomato, tries to laugh it off.
‘It was a joke, obviously. We were just messing around. Right, Tom Thumb?’ He looks about wildly, but if Tom is in the crowd, he isn’t forthcoming.
‘You.’ Francelia jabs a finger at her nephew, and although she has yet to reach the stage, he flinches as though she’s harmed him. ‘You told me you’d seen Alice taking it. That she was jealous of my relationship with her father. You made me promise not to tell anyone, that they’d all turn on you if you “grassed” on her.’ Francelia makes the air quotes with her fingers. ‘And it was you all along, you little shit!’
‘No, Aunt Francelia, it isn’t what it seems!’
The verbal tussle continues ahead, but I turn to Alice, who is still watching the freeze-frame on the projector screen.
‘I’m sorry. I tried to tell you…’ My words feel weak. My friend has been lied to and betrayed by someone she trusted, and I had a part in bursting her bubble.
‘It was him,’ she whispers. ‘All along. He made everyone think I was a thief, and he’s been controlling my life through Francelia ever since.’
Alice barges through the crowd with the force of someone twice her size. I scuttle after her, but she’s a scorned woman on a mission. She climbs up onto the stage and faces her adversary.
‘You pathetic piece of crap.’ She shoves him, hard, with both hands, and Archie stumbles back, falling on his arse in front of everyone. There are a few giggles and a whoop of joy from the crowd. ‘You lied to me. To everyone. You made everyone think I stole that necklace, including my own father. And why? Because I didn’t fancy you? Because I saw you as my cousin? My friend?’
‘You don’t understand,’ Archie says as he scrabbles to his feet. ‘I only did those things because I love you so much.’
‘Love?’ Alice gives an incredulous laugh. ‘You don’t hurt the people you love.’
‘You hurt me. Every time you and that silly bitch sister of yours laughed about my feelings. Tore them to shreds for a giggle.’
‘Excuse me?’ Piers is next to Alice then. ‘Did you just call my wife a bitch?’
I think everybody hears the crunch as fist meets nose, even those at the very back of the crowd.