13

Nigel inhaled sharply as the car drove away. “That went well. Not.”

Chloe looked at him apologetically. “Sorry. I told the truth automatically.”

His hand itched to hold hers, but instead, Nigel slid it into his pocket. “It’s fine. He had to find out at some point that you’re not Chloe from Scotland. So what did you want to talk about?”

She hesitated. “It’s nothing important.”

“OK.” He dropped it. It had been important enough a few days ago. Not for the first time he began to doubt this whole charade. Perhaps he’d been wrong and it wasn’t from God after all. Maybe he was being motivated purely by greed and selfish reasons. He had no right to drag someone else down with him.

He glanced at her. “This is going to sound silly, but have you changed your perfume?”

“Yeah. The other one reminded me too much of Leon.”

Nigel leaned a little closer. “I like this one. The other one was too heavy. This one suits you.”

“Thank you.” She shivered.

“Are you OK? Not too cold?”

“No; the proverbial someone just walked over my grave, that’s all. It’s a huge house. Do you have many staff?”

He went with the change of subject. He had all weekend to find out what was bothering her. “There’s roughly fifteen dotted all over the house and estate. Not that I need them. James comes as and when I need him. Despite his complaints, Archie doesn’t live here and I’ve never really cared for the place.”

He gave Chloe the guided tour and a potted history of the abbey. Then he carried her bags up to her room.

Leading her back downstairs, he took her into the study. “So, now I’ve bored you to death with a history lesson, what’s bothering you?”

Chloe walked over to the window and leaned against it. “Don’t you think we should tell everyone the truth rather than lying to them?”

Nigel strode over to her, taking her hand. “I’m not lying to him. Just not telling him everything.”

“That’s the same thing and you know it.” She looked out over the courtyard. “I thought you said it was lying that got you into this position in the first place.”

“Are you getting cold feet?” He turned her face towards his, his fingertips burning at the touch of her skin.

“No…”

“Because we have an unbreakable contract.”

“I know that and I have no intentions of reneging on it, despite what Caleb tells me to do. I’m uncomfortable with the lies, Nigel. It’s affecting every part of my life. Praising God is hard, praying is hard, even going to church makes my skin crawl right now and that’s probably the wrong phrase to use, but it’s like God is looking at me and saying, “What are you doing here when you’re willingly sinning against me by lying to the whole world?””

He looked at her. He felt the same way, but couldn’t admit that to anyone. “Is Caleb pressurizing you to back out?”

“Not in so many words. He got me into this mess…”

“Mess?” he interrupted. Shock ran through him, pitting his stomach. He turned away, trying to rein in his emotions. “Well, I apologize for the mess, and I will do my best to extricate you from it.”

“I didn’t mean mess—look. Caleb signed me up to this website. It wasn’t my choice.” She put a hand on his arm. “Anyway, before your brother asks, my favorite color is yellow. I like sunrises, kicking leaves in the autumn, walking in the woods, roast lamb and mint chocolate chip ice-cream.”

Nigel didn’t know what to think or feel. She considered him and this whole situation a mess; told him that her whole spiritual depression lay at his feet. Perhaps he’d just back out and call the wedding off. It wasn’t fair to do this to someone innocent like Chloe. No amount of money was worth that.

After all, his salary would cover a mortgage or rent somewhere and he was planning on giving the house away anyway. He gripped her hand. “Chloe, look. I know we need to be honest with everyone, but is now really the time?”

“One lie piled on another doesn’t solve the problem.” She pulled away from him. “I can’t live like this and neither can you. Look what it’s doing to the both of us.”

The door swung open and Archie stood there, eyes narrowed and arms folded tightly across his chest.

“What’s up, bro?”

Archie glared at him. “Your voices carried. What aren’t you being honest about?”

Feeling like he’d been sucker punched, Nigel didn’t respond as Archie poured a glass of brandy and offered it to him. “Not for me thanks. It’s a long story.”

“Suit yourself.” Archie drained it and then picked up the one he’d poured for himself. “Since when did you give up the booze?”

“I gave it up for lent,” Nigel quipped. “Actually I don’t miss it or even want it anymore.”

“Punch drunk on love?” Archie drained the glass and went to refill it. “Is this part of your long story you haven’t told me.”

Nigel stayed his hand. “You sound like you’ve had enough on an empty stomach. And as weird as it sounds, yeah, I think I am.”

Archie grunted. “I just found the invitation to your wedding. Thank you very much, I will be honored to attend. I assume I’m the best man. And speaking of weddings, have you decided on a color for the ties yet?”

“Yellow,” Chloe said quickly.

“Your favorite color,” Nigel added.

Archie frowned. “Why Gretna Green and not in your own church or registry office? Surely it’s every girls dream to get married from home.”

“Because that’s what we wanted,” Nigel said quickly.

“Everyone knows you need a quick wedding, yes, but why Scotland? It isn’t as if you’re eloping, is it?”

Chloe spoke up. “They had a cancellation in our time frame.”

“Gretna Green were more than helpful,” Nigel said. “They provided all the forms we needed. We’ve filled them in, sent them back and got confirmation. It’s all legal and there is nothing you can do to stop it.”

“And when they find out how long you’ve really known each other?”

“What are you talking about?” Nigel managed as his stomach dropped into the soles of his shoes. His throat constricted.

“I should go,” Chloe said.

“No, you should stay. You see, I don’t believe a word you’ve just told me. I want the truth, Nigel. Why don’t you just be honest with me and stop lying like you said you wanted?”

Nigel took a deep breath. “OK. None of this is Chloe’s fault. It’s all mine. The lies are mine. I found her on an internet dating site. I’m paying her to marry me so I can get the inheritance.”

Archie’s face darkened. “You’re what?” He turned to Chloe. “And you agree to this deception?”

Chloe paled. “At first, yes, the money was the incentive. But I’ve come to care for your brother a great deal and as I was just telling him, we need to be honest with everyone now. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to ring my parents. See if they can come down and we can all sit and talk this through like adults.”

Nigel reached for her. “Chloe…”

She held his gaze. “I can’t lie anymore. I’m sorry.”

****

Rubbing a hand over her eyes, Chloe ran up to her room and shut the door. She pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed. “Dad, it’s me.”

“Are you OK?”

“No, not really. Can you and Mum come down to Thornhill Abbey in Dorset? We…I need to see you. Bring Caleb as well.”

“Can’t you talk over the phone?”

“No, I can’t. Please come.”

“Today isn’t possible. We’ve got an appointment this afternoon. We could come tomorrow.”

Chloe sighed. “OK. I’ll see you then.” She hung up and wrapped her arms tightly around herself. She dropped to her knees beside the bed, praying hard for an end to this. She loved Nigel, she knew that without a doubt now, but couldn’t go ahead with the marriage under a tissue of lies.