Nick wasn’t deliberately loitering in the hall – it was just cooler out there than in the ballroom and less busy. If he told himself that for long enough, then he just might believe it, because the hall was neither cooler (the four sets of French doors in the ballroom were all open wide and he could have strolled onto the terrace if he’d wanted to) nor less busy, because the hall had a continuous stream of new arrivals.
Stevie wasn’t one of them yet, but he had it on good authority she was planning to attend – new dress and new shoes, Tia had informed him. Tia had also informed him that Stevie’s date with Saul hadn’t been much of a success. The knowledge made his heart pound.
As for Tia, she looked marvellous, although she had huffed and puffed about looking like a sack of spuds dressed up in silk and she had continually fiddled with the long skirt until Nick had told her to stop, else she’d have nothing but dirty marks over it.
He smiled softly as he recalled her insistence he drive around the back to the family’s more private parking area, so no one witnessed him lifting her out of the car and into her chair. He’d then spent a considerable amount of time making sure her hair was perfect and arranging her dress, before he accompanied her inside and into the air-kissing arms of the waiting Julia.
Actually, he didn’t think his sister would come, despite buying a new dress. Since the accident, she hated being on show, and with her revelation she was in love with William Ferris, Nick had assumed Tia would want to remain as far away from The Manor as she could get.
Far away… that’s exactly where his sister would be in a couple of months. Nick, not wanting her to leave, hadn’t done anything to help with the forthcoming move, leaving it all up to Tia and their mother. He was slightly ashamed of his lack of support, but not ashamed enough to offer any assistance, so Tia had spoken with the people at the council and had sorted out things such as having a disabled bathroom installed and the doors widened enough to accommodate a wheelchair.
The work hadn’t been done yet, which was why Tia was still living in The Furlongs. She intended paying for it herself, but the council wasn’t exactly pulling its finger out to give the necessary permission. And they insisted on using their own approved contractors which slowed the whole process down. But even before that, Tia had hit a bit of a delay when the powers-that-be stated they had to send the work out to tender first. No wonder it took so long for anything to get done. If their mother had listened to him and had let him buy her somewhere nice, then all this could have been sorted out weeks ago. But for once, Nick was glad of their mother’s stubbornness in refusing to leave the place she’d lived in for the past forty years, because it meant Tia wouldn’t be able to move out for a while yet. He intended to use the time to convince her that she and William were perfect for each other. She deserved some happiness and running away from Tanglewood was going to make her anything but happy.
‘Penny for them?’
‘What?’ Nick jerked out of his reverie to see Betty standing in front of him, looking resplendent in bright red.
‘You look as miserable as sin,’ she said. ‘Smile, it’s a party.’
Nick smiled but he was aware of how false it must look – until he spotted Stevie walk into the hall, then he couldn’t hold back the genuine beaming grin which spread across his face.
She looked wonderful. More than wonderful! The deep, almost navy blue dress suited her colouring perfectly, bringing out the red-gold in her hair and emphasising her smooth, pale skin. The fabric moulded itself to her curves, drawing in at her tiny waist before flaring out over her hips and dropping to a bubbling froth at her feet. Her hair was loose, tumbling down her back and (unlike Betty who was sporting scarlet lipstick), Stevie’s make-up was so subtle Nick wondered if she was actually wearing any – although her mouth looked full and kissable and her eyes were all smoky and revealed depths he could drown in. She looked sophisticated and elegant, and utterly delectable. Her shoulders were bare and he had a sudden urge to kiss them.
He cleared his throat and leaned down to give Betty a peck on the cheek, hoping the brief interlude was enough to get his feelings under control. He had no idea how Stevie felt about him, whether she was interested at all, but the kiss they’d shared… oh, boy.
‘You wanna get in there, my lad,’ Betty said to Nick, giving him a punch on the arm.
Crikey, that hurt. The old woman was stronger than she appeared.
‘Leanne, get over here and tell this stupid man what’s what,’ Betty called.
Nick glared at her, then at Leanne, who took absolutely no notice of his expression whatsoever, even going as far as to move in for a hug when she was close enough.
‘What’s up, Betty?’ Leanne asked.
‘Nick is in love with Stevie.’
‘He is?’ Leanne asked, her eyes wide as she stared at him.
‘I am?’ Nick asked.
‘And she’s in love with you,’ Betty continued.
‘She is?’ Nick and Leanne chorused.
‘She is.’ Betty nodded vigorously. ‘I can vouch for that.’
‘Why? What’s she said?’ Nick asked.
‘Nothing, but she doesn’t need to,’ Betty said. ‘You can tell by the way she looks at you.’
‘You can?’ He coughed. ‘I mean, can you? Really?’
‘Look, lovey, take it from us,’ Betty said. ‘Stevie likes you. A lot. More than a lot. And you like her.’
‘I do?’ He was beginning to sound like a right idiot, but he didn’t seem able to say anything more profound.
‘You do.’ Her voice brooked no argument. ‘So, pull your finger out and get on with it. Time’s a-wasting.’
It was indeed!
He’d only just taken a couple of steps towards the ballroom, when Edgar waylaid him. For a second, he debated ignoring the man, but his good manners wouldn’t let him, so he sighed and followed the lord into his study.
‘Well, have you had a chance to think about my offer?’ Edgar demanded.
‘We didn’t really get much of a chance to go into details,’ Nick pointed out. ‘But I do think there are enough riding schools already. There’s no need for another one.’
‘You don’t understand, my boy. It won’t be any old riding school – this will be for disabled people.’
Nick’s mouth dropped open but no words came out.
‘It was William’s idea. He felt disabled people shouldn’t be prevented from doing things like riding, hiking, archery and stuff just because bits of them don’t work too well. And I must say, I agree with him. It’s a bloody brilliant idea.’
It was and even though Edgar was probably looking at it from a financial, advertising and marketing point of view, Nick could see the potential.
He only hoped his sister would too.
William Ferris, Nick thought, you’ll make Tia a great husband.