Lucy chose her moment to speak to Hartley. She had spotted him walking away from his table towards the restroom. Thankfully, she timed it perfectly, walking towards him as he came back out.
She wasn’t sure if what she was feeling was nerves. The only thing she was certain of was that she felt alive, with Hartley in front of her, getting closer. He was smiling. She had been sure she would feel nervous when she saw him but his speech had changed everything. God, it was good to see him again. And he wanted her too.
‘Hi,’ she said softly.
‘Hello, Lucy.’ Hartley wasn’t sure he could say anything else. She took his breath away. Lucy looked like she didn’t even belong in this world; there was something so incredibly beautiful about her whole being. That creamy skin merged with the satin of her gown, those pink lips, the sexy flush of her cheeks.
Lucy wanted to bottle that image, the way he was looking at her so tenderly, longingly.
But no, his face had clouded suddenly, like he had seen something awful. He was looking over her shoulder. Lucy turned. Bridget.
‘Hartley,’ she said, ignoring Lucy and placing herself between them. Hartley stepped back.
‘I am mortified and humiliated. I’m going home, so I’ll cut to the chase.’
Hartley’s eyes narrowed.
‘No matter what you might have said up there about that… woman,’ Bridget turned slightly to Lucy as she said the word, ‘there’s something you should know.’
Bridget stepped to the side, repositioning herself at right angles to both Lucy and Hartley, who were facing each other. Hartley looked Lucy in the eye. He said nothing but Lucy thought she understood his expression. It was strong. He didn’t want to say anything to Bridget. He would let her speak, but she didn’t matter any more.
‘In fact,’ Bridget said cockily, ‘there’s something you should both know.’
She looked irritated that neither was asking her what this thing she had to tell them was.
‘I’m pregnant.’ The words came out staccato, like machine-gun fire. Rapid, horrible, awful.
Slowly, Hartley looked at Bridget then back at Lucy. It was Lucy he addressed calmly.
‘Lucy, I slept with Bridget once, a few weeks ago.’
‘Yes, you did,’ Bridget said indignantly.
Hartley’s face was emotionless as he turned again to Bridget and talked to her for the first time.
‘Bridget, I suppose there may be a slight chance you are telling the truth, though I very much doubt it.’
Hartley’s voice was even. It seemed as though he had almost expected this. He was ready. Bridget’s posture changed, her bony shoulders dropping slightly. Still, her face was like steel, hard and determined.
‘Oh you do? Maybe I’ve known for months and not told you. ’
‘I can’t quite imagine you keeping that little secret to yourself, Bridget.’ She certainly didn’t look pregnant, Hartley considered as he took in her skinny frame. ‘If you were, I’d be there for the child.’
Hartley looked at Lucy again, his eyes softening. His expression changed the instant he looked back at Bridget.
‘But I’m ninety-nine per cent certain you are not pregnant. If, by some chance, you are, you should know something, Bridget. Even if you were the last woman on earth I could never be with you again, let alone love or respect you.’
Bridget let out a mocking laugh. ‘If I was pregnant you’d have to –’
‘No,’ Hartley cut her off angrily. ‘No, Bridget, I wouldn’t have to do anything. Nothing could make that happen. Now, please, leave us alone.’
Bridget looked at Hartley incredulously, her face crumpling as his words registered. She took Lucy in with a look of unbridled hatred.
Hartley’s eyes were once more on Lucy. He stepped towards her and took her hand, pulling her away.
As they walked off, Bridget felt tears of humiliation sting her eyes. She stood there for a moment, watching them. When she looked around, everyone looked so happy, so bloody happy.
Hartley leaned in to Lucy. He’d forgotten how good she smelled.
‘I’m sorry you had to hear that.’
Lucy could see things clearly, as they really were. She was sure Bridget was not pregnant. She had slept with Hartley, that was all, and that was in the past. Lucy turned to him, his face just an inch away. She could almost feel his warm breath. Her smile told him everything he needed to know.