Lies and Weddings(49)
“I’d put that away if I were you.” Cosima looked up and saw Hemsworth standing at the back door of the orangerie.
“I…er…I was just trying to take some photos of these glorious orchids,” Cosima stuttered, jabbing at the screen frantically to turn off the video. “Vandas, aren’t they?”
“Yes. They’re all special hybrids that were cultivated by the earl’s mother, the late dowager countess. I’m afraid your interview is over for today.”
“Oh. Lady Greshamsbury was just about to tell me about the tobacco-lacquered room.”
“The tobacco-lacquered room no longer exists—the countess had it repainted the day she discovered Yves Klein. Let me show you to your car…”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“It’ll be my pleasure.” Hemsworth flashed his killer smile as he led Cosima out the back door of the orangerie. As he escorted her through the kitchen garden toward the mews, Hemsworth added, “I hope you’ve enjoyed your time here. You’ll be hearing from Sir Peter Nicholls very shortly.”
“Sir Peter Nicholls?”
“He’s the Greshams’ solicitor at Mishcon de Reya. He’ll be needing you to sign an NDA.”
“A nondisclosure agreement?”
“This was by no means a regular day at Greshamsbury Hall. I’m sure you understand that the countess is suffering from horrendous jet lag. It’s given her temporary bouts of anxiety and delusion.”
“Of course it has,” Cosima replied.
* * *
?
Bea strolled up to the cottage just as Thomas was placing his luggage into a waiting taxi. Eden stood at the doorway, waving him off.
“Off again so soon, Uncle Thomas?” Bea inquired.
“No rest for the wicked, I’m afraid. I have to go see a patient overseas.”
“Safe travels. I’ll try to keep Eden out of trouble while you’re gone,” Bea said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
“Isn’t it the other way around?” Thomas teased.
Bea winked as she walked down the front pathway toward Eden.
“I came round a little while ago,” Eden said as she showed her friend in.
“I know.” Bea could feel the muscles in her shoulders relax the moment the front door of the cottage closed behind her. Plopping down onto the plush velvet Knole sofa, she pulled her hair back from her face and groaned, “Let’s get shit-faced.”
“What can I fix you?”
“Vodka tonic, please.”
“That bad, eh?” Eden popped over to the bar to mix Bea her drink. She could tell from her brief encounter with Arabella that she was in the foulest mood, and she had an inkling that what the countess had overheard on the hot mic was partly to blame.
“Mummy’s been a ticking time bomb ever since Hawaii. Today the bomb finally went off.”
“Sounds like that needed to happen. Is she all better now?” Eden asked lightly.
“Definitely not. She’s in her bedroom with my father and they’re both screaming their heads off. Correction, she’s screaming her head off. Poor bugger.”
Eden handed Bea her cocktail, which she chugged in one go. Seeing Eden’s raised eyebrow, Bea burst out laughing. “Sorry, I’m not sure why I’m laughing. I think I’m in shock. You won’t believe what happened!”
“Tell me,” Eden said, sitting down on the ottoman in front of Bea. “Here, put your feet up.”
“A foot rub! God I love you!” Bea sighed as she stretched her feet onto a cushion on Eden’s lap. “So…apparently we’re going broke.”
“Broke? The Greshams of Greshamsbury?”
“Ridiculous, isn’t it? I think Pa’s just fretting as usual whenever Mummy overspends. I mean, Augie’s wedding wasn’t cheap.”
Eden laughed at Bea’s understatement. “No, it wasn’t. Still, it must be upsetting to your mum to think she’ll have to tighten her belt.”
“If you ask me, she’s more upset about Rufus and Solène fizzling out.”
“Of course she is.”
“Fair warning…she’s putting the blame squarely on us.”
“I had a feeling she would. Didn’t she notice herself that Rufus and Solène had about as much chemistry as a box of wet matches?”
“Well…she thinks you were the one who wet the matches.”
“You know very well I didn’t.”
“Yes, but she has somehow convinced herself that you…erm…shagged Rufus during the wedding banquet.”
Eden burst out laughing. “She’s out of her mind.”
“Precisely what I told her! I think Mummy was just shocked when Rufus’s voice came booming out of nowhere in the jungle, declaring his undying love for you. We were all shocked. And then the mic cutting out didn’t help things. Mummy’s imagination ran wild in the silence.”
“Obviously,” Eden said, more troubled by Arabella’s imagination running rampant than she let on. She felt her cheeks flush, and she looked away from Bea for a few moments.
“OWWW!” Bea suddenly yelled out.
Eden startled and let go of Bea’s foot, realizing she had been kneading it too vigorously. “Sorry! Um…that’s your kidney point. The kidneys hold fear when your chi is out of balance,” Eden hurriedly explained.