A Seven Year Hitch (18 page)

“Part of the agreement to our wager was that no-one was informed of our marriage and here you and Gerald are, turning the whole sorry affair into a play for all to see! I just cannot believe either of you would sink so low!” Erica fumed. “Fiona is very astute and will work it out quickly; if she hasn’t done so already, and then no doubt you will enlist her support, just as you have Gerald’s. Well let me tell you, a whole army of supporters will not help you win this wager, so conspire with as many of my relatives as you like!”

“Now sweetheart, you are only cross because you know you have only yourself to blame where Fiona is concerned. Admit it now, confession is good for the soul!”

Before Erica could make a scathing rejoinder, Ross warned, “Careful darling, Fiona may think we are having a marital tiff”

His smile showed genuine amusement as he glanced down into her stormy
, green eyes before greeting Fiona who had made her way over to them.

“I knew there was something you weren’t telling
me a few days ago,” She accused. “This play is about you, Trevellyn isn’t it?”

“ It is indeed based on an incident in my past I have to admit, but a very insignificant incident I assure you. Miss Wilmshurst’s referral to it the other day gave her brother the idea of turning it into a play.”

“But Gerry wasn’t there when Erica mentioned it so how could he know?” she queried.

“Perhaps someone mentioned it to him
,” Trevellyn said, knowing it would not satisfy Fiona.

“There were only the three of us privy to that conversation and I didn’t repeat it to him, did one of you?”

“I expect Trevellyn did,” jumped in Erica. “He likes to boast of his exploits with the fairer sex!”

“No, I
don’t believe I did, after all the incident involved a lady and it would not have been gentlemanly to do so,” Ross said with feigned virtue.

“Perhaps he heard it from the same so
urce as me,” Erica tried to mollify her curiosity.

“Possibly
,” Fiona agreed but still sounding unconvinced. “And you told me you did not marry a sixteen-year-old but in this play you do.”

“It’s just a play, Fiona,
” snapped Erica, concerned that they were becoming more and more embroiled in a web of deceit and half-truths.  

“And in my defence
,” Trevellyn added “I told you I did not attempt to marry a sixteen-year-old.”

“I see Gerry is ready to continue with the rehearsals. Come along, Trevellyn, I believe we are needed on stage
,” so saying, Erica placed her hand on his arm and almost dragged him away from her cousin, digging her fingers into his flesh for good measure but much to her annoyance, he did not so much as flinch.

“I am very much looking forward to the next part
” he commented. “I get to chase you around the stage, planting kisses on your peach-soft cheeks.”

“This is family entertainment, Trevellyn, not something from your debauched repertoire of activities. Gerald would not have allowed that to be written into his play, I’m sure
,” Erica stated firmly, confident in her assumptions that her brother’s script would have been governed by the fact it was for children and elderly relatives.

“A chaste kiss upon the cheek will offend no-one’s sensibilities, after all it’s all in the family”

“You’re not part of the family!” Erica said but Trevellyn ignored her as he continued, “Of-course, the final scene where I get to kiss your lips may raise an eyebrow or two, but then we are married you know!”

“I don’t believe you!” Erica flicked frantically to the back of her script, searching for the final scene as Ross continued his teasing.

“I know a kiss is going to be disappointingly tame for you darling, but we could hardly enact the true ending of our tale now could we? If I were to seduce you on stage, the shock would very likely kill the faint hearted among your family.”

Erica scanned the final scene and as she finished reading it, swore in a most unladylike manner.

“That is going to be changed. It will end with me waving the signed annulment papers for all to see! I shall speak to Uncle Richard about this. He will not let you and Gerry get away with this.”

“Don’t you think so?” Ross asked

“Of-course not. He will agree that my ending is far more fitting.”

“Oh, I only ask because he helped us write the final scene!”

Erica looked at him aghast as the full force of the conspiracy against her dawned. Those she held most dear were scheming in his favour and their betrayal was more hurtful than she could have believed possible. In that moment she wanted to run as far from them as possible and hide away forever. But first she wanted to cry, for their disloyalty cut deep and she was convinced that she would never recover from their treachery.

Seeing the intense pain flit across her face and dull her beautiful green eyes, Ross’ conscience railed at him. He took a half step towards her intending to draw her into his arms, regardless of onlookers, and make all better. But Gerald, who was standing behind Erica, gave a slight shake of
his head; reminding Ross that if he wanted to win the wager he needed to stand firm. His slight hesitation had given Erica time to stomp away, intent on gaining some space and time in which to compose her emotions.

“She has taken this badly, especially Si
r Richard’s and your part in it,” Ross said to his brother-in-law. “I don’t think I can stand to see her so hurt.”

“We are acting in her interests, Trevellyn. She has seven years of anger to expunge before she can accept that you are the perfect husband for her. Erica and I have always been close and I can read her like a book. She is irrevocably in love with you and she’ll only be truly happy if she allows your marriage to become a true marriage. And I would not be scheming against her if I didn’t think that you held her in an equally deep regard. I am not wrong am I, in believing your days of dallying with mistresses are over?”

“No, you are not wrong,” Ross confirmed “Your sister is the only woman for me and I will not let her escape from our marriage: from me. I even thank God for the bizarre circumstances of our wedding seven years ago; else she may have married while I was in France and before I had a chance to really meet her.”

“Shall we get on with the rehearsal then? I feel we have given Erica eno
ugh time to master her emotions,” Gerald said to Trevellyn before calling everyone to order.

The rehearsal was going well, and although Erica seemed subdued everyone assumed she was suffering from the remnants of the headache she had suffered the night before. Ross, to everyone’s amusement, made a great show of kissing her cheek and even got a small reluctant chuckle from her. He held her longer than was strictly necessary and was not surprised when she told him to release her.

“Quite right, gel,” Aunt Clara, who had popped in to see how things were progressing, backed Erica. “You don’t know where he’s been!”

“On the contrary, Aunt
,” Erica’s acerbic tone replied. “I know precisely where he’s been and that is why I want him to keep his hands, and everything else, off me!”

Aunt Clara gave a bark of laughter and spoke to Trevellyn.

“You’ve got your work cut out if you wish to charm my niece, Trevellyn. Gel after my own heart she is, and won’t stand any of your flummery!”

Ross jumped down from the makeshift stage that had been erected at one end of the room and kissed Aunt Clara soundly on her wrinkled cheek. “Then perhaps it should be you I try to charm. Why settle for a copy when the original is available?”

“Get away with you!” she batted him away but glowed with pleasure at his teasing. “Haven’t I just told you your charm won’t work on me, boy?”

She did however take the opportunity to pat his cheek and tell him he was a handsome lad.

Erica growled. It seemed even Aunt Clara was no match for her husband’s allure.

Rehearsals were timetabled for the mornings thereby leaving the afternoons and evenings free to pursue other activities. As the weather remained hot, Gerald’s suggestion to have a family outing to the seaside met with unanimous approval and before long a cavalcade of carriages and horse riders set off on the five-mile journey to the nearest beach. A groom had been sent on ahead to procure refreshments at The Swan; a hostelry renowned for it’s superior hospitality and to arrange for stabling of the horses. Thus nothing remained but for everyone to enjoy the treat.

Erica had chosen to ride and looked stunning
in a close-fitting riding habit; it’s russet colour chosen to compliment her hair, which she’d loosely tied back with a matching ribbon. Her jacket, worn over a cream shirt, hugged her curves and emphasized her trim waist and the whole ensemble was finished off with a hat fashioned on the lines of a bowler, which was perched atop her curls and tilted at just such an angle to shield her eyes from the afternoon sun. Ross took one look at her and felt his body heat. He stepped forward to assist her to mount, his hands spanning her waist and it took all his will power to lift her up and into the saddle rather than to draw her against his well-toned body. Once she was settled he released her but allowed his hands to trail over her hips and along her thighs before securing her foot in the stirrup. He was pleased to feel her tremble at his touch and looking up, saw his own desire mirrored in her eyes before she quickly averted her gaze and as good manners dictated, thanked him for his aid, albeit rather frostily.

Upon reaching the end of the drive, Erica and Michael stopped a few moments to speak to
Jim Forest the elderly gatekeeper who, along with his wife Annie, had lived in the gatehouse for forty years. Jim and Annie were firm favourites with Erica, Michael and Gerald for when they were growing up, Annie would always bake their favourite cakes and biscuits and Jim could always be relied upon to mend broken toys, or help them out of various scrapes. Many a time he had saved them from punishment by covering up their misdemeanours, but his disappointment in them, illustrated only by a sigh and a distressed countenance insured they never repeated that particular sin again.

Having said their farewells the two of them set their horses into a canter and upon catching their party, Michael neatly drew his horse alongside that of
Charlotte, leaving Erica to bring up the rear. Trevellyn, having dropped back in the hope of having a chance to speak with his wife, was intrigued to see her drop her riding crop just as a groom, travelling in the opposite direction, passed her.

“Oh, my crop
,” she said catching the man’s eye.

“No worries, Miss
,” the groom said and quickly dismounted to retrieve it.

The act in itself was not suspicious but the significant look that passed between them was. Trevellyn, who continued to watch whilst under the pretext of altering his grip on the reins, was intrigued to witness a missive being unobtrusively passed along with the crop.

“Thank you so much,” Erica smiled at the man and slipped the note into her pocket before urging her horse to walk on.

“Butter fingers
.”

“Pardon? Oh yes
,” Erica responded to Ross’ comment. “Was it not kind of that man to retrieve my crop?”

“Yes very. It was such a lucky coincidence that he happened to be passing when you dropped it, was it not?”

Erica shot him a suspicious glance but seemed reassured with his bland expression.

“Very lucky, otherwise I would have expected you to fetch it
,” Erica replied.

“Is he local?”

“Who?”

“The groom. He seemed to know you!” Ross persevered.

“Oh, no. Not that I am aware, anyway,” she told him.

“Strange, he gave the impression that he knew you.”

“He was just being polite, Trevellyn. We are getting left behind.”

But as she made to move on, Ross leaned over and grabbed her reins.

“No, ride with me for a while.”

“I think not, My Lord. I am still seething from your crass behaviour this morning and have no wish to converse with you.” Erica again attempted to move on but Trevellyn held firm.

“Oh come, Erica, the play is just harmless fun and no one has any idea that it is our story. Where has your sense of humour gone?”  

“Fiona knows! You promised to keep it all a secret.”

“Fiona only suspects, she knows nothing for sure and everyone else is still in the dark,” Ross assured her.

“And what about Gerald and Sir Richard? You have got my own brother and the man I view very much as a father, scheming against me. Have you told them the terms of our wager?”

“No I have not and you must not view it as a betrayal. Gerald and Sir Richard want to see you happy. They both want what is best for you and they see that as being marriage to me,”  Ross said, trying to ease some of her sorrow at what she saw as disloyalty on her family’s part.

“Unfortunately what they see as constituting my happiness does n
ot correspond with my own views,” Erica could not keep the hurt from her voice.

“I disagree. You pretend to being against our marriage and of disliking me, but that is all it is: pretence. You and I are attracted to each other and before you try to deny it, remember that I have felt your body respond to mine. Yesterday, we came very close to coming to an understanding, and I feel sure you would have been sharing my bed last night, if you had not overheard that discussion about mistresses.”