Dory's Avengers (45 page)

‘OK, Mr Fellows, point taken. We were only talking about women. Come on, Louis, I could murder a beer. Does Gideon let you drink?'

‘Not usually, but I think he'll make an exception this weekend,' replied Louis, following Theo's lead and slipping into casual chat. Walking over to the pub behind Lee Fellows, Louis waited until the guard wasn't looking in their direction then whispered quickly in Theo's ear.

‘I don't think Cathie's right for you, nor does Gideon…'

‘STOP whispering to Lord Theodore, Trevelyan! If you weren't His Lordship's great white hope for the Olympics, I'd teach you a little lesson here and now.' Chuckling at his tremendous wit in describing Louis as the ‘great white hope', Lee Fellows positioned himself behind the two young men and shoved them both in the back.

The bar was buzzing with conversation as Louis and Theo walked in, Theo's guard in close attendance. However, there was no sign of either Catherine or Matilda. Making his way to the bar Theo could feel Philip and Simone's eyes on him, and suspected that their gazes were probably less than friendly.

‘Theo!' Flamboyantly dressed as ever and sporting a couple of diamante grips in his hair, Alan held out a hand from behind the bar. ‘Welcome to The White Lion, where later on the magnificent Dory's Avengers will be performing.' Looking at Alan, Theo was struck by two obvious facts about him – he was quite clearly gay and he was quite clearly Matilda's father.

‘Well, how did that happen then?' said Theo, immediately embarrassed when he realised he'd spoken out loud. Following Theo's train of thought, Alan threw back his head and laughed, the family resemblance becoming even more obvious.

‘Tried being straight for one night only; found it wasn't for me, but ended up with the loveliest souvenir. I'm Alan Santiago; I think you've already worked out that Matilda is my daughter…'

‘Who's currently upstairs with
my
daughter,' interrupted Philip Lorimer, his words taking Theo completely by surprise. At that moment, Catherine and Matilda walked into the bar together. Catherine's eyes were still a little red-rimmed, but there didn't appear to be any hostility between her and Matilda.

‘Put things right,' hissed Philip in Theo's ear, before picking up his drinks and returning to his wife.

Smiling briefly at Theo, Matilda went immediately behind the bar to help serve. Looking helplessly from Louis to Alan, who both just shrugged, Theo went over to Catherine still hovering awkwardly by the door.

‘Cathie…' he began at the same moment she started saying, ‘I'm sorry…'

‘Let's start the conversation again, shall we?' Theo said gently.

Seeing Lord Theodore lead Catherine Lorimer over to a table and sit down next to her, His Lordship's security guards relaxed a little. The Lorimer girl was company that Lord William deemed suitable for his son.

‘Cathie, I'm sorry about earlier,' Theo said. ‘I was behaving selfishly – you're quite right, this isn't all about me…'

‘But it is, Theo! This whole weekend's about getting you away from…' Catherine's voice trailed off, and she looked around to make sure no one was listening. ‘I behaved like a jealous fool,' she said when she was happy no one was
eavesdropping. ‘I admit I was upset when I saw Matilda talking to you, especially because of…you know…what she wrote in that letter…'

‘She didn't know I had a girlfriend…'

‘I know, Theo. Matilda and I have been talking. Yes, I know; it rather took me by surprise too when she turned up at the door of my room. She's not shy; in fact, you could say she's the antithesis of me. Mum was sitting with me, and I'm afraid she had a few choice words to say to your Matilda…'

‘Cathie, she's not…'

‘I know, Theo,' Cathie smiled sadly. ‘Not yet, anyway. Shush, Theo; let me finish! Mum was all for telling Matilda to get lost, but Matilda said she needed to speak to me. I was upset, as you know, but I wanted to hear what she had to say. Mum reluctantly joined Dad in the bar; they're not very happy with you, I'm afraid…'

‘I know!'

‘Matilda was quite blunt and to the point.' Theo couldn't help smiling at the accuracy of this description of Matilda. Seeing the smile, Cathie sighed then carried on.

‘She told me that she didn't know you had a girlfriend when she sent you that note. She'd heard all about you, liked the look of you in photos and decided that message would cheer you up. She told me she'd never have sent it to you had she known you were with someone else, and she said she was sorry about upsetting me this afternoon. She does fancy you, she was quite blunt about that, but while you've got a girlfriend she won't go near you.'

As Catherine fell silent, Theo looked over to where Matilda was dancing seductively around her pole. Try as he might, and knowing it was highly inappropriate at that moment, he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. Catherine continued, her voice low and wobbly.

‘I think I knew right from the start that this would happen,' she said, looking at her hands. ‘I spoke to you about it
that afternoon when you told me about your past, remember? The afternoon we first made love. I knew all along it was too good to be true. Now look me in the eye – that is, if you can tear your eyes away from Matilda for a second – and tell me if you'd have ever got together with someone like me if you'd been free to go out and meet other girls? Meet someone like Matilda, for example?'

Theo turned and looked into Catherine's eyes, but found he couldn't say the words she wanted to hear.

‘The only thing I wish you'd never done is told me you loved me…'

‘I believed it at the time, Cathie…'

‘But not anymore. Do you? If I'm honest, she's far more suitable for you anyway. Good luck, Theo; although I'm torn apart inside I wish you all the very best of luck for the future. Get away from Lord William! In doing so, you'll get away from me anyway, give me a chance to get over you. I know it didn't look much like it this afternoon, but I am capable of behaving with dignity for the duration of this weekend. Now, I'm going to tell Mum and Dad I've got a headache and go to bed. You're free from me, Theo. Consider yourself dumped! God knows; you've been trapped by His Lordshit for long enough; you don't need me trapping you too.'

Theo watched Catherine walk over the room, speak briefly to her parents, and then leave the bar with her head held high. It struck him as slightly sad he had more respect for her at that moment than he'd had for her at any time during their relationship.

Chapter Eighteen

It was unfortunate that the lovely weather of the previous day didn't carry on into Chris and Georgia's wedding day. Listening to the rain beating against her bedroom window as she woke, Georgie sighed briefly before grinning and stretching her limbs. She would end this day as Chris's wife, and no amount of rain was going to spoil a thing for her. Showering quickly she then dressed casually in jeans and T-shirt, it being way too early to put on her dress. Pausing to look at her beautiful dress hanging from her wardrobe, Georgie clapped her hands with excitement then went in search of coffee. She wasn't at all surprised to find Matilda and Alan already drinking tea in the kitchen.

‘Don't you two ever go to bed?' asked Georgia, laughing and putting on a pot of coffee.

‘Loads to do, Georgie dear; simply masses,' replied Alan, his attempt at a hang-dog expression not hiding the twinkle in his eyes. ‘If only you'd allowed me into the marquee after the rehearsal yesterday…'

‘Alan! You've got nothing you need to do until the flowers arrive three hours from now. You've got even longer to wait before the Unsponsored volunteers arrive to set out the food…'

‘I wish you'd let me set out the food, Georgie…'

‘You'll be at the wedding, remember? Your boyfriend's sister's wedding, yes? You've talked the volunteers through
every detail so many times, I'm sure they could set things out in their sleep by now.'

Alan was mollified for a second, then his brow furrowed once more.

‘Are you sure you can't get the florist here earlier? I'll need time to get ready you know; I want to be looking gorgeous…'

‘I'd give up now then,' said Matilda, grinning at her dad and putting the kettle on again.

‘Oh yes, young lady, getting back to the subject of not going to bed last night…'

‘Drop it, Dad!' Matilda's grin broadened as she remembered her stolen, magical hours with Theo in his room the night before.

‘Matilda! I know Theo's gorgeous, but what if one of those thugs had caught you…?' began Alan, before Georgie interrupted.

‘What's this? You and Theo, Matty? What about Catherine Lorimer?'

‘She dumped him. Poor Theo, he had to find solace by smuggling me into his bedroom and…'

‘Spare me the details, darling,' said Alan, getting up to make more tea. ‘It's more than your old dad can bear!'

‘So,' said Georgie, grinning back at Matilda. ‘Are you and Theo an item now?'

‘As far as we're concerned: yes. As far as His Lordshit's concerned: better keep it quiet. He was banging on the door at one point last night,' Matilda started to laugh, ‘Banging on the door while we were banging away…'

‘…Matilda…!'

‘…While we were making
lurve
– OK, Dad? His Lordshit was hammering on the door going: ‘‘Theodore! Keep the noise down! We all know you've got Catherine in there…'' Oh yeah, like little Miss Prissy would ever have sucked him off…'

‘MATILDA! NOT LISTENING!'

‘Oh sorry, Dad, but poor Theo! He'd never had a blow job until last night…'

‘AAARGH!' yelled Alan, clapping his hands over his ears and fleeing to the bathroom, leaving Georgie and Matilda helpless with laughter.

‘I don't really think your dad wants the graphic details of your sex life,' said Georgie, wiping her eyes and settling on the bench next to Matilda to drink her coffee.

‘I know, Georgie. I just can't help winding him up sometimes. Oh good grief, look! The walking dead!'

Dex had drifted, bleary-eyed, into the kitchen, helped himself to coffee, and sat down at the kitchen table opposite Matilda and Georgie.

‘Who's been upsetting Al this time?' he asked, looking at Matilda over the top of his mug. ‘As if I don't already know. Has it got anything to do with you spending most of the night with Theo?'

Georgie and Matilda started laughing again as Alan walked back into the kitchen.

‘Don't talk about it!' he said. ‘As if I haven't got enough on my plate today…'

‘Like what, Al? Putting a few flowers onto tables?'

‘Dexter! How could you? This is serious, and I'm so nervous…'

‘You're nervous? I've got to make a speech!'

‘And all I've got to do,' said Georgie, smiling serenely, ‘is get married to the man I love.'

In the Applethwaite Guesthouse, Lord William and his family were gathered at the best table in the dining room for breakfast. The security guards were sitting at other tables around the room, not daring to complain about their lack of service as all the waiting staff fawned around Lord William. Enjoying having a group of people to boss around, His Lordship was barking out orders.

‘More toast here! Coffee; piping hot this time, not lukewarm! Full English for young Adam and for me, scrambled eggs for Lady Marina. Just fruit for you, Rosanna dear? Sure? I do love a wedding…oh! Good morning, Theodore. I wasn't sure if you'd join us.'

Beaming indulgently at his son, who was asking for a full English breakfast with extra toast, His Lordship commented, ‘Extra coffee too, I'd expect, being as you didn't get a great deal of sleep…'

‘None of us did,' said Rosanna sourly. ‘What with him testing the bed springs and howling his head off all night.'

‘Your brother's a red-blooded man now, Rose, not a little boy anymore. I'm so excited, I do love a wedding…'

The conversation all passed over Theo's head. Smiling dreamily, he helped himself to coffee and remembered the ecstasy of spending the night with Matilda as the rain continued to beat against the window panes.

The wedding of Georgia Montfiore and Christopher Farrell was due to take place at two o'clock in the afternoon. By twelve noon the marquee was looking beautiful, and even Alan couldn't realistically find anything else to move around. The team of Unsponsored volunteers was all ready to set out the food for the reception while the wedding was taking place, and the floral displays were stunning. Torn between one last tweak of the decor and getting himself ready, Alan finally decided on the latter, knowing that Georgie had only given him a small window of bathroom time.

‘If you're not in and out of that bathroom between twelve and half past,' she'd said earlier, ‘then you'll have to attend the wedding as the great unwashed.' Knowing her brother's boyfriend as she did, Georgia realised that the only thing Alan feared more than the marquee not being perfect for the wedding was not being perfect himself. By twelve thirty Alan was showered, clean-shaven, dressed unusually soberly
in his best suit and enjoying a drink with the growing crowd of wedding guests.

‘By order of the bride,' he called out as he entered the bar, ‘all drinks on the house.'

Glancing around, Alan noticed that Catherine Lorimer was in the room with her parents, looking admirably calm and composed. Walking over to her, feeling vaguely guilty, Alan said, ‘May I get you something to drink, Catherine? You look lovely by the way.' Wearing a figure-hugging dress in dusky pink, silver high-heeled shoes and carrying a matching clutch bag, Catherine did indeed look lovely.

‘Dry white wine, please, Alan, and the same for Mummy. Daddy likes a pint of bitter. Oh, and don't worry on my account! Finishing with Theo was my idea.'

Amazingly, finishing with Theo seemed to have given Catherine a confidence she'd never had before. Although she felt saddened by the turn of events, she didn't feel heartbroken and she began to wonder if her feelings had been nothing more than infatuation. Smiling warmly at Catherine, Alan said, ‘Coming up right away, Miss Lorimer,' then went off to fetch her drinks.