Without Saying a Word (9 page)

Laura hugged her father warmly. He was short, stocky and heavyset. A thick gray mustache took pride of place on Paul’s top lip,  his gray hair cropped short. At seventy the retired bus driver and ex-army sergeant was in perfect health. He was the indulgent parent and loved both Laura and her sister very much. He had a large tattoo on his bicep of his old regiment’s badge, to the chagrin of his wife. He dressed sensibly for the long journey from Bedfordshire, and so the lightweight jacket with jeans and a striped jumper was perfect.

Paul Wainwright’s mustache tickled Laura’s cheek as he kissed her warmly. He held her away from him, and said in a deep gruff voice,”So what’s this we hear about you being engaged?” Taking her hand he looked at the ring sparkling in the late morning sunshine.

“Oh Laura, it’s beautiful,” her mother said. “It looks very old.”

“It is,” replied Maire,”It was Lady Clarissa’s engagement ring.” When Sophia looked puzzled Maire explained, “Lady Clarissa was the 10th Countess Leighton in 1775.”

“Countess!” Sophia exclaimed. “What’s going on?” she asked. “They never said anything about a countess.” Sophia looked at her husband who shook his head.

“Who didn’t say anything?” Laura asked.

“Rhean rang and asked me for permission to marry you,  then told me you were getting married on New Year’s Eve,” Paul explained. Laura smiled. It all made sense now. Hugo and Maire looked at each other and laughed.

“What are you laughing at?” asked Sophia.

“Nothing, Mum.” Laura tried to placate her mother. “But I think you ought to be introduced to Rhean’s parents formally.” Laura cleared her throat.

“Paul and Sophia Wainwright,” Laura began formally, “I would like to introduce you to Rhean’s parents, Earl and Countess Leighton.”

Paul and Sophia’s eyes widened. Sophia took a deep gulp of her champagne and choked. Smiling, her husband patted his wife gently on the back.

“Earl and countess,” she said incredulously. Sophia pulled out a chair and sat down on it. “Does this mean that you will be?”

“A viscountess?” inserted Rhean, who smiled satisfactorily. “Yes, Laura will be Viscountess Kirkleigh. I don’t use the title that often because of my job.”

Paul laughed and shook hands with Rhean and Hugo.  Sophia sat at the dining table drinking her champagne. She looked dumbfounded and slightly dazed. Maire, seeing her predicament, put her arm around Sophia’s shoulders and kissed her on the cheek.

“Relax Sophia, we are all family now,” she said and poured her another glass of champagne. Paul raised his full glass and standing in between Rhean and Hugo, looked decidedly small.

“As father of the bride,” he smiled warmly at Laura, “I would like to propose a toast to the happy couple, and to family.” They all clinked glasses and drank deeply, then chatted amongst themselves until Laura realized that it was past lunchtime.

“Shall I prepare something?” she asked. Maire shook her head.

“That’s already taken care of,” she said. “Hugo, Rhean, pop next door and fetch the lunch please,” she instructed them. Rhean gave his mother a cheeky salute and as he walked past her, she swatted him on the backside. Rhean leaned down and kissed Laura on her pouted mouth.

“You’d better get used to my mother,” he said with a chuckle. “This is tame. Wait till you know her better; she’s much worse.” Maire gave her son a pointed look. Laura could tell they were only jesting with each other.

“Paul, can you give us a hand please?” Hugo asked as they got ready to leave. Laura’s father took the hint, and all three men left the cottage.

Chapter Seven

The women were alone, so they cleared the glasses and made ready for lunch.

“Your ring is exquisite,” Sophia said. “Such an unusual stone too.” Laura looked at Maire who explained.

“It’s part of a parure, a set of jewelry that the earl gave Clarissa for their engagement.” Maire continued, “The main stone is a peridot which means marital harmony. The rest of the stones are diamonds set around the ring, and very light-colored sapphires.”

“There’s a portrait of them in the main gallery at the grange,” Laura said. “She is wearing the set, which is beautiful.”

“In the regency era, jewelry was often small but significant pieces. As the earl’s birthday was in September and Clarissa’s late August, he had their birthstones set together in a collection. We still have it, amongst many others, which Laura will be very welcome to borrow,” Maire said. She took a sip of her champagne.

“This hits the spot. Shame we don’t have any Irish.”

“Irish?” Sophia looked confused again.

“I think she’s referring to whiskey,” Laura said in a stage whisper. Maire’s booming laugh was very uncountesslike.

“Indeed I am,” Maire said after she stopped laughing. “Now Sophia, see how aristocratic I am?”

Sophia smiled and inclined her head in a salute.

“So Mum, how long are you and Dad here for?” Laura asked.

“We were thinking about a couple of days. We’ve booked into a B&B in the village.” Sophia busied herself taking plates and silverware from drawers. “And then we thought, seeing as its half-term next week,  you and the children might like to stay with us for a few days.” Sophia looked hopefully at Laura.

“Staying at a bed and breakfast?” asked Maire in astonishment. “That’s not acceptable at all.” She heard the door open.”Isn’t that right, Hugo?” she called.

“What isn’t right dear?” he asked, carrying a very large wicker basket.

“Sophia and Paul staying in a bed and breakfast while they are visiting,” Maire told him with indignation in her voice. “No, not right at all.” Her Irish brogue was very pronounced. “We insist you stay with us at the grange.” Maire glared at her husband.

“Absolutely right,” Hugo agreed. “I insist you stay at the grange as our guests.”

Laura’s father carried a fabric bag with the contents clinking. He placed it on the table, then pulled out several bottles of wine and one of Irish whiskey. “What do you say Sophia?” he asked his wife. Sophia looked uncomfortable.

“I’ll not be swayed now.” Maire was insistent. She put her hands on her ample hips and looked at Sophia. “Well? Are we in agreement? You’ll not find more comfortable beds or a better breakfast this side of the country.”

Paul walked over to Maire. “We would love to take you up on your kind offer Maire,” he said, then looked at his wife. “Thank you both.”

“Paul, give Rhean the name of the bed and breakfast, and he will cancel it for you,” Maire instructed. “And then Rhean, could you ring Graham and tell him that there will be nine for dinner tonight?”

“Yes Mum. Why nine?” Rhean asked.

“Us six and Laura’s three teens.” Maire tsked and went back to setting out the lunch. “And you a teacher too!” Chastised, he went off into the living room to make the phone calls.

Laura and her mother laughed at the interchange between mother and son. Mrs. Stevens had prepared a fine lunch—enough for a small army— of cold meats and various salads. She’d made a pasta dish, which Laura warmed up in the microwave, served with fresh crusty bread and butter, a very large pork and egg pie, and for dessert, a large lemon torte with a pot of double cream.

Hugo looked at the spread with a huge grin on his face.

“Now this is a lunch,” he announced. He poured chilled wine for everyone and sat down. Rhean came back in and sat next to Laura. He insisted that his dad sit at the head of the table, but Hugo shook his head.

“No son, this is your table now.”

Lunch was a lively affair. The two families tucked in to the delicious food and not a morsel was left afterward. Hugo, Rhean and Paul discussed the latest rugby matches while Maire, Laura and Sophia talked about the children and village events. They agreed that they would all stay at the cottage until the children came home from school, and then travel back to the grange in the minibus sent by Graham. As the men had been drinking, it would be the prudent thing to do.

After lunch, their parents went into the living room, while Rhean and Laura cleared away and made potful’s of tea and coffee. They heard Sophia and Maire call out together:

“Leave the dishes, we will do them.” They looked at each other. Laura wrinkled her nose.

“I haven’t had this much alcohol since I raided Mum’s sloe gin supply as a teenager,” she confessed. Laura’s cheeks were flushed from the champagne and wine.

“I think they are getting on fine,” Rhean reassured her.

Laura let out a giggle,

“My word, your mother is stubborn,” she felt relaxed enough to say.

You think that’s stubborn?” Rhean asked, arranging mugs and pots on a tray.

“If your mother refused, she would have taken their bags and held them hostage,” he retorted.

“No,” Laura replied in shocked tone. “Really?” Rhean nodded.

He let out a blast of laughter that echoed round the kitchen, bent down and kissed her thoroughly.

“If you do that to me one more time Rhean Tate...” Laura warned him by waggling her finger.

“Oh really. What will you do, Laura-mine?” he teased back as his hand caressed her spine, and lingered on the swell of her hips.

“I don’t hear that kettle going,” Hugo called, breaking their intimate spell, and Rhean and Laura laughed again.

They made the coffee and tea and took it through to the living room. Hugo and Paul were seated on the double sofa while Maire and Sophia were on the larger one in front of the window. Laura put the trays down on the large coffee table and sat in her armchair. Rhean pulled the cushioned foot-stool next to Laura’s chair sitting on it with his hand on her knee. Laura thought about the last time she sat in the chair—the day when her life had begun to change so much. She looked at each member of her family old and new and was very thankful indeed. The men were talking about computers. Paul gave in and joined the computer age and as Hugo loved technology and his gadgets, they talked faster than the women.

Rhean poured the drinks while the women chatted about the fayre, ball and of course the wedding.

“You’ll come for the fayre and ball won’t you both?” asked Maire.

“When is it?” Sophia wondered.

“First Saturday in December,” Laura confirmed. “The fayre is during the day and the ball is in the evening at the grange.”

“I don’t think we are doing anything that weekend.” Sophia looked at Paul. “What do you think?” Paul nodded.

“It gives us more time to spend with Laura and the grandchildren,” he replied. “I’m always up for that,” he said with a grin and winked at his daughter.

“Then it’s settled,” Maire declared. “Now, what about the wedding?”

“As it’s a second marriage, perhaps we could keep it quiet,” Laura suggested.

“First and only marriage for me,” Rhean inserted smoothly, and then he looked at Laura. “If you want a quiet wedding, fine. But I want the works. Formal wear, double rings, flowers and confetti,” he insisted.

“Anyone would think you were the bride,” Hugo teased him.

“Thanks Dad,” Rhean said, and made a face at his father.

“Color scheme then?” suggested Maire. “I do love the colors of Christmas.” She sighed. “All the reds, gold and greens. The girls would love all the tinsel and glitz.”

“Me too,” said Laura wistfully.

“What type of dress are you thinking of?” she asked Laura.

Laura thought for a moment and sipped her tea.

“I was thinking of waiting till until the half-term. I could take Maisie and she could help me choose something,” she said. Maire clapped her hands with joy.

“Do you have a maid or matron of honor in mind?” Maire asked. “You have a younger sister don’t you?”

Laura and Sophia went quiet and looked at each other.

“Have I said something wrong?” Maire inquired.

“Don’t worry Maire,” Paul said. He looked at his wife and daughter. “They’ll have to know sometime.” Laura and Sophia nodded.

“Nicki lives with Max,” Laura said quietly.

Maire and Hugo looked at each other.

“Your ex-husband, Max?” Maire asked in a gentle way.

“They had been having an affair since our wedding day,” Laura told them. “I won’t go into details, but we haven’t spoken since I found out.” But Laura didn’t tell them that she found out via a credit card bill. There had been a payment to a private fertility clinic. When she confronted her husband, he took great pleasure in telling her that he had been paying for IVF treatment for Nicki. Since then, Laura’s parents changed the way they treated her and the children. Laura suspected that her father must have paid Max and Nicki a visit, as when she saw Max at the police station, he sported cuts and a black eye that neither she or the children gave him.

“Laura?” Rhean said, bringing her out of her musings. She shook her head  back to the present. Everyone stared at her.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I went off in my own little world then.” Rhean handed her another mug of tea. Laura shook her head.

“Anymore and I’ll be swimming, Rhean.”

Laura stood up and went into the kitchen to try and steady herself. She felt better keeping busy. So she cleared the table, washed the lunch things and repacked the wicker basket. Laura saw the bottle of whiskey on the dining room table, took a small glass and opened it, pouring herself a small measure. She shuddered as the heat hit the back of her throat, like those memories of betrayal.

“God, that’s vile stuff,” Laura muttered.

“Drinking alone?” Laura turned when she heard her father’s voice. “Thought I’d taught you better,” he said with a smile. He walked over to her, picked up the glass and drained it. He let out a deep breath. “That’s the stuff. Mentioning Nicki brought it back didn’t it?” he asked with concern.

“Just a bit,” Laura admitted. Her eyes glistened with tears.

Her father poured another whiskey. As he brought the glass to his lips he informed her,

“She’s pregnant you know.” He handed her the glass.

Laura took it and downed the contents in one gulp. Unshed tears rolled down her face as she coughed when the heat of the alcohol hit the back of her throat.

“Oh Laura, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” her father said. He held her tight as she cried silently into his warm jumper. She felt safe and it had that unique”dad” smell that she missed so much. He stepped away, reached into his pocket and brought out his spare hanky.

“Feel better for that?” Paul asked then continued when Laura nodded.”It sounds as though the past few weeks have been a rollercoaster for you, and I know all too well you can only cope with one issue at a time. You were like that as a little girl.” Paul hugged his daughter.”I never said how proud I am of you since you moved up here.” Laura smiled.”I am, and I like Rhean too. He’s a damned nice chap and he will look after you and the children well.”

Laura nodded, and she felt a lot better.

“Are you two drinking my Irish?” Maire asked as she came through the doorway.”Pour me a glass please, Paul. I’ve drunk so much tea I could float to Ireland on it,” she said in her matter-of-fact way. Paul and Laura grinned identically as they watched the diminutive countess knock back her drink in one gulp.

The rest of the afternoon flew by while the three couples chatted, until yelling and banging announced the teens’ arrival as they barged through the door. When they saw their grandparents, the noise level increased to the point where Laura had to yell at them to be heard.