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‘Yes, we are,’ he said to her, before turning to the rest of the room to continue the lie. ‘We’re deeply in love. From the moment I met Estelle last year, she bewitched me, and this year, she’s almost driven me out of my mind.’
Oh, god. I’m a witch who’s made him crazy.
‘Hurrah and Huzzah!’ cried Arthur.
Estelle’s head jerked from James to her father, who was clapping loudly, his hands in the air as if trying to encourage others to join in.
‘And aren’t they an attractive pairing?’ Arthur pointed at them as he pushed his way to the front of the crowd. ‘Think of how beautiful their babies will be!’
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ Vivienne said loudly from the back of the room. ‘If you’d all like to follow me into the dining room, dinner is served.’
Estelle kept her smile in place as her mom and mammy shepherded everyone out of the room, leaving Arthur, James, his mum, Henry, and Libby behind.
When the door shut, she dropped James’s hand.
‘Ho ho ho!’ her father chortled. ‘You took my advice! Jolly good!’ He paused, looking hopeful. ‘Unless this is real?’
‘No,’ Henry said forcefully. ‘It’s not.’
James tensed beside her.
‘Do you think they believed it?’ Bev asked, her face pinched with worry.
Arthur frowned. ‘I don’t know. That kiss was a bit lacklustre.’ He eyeballed Estelle and James, his gaze flicking between them like a sergeant major giving orders. ‘Next time, give it a bit more oomph!’
‘No,’ Henry repeated. ‘Dad, this is madness.’
‘Whatcha talking about? It’s just like you and Libby! Had us all fooled. Even me!’
‘But I had a contract to protect her. What does Estelle have?’
‘Your sister doesn’t need protecting!’ Arthur turned to her. ‘Do you, darling?’
‘Of course not.’ Her nails pressed into her palms. She looked at James. ‘I’m sorry for putting you on the spot like that. They were all looking so bloody hostile and I panicked.’
‘It’s okay.’ His expression was unreadable. ‘We can do this.’
‘No, you can’t,’ Henry said, his face thunderous. ‘From now on, you need to remain at least eight inches away from my sister at all times.’
‘Only eight inches?’ James replied blandly. ‘I don’t think that’s going to be enough.’
Henry took a breath, but his reply was curtailed by Libby dragging him away, and Arthur’s booming laugh.
‘Ha, ha, ha!’ Arthur clapped James on the back. ‘That’s BDE right there!’ He turned to Beverley and extended his arm. ‘Shall we get some nosh, Bev? I don’t know about you, but I could eat a bally horse!’
They went towards the door after Henry and Libby, leaving Estelle standing next to James. She didn’t know whether to step closer to him or further away.
‘I’m sorry,’ she muttered.
‘Don’t be. We don’t have to act any differently.’
Oh.
Disappointed, are we?
Shut up.
‘Estelle?’
