‘We’re not going to make a scene and spoil Kate and Connor’s wedding, Oliver,’ she said decisively. ‘In fact, I’d like a glass of champagne, please. And I think a glass of water for Bella is a very good idea.’
Oliver was looking stunned that he was being outbid for control of the situation.
‘This is a very special occasion,’ Lady Dorothy continued. ‘Not only because it’s such a lovely wedding but it’s the first time I’ve been dressed up to go out for months. The first time I’ve been to a beach foryears.’
Lady Dorothy was smiling at Bella now and the message was clear. A kind of ‘keep calm and carry on’ message. She looked as though everything in her world was absolutely fine and she certainly hadn’t overheard any earth-shattering news. She also looked as though she’d done this before. As if she was employing a well-practised skill.
She patted Bella’s arm. ‘Help me back to my chair, dear, while Oliver goes and gets those drinks for us.’
The photographer was rounding up all the members of the Graham family now. Bella would need to join them for a group photograph soon.
Walking slowly and assisting Lady Dorothy, Bella watched Oliver’s back as he stalked towards the marquee. She sighed.
‘He’s very angry,’ she said quietly. ‘And I can’t blame him.’
‘He’s shaken up, that’s all,’ Lady Dorothy said calmly. ‘He needs a bit of time to get used to the idea.’
The look she gave Bella was, amazingly, almost mischievous. It made Bella remember the things Lady Dorothy had said when she’d been trying to persuade Bella to take the position as her private nurse. The startling admission that her son was a bit ‘stuffy’. That it would do him good to be ‘shaken up a little’.
Surely she wasn’t relegating the fact that Bella was pregnant into the ‘shaking someone up a little’ category? This was more than a little shake. It was a ‘turn the world upside down and rattle it as hard as you can’ kind of movement. But Lady Dorothy settled calmly into the chair, nodding her head as though affirming her words.
‘Running away is never a good way to deal with anything, you know.’
Bella’s eyes were still widening as she regarded this extraordinary woman who was old enough to be her grandmother.
‘I thought you’d be angry, too.’
‘Angry? Good heavens, no. Surprised, yes, but I know what’s been going on, dear.’
Bella could feel herself blushing. ‘But?—’
Lady Dorothy made a tutting sound. ‘I may be old but I’m not senile, Bella. Or blind. Anyone could see the way you two have been watching each other. Heavens above… that day I was out in the garden, Oliver couldn’t take his eyes off you when you were walking back into the house. And you had to have one more peek before you disappeared.’
Bella couldn’t deny it. She had felt that stare. And she’d seen him turning to his mother when she couldn’t resist looking back. What she hadn’t seen was that Lady Dorothy had been watching her.
‘I was hoping something might happen between you,’ Lady Dorothy continued. ‘But I wasn’t expecting this, I have to admit.’ The look she gave Bella was serious. ‘My son isn’t a man to shirk his responsibilities. He’ll do the right thing.’
‘Bella?’ Kate was calling her. ‘We need you for the family photos.’
With a nod, Bella went to join the group.
Therightthing.
What was that?
Did Lady Dorothy mean that he would offer to marry her?
Because it was the ‘right thing’ to do or because he wanted to?
She’d never know, would she?
* * *
Oliver handed his mother the glass of champagne, but Bella wasn’t there to accept the water. She was in the group of people that clustered around the bride and groom. Quite a large group.
Lady Dorothy took a sip of her champagne. She was watching the group being arranged as well.
‘What a lovely family,’ was all she said.
