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“Oh, I don’t mind. In fact, we’ve had less to do this week. Mr. Rex brought people in, you see. Mrs. Summerfield said it was like having a holiday. They arrived with this amazing truck with these high-tech refrigerated shelves. Custom-made trays with delicious food ready to go.” Leanne nodded at the canapés.
Feeling rather sheepish—given Leanne’s enthusiasm for the event—Carmen looked down at the tray. It was top-notch food, first-class catering. She helped herself to some dim sum.
“Mrs. Amery said he was on the phone every day, organizing things,” Leanne continued. “He said he wanted it to be perfect for you.”
Carmen’s heart sank. He’d been trying to please her, he really had. And she’d been churlish and awkward, much like the week before when he’d given her the dress and she’d reacted so poorly. It was only to be expected, given that Rex was unpredictable and couldn’t be trusted. But both times she thought the worst of him when he’d been trying to do something for her. Not without strings, she reminded herself. Yes, everything came with strings, when it came to Rex Carruthers. Strings and complications.
When he checked on her, later in the evening, she’d been chatting with two of the Beldover women she’d known at school. Both were married with kids and were delighted to hear she was going to be in the area again. It felt good, and when Rex joined her, she clasped his arm. “Thank you, it’s lovely.”
Mercifully he didn’t gloat. “I’m glad.”
Did she see a shadow pass through his eyes? It disturbed her. Had he been upset by her reaction? “I’m sorry—” she lowered her voice for his ears only “—it was just such a shock when I was expecting to be...alone with you.”
“As long as you’re enjoying it I’m happy.”
“I am.” She smiled. She really was.
Then a familiar face beyond him caught her eye. She froze. “You invited Amanda Mason?”
Rex took a sip from the bottle of Italian beer he held. He didn’t even look Amanda’s way. “Yes, of course. You were best buddies at school.”
He just stood there, nonchalant as anything, saying that. Carmen couldn’t believe it. But he didn’t know that she was aware the two of them had some sort of relationship back then, that Carmen had unintentionally discovered that they’d slept together, here in the manor.
“Can I get you another wine?” He took the empty glass from her hand.
“No, thanks.”
He looked so caring. She forced a smile.
Amanda was on her way over.
“Go, mingle,” Carmen told him. There was no way she could face the pair of them together, not without a few minutes to prepare for it.
Rex strolled off.
Amanda’s gaze went in his direction.
Carmen sighed.
Amanda Mason had been her best friend for a long while. When Carmen transferred to the secondary school in the neighboring town of Leemington, she and Amanda had hitched up because they were from Beldover territory, so they traveled to and from school together. They began to hang out, outside school hours. Amanda was a wild child, and they used to run her parents ragged up at their farmland, borrowing the quad bikes and churning up
the lane when they were bored. They’d been good pals, but their close friendship had been hard to maintain after Rex slept with Amanda.
It was jealousy. Carmen hurt, plain and simple.
It would have destroyed their friendship completely if it had continued, but Rex split with his dad shortly after and then he was gone from their lives. Until now. Even after Carmen had left for university, she’d stayed in touch with Amanda for a while. Amanda had even come down to London and they went out clubbing, but once Carmen had committed to learning her mother’s business inside out, that came first and she didn’t have time for a lot else.
Amanda arrived at Carmen’s side, even though she’d been watching Rex. She wrapped her arm around Carmen’s waist possessively, drawing her closer. “It’s wonderful to have you back,” she said, and then glanced back toward Rex.
Carmen wondered, somewhat bitterly, if anything ever changed. Amanda had been a great friend, except when Rex was on offer. Then all she could do was push past Carmen to get to him. “How are you keeping these days, still at home?”
Amanda grimaced. “Afraid so. I moved out for a while, when I got married.”
“Married? I never heard.”
“It didn’t last long enough to talk about.”
“I’m sorry.”
