Lizzie Marshall's Wedding (21 page)

He stopped the car abruptly and turned to her. ‘What in God’s name gave you that idea?’

She swivelled round to look him full in the face. ‘Well, because when I said you were almost a father figure to Lily you looked horrified and when I said I loved you, you looked even more so. Terrified in fact. And you didn’t say a word; didn’t come after me when I left ... ’

He shook his head and sighed. ‘Oh Becky. What am I going to do with you? I’ll admit I was surprised when you said the father figure bit. Half the time I’m not totally convinced I’m an adult myself, let alone being a father figure to someone else and yes, I was astonished when you said you love me. After everything that’s happened to you I knew you would find it difficult to trust me, it didn’t occur to me that you could fall in love with me regardless. I knew you liked me – a lot, even though I’m not sure you really wanted to, that much was obvious but I thought I was the only one of us, really in danger of getting a broken heart at this stage. Honestly, I thought you were holding back, especially as you said, more than once, that you didn’t expect it to last.’ He reached out a hand and stroked her cheek.

‘But you let me go – when I said I loved you. I went back in to get our things and you were nowhere to be seen. I thought you’d had second thoughts, to be honest, after all, you were the one who said you didn’t want a serious relationship and, well, you seemed to be angry with me.’

‘I was angry with myself – and I needed to think. I wasn’t expecting to meet someone and fall in love, let alone someone with a child. I knew I was falling for you but after you said those things, I realised it wasn’t just my heart at stake; it was yours and Lily’s too. And I had to consider the implications of that. The thought of being a father terrifies me, I’ll admit that but the first time I picked Lily up, I wanted to protect her. Does that make sense?’

‘Yes, it does.’

‘But we’ve only known one another for a few days and I wanted to take things slowly, especially after everything you’ve told me about your past. And I’m not really sure what’s happening half the time; it’s all happened so quickly. And when you ran off again I – ’

‘I shouldn’t have run off,’ Becky interrupted, ‘but you must understand, I meant it when I said I’m frightened, you’re so much more experienced at relationships and you seem to take everything in your stride, nothing seems to bother you. I worry about everything. I want so much to believe you and I do but then a little flicker of doubt sets in and I panic.’

‘I understand that and I understand why, but I said I wouldn’t lie and I won’t. There are no guarantees Becky. I thought I was in love with Lizzie and it would last a lifetime; it didn’t. I hurt her very badly and myself too. I don’t ever want to do that again. But things are different. I met her shortly after dad died and I don’t think I was really ready, not for marriage and the whole settling down bit, but I thought I was. I really did love her but ... obviously, not enough. I’ve changed a lot since then but I want to be sure, especially as it involves Lily too.’

‘But ... what are you saying Max? That ... that you think we might have a future together ... the three of us?’ She couldn’t believe her ears.

He smiled almost wickedly, ‘And at least twenty others, if my mother has anything to say in the matter. Apparently, Beckleston Hall has twenty five bedrooms; I still haven’t actually found them all.’

‘It does, but –’

‘Mum wants to fill the place with grandchildren.’ He met her eyes and held them.

Becky let out an excited little giggle. ‘Well then, we’d better go home and start practising,’ she said, leaning across to kiss him on the lips then pulling away.

He reached out and pulled her back. ‘I did mention I’m an only child didn’t I?’

‘Well,’ she said, in the sexiest voice she could muster, ‘in that case, we’d better start practising right away.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Two days after Becky officially became Max’s girlfriend he insisted on taking her to London to buy her a winter coat that would actually keep out the cold.

‘It’s because you don’t want your
girlfriend
looking like a bag of old clothes isn’t it?’ she teased.

‘Not in the least. It’s fine with me if you want to wear old clothes – although I would draw the line at a bag – providing they keep you warm and dry. Your coat does neither. We can go to a vintage clothes shop, and buy you a coat there, if you like.’

‘No. It’s fine,’ she said acknowledging that he was right. ‘But I will repay you; I can’t allow you to spend such a lot of money on me.’

‘Oh can’t you? It’s my money Becky, and I’ll spend it on whatever I want,’ he said, childishly, pulling a face at her to give added effect. ‘And I want to spend it on a new coat for my gorgeous girlfriend – oh, and a pair of good walking boots too.’

‘No Max! That’s definitely too much.’

‘The boots aren’t for your benefit, they’re for mine,’ he said, adopting a serious tone. ‘I can’t keep carrying you every time the weather’s bad. If I’m going to sire twenty children, I need to look after my back.’

Becky gurgled with laughter. The children were a joke but each time he mentioned it, Becky felt something stir inside her and the thought of having a child with him, was one she found more appealing by the minute.

‘And talking of children,’ he said, ‘I want to buy Lily a few things while we’re in town. No. Don’t argue.’ He pulled her into his arms and kissed her before she had a chance to.

‘I know you’re seeing Jess and Susie this evening so I’m only popping in for a few minutes,’ Max said one evening, handing her a letter addressed to Mrs. Rebecca Cooper, ‘Gerald asked me to give you this. It’s to do with Jeremy’s debts.’

 It was exactly two weeks after the Wednesday on which Max had taken the box of papers.

Becky took it from him and stared at the envelope.

‘I know you’re a very special young woman,’ he said, ‘but even you don’t have x-ray vision. It might help if you open it.’ He sauntered into the kitchen and took two glasses from the cupboard.

‘I’m nervous. Is it good news or bad?’

‘According to you, I’m a demigod, not Superman. I don’t have x-ray vision either. Open it.’

Becky tore at the envelope. She knew Gerald had been dealing with it; she’d had a rather curt letter from her solicitor confirming he’d transferred the files to Gerald Merriton and confirming his fees had been paid in full – something else Max had paid for and dismissed as having done for his own benefit. He liked the way she thanked him, he said.

‘Well?’ Max said.

Becky read and re-read the letter and the attachments at least five times then raised disbelieving eyes to his. He was holding two glasses of champagne.

‘You knew!’ she said, her eyes filling with tears. ‘Is this true?’

‘Gerald never lies. And yes, I knew and yes, it’s true – oh that rhymes! Here drink this.’ He handed her a glass. ‘Here’s to a debt free future.’ He clinked glasses and took a sip. ‘I’ve brought another two bottles so that you can celebrate with your friends.’

‘But how?’ She still couldn’t believe it. ‘It took me over six months to get them all to agree to the original scheme and I had at least another three or four years of repayments to go!’

‘Yes, and I told you that was rubbish. You had just lost your husband, your inheritance, and most of your money, you were hardly in a fit state to deal with these people and – as I’ve said, your solicitor was useless. He should have contested the debts immediately. Some you still would have been liable for but some of them, in our opinions, you should never have agreed to repay although it would have been a complex issue to prove. We just said that, as they were now saying the original agreement was void, we would agree but we intended to contest the loans, basically, on the grounds I’ve just outlined, but that we were prepared to settle on the basis that they accepted what you’d already paid in full and final settlement. A couple of them got bolshie; we stood our ground and gave them twenty-four hours to agree. They did. Anyway, I just wanted you to know as soon as possible so that you can stop worrying.’

He kissed her on the nose and was about to head towards the door when she managed to shake herself out of her stupefied state and grab his arm to stop him.

‘Max wait! Are you sure you haven’t paid them or ... or something?’

He looked a little offended. ‘I’m sure. I told you Becky, I won’t lie to you.’

‘I’m sorry. But how? I really don’t understand. Why would they agree when they knew I was willing to pay them more? Why would they settle for less?’

‘I’ve told you. They didn’t want the hassle. When we said we would contest them, they weren’t sure whether we would or not. We may have been on slightly dodgy ground but they didn’t want it to drag out and let’s face it, you have already repaid quite a bit of the money. Better to keep what they’ve got than waste more time and money trying to get more. There’s always room for negotiation – if you know how to negotiate and believe me, Gerald does. I’ll dash off; Jess and Susie will be here soon.’

‘But I haven’t even thanked you. How can I ever repay you for everything you’ve done for me? I must seem really ungrateful but the truth is, I’m in a state of shock; I can’t really take this in. Does this truly mean that I won’t have to repay anyone another penny?’

‘Yep. That’s what all the attachments are. We’ve checked and made sure that this time, they’ve all agreed. There’s a letter from each saying the monies you’ve paid are in full and final settlement of any and all claims. They’re all pretty similar. Gerald drafted the letters. That’s it.’

‘That’s unbelievable. I’ve been paying this for five years and in just two weeks, you’ve wiped the slate clean!’

‘Gerald did most of it. I just had a chat or two with some people I know. I told you, he is the best solicitor you are likely to meet. And the slate’s not clean. You are indebted to me for one thank you; I did bring the letter here after all. You can pay me tomorrow.’ He kissed her on her mouth but it wasn’t his usual passionate kiss.

‘Not so fast. Why are you dashing off?’

‘Because Jess and Susie will think I can’t leave you alone for five minutes.’

‘They won’t be here for another hour; it’s Jess’s late night and Susie had some meeting or other with the vicar – don’t make any jokes. Lily’s already fast asleep.’ She wrapped her arms around his waist. ‘I can’t let you leave knowing I owe you a thank you, after all, having just got out of debt with one lot of bankers I don’t want to start getting into arrears with another.’

‘I’m not a banker now, remember – or anything similar sounding.’

She grinned up at him. ‘One day, you must explain to me exactly what it is you are now, apart from a demigod of course. You did say, but I’ll be damned if I can remember.’

‘That’s because every time I start telling you, you start seducing me, just like you are now.’

‘I just want to thank you.’

‘Okay. An hour you said; that should be sufficient time to thank me – at least twice.’

‘So that’s it? In two weeks you’ve gone from thinking you may lose everything to being debt free! That’s unbelievable!’ Jess said an hour later, curled up on Becky’s sofa.

‘And three bottles of champagne too! I seriously regret saying you could have Max Bedford,’ Susie said.

‘Like you had any say in the matter,’ Jess teased.

‘It is unbelievable though, isn’t it? And you know what? I’m going to start believing in Fate.’ Susie said.

‘I think I’m a believer. What with Margaret’s story, my parents’ too for that matter, Lizzie and Jack – ooh! I haven’t told you that one yet have I? About how Lizzie and Jack got together I mean. Margaret told me the other day. Not the whole story of course, just snippets but it’s truly weird.’

‘Don’t waffle then. Tell us.’

‘Well, when Lizzie left Max she went to stay with a friend in Scotland, bought a run-down farm, and converted it into a bed and breakfast. Jack and several of his friends went to stay for the weekend, for Jack’s stag party – he was getting married two weeks later – and he and Lizzie fell head over heels in love. Margaret doesn’t know all the details and it’s actually quite complicated but apparently Jack then discovered his fiancée was sleeping with his best friend! Anyway, after lots of other things happening and lots of misunderstandings, Jack ended up with Lizzie and his friend ended up with Jack’s fiancée.’

‘Bloody hell! That’s not fate, that’s a French Farce!’ Jess said, ‘and we thought our lives were complicated. I’d like someone to fall head over heels in love with me.’ She sighed.

‘Perhaps if you didn’t have pink and blue hair, someone might!’

‘Thank you Susie! There is nothing wrong with pink and blue hair, besides, if you love someone, you don’t care what colour their hair is, isn’t that right Becky?’

Becky nodded and refilled their glasses, raising hers in the air. ‘That’s right. Here’s to us all finding true love.’

‘You’ve already found it, but here’s to me and Susie finding it.’

‘True love,’ said Susie. Then, after taking a couple of gulps of her champagne, ‘I know you’re going to laugh at me for saying this but ... I’ve fallen for the vicar ... teeth and all.’

They didn’t laugh; they were too astonished to.

‘Susie and the vicar? Yeah, I thought there was something between those two,’ Max said when Becky told him the following evening.

‘Well, so far nothing’s happened but why did you think that? Jess and I had no idea.’

‘Because he always seems to be popping in to see her. I’ve only been around for about three weeks but every time I see him he seems to be either going in or coming out of her shop. I know it’s a Bridal shop and it’s possible they have a common interest but really – every day?’

‘Now that you say that, he does. I’ve seen it myself.’

‘Catholic priests can’t marry though can they?’

‘I don’t think so but he’s not catholic, he’s Church of England. I told you, remember? The confessional thing was a joke. That’s something I suppose, he has got a sense of humour and, the more I think about him, the more I realise, he’s not that bad looking. He just needs to do something with his teeth, and have his hair cut.’