The Vow (23 page)

‘
Lucy, you were absolutely right to come to me. It’s my job to look after you now.’

Lucy knew it was
weak to want to be looked after but, upset and sad about Amy, this was just what she needed to hear.

‘
Can I stay with you until I sort something out with Dad or Ellen?’

‘
Of course, but why don’t you just move in permanently?’

She looked uncertain but finally told him,
‘No, not yet. Thank you, but it’s too soon.’

Having just successfully manoeuvred one disruptive influence out of her life, Marcus did not want her too close to a protective father, or the worldly-wise model.

‘Well, why don’t you move into my flat? That way you will be independent and it’s an easy journey to Camden.’

Lucy brightened.
‘Oh, could I? That would be great. But don’t you use it a lot for visitors and stuff?’

‘
Not really. It’s mainly for my own use when I need to be up in town late, and for one or two business associates who prefer it to a hotel. No one’s due for a while so it’s all yours.’

Lucy was relieved to be offered this solution. It seemed a bit unfair to foist herself on the newly weds and Ellen lived such a hectic life she didn’t want to be in her way.

Marcus pointed to yet another door. ‘That’s the bathroom. Why don’t you freshen up and then we’ll go for some lunch. Saule can take you to the flat later.’

As the door closed behind her he picked up the phone.

‘Is everything in place? Double check it anyway, Lucy’s moving in this afternoon. Yes, it worked like a charm. She’ll be ready to collect around two.’

~

Saule carried in all her baggage, explained how the entry phone worked, gave her the keys and left her to settle in. Lucy looked around her. It was spacious, well equipped, the carpet felt a foot deep and the furniture was of the highest quality. Apart from the two paintings, which she recognised as Theo Lattimer’s work, she could have been in a hotel suite; a very expensive hotel. It was luxurious but anonymous. She didn’t sense Helena’s influence here. She went through to the master bedroom with its huge bed and marble bathroom and began to unpack her things. She had never lived alone but at this moment it was just what she felt she needed; somewhere to hide and lick her wounds. She sat down on the bed and thought about that morning’s scene with Amy.

‘
How could you, Amy?’ she had asked. ‘We were friends!’

Not missing the use of the past tense, Amy told her firmly,
‘We still are. I did it to make you see what life with a man like him would be like. You wouldn’t listen to reason, I had to do something.’

‘
So you chose to have me publicly ridiculed! I don’t call that an act of friendship. And what about my family, what did they ever do but be good to you?’ Lucy’s voice had become shaky and she was close to tears.

Amy had remained defiant.
‘Well I’m sorry they got caught in the crossfire but it was all soon forgotten. And don’t tell me they are all happy about you and him!’

‘
He does have a name you know, Amy! And may be they’re not, but they confine themselves to giving advice, which is what you should have done. You had no right to interfere like this.’

‘
I did it for your own good, and the thing today about the IVF wasn’t me, I swear it wasn’t. It must have been someone from the clinic, or Ellen, I bet you told her.’

Lucy had looked at her with utter contempt and Amy had known she’d made things even worse. The driver of the taxi Lucy had called tooted his horn and she opened the front door.

Amy tried a change of attitude. ‘Don’t go, Lucy,’ she implored. ‘We can sort this out. Don’t be angry with me.’

With tears running down her face and starting to collect her things, Lucy had said,
‘I’m not angry, just very sad. Friendship is about loyalty and trust, Amy, and however you may try to excuse it, you have betrayed me and I don’t think I could ever trust you again.’

Brushing away new tears Lucy continued with her unpacking knowing her relationship with Marcus had cost her the best friend she had ever had. Would the price get higher? And was he worth it?

~

Alicia was delighted to be spending the evening before her departure for
Hong Kong with her brother. They were eating in her favourite restaurant, where she always had to book way in advance but he seemed to be able to get a table at the drop of a hat, and she would have the chance to spring her plan. Marcus was in good form, they chatted away together like in the days before he met Lucy, and the food was, as usual, delicious.

Waiting for coffee to be served, she asked casually,
‘Are you intending to go to Graylings this weekend?’

‘
Yes, it’s much too hot to stay in town. The swimming pool is a real boon.’

‘
I’m sure it is. By the way, don’t forget about that bracelet of Helena’s if it’s still sitting in your desk drawer.’

Alicia didn’t like the rather nasty smile that had spread across his face. Reaching into his jacket pocket he asked,
‘Do you mean this one?’

He tossed the bracelet, newly repaired by Lucy, onto the table in front of her. Alicia stared at it, and then Marcus’s face, with an expression of disbelief and horror.

Before she could think of anything to say he leaned towards her, and in a voice which had terrified grown men, asked, ‘Did you really imagine I would fall for your pathetic and spiteful little piece of deception?’

Alicia felt hot and cold at the same time. Struggling to keep her voice calm she started to ask,
‘Does she…?’

‘
No, Lucy knows nothing about this, but don’t think for one minute that’s for your benefit. She would be mortified to think you would do such a thing, and I will not have her upset.’

Alicia remained silent; she had no idea what to say. Marcus sat back in his chair watching his sister with contempt.

‘Listen to me, Alicia, and listen well. You are my sister so I will give you one more chance, but only one. Tomorrow’s
Times
will carry the announcement of my engagement to Lucy. Your trip saves you from having to witness that, or attend our party. I suggest you spend your time away coming to terms with the fact that by autumn we will be married. When you return I will invite you to dinner with us both and you will offer your warmest congratulations. You will, from this moment forward, treat Lucy with the consideration and respect due to my future wife and the woman who will become Lady Delacroix. Should you fail in any aspect of this I will sever all contact with you, permanently. Do I make myself absolutely clear?’

With forty minutes to go before the arrival of their guests Marcus and Lucy were admiring the work of the catering company. The terrace and immediate garden area had been hung with tiny coloured li
ghts and there were free-standing lanterns ready for when the sun went down. Containers of cascading flowers and foliage surrounded numerous small tables, their snowy white cloths clipped down against the pleasantly cool breeze. All the doors to the drawing room stood open and a big table was covered with trays of glasses and ice buckets for the Champagne. In the kitchen the final touches were being made to the canapés.

Marcus surveyed the scene with satisfaction.
‘Well, everything seems ready. I think it must be time for the ring, don’t you?’

Tiffany’s elegant emporium in
Sloane Street had been pleased to advise Marcus, a valued client of long standing, on the matter of the engagement ring. The two-carat diamond of exceptional colour and clarity was in the famous setting which bore their name. As Marcus opened the small leather box, the sun caught the stone and it glittered like white fire. Lucy stared in awestruck silence. He reached for her hand, manicured specially that day, and as he slipped it on to her finger she still said nothing.

Keeping hold of her hand, he asked,
‘So, what do you think of your first diamond, little Lucy?’

She forced her eyes from the ring to his face.
‘Thank you seems inadequate. It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Does that make me horribly shallow?’

‘
Oh I don’t think so.’ Lifting her fingers to his lips, he told her, ‘It is a diamond of the first water, as you are.’

Lucy felt a wave of emotion
she did not understand and the hot prick of tears. Fighting the urge to throw herself into his arms she told him, ‘I’ve got something for you too.’

‘
Really?’ He watched as she delved into her silk evening bag coming up with a tiny packet wrapped in tissue paper. The silver tie clip was a cleverly fashioned golf club with a tiny seed pearl set at the end to resemble a ball. Marcus immediately removed the one he was wearing and set Lucy’s gift in its place, his expression as so often unreadable, he said, ‘It too, is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.’

They were both a little relieved to have the emotionally charged moment interrupted by a waitress who having watched the exchange from a discreet distance now arrived with two glasses of
Champagne. They chinked glasses.

‘
To us!’

‘
To us,’ Lucy echoed his words. ‘So, who do you think will arrive first?’

‘
Your grandmother, I should think. Saule has the same obsession as I do with being punctual.’

Lucy laughed.
‘I shouldn’t bank on it. Gran is always late for everything. I think it will be Mum and James.’

It turned out they were both right; as they watched the driveway a cavalcade of cars started to appear and nearly everyone arrived at once. As they walked out hand in hand to greet their guests, Lucy asked,
‘Have you invited Lydia?’

‘
No. I had a word in her ear recently, and I think her pointy little nose may be out of joint.’

Lucy couldn’t help but be pleased.

~

Later, looking back over the evening, Lucy would remember a whole host of images from those first few minutes. There was Gran, elegant in a dove grey dress with a very
“twenties” influence, on the arm of Saule and regaling him with tales of her time in Lagos during the late fifties just before the country’s independence. Kit and Sarah fresh from their own honeymoon and seemingly excited at the thought of another family wedding. Her mum and dear old James looking somewhat hot after the drive from Essex in a car whose air conditioning had packed up fifteen minutes after leaving home. Ellen, managing somehow to look even more beautiful than ever, with the adoring Simon at her side. The huge helium balloon decorated with red roses and hearts which had a grinning Rex attached to it, whilst Catherine regarded him with fond indulgence. The Foreign Minister, with his pleased and excited wife, stepping from their limousine parked next to a battered Volkswagen camper van from which emerged Zoë and Spyder in outfits so truly bizarre the politician’s uniformed driver eyed them with deep suspicion.

A long snaking line of expensive cars disgorged Marcus’s employees and business associates who she was to meet for the first time that evening. The warm summer air rang with greetings and congratulations. Perched on the bonnet of a Bentley, Silk watched all the activity with great interest.

~

Diana came bustling up as Lucy stood chatting to Amelia and Elizabeth.

‘Lucy dear, how exciting this is!’ she enthused as she hugged and kissed the younger woman. ‘And this must be your mother and grandmother. You’re like peas in a pod! Hello, I’m Diana Featherstone. So pleased to meet you. Richard and I are so thrilled about the engagement! Let me see the ring. Oh, it’s just lovely! Have you set the date yet? Oh that’s a good idea, it should be much cooler then. This hot weather seems set to stay at the moment. Is your father here? I should like to meet him. I do so admire his work. Who is the very beautiful woman in that gorgeous dress? Ah, the model; that would explain it. So elegant!’

~

‘That woman really does need a make-over; what is she wearing! It’s completely the wrong colour and style for her.’ Ellen’s dulcet voice had a slightly offended tone.

‘
I know!’ said Lucy. ‘But she is such a dear soul and she’s been really kind to me so you mustn’t say nasty things about her. Not everyone can look like you, Ellen! And I must say you look even more lovely than usual, you positively glow!’

Looking over to where Simon was standing chatting with Marcus and some of the other businessmen, Ellen replied,
‘Well, do you know what? I think it may be love!’ She seemed a little surprised at her own words.

‘
Really! Oh Ellen, that’s great!’

‘I’m not so sure.
’ Ellen sounded doubtful. ‘It’s a complication I wasn’t looking for. And it does seem a bit incestuous; the cousin of the new wife of my ex-husband!’

‘
It could have been worse. If it was one of Sarah’s brothers you would be Dad’s sister-in-law and he’d be your children’s uncle!’

‘
Slow down! I said it may be love, and already you’ve got me married with kids! One step at a time.’

~

‘I see the Delacroix clones are working well,’ said Catherine sardonically.

The five senior executives who sat on Marcus’s board were all present. Clad in Armani suits and each accompanied by an immaculate corporate wife not one of them had reached forty. Marcus valued the creativity and audacity of young business minds. They had been told to mingle and were doing so very effectively.

Kit answered reprovingly, ‘That’s a bit unfair.’

‘
Yes, you’re quite right, sorry. It’s the heat, it’s making me a bit waspish.’

Catherine was not a lover of hot weather and the last two months of almost continuous high temperatures had sapped her usually abundant reserves of energy.

Kit smiled at her rather pink face. ‘I hear the big interview happened.’

‘
Indeed it did. It will be in tomorrow’s edition, and I have to say it’s rather good.’

‘
You covered it yourself?’ Kit asked innocently.

‘
This is the first interview he has ever given. Do you really think I was going to let anyone else in on it? Oh no, he was all mine!’

‘
And do we have to quake when we hear the paper boy arrive?’

Catherine shook her head.
‘No, not at all. It’s not a hatchet job. It is very frank but he comes out of it well enough. He didn’t ask to approve it first either which rather surprised me. But he knows I’m a professional, unlike Culver. Talking of whom, bit of a nasty surprise about Amy. Little bitch!’

Kit sighed.
‘I gather she thought she was doing it for the best, although I’m not exactly sure what she imagined she was achieving. It’s very hard on Lucy. They’ve been friends for so long. God help Amy if Amelia ever gets hold of her!’

‘
So what do you and she really make of this engagement?’ asked Catherine.

‘
Amelia is amazingly relaxed about it. She’s got one or two reservations of course, but in general she doesn’t seem to think it’s a bad thing.’

Kit had spoken to his first wife the previous day, immediately after hearing the news from Lucy. Amelia had told him,

‘She seems very sure about it, Kit.’

‘
Yes, but she was sure about Laurent too.’

‘
There’s a different feel about it this time, and Marcus is very different to Laurent.’

‘
Do you think she really loves him?’ he had asked.

‘
I hope so. I don’t see her marrying him just for his money, it’s simply not Lucy. She’s far too much of a romantic. He’s charismatic and still very attractive, it’s not hard to see what she sees in him but I do worry about the age gap. When she’s only forty he will be sixty-four, an old man really.’

‘
But a very rich old man. When he gets decrepit they’ll be able to afford an army of nurses to look after him,’ joked Kit, but he had the same concern.

~

Passing the open kitchen door on her way to the cloakroom Angela overheard two of the waitresses chatting as they replenished their trays of canapés.

‘
Did you see that ring? It’s really gorgeous, must have cost a fortune.’

‘
Thousands and thousands I should think. I’ve never seen a diamond that big before, not in real life anyway.’

Angela smiled to herself. She knew exactly how much the ring had cost, she had prepared the cheque for her boss’s signature and it was tens of thousands. Not that she begrudged Lucy her diamond. Good luck to her, she wouldn’t fancy being married to Marcus herself. He was a good employer and paid her exceedingly well, but he could be a difficult and very demanding man.

Fifteen years ago when the CEO of a large company Marcus dealt with had retired, he had recommended the then thirty-year-old PA for her efficiency and absolute discretion. Knowing how Paul Cookham did business, and the complexities of his personal life, Marcus had snapped her up. She had never disappointed him and she knew more about how the Delacroix Corporation really functioned than any member of the board. But not quite as much as Saule.

She went about her various duties with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency, and had proved her loyalty to Marcus time and time again. Loyalty was something he valued highly and was quick to reward
. Her salary reflected this and her annual bonus was a five-figure sum. When she had married, he had put the beautiful Villa di Larniano, complete with its jeep and staff, at the couple’s disposal for their honeymoon, throwing in First Class flights. Whilst Angela wouldn’t have swopped him as her boss, she knew enough about the man to hope that his new young fiancée didn’t ever get on the wrong side of him.

~

Returning from the car carrying his camera Kit encountered Marcus. He seemed to appear from nowhere making Kit wonder if he had been waiting for him.

‘
Ah, the camera! Are we to have an official engagement portrait?’

Kit smiled.
‘Since she was born I’ve recorded all the events, big and small, in Lucy’s life. I would say this was a fairly major one.’

‘
Indeed,’ agreed Marcus. His voice was more serious as he went on, ‘I will take good care of her you know, Kit.’

The two men’s eyes met and Kit answered lightly,
‘I hope so. She may be twenty-eight years old but she’s still my little girl.’

‘
Of course. And you must be proud of her. She’s sweet, generous and honest. You and I want the same thing, for her to be happy. I intend to see that she is.’

As he listened to the words Kit did not doubt their sincerity, but he did note that although they spoke of each other warmly neither Lucy nor Marcus ever mentioned love.

Before he could make any reply Lucy arrived at their side, and linking arms with the two men in her life asked, ‘What are you two up to? Saying nice things about me, I hope. Marcus, have you seen Silk?’

Following her gaze to where Amelia sat chatting with Angela and her husband with Silk happily curled up asleep in her lap, Marcus laughed.

‘Well, that’s a first!’

~

Hugging them both at the same time, Lucy told Zoë and Spyder, ‘You look absolutely wonderful! Bizarre, but wonderful!’

A visit to a local charity shop had been the springboard for their party outfits. The diminutive Zoë had found a child’s tutu which she had teamed up with knee length leggings of the same candy pink. She wore lime green Doc Martens with matching lace socks and gloves and the fea
thers in her multi-coloured topknot gave her the look of a small but very exotic bird. Spyder’s ensemble was more rock star meets Fred Astaire; Oxfam providing an ancient and slightly moth eaten tail coat which he was wearing over black jeans and tee shirt. With snakeskin cowboy boots and wrap around sunglasses, he was the perfect foil for his girlfriend’s explosion of colour.