The Marriage Proposition

‘Paige?’ Toby’s voice was urgent. ‘Dad’s relying on you, you know. We all are.’

The emotional blackmail card, Paige recalled bitterly. It had never failed. But if she’d had the remotest idea what form this reliance was going to take she’d have gone to Paris and never returned.

Instead, she’d left work early on Friday and driven down to Priors Hampton. Like a lamb to the slaughter.

Denise, on the other hand, had been behaving like a headless chicken, roaming around the house, giving the staff orders which she rescinded in the next breath.

‘So there you are,’ she greeted her sister-in-law fretfully. ‘He hasn’t arrived yet, thank God, but it’s all turning into a disaster. I’ve given him the Blue Room, but Toby says it should have been the South Suite, and I don’t know if I’ve got time to change everything over.’ Her mouth went into its habitual pout. ‘And Mrs Nixon’s been sulking ever since the catering firm arrived. I’m terrified that she’s going to give notice.’

‘Very unlikely,’ Paige said briskly, putting down her bag. ‘She’s always hated cooking for formal dinner parties. And the Blue Room is fine,’ she added firmly. ‘He’s a money man, not visiting royalty.’

Denise tossed her blonde head. ‘You wouldn’t think so to hear Toby and your father. Everything has to be just so. I asked Toby if I should put flowers in his room, and he nearly bit my head off. Told me I wasn’t to bother him with trivia. But how can I know what to do if he won’t tell me?’

‘It must be very difficult for you,’ Paige said soothingly. ‘And I’d go ahead with the flowers. If he doesn’t like them, his wife probably will.’

‘I don’t think he’s got a wife.’ Denise frowned with the effort of remembering. ‘He’s certainly not bringing her.’ A look of horror dawned. ‘At least I don’t think so. Should I ask Toby? Put extra towels in his bathroom?’

‘I think I’d leave things just as they are.’ Paige patted her arm. ‘I’m sure it will all be perfect.’

‘That’s easy for you to say,’ Denise tossed over her shoulder as she moved off again. ‘All you’ve had to do is show up.’

Paige, who’d crammed an entire day’s work into a morning in order to arrive punctually, bit her lip hard. She told herself resolutely that it was not all Denise’s fault. She hadn’t been trained to run a large house and cope with difficult guests. Yet on her marriage she’d found she was expected to step straight into the shoes of her late mother-in-law, who’d been a charming and competent hostess and who would have sailed serenely through the current situation.