Page 98 of One More Christmas at the Castle
‘Henry?’ I exclaimed in astonishment. ‘But – we’re only business partners and best friends, nothing more.’
‘Well, of course not, because Henry’s gay, isn’t he?’ Nancy said comfortably. ‘I can’t imagine how you came to think anything otherwise, Sabine.’
Lucy choked on her scone and Nancy turned and patted her on the back.
‘He’sgay?’ demanded Sabine. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Well,heis,’ I replied.
‘I don’t believe it,’ choked Lucy, pink in the face and with watering eyes, once she could speak after Nancy’s hearty ministrations, but no one took any notice.
‘It’s of no great moment to anyone other than Henry, in any case, is it?’ Nancy pointed out. ‘I know you and Asa never had any silly prejudices, Sabine, even back in the day when it was illegal – and how odd that seems now, doesn’t it? The Dark Ages!’
She beamed generally around at us and then took up her cup and half a buttered scone.
Sabine shot another of those coldly assessing looks from me to Xan, as if someone had shaken her kaleidoscope and all the glittery bits had reformed into an entirely different and unwelcome pattern.
‘Didyouknow Henry was gay, Xan?’ she asked.
‘I gathered so. I knew he and Dido were only friends.’
Lucy suddenly found her voice. ‘Mr Graves, our vicar, feels very opposed to gay marriage.’
‘Then I expect his gay parishioners look elsewhere for someonewho can bless their union with a loving heart,’ Nancy said. ‘I think any two people who want to dedicate their lives to each other should be able to do so.’
‘Of course they should, and naturally, it doesn’t matter to me in the least. It was just a surprise, that’s all,’ said Mrs Powys, then snapped at her cousin, ‘Lucy, don’t be more of a fool than you can help.’
But poor Lucy was already looking crushed and miserable … though I wondered if she’d switch her attentions back to Xan!
I felt a strong desire to escape from the room at this point, which Xan must have noticed, for he said, ‘Dido, you left a couple of books from that last shelf lying on the table. Perhaps you could put them back in the right place, on your way back to the kitchen?’
‘Of course, I’ll do that,’ I agreed gratefully, heading out of the door, although we both knew I’d done no such thing.
I looked in at the cloakroom door on my way back. Henry was winding some thin fronds of fir into the Mistletoe Bough, now, which looked almost finished.
‘Henry,’ I said, ‘Nancy’s just outed you as gay in front of Xan, Lucy and Mrs Powys.’
‘Oh, did she?’ he said absently, then looked up. ‘I was never in, in the first place, was I?’
‘Well, we knew Lucy was in the dark and the poor thing looked absolutely devastated. But I was surprised that Mrs Powys assumed we were rather more than business partners!’
‘Oh, well, it doesn’t matter, does it?’ He looked at me and grinned, before saying acutely, ‘Ordoesit? Did she think that because we were a couple, it didn’t matter if you were spending so much time with Xan … though luckily, she doesn’t know the half of it!’
I felt myself go faintly pink. ‘We do seem to spend a lot of time together, but … well, the three of us have become good friends, haven’t we?’
‘There’s friends and friends,’ he pointed out. ‘I’ve seen how Xan looks at you and I can tell you now, he’s well on the way to falling for you – and paint me green with yellow stripes ifyoudon’t feel the same way abouthim!’
I stared at him. ‘I’m sure you’re wrong about Xan, and as for me …’ I pressed my hands against my hot cheeks. ‘I hadn’t even thought about it, except that I enjoy spending time in his company.’
‘Xan’s probably afraid of making a move too soon,’ Henry said. ‘Do you want me to give him a hint?’
‘No, absolutelynot!’ I exclaimed, horrified. ‘Don’t you dare! And anyway, even if hewasstarting to think of me that way – which I’m certain he isn’t – he’d back off pronto if he realized I was once the lovesick teenager who made his life a misery.’
‘Of course he wouldn’t! In fact, he’d probably just think it was funny. I mean, you’re two entirely different people now, and this time, you’ve really got to know each other.’
He gave me his naughty-cherub grin. ‘Admit you’re falling for him, Dido.’
‘Certainly not! Falling for one of the guests would be entirely unprofessional,’ I said with dignity. ‘And what’s more, it wouldn’t go down at all well with Mrs Powys! So, in the interests of giving her what she’s hired us for – a wonderful, traditional Christmas – let’s just put it out of our heads for the moment, shall we?’
