Page 58 of Finding Love at Roseford Blooms
As if to echo Simon’s sentiment, the throaty cackle of a pair of magpies taking off from the branches above their heads startled them both.
Lizzie stood up as well, and she could feel her throat constricting as she saw how upset Simon was. ‘I’m sorry, Simon, really I am. I just needed to hear it from you.’
‘Instead of the sister who, by your own admission, has done very little to make your life easier over the years.’ Simon’s anger made his speech short, and harsh. ‘How could you believe that of me?’
Lizzie shook her head. ‘I suppose it’s a lot for me to imagine that someone like you could feel that way for someone like me.’ She gave brittle laugh. ‘I was the one they all made fun of, remember?’
‘And I was the one who helped you, back then,’ Simon said quietly. ‘Try to remember that, Lizzie, please.’ He glanced across the meadow, and then back to her. ‘Believe it or not, I might not be rich, but the title of Lord Treloar is still enough to call in a few backers if and when I need them. I don’t need to sleep with someone to get hold of their money.’
He raised a hand, as if he was going to put it on her forearm, but seemed to think better of it at the last minute. ‘I suppose this is why you decided to talk first and eat later,’ he said softly. ‘Well, I think I’ve lost my appetite.’ He looked into her eyes for one last, long moment, and gave a sad smile. ‘Take care, Lizzie. And good luck with what you do decide to do with that capital of yours. I hope it brings you joy.’ With that, he turned away from her, and hurried down the footpath.
Watching his receding back, Lizzie mentally kicked and kicked herself. How could she accuse him of using her for her money? Georgina, as usual, had played on her insecurities, as she always did. She’d made her feel small, and foolish, and unworthy. And that had happened too many times in Lizzie’s life for her to just accept it, yet again. It had to stop. As if the conversation with her family hadn’t been enough to make her realise she needed to take control of her own life, the error she’d made with Simon brought everything into razor-sharp focus. As she watched Simon’s retreating back, she knew she’d made a huge mistake in doubting him, and she hoped against hope she could put it right.
49
Simon strode back to Roseford Hall, and this time he didn’t stop to smile at any of the tourists or BHF staff who smiled at him as he passed. He was angry, angrier than he’d ever been before, and he needed to get some perspective.
How could Lizzie think that of him? He’d given her absolutely no reason to think he was after her money, that he saw her only as a potential investor. He cursed her bloody sister and that family of hers, who obviously knew exactly what to say to sow the seeds of doubt. He knew all too well the insecurities that could fester for a lifetime if developed early on, and it was only because he understood that that he wasn’t livid with her, just the situation. He had to convince her, somehow, that he could be trusted. But how could he do it?
Getting RoseFest up and running would be a good start, he supposed. But now he felt conscious about even talking about it to her, let alone asking any advice. He didn’t want her to think he was after something he wasn’t. The truth was, he just wanted to be with her, to spend time with her. He’d grown to be passionate about this project, but he knew he was in love with Lizzie. But were those two things compatible?
Without realising it, he’d walked almost to the back entrance of Sarah’s cottage. She was working from home today, and he could see her sitting at her computer in the small study off the living room as he made his way up the garden path. He cursed under his breath when he realised, too late, that she’d spotted him. He needed to have a conversation with her about what he’d seen at the reunion, but he was in no frame of mind to do that now, after his confrontation with Lizzie. And, he thought, was it really his place? Maybe she already knew that Jago was married and it simply hadn’t bothered her?
Shit. She was waving at him. He’d better go and say hello. Before he could push open the bottom half of the stable door, a pair of syrup-coloured paws and an amiable face, tongue lolling out of the dog’s mouth because of the heat, appeared over the top of it.
‘Hey, Holmes,’ Simon said, ruffling the dog’s head and scratching him behind his ears. ‘Bet you’re feeling a bit warm today.’ He walked into the house and smiled briefly as Holmes scampered excitedly around him, clearly expecting a walk.
‘Grab a coffee if you want one,’ Sarah called from the study. ‘I’ll be with you in a sec.’
Simon did as he was told. After all, he figured, today couldn’t get much worse, so he might as well lean into the misery. Taking down a couple of mugs from the cupboard above the coffee machine, he filled them both, splashed in a bit of milk and a teaspoon of sugar for Sarah. Just as he was stirring in the sugar, she appeared in the kitchen.
‘Thanks,’ she said, taking the mug from him. ‘I’ve got some flapjacks in the tin that Fleur made if you want one?’
Simon accepted and his stomach gave an almighty rumble as he bit into one of the flapjacks.
‘To what do I owe the pleasure?’ Sarah asked. ‘I assume you’re not just here to over-excite my dog?’
Holmes, who was now lying at Simon’s feet, looked up expectantly.
‘Not exactly.’ Simon took another bite of the flapjack before he answered. ‘There’s been something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.’
Sarah sighed. ‘Let me guess.’ She took a sip of her coffee. ‘Jago, right?’
Simon started. ‘Got it in one.’
Sarah’s face flushed. ‘Well, you don’t have to bother. I know.’ She bit defiantly into the flapjack she’d taken from the tin. ‘If it helps, I didn’t know he was married when I spent the night with him after the wedding, but after I sent him a Facebook friend request, and he stupidly allowed me access to his full profile, it became pretty obvious I’d been had.’ She shook her head. ‘I should have known, really, that he was only in it for the sex. But I was so overwhelmed when I saw him… I guess my judgement went out of the window.’
‘What are you going to do about it?’ Simon asked. He was relieved that he didn’t, at least, have to break the news to Sarah, but he knew exactly how devastated she’d been in her teens when Jago had broken up with her.
‘I’m not going to do anything.’ Sarah gave a short, slightly shaky laugh. ‘Why would I? What’s done is done, and it was a one-night stand. It was a massive error of judgement on my part, but I have no intention of ever seeing him again. To be honest, even if he hadn’t turned out to be married, I wouldn’t really fancy a repeat performance. He didn’t exactly set my world on fire.’
‘That’s not what you said the other day.’
Sarah blushed. ‘I was on the defensive, and I didn’t want to look like a complete idiot in front of you. I knew how pissed off you were that it had happened in the first place.’
Simon smiled. ‘I’d have understood… eventually.’
‘Sorry.’ Sarah took a sip of her coffee. ‘I should have realised… once a shit, always a shit, right? You’d think I’d have learned by now.’
