Page 36 of The Secret Mistletoe Promise
Edmund opened and closed his mouth. ‘So a New Year wedding is still doable?’
Imogen wanted to scream. Instead, she said, ‘I don’t want to marry you, Edmund. Not this year, or next year. We were forced together by our families. That showy proposal in front of the entire firm and hundreds of guests at that party? I’ve been going along with it but I’ve … I’ve left my heart behind, somewhere.’
‘Imo.’ Edmund’s laugh was incredulous.
‘I have behaved awfully—’
‘No argument there.’
‘—but it doesn’t change the fact that I made the right decision, for me.’
‘You’re being ridiculous.’
She took a deep breath. ‘Do you love me, Edmund?’
He glared at her, his jaw tightening, as if this was a horrible, unfair question and she’d put him on the spot. It galvanized her.
‘See? You don’t—’
‘We work so well together.’
‘That’s not the samething. That’s not love. I don’t want towork wellwith someone for the rest of my life. I want to be passionately in love with them, and care forthem, and spend my time doing fun things together. I want to be more than a business opportunity. This isn’t enough for me.’
‘You’re due back at work.’
Thatwas his response? Of course it was. ‘I’ve already spoken to Dad about work, and I know they’re not going to like this – Dad and Mum aren’t going to like any of it – but I have spent a whole lot of time sparing other people’s feelings. I have to do this, for me.’
‘This is hysterical behaviour.’
Imogen closed her eyes, counted to three, and opened them again. Her gaze fell on the mistletoe she’d brought upstairs with her, its gold ribbon sparkling in the gloom of the afternoon. ‘It’s me being completely rational. You can find someone who’s better suited to you than I am.’
‘This false modesty doesn’t sit well on you, Imogen.’ He almost spat her name, and she felt the barb of hurt, as she was meant to.
‘I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry for not realizing it sooner, and for hurting you. But in the long term, this is better for both of us.’
‘Right. Well. Thank you for telling me how to feel. I don’t think you realize the damage this will do to my reputation. The trouble you’ve caused me, and your entire family. Your father’s firm.’
‘My parents will still love you if you’re not married to me,’ Imogen said, the fight going out of her. She had explained it all, and he was unrepentant. At the very least, he’d proved her right. It had never really been about her. ‘I need to go, now.’
He flicked his fingers. ‘Go on, then. Thank you for doingme the courtesy of letting me know you no longer want to be in my life. Quite the turnaround, isn’t it?’
‘Bye, Edmund,’ she said quietly.
He stared at her for a moment, then ended the call.
Imogen was left gazing at the FaceTime menu, a pit of concrete in her stomach. But she’d done what she should have done months ago, and there was relief there, somewhere, buried deep below her regret and guilt. She realized that what saddened her the most was that, now Edmund knew she wasn’t going back to him, he wouldn’t come to find her, and she wouldn’t need to ask Dexter to fulfil his promise to her. That said it all really, didn’t it? But she wasn’t ready to explore the feelings associated with that realization, and would happily keep them buried alongside her relief for as long as she possibly could.
Chapter Fourteen
After her call with Edmund, Imogen wanted to talk to someone who loved her in spite of her mistakes.
‘Why is your hair brown?’ was the first thing she said when Nikki answered the WhatsApp video call. Nikki’s locks were always a beautiful, coppery red.
Nikki yanked at her hair and the copper returned, pinned tightly to her scalp. ‘It’s a wig. I’ve got an audition for a Nineteen Forties stage drama, so I’m making sure I look the part.’
‘Oh Nik, that’s brilliant! When’s the audition?’
‘Next Friday. They want all their ducks in a row before Christmas, so they can start rehearsals straight after. What’s that green thing you’re wearing? How’s your hideaway? I’ve been thinking about you.’
