A Perfect Proposal (47 page)

‘I feel so awful putting you through all this, through my own stupidity,’ said Sophie as she stumbled and slipped through the mud on boots that no longer seemed to fit.

‘It’s all right, my bird, you weren’t to know.’

‘And will Luke’s car be all right? Will he be able to drive back to Moira’s?’

‘Reckon so. Are you and he “together” as they say these days?’

‘No. Not at all.’

The farmer paused, possibly sensing Sophie’s desolation. ‘Soon have you up in the cab of the tractor, warm as toast and on your way home.’

‘I just feel so guilty about all this.’

‘Don’t you worry about that! We’re used to it in these parts.’

Moira was waiting for them when the tractor finally arrived at her front door.

‘Are you all right?’ She hugged Sophie to her.

‘She’s fine,’ said the farmer. ‘Cold though. Needs a hot
bath and something to eat. But I reckon you’ll see her right, Moira.’

‘I certainly will, Ted,’ said Moira. ‘And there’s a meal in it for you and the family too.’

‘Best get her inside now. I’ll see you soon!’

‘So, did you enjoy your ride in the tractor?’ Moira asked when she’d led Sophie into the kitchen.

‘Oh Moira, I feel so awful! Those lovely men could have been drowned because of me! And Luke!’ She frowned. ‘Is he back yet?’

‘Not yet. I’m putting him in my office. There’s a single bed in there. It’s quite comfortable. I sleep there myself if I’ve got a lot of guests. Matilda and April have gone to bed,’ she added.

Sophie frowned. ‘You
have
got a lot of guests …’

‘Don’t worry. I’ve put you in my bedroom. I’m going to spend the night with my friend next door.’

‘Shouldn’t Luke have your bedroom? I’d be fine in the office. He rescued me. He should get the best room.’

‘Maybe,’ said Moira, ‘but I’d have to spend hours tidying my room to put him in it. You can cope with the mess.’

Sophie came over and hugged Moira again. ‘You’re a lifesaver – literally.’

‘Not at all! Now get into the bath. Use my bathroom.’

‘What about Luke?’

‘He can have a shower in the guest bathroom when he gets here. Don’t worry! When you’re ready, I’ve got some soup and I’ll make sandwiches.’

‘You’re so wonderful, Moira, sending the rescue-pack and everything.’

‘Get on with you, girl! You’re making puddles on my kitchen floor.’

‘OK, but sorry for being such an idiot.’

‘Out!’

*

Lowering herself into the hot, scented water felt like the most delicious, luxurious thing Sophie had ever done. There was nothing more blissful in the world than a hot bath when you’re cold and damp, she decided. Just for a moment or two the joy of it masked the sadness that had permeated her body more completely than any amount of physical discomfort ever could. She’d so messed it up with Luke. Of course he had Ali, but he had felt something for her once, she was sure. But somehow, she’d ruined it all.

Moira had a bath pillow and Sophie rested her head on it and closed her eyes, revelling in the wonderful heat. She could hear noises in the distance: Luke must have come back. Moira would be making a fuss of him, she realised, feeling guilty for taking the bath. Perhaps she should get out and ask if he would like to lie full length in steaming hot water? But he might not want pre-loved water; and he was American, they went in for showers there.

She realised she had actually dropped off but didn’t know for how long. The water was cooler and she could leave it without minding too much. She climbed out and dried herself, hunting on Moira’s shelf for some sort of body lotion. When she’d smoothed some on she put on Moira’s bathrobe and then dithered. She was hungry but did she want Luke to see her, her face still red from the bath and her hair in rats’ tails because she hadn’t pinned it up properly?

She couldn’t face it. She brushed her teeth and got into bed. She’d see him in the morning, when she had make-up on and had had a chance to get her head round it all. She slept.

Her cleaving stomach woke her at seven. Then she remembered why she’d gone to bed without supper and considered pulling the duvet back over her head for a bit. No, that was just silly. She had to face Luke sometime. It might as well be now.

She saw that Moira had put her bag in the room, and a foil packet of sandwiches. She must have come up with them last night and Sophie had not heard her. Sophie started on a sandwich while she rummaged through her bag. Her one skirt, tights and a jumper and she was ready – except for her feet. There was no way she could wear her boots again, and certainly not now, while they were still wet.

She was still bracing herself to go downstairs when there was a tap on the door. It was Moira.

‘Are you awake? Oh good, you’re dressed. If you’re ready, could you come down? There’s a bit of an emergency and we think you can help.’

‘Of course! Anything I can do. I’ll come immediately.’ She paused. ‘Can I borrow your slippers?’ She indicated a pair of sheepskin mules.

‘Help yourself.’

Matilda and April were sitting at the table, Moira was doing duty over the Rayburn but there was no sign of Luke. Sophie relaxed somewhat.

‘Good morning! Sorry I’m late.’

‘You’re not late, honey,’ said Matilda. ‘But we’re pleased to see you.’

‘You’ve obviously been up.’

‘Old people tend to be early risers.’

‘Did you sleep well?’ asked Moira, handing Sophie a mug of tea.

‘Like a log, thanks.’ She pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘Did you? I hope your friend’s spare room was as comfortable as your bedroom was.’

‘It was fine,’ said Moira. ‘Now, what about breakfast?’

Sophie noticed that Matilda and April had used plates in front of them, indicating that they’d had theirs. ‘Is there time? What about this emergency? What do you need me to do?’

‘You’ve got time for toast,’ said Matilda. ‘If you eat quickly.’

Moira glanced at her. ‘I cooked bacon for Luke.’

‘Toast is fine,’ said Sophie. ‘And where is Luke? Or is he still asleep?’

There was a tiny pause. ‘Luke had to go, dear,’ said Matilda. ‘You won’t remember but he said yesterday he had to get to a meeting.’

‘Oh.’ Although she’d been dreading seeing him, now she knew she wasn’t going to, Sophie felt desperately disappointed. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye and thank him for rescuing me.’

‘That’s all right, dear, you will have the opportunity. If you’re willing to help us out.’

‘The emergency,’ explained Moira.

‘It’s to do with Luke. He rushed off in such a hurry I wasn’t able to give him a very important document. He needs to sign it.’

‘Oh.’ Sophie put butter on the toast Moira had put on her plate, wishing Matilda would get to the point. Now she knew she had to do something she wanted to get on with it. ‘How can I help?’

‘We need you to go in the car, my car, to the airport, get him to sign it, and bring it back,’ said Matilda. ‘Do you mind very much? I would be so grateful.’

As Sophie had noticed before, Matilda had not got where she had in her life by lacking charm and persuasiveness on top of a steely ability to get her own way. Sophie was resistant to bullying but Matilda’s smile was fairly irresistible. Frantically she cast around for an excuse – the thought of meeting Luke alone, away from other people, was terrifying. ‘I would go but I’ve got nothing to wear on my feet. My only pair of boots is ruined. I’m going to have to buy some before I can go home.’

‘I’ll lend you my loafers,’ said Moira quickly.

‘Couldn’t April go?’ suggested Sophie, looking at her. ‘If
it’s urgent. She’s got shoes on already.’ Sophie smiled sweetly to indicate she wasn’t being unhelpful, just practical, as was her way.

‘She has a headache,’ said Matilda, also quickly. ‘We’ve been feeding her all sorts of painkillers but nothing seems to be working. Really, April, why don’t you just give in and lie down?’

‘We can look after Matilda between us,’ said Moira.

‘And I don’t need looking after,’ said Matilda.

‘Very well,’ said April. ‘I’ll do that. I’m sure I’ll feel better soon.’

‘You definitely will,’ said Matilda.

‘I’ll bring you some water when I’ve sorted out Sophie,’ said Moira.

‘I’ll bring my own water, don’t worry,’ said April, getting up.

Something didn’t seem quite right to Sophie but she could hardly accuse April of faking a headache. Everyone else seemed convinced. ‘Well, I’d better find some shoes then.’ When she got to the doorway a thought occurred to her. ‘Actually, couldn’t your driver take the document, Matilda? If he’s got to take me anyway—’

‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly trust a stranger with it, my dear! It’s very important! I only met him yesterday.’

Matilda was sufficiently appalled to make Sophie realise she would have to go, however reluctantly. Still, if time was short, she wouldn’t have to speak to Luke, just get his signature and get the hell out.

Moira joined her in the bedroom. ‘I’ll find you some shoes. I think your feet might be a bit bigger than mine but these are fairly sloppy.’

‘They’ll be fine. I’ve actually got quite small feet for my height. Now I’ll just put some slap on …’

‘Why don’t you do it in the car?’ said Moira. ‘Take your whole bag. It’ll save time.’

‘Oh, OK. I’ll probably poke my eye with the mascara, but there’s bound to be a bit of a hold-up somewhere. There must still be floods and things,’ Sophie agreed, stuffing her makeup bag into her handbag. ‘When I come back, I must organise getting another phone. Luke was lucky his wasn’t drowned or washed away.’

‘Absolutely, but he was better prepared for a trip into the storm than you were.’

She wasn’t actually reproachful but this made Sophie feel guilty all over again about causing everyone so much upset by not thinking. ‘I expect you think I’m an idiot for going but where I come from it can rain an awful lot and there aren’t any floods.’

‘I know,’ said Moira, ‘I wasn’t telling you off, just explaining. Now hurry up. Matilda’s got the document all ready and she’s waiting.’

The drama of the situation appealed to Sophie. She got into the back of the car, the large manila envelope in her hand, enjoying the luxury of being driven and also pleased that Luke would see that Matilda trusted her even if he didn’t. Then she thought that Luke would probably consider Matilda to be deluded and so it wouldn’t help. He knew she was on her way though; she had checked that before she set off.

There were signs of the night’s storms everywhere. Mud coated many of the roads and washed-away items and stranded cars did hold them up several times. At the time Sophie had thought it was only the area immediately round the house that was badly affected but now she realised that she and Luke had been lucky. It was very chastening, she realised, to learn how much worse it could have been. Thankfully Moira wasn’t too concerned about her car, claiming that she had a friend who could fix it up in a trice.

It took the chauffeur-driven car just over half an hour to get to the airport, and because he went there all the time, the driver took Sophie to the right part for the private jets.

She got out of the womb-like back of the car, clutching her paper, feeling she had been delivered into a fantasy land of people who’d never flown cattle class and felt that even business class was a bit infra dig.

An attractive young woman in a smart suit and high heels was there to greet her. She seemed to know the driver.

‘Hello, how do you do? I’m Susie. If you’d like to jump back in, Bob will follow me and we’ll get you straight to the plane. OK, Bob?’

Sophie had been prepared to walk to the plane but then realised it was probably dangerous. This was a commercial airport after all.

The car followed Susie’s vehicle right to the steps of a plane that was much bigger than Sophie was expecting. She said as much to Susie when she’d got out.

‘People always think “Lear jet” but you need something quite a bit bigger if you’re going to cross the Atlantic. Now, I’ll just see if Sheila’s there. I expect she is. The plane seems ready to roll.’

Before she could call, another glamorous woman appeared. ‘Are you Sophie Apperly? Mr Winchester is expecting you.’ She smiled a welcome. ‘I’m Sheila.’

As Sophie climbed the steps Susie and Sheila had a quick chat and then said goodbye to each other. They seemed to know each other well.

‘We used to fly together years ago,’ Sheila explained as Sophie stepped aboard. ‘Mr Winchester is on the phone.’ She indicated Luke’s back; he was obviously talking. ‘You just take a seat while you’re waiting. Would you like some tea or coffee or anything?’

The luxury of the plane enveloped her and with it an
atmosphere of soothing calm. Everything was covered with something that looked like honey-coloured suede. The seat Sophie was offered was supremely comfortable and she saw that with the flick of a lever it would turn into a chaise longue. In spite of herself, Sophie couldn’t help appreciating her surroundings and the thought that she was actually in a private jet distracted her from her turmoil. A cup of tea would help, even if she only had time for a few sips. ‘Tea would be lovely.’