Party Games (46 page)

John was by the pool, talking to the Cooper-Stanleys. Mel looked like a sexy flamingo in an electric-pink peplum dress that barely skimmed her bottom.

‘Have you been inside yet, babe?’ she asked Catherine. ‘It’s amazing. I’m going to have to redesign our whole house!’

Mike groaned. ‘We’ve only just had a refurb!’

Mel laughed and slid an arm round her husband’s waist. She gave Catherine a warm wink.
Everything’s all right
.

Amanda and Henry were together at the bar, watching the barman whip up a couple of Caipirinhas. On the other side of the pool an elegant Ursula Patel cooled her feet in the water. Lynette Tudor was happily talking to a handsome male waiter. Her daughter reclined on a sunbed behind her, wanton and carefree in a cutaway swimsuit. Olympia Belcher and Pritti Patel sat together on a sofa, enviously looking over at Talia’s flat stomach.

‘It’s really good of Beau to put this on,’ Mel said. ‘It’s just what we need to bring the village back together.’

What Felix had done had shocked everyone to the core. People felt like they were mourning the death of a person they’d once known. Mr Patel, who’d been friends with Felix for nearly thirty years, was still having difficulty coming to terms with the whole thing. Ginny was still at her sister’s in Suffolk, but Beau
was passing on all the messages of goodwill. Only time would tell if she’d come home.

The Chamberlains’ house was all shut up, as was Chamberlains & Co. Catherine had heard on the Westminster grapevine that Felix was renting a place in London. She’d tried to imagine how he felt: no family, no friends, kicked out of his beloved Conservative Party and facing charges for dishonest dealings. She had struggled with her mixed feelings. It had been hard being a whistleblower, especially when he was such a good friend. But as she looked around her today, she knew she’d made the right decision.

Most importantly, Blaize Castle had been saved. Realizing he had a poisoned chalice on his hands, Sid Sykes had pulled out of the development. Felix still theoretically owned the land, but the National Trust had expressed interest in buying the site and turning it into a protected area.

Sykes had his own problems, anyway. A disgruntled out-of-work actor had sold his story to a Sunday newspaper, claiming he was still owed money by Damien Sykes for orchestrating the riot at County Hall. Catherine had taken one look at the man’s jug ears and known she’d been right all along. Sykes Holdings would need all the hotshot lawyers they had to get them out of that one.

The champagne girl came round again. ‘Just a tiny bit for me,’ Catherine said, lifting her orange juice up.

‘Babe, you’re being very restrained,’ Mel exclaimed. ‘This champagne is seriously good.’

Catherine and John exchanged a grin. Mel clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘You’re not!’

‘I am,’ Catherine said. ‘Ten weeks, to be precise. We had the scan last week.’

Mel leapt on her friend with a squeal. Mike pumped John’s hand. ‘Guys, congratulations! That’s such fantastic news.’

‘How long have you known?’ Mel asked.

‘About a month.’ She squeezed John’s hand. They were both still stunned with delight.

‘Blimey!’ Mike said. ‘What are you going to do about your new job?’

Catherine looked at her husband. ‘That’s another phone call.’ The poor PM probably thought she’d finished coming up with surprises.

The kitchen was a hive of activity as Fleur walked in. Sergio was putting the finishing touches to a platter of mini-rarebits made with Cotswold brie.

‘You want me to take those out?’ she asked.

‘I’m not sure the hostess should stoop to such duties.’

‘Don’t be silly.’ She smiled, hoisting the silver tray up.

Beau intercepted her coming out of the house. ‘Sweetheart, let me take that. What are you doing?’

‘I am capable, you know.’ She laughed. ‘I throw straw bales round for a living, remember?’

He nuzzled his face in her neck. ‘Am I being too overprotective?’ he murmured. ‘I’m new to all this head-over-heels-in-love stuff.’

He bent his head to kiss her. They melted into each other for a moment. His hand moved on to her bottom. ‘We could just nip upstairs.’

‘No, we can’t!’ she laughed again. ‘You’re incorrigible.’

Out on the lawn Robert Blackwater was clutching
a Virgin Mary and talking to Mrs Patel. When Fleur had tentatively given her dad the literature about the rural rehab place in Somerset, Robert Blackwater had actually seemed relieved. One week in, he was looking better already.

‘I’m so pleased Dad came,’ Fleur said. ‘He’s doing OK, isn’t he?’

‘He’s doing great,’ Beau said. ‘I meant what I said. I wish you’d let me pay for his rehab.’

‘I told you, it’s only a loan. We’ve taken enough of your money.’ She looked over Beau’s shoulder. ‘Wow, look who’s here.’

In a simple cream dress and looking uncharacteristically nervous, Vanessa Powell walked into the party. Her face was clear of the trademark glamour make-up, allowing her incredible skin to shine through.

She wasn’t alone. Still slightly pale after his recent stint in hospital, Dylan’s easy smile and demeanour suggested a man unperturbed at being splashed over the papers as Vanessa’s ‘exotic traveller lover’. Vanessa’s mother was also with them, as was an incongruous old woman in a pink baseball cap and Minnie Mouse sweatshirt.

Vanessa came straight up to Beau and Fleur. ‘Thank you so much for inviting us,’ she said, with a dazzling smile. ‘You have a beautiful home.’

‘Now you’ve ditched that horrible husband you can come as often as you want.’ Beau gave Vanessa two practised kisses on both cheeks. ‘Glad you could make it.’

Vanessa was so pretty close up, like a tiny doll. Fleur was suddenly rather overawed.

‘I love your dress,’ the celebrity told her. ‘Diane Von Furstenberg, isn’t it?’

‘Top Shop actually.’ Fleur grinned at Beau. Vanessa Powell was complimenting Fleur on
her
dress!

The newcomers were a complete hit. Dylan was so easy to talk to and had such beautiful silver eyes everyone was enchanted. Vanessa’s mother was rather aloof at first, but after Mrs Patel went over and asked where her kaftan was from, Dominique warmed up. Really, everyone said, she had the most beautiful smile. There was one sticky moment when the Powells’ housekeeper tripped and nearly fell in the pool, but luckily Mike Cooper-Stanley was on hand to grab her.

The biggest surprise was Vanessa. Friendly and charming, she took her time to go round and speak to everyone. Mike Cooper-Stanley fell completely in love after a three-minute conversation with her about their favourite hotels in the Seychelles.

Catherine was at the bar when Vanessa caught up with her. ‘I hear congratulations are in order.’

‘They certainly are.’

‘I’m really happy for you, Catherine. It’s wonderful news.’

The pale shadows under Vanessa’s eyes were the only hint of the stress she had to be going through at the moment. Both she and Dylan had been called to the trial of Conrad Powell as star witnesses. The press were ecstatic at the prospect of the three of them meeting across a courtroom.

‘How are you?’ Catherine asked.

The celebrity gave a small smile. ‘What doesn’t kill you and all that.’

Vanessa had not seen her husband since that fateful night. Marty had visited him in prison once. He hadn’t said anything about it and Vanessa hadn’t asked. She had expected to feel some sort of vindication, but all she felt was a deep sadness. Conrad’s narcissism had been his ruin. What a waste of a life.

The sous chef manning the barbecue had been working hard. All the produce was local, and the beef and lamb had come from Blackwater Farm. People started to eye up the sumptuous burgers and steaks that were starting to appear.

Catherine took her plate over to where Amanda and Ursula Patel were sitting. She’d just taken an overly large mouthful of burger when Amanda gave a sharp intake of breath.

‘What?’ Catherine said, turning round. Beau was walking towards them, his arm round a pale, wan Ginny. She gazed at Catherine with huge, anxious eyes. The pair looked at each other. Catherine put her plate down and threw her arms round her friend.

‘Oh, Ginny! It’s so good to see you!’

‘Beau insisted I came.’ Ginny gave a small smile. ‘I don’t know what I would have done without him through all this.’

Catherine nodded. ‘He’s a good man.’

They were walking arm in arm round the perimeter of the garden. Ginny had been showered with hugs and kindness since she’d arrived.

‘I wasn’t sure if you’d want to speak to me,’ Catherine admitted.

‘Why on earth not?’

‘Because I was the one who exposed Felix.’

‘You did what you had to do.’ Ginny squeezed Catherine’s arm. ‘My life was in ruins anyway.’ She hesitated. ‘I probably seem very weak to you.’

‘Ginny, you don’t at all. Never think that.’

‘Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I thought marriage was for life. And I did love him. Enough to turn a blind eye to his indiscretions, and to try and ignore the cruel things he said to me. I just put it down to frustration, and told myself that he would be the man he really was, once he’d got where he wanted to be. It was a terrible shock to find out Felix was behind Pear Tree Holdings. He always told me to keep out of his business affairs. He’d always said I was too stupid to understand.’

Once again Catherine marvelled at how she could have got someone so wrong.

‘That’s one of the reasons I was so scared to come back,’ Ginny said. ‘I was frightened people would think I’d been involved.’

Catherine patted her arm. ‘No one ever thought that.’

Ginny gave her a grateful smile. They continued to walk in a companionable silence.

‘So what happens now?’ Catherine asked.

‘Divorce is inevitable. We’re communicating through our solicitors.’

‘We’re all here for you,’ Catherine told her.

They stopped to look out over the valley. ‘I am going
to come back,’ Ginny said. ‘Despite what’s happened, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Beeversham is my home.’

‘I’m so pleased to hear that.’

‘I know it might sound strange,’ Ginny said, ‘but I want to get to know Lynette properly and try to help her. Felix put the fear of God into us both so much we were afraid even to speak in the street.’

‘So you knew about Talia?’

Ginny nodded. ‘Oh yes, all along. I’ve never really blamed Lynette. She was a vulnerable woman, and I know how charming Felix can be. The fact that he’s always shirked his responsibility to Talia has been one of the hardest things to cope with. Family is so important, and Talia is such a beautiful young girl. I hope we can build up some kind of relationship, even if she never finds out the truth.’

‘I think,’ Catherine said gently, ‘that you’re a pretty amazing woman.’

For a moment Ginny looked like her old self. ‘Felix has ruined my life for too long,’ she said determinedly. ‘I won’t let him go on doing it.’

The sunset that night was later remembered as one of the most spectacular ever seen over Beeversham. Heavenly red skies were streaked with orange and purple. Underneath, the lights from the town twinkled like a thousand fireflies.

Up at Ridings, the atmosphere had become decidedly mellow. Vanessa and Dylan swayed gently in front of the soulful singer. Amanda and Henry were smooching on a sunlounger, prompting loud retches from a horrified
Olympia. Sukie and Eddie lay curled around each other on the grass.

Fleur found her dad and Beau talking intently in the kitchen.

‘What are you two plotting this time?’

‘Nothing you need to worry about,’ Robert told her.

‘Come on.’ Beau took her hand. ‘Let’s go and say thank you to our guests for coming.’

The singer graciously stepped down to allow Beau and Fleur to step up on the platform. Beau slid his arm round Fleur’s narrow shoulders and waited for the conversation to die down. Ginny and Lynette stopped chatting and turned round.

‘Guys, it’s been great to see so many of you today. I know it’s been a slightly difficult day for some of us under the circumstances …’ He gave Ginny a stoic grin ‘… but I hope you’ve all enjoyed yourselves.’

‘Not half!’ shouted a blotto Mr Patel.

Everyone laughed. Beau grinned and lifted his glass. ‘I’d like to dedicate this night to new beginnings.’

‘To new beginnings,’ they all chorused.

‘I have one final toast,’ Beau continued. ‘To the beautiful girl standing next to me.’ He turned to Fleur. ‘To Fleur Blackwater, my future wife.’

‘I didn’t know you were engaged!’ cried a delighted Ginny.

‘We’re not yet.’ Beau didn’t take his eyes off Fleur’s face. ‘Would you do me the honour?’

Fleur went into shock. ‘You’re asking me to marry you?’

‘Ask her properly!’ Mrs Patel ordered.

Beau grinned, but Fleur could feel his hand trembling.
‘I’ve loved you since the moment I first saw you covered in cow gunk,’ he told her. ‘My darling, gorgeous, spirited girl, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’

Mr Patel burst into tears. Fleur wasn’t far behind.

‘I will,’ she sobbed, covering Beau’s face in kisses. ‘Oh yes, I will!’

A huge thank you to political supremo Toby Mason for his time and patience. Also to Caroline Maudlin, Nadine Dorries MP and Ghislain Pascal. I’d also like to thank Jess Morgan for her farming expertise, Dan Caunt for the cuisine, DS Helen Rance, Roamy Horton, Gill Linley, Cotswold tour guide Julian Linley and Katrina Kutchinsky. A massive thanks to the brilliant Transworld team: Cat Cobain, Sophie Wilson, Sarah Adams, Katy Loftus and Lucy Pinney. All mistakes are my own. The characters and plot are entirely fictional and bear no truth to real life!

Finally, eternal gratitude to my agent Amanda Preston. And to all my lovely readers out there.

In a previous life Jo Carnegie was deputy editor at
heat
magazine, interviewing stars from George Clooney, Simon Cowell and Justin Timberlake, to Posh ‘n’ Becks and Cheryl Cole. As well as still interviewing celebs on a freelance basis, she is also a regular contributor on the radio.
Party Games
is Jo’s sixth novel.