To Murder Matt (17 page)

Ellen watched him walk away.  The server with the tray came up to her.

“Would you like a glass of champagne, Miss? I mean Mrs. Mellor. May I be the first to congratulate you on this special day?”

“Thank you, and no thank you, Smithers. However, please look after Mr. Mellor in the drawing room until the guests arrive.” He politely bowed to her and then walked into the room that Matt had recently entered.

Ellen walked hesitantly upstairs. When she came downstairs about fifteen minutes later, people were just starting to arrive and were all being directed to the large marquee in the grounds. At the moment, they, Matt and her, still had the place to themselves, apart from the staff.  Upstairs, she had been sat on the edge of the bed, where she had been imagining them, her and Matt, the newly married couple kissing tenderly before the guests arrived, both of them lost in each other and the passion of the honeymoon, but Matt still hadn’t joined her; forcing her to go back downstairs perplexed.

Entering the drawing room, her wedding gown trailing elegantly behind her, she took a glass of champagne off Smithers and went to sit in front of the large fireplace.  Matt had his back to her and was looking out of the windows over the grounds watching where the guests were arriving. He turned around and she caught the sudden desire in his eyes before realizing that he wasn’t actually looking at her, but at the tiara on her head.  She unpinned it and placed in on the table and watched his eyes follow the tiara.  It’s stones and gems sending fiery lights in every direction. Matt crossed the room and picked it up seconds after her hands had moved from it. He marveled at its fragile beauty and the size of the stones, stones that had been added to the original framework over the generations, each generation adding to those gems from before. Each gem signifying a daughter had married. Ellen saw the fascination in his eyes and thinking he was thinking of history began to tell him about all of its owners.

As she spoke he turned it slowly in his hands, but Matt wasn’t listening, he was too busy trying to value it and was counting the carat value. He smiled and replaced it on the small mahogany table by the formal sofa.  Barnes, the elderly Butler, entered the room with another bottle of champagne and refilled their glasses for them.  Ellen picked up a flower headdress designed to match her gown and shoes. It was also encrusted with diamonds, with small white flowers and had trailing gypsophila down the back.

“Barnes, could you kindly place the tiara in the family safe until it can be returned to the vaults?”

“Yes madam.” It was the first time he had ever called her that and she nodded to him, suddenly feeling much older. As Barnes left the room with her tiara on the tray and Matt looking after him as he walked out, Smithers came into the room.

“Madam, the guests are all arriving and we have been taking them to the marquee. The Master and Mistress are also arriving now and will be joining your guests.”

“Thank you Smithers, we will be right there.” She took a quick sip of her champagne as Matt pulled down his silk waistcoat. She looked up towards Matt who looked devilishly handsome. Sexual thoughts flooded her mind as she thought ahead to their wedding night.  As she stood up, Matt was already striding out of the door towards the marquee. She was left to trail behind and try and keep up with him; all thoughts of sexual pleasures were forced from her mind.

Outside the enormous marquee, Ellen kissed her parents and Matt formally shook hands. They entered first and her parents followed behind. The master of ceremonies announced their entrance and rapturous applause rang out as they entered and for once, Matt was stood beside his new wife, his eyes scanning all the guests. Kisses and handshakes were exchanged as they both made their way smiling through the now standing crowd. The whole place was filled with happy hubbub, laughter, the clinking of glasses and the distant sound of a string quartet.

Ellen was laughing at something someone had said when she noticed that Matt was tightly holding the hand of the lady from the church.  The woman, who had accompanied Dean, was a very striking and well-dressed sexy brunette, who had blanched when she saw him approach her. Ellen had met her, only moments before, but because of all the noise and the people she had been meeting, had forgotten her name and who she was.  She had also forgotten that she was the woman from the church, the woman who had made Matt’s jaw clench.

“Matt darling, you mustn’t spend too long with every guest, otherwise we will be here all day.” She laughed light-heartedly and was silenced by Matt’s glare. He returned to the woman, whose hand he was still holding tightly onto. It looked as though she was trying, unsuccessfully to take her hand back. 

“I know where you are now!” he hissed to the woman sharply. Ellen looked at him in surprise at his words. The woman with him pulled her hands away sharply and stumbled back and Dean, who had not realized what was happening, just happened to catch Veronique by her elbow and steadied her. Dean looked across at Ellen questioningly and she looked away, totally confused herself.  Matt meanwhile looked at Veronique like a cat looked at his prey. Ellen was beginning to wonder exactly how well she knew Matt? Had she done the right thing to marry him? Until yesterday she would have said yes, but now, now she wasn’t so sure. Matt had moved on to speak to someone else, leaving the three of them in their own silences. He was laughing and chatting and kept looking back at Veronique, who did her best to look towards Dean as though he would save her. Her back was facing towards Matt and she knew that this sign of defiance would annoy him immensely. She put her hand on Dean’s arm and asked if they could get a drink.  She looked visibly pale and said she felt dizzy.

Eventually it was time for all the guests to go through to the main marquee. The patio was inundated with flowers and trailing ribbons, which danced lightly in the warm summer’s breeze. A harpist sat in the canopied corridor playing for the guests as they passed her on the way to the main dining hall. Colourful garlands of flowers were draped across the ceiling and around the Romanesque columns that supported the graceful arches.  The whole scene was romantic, opulent and utterly beautiful. It was like entering the gates of a scented heaven. Ellen and Matt walked through together and sat at the head table.  Behind the bride and groom was a small white pagoda containing a small orchestra playing a variety of romantic ballads for the diners. In all, the marquee had been prepared for six hundred guests and it looked as though it was an A-list celebrity and aristocratic guest list.  Even though everyone was used to beauty and luxury, audible gasps of wonder were heard by the guests entering. Inside the marquee, the several hundred feet of canopied splendor was bedecked with flowers and trailing lights, under which the matching tables were dominated by the two-foot-high silver or gold statues holding a torch of cascading flowers centerpieces. The smell of the flowers was intoxicating. Roman columns with flower garlands entwined them from floor to ceiling and matched the décor of the rest of the room.  The cutlery was either silver or gold, to match the centerpiece statue. At one end of the marquee was a large mirrored dance floor above which hung the grandest of chandeliers.  Ushers moved efficiently through the tables helping everyone to find their allocated seats. At each corner of the room was a white grand piano playing the same songs in unison. Finally, when everyone was seated, Matt stood up, held his hand out to Ellen, who then stood. In front of everyone he kissed her, causing rapturous rounds of applause.

In the low light of the marquee, Ellen’s dress sparkled and diamonds, previously unnoticed in her rose crown, also dazzled the onlookers. Her hair, under the low light, shining a rich deep mahogany red to her waist.  They were a breathtakingly attractive couple together. As they seated, the band began to play. An army of waiters and butlers took their cue and swarmed the tables with food and scurried to and fro ensuring that all the guests were catered to. Champagne flowed freely and for the discerning there was a choice of six wines to accompany the meal as well as coffee and cognac later.

After the sumptuous meal, the stage curtain lifted revealing a full orchestra. Matt took her hand and she hesitantly followed him onto the dance floor, her splendid gown trailing as she walked. He took her in his arms and Ellen, taken by surprise by his perfect steps, followed his moves perfectly. She smiled and laughed as they dance and everything was else momentarily forgotten. Under the changing lights, her dress shone and glittered. Other couples began to join them, until the floor was full of swirling graceful dancers. Around her, the guests all merged in a brightly coloured sparkling mass of happy people. Ellen looked happily at Matt, knowing that the world was a wonderful place, full of romance, love laughter and happiness. She tilted her head provocatively and smiled, showing her even white teeth before she realized that Matt wasn’t even looking at her, but was looking around the room as they danced; his eyes seeking amongst the crowd. Her smile faltered. She felt her gaze drawn to one part of the room, where she saw Dean, his eyes looking at her with such unbridled passion and love. She knew he wanted to be the one dancing with her right then. She realized the depth of his love; suddenly realized that he loved her enough to watch her find happiness even if it wasn’t with him. Her heart felt it was suddenly being torn from her chest and she felt herself choke back a sob. Instead, she smiled at him apologetically. His eyes darkened and he turned and disappeared from the room.  She returned her gaze towards Matt; his eyes were dark and brooding. She involuntarily shivered as he looked at her. He smiled at her slowly; he had been watching her all the time, a smile that made the hackles rise on the back of her neck. She tried to give him her best smile, but was interrupted just as a manservant tapped him on the arm. Matt released her from his arms and she felt relieved.

“Excuse me sir, there is a telephone call for you.” He nodded and without saying anything to Ellen, just turned and left her stood in the centre of the dance floor. The song ended and the audience applauded.  Ellen picked up her skirts and started to make her way back to the head table.  A hand placed gently on her arm stopped her.

“May I?” She turned to see Dean. “Come with me.”

Before she knew it she was in his arms, whirling round and round to the music. His eyes never left hers as they danced and danced. He drank in her beauty; his eyes showered her with such love, the look that she had wanted to see from Matt, her new husband. It was a love that made her feel secure. She began to laugh, a happy laugh that came from her heart. Suddenly they stopped dancing, because the music had. Ellen hadn’t even heard the music; they had been in their own world. She would have been happy forever in his arms; together they made their own music. Ellen forced herself back and away from Dean.

“Please Dean. I need some air.” She walked to the large French windows at the side of the dance floor as the band played another beautiful song. He started to follow her and she turned to stop him. “No, I need to be alone.”

Outside, in the warm evening, she leant on the patio decking, built as part of the marquee. Flowers were along the balustrade out here too with outside lights. Birds in the distance were chirruping, cheeping and settling down for the night. Across the landscaped lawns, passed the lake, swans and ducks were also getting ready to sleep. It was an idyllic setting. Behind her, the music played and couples were dancing happily. She looked down at her wedding ring glinting in the darkness. Where was Matt? He should have been by her side all evening, not left her even for one second. If he hadn’t, she would not have been given the chance to dance with Dean; a dance she would never forget. Questions about Matt rose to be answered and then sank unanswered, rose again and again and kept repeating, the thoughts burrowing in her head, eating away at her mind like maggots through a corpse. She pressed her hand against her head to stop the thoughts. Feeling arms go around her, she melted backwards into them and rested against his chest.

“Oh Matt.” She felt the person stiffen behind her and turned to see Dean behind her.

“No. Just me.” He bent his head and kissed her, before she could say another word, his breath against her cheek. The kiss was so tender so passionate that it said everything that was within his heart and her heart heard every word. She felt herself being pulled into his arms deeper and deeper, into his kiss deeper and deeper, until their souls touched and merged.  It was a moment where time froze. When the kiss stopped and he pulled back to look at her, she felt lost.

“Ellen, what a fool I have been to let you go.”

“Dean.” She tried to find the words, but instead none came and she looked into his chest and rested her forehead against him. His arms were still around her, holding her tightly.  Tears began to fall from between her lashes and not wanting him to see her crying, she pushed away from him and turned and ran down the steps onto the lawn and ran across the landscaped lawns.  She ran as fast as she could in her designer heels and her dress flowing behind her. He ran after her and caught her by the trees by the lake.  He grabbed her and pulled him to her once more taking her face in his, kissing her with everything he had.

“I have to speak to you and it has to be now. I know I will never get another chance. I love you. I love you.” She looked away, tried to avoid his eyes, but he shook her. “God damn it Ellen, I love you. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, I hear you.”

“I will always love you. I know you have chosen Matt. I really hope you will be happy, but you need to know that I love you. I always have and I always will.”

He looked at her intently, his eyes searching her face, her eyes, memorizing her look, her lips. Her lips; lips that were so ready for kissing. Lips that belonged to him. He kissed her again and felt her melt into him. She felt his heart beating strong against her, felt everything he was. Felt as though she had come home, in his arms, a place she never wanted to leave. She had come home, finally. She wished she could stop time right at that moment, and when his lips left hers, she felt bereft.