Delicious (A Rumour Mill Novel) (10 page)

           
“It’s
nothing to worry about, especially right now. As I said, it’s our insurance
policy, princess.” William said getting up.

           
William
flicked his stub onto the expensive Persian before snuffing it with his shoe. William
kissed Tamzin on her forehead and waved at his wife. He ignored his younger daughter
sitting on the settee with the bridesmaids. Tamzin looked at her nails in deep
thought on what Darren done now.

♥

ews and tabloid helicopters increased their
presence over the hall’s air space. The scandal regarding the wedding cake fuelled
public curiosity to a fever pitch. Grace tried having lunch on the patio, but
the constant sounds of helicopter blades disturbed her meal. She collected her
plate and entered the restaurant. A few busboys and maids were having their
tea.

           
As
she ate Graces’ mobile notified her with text messages. Some messages were from
Cat and Corrie complaining how busy The Savoury Plum was because the wedding
melee. Another was from Olivia, pleading for Grace’s return as her aunts drove Olivia
crazy. As Grace was about to ring her aunts, a text message from Guy came
through.

I’ve been thinking about you. I’m sorry for last night’s reaction.
I’d love to make it up to you. I tried to stop in the kitchen, but security
detail is tight. Can I see you tonight before the family dinner? XX Guy

Quickly, Grace
replied with a text.

I’ll be busy tonight. I promised Chef Hare I’d help him with
desserts. Can I see you beforehand? I have a few hours. XX Grace

Guy responded
shortly after he received the message.

I don’t care how long I have to wait. I’m going rafting with the
lads and don’t know when I’ll be back. I’ll contact you after. XX Guy

Grace’s stomach
flipped. She wanted to see him tonight, but she knew she was going to be
knackered. After her call to her aunts, Grace went back to the cottage for a
quick kip. She needed her rest before returning to help with dessert service.
The next two days were to be full on
.
It’s going to be difficult seeing Guy. I hope we can spare all the time we have
together.

Guy thought the
same thing.
I’ve got to make time for her
.
He decided he was going to do something about it.

♥

Darren rented kayaks and canoes for the
lads from Up the River. Some relatives of the Dowling-Smythe family decided to
join in on the fun. The journey down the river Wye is five miles long and takes
approximately two hours to reach the Boat Inn at Whitney.

           
“Oye,
Guy!” Jonny shouted. Jonny went to Guy’s aide. He helped Guy a canoe to the
river bank. “Can I canoe with you? I’m not a great swimmer. I’d rather paddle
with you than the others.” he added as they walked down the gravel slip.

 
          
Guy and Jonny placed the canoe down
on the river’s edge. Guy looked back. The group wasn’t interested in safety.
They roughhoused and played around with one another. Darren was busy chatting
with William.

           
“No
worries mate. You can paddle with me.” Guy replied.

           
“Ta!”
Jonny said. Jonny retrieved his rafting gear, whilst Guy strapped on his life
vest.

           
Soon
they were all off down the river. Whilst the river was fairly calm, it worried
Guy that Jonny wasn’t wearing a life jacket. Even in the calm, natural
surroundings, Darren made it a point to be loud and rambunctious as possible. They
sang songs at tops of their lungs about women’s private parts, flatulence and
Rolling Stone. They smoked cannabis and drank beer. The noise startled grazing
sheep that looked up in disgust or so Guy thought.

           
Darren
decided to play a game and coined bumper canoes. The objective was whoever
paddled drunk must hit another in attempt to throw the other party into the
river. If successful, the hitter would say to the wet party “Sorry mate, have a
drink on me.” Then the wet party would get back into their canoe or kayak and
have a proper drink.

           
The
first few times everyone laughed. They thought it funny. Owen Collins, London
Lions team captain, was tossed over first. Darren was next and a cousin of his
who Guy didn’t know. As the river rapids turned swift and rough, Guy thought Darren
would stop the game. It was tough to navigate through, but Guy managed to lead
the canoe.

           
“I
should’ve worn a life vest.” Jonny muttered. He paddled hard following Guy’s
lead.

           
“Take
it easy mate. Don’t worry. We’ll get to that small island there and rest. I’ll
give you my jacket.” Guy assured him.

           
“That’s
a plan.” Jonny said. Jonny was grateful in choosing Guy to paddle with instead
of someone else.
    

           
As
they came out of the rapids, Darren rammed his canoe into the side of Guy’s
canoe. The brunt of the hit was strong. It tipped the canoe on its side causing
Guy and Jonny to fall out. In this part of the river, Guy noticed the water’s
at least twenty feet deep and murky. Guy immediately surfaced for air.

           
“Sorry
mate! Have a drink on me!” Darren shrilled.

           
“You
fucking idiot! Jonny can’t swim!” Guy screamed.

           
Guy
saw Jonny floundering and swam in his direction. His life jacket made it
difficult for swimming. Quick-thinking and a strong swimmer, William took off
his own life jacket and jumped in the river. William reached Jonny before Guy, pulling
Jonny up the muddy river bank. The lads pulled their canoes and kayaks to
shore. Guy ran to Jonny. William placed Jonny on his side to expel water from
his lungs.

“Are you fine,
mate?” Guy asked.

           
“Yes.”
Jonny managed to say through fits of coughing.

           
“Jon!
I’m sorry!
I didn’t know mate!”
Darren cried. Darren’s hands were on his head in panic.

           
William
picked himself off of the ground. William wiped mud off his jeans and shirt he
recently purchased from Harrods. Soaking wet from the rescue William was annoyed
with his son-in-law to be. It’s rare to see the ‘softer’ side of a mob boss,
but William hatred ran deep for arseholes like Darren.

           
“You’re
always sorry!” Guy screamed.

           
“What
the
fuck
is your problem?! I
apologised! What do you want from me?!
Blood?!
”
Darren snapped.

           
“My
problem is
you
! You never act
responsible. You never grew out of your upper school ways. Everything’s a game
to you and everything has its price!” Guy retorted with heat in his tone.

           
Guy
was irate. Darren didn’t like Guy’s reaction. He caught William sneering in
disgust. Guy’s attack in front of his father-in-law made Darren’s blood boil.

           
“I
said
sorry!
I’m not giving blood over
it. It seems you’re the one with a problem, Guy.
Perhaps a touch of envy?!
I’m getting all the attention whilst you
cry your sad lonely heart out. You should’ve stayed at Cherries and bought
yourself shag.
Then again I can’t fathom
who’d want an arsehole like you!
” Darren attacked angrily.

           
It
was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Guy lunged forward. His fist hit
Darren squarely on the bridge of his nose. Blood spewed and splattered
everywhere.

           
“Fuck!”
Darren screamed. Temporarily, Darren clutched his nose to stop the bleeding. Darren
gained his balance to throw a punch right back at Guy.

           
The
lads jumped back, out of the way of Guy and Darren locked in fist fighting.
London Lion teammates tried breaking the two, but it was like trying to break
up two wildebeest. It was a battle of pent up anger and issues. Guy, in his
rage, wanted more than blood from Darren.
I
want respect!

           
A
single shot fired from a gun echoed through the valley. Troubled birds flew out
from nearby trees. William stood on the bank with his Glock. He rarely fired
it. In his age, there were no intentions on breaking up a fight between two
strapping lads. His henchmen did all his dirty work for him.

           
“
All of you get the fuck back in your canoes!
Now, get your arses moving before I make all of you disappear!
” William snarled.
His voice strong, solemn and icy.

           
The
men quickly parted. Without another word, the group walked back to their canoes
and kayaks. When William spoke, it was as if God was speaking to them. They
were all familiar with William’s history. William made enemies vanish like a
Las Vegas magician can make an African elephant disappear.

           
Guy
and Darren pulled away. They wiped blood off of their hands and face. Darren
took off his shirt to stop his bloody nose. Jonny got up on his feet. He
thanked William again for the rescue.

           
As
Darren walked back to his canoe he gave Guy a chilling stare. Guy shook it off.
He returned to his canoe with Jonny trying not to give it another thought.

           
The
remainder of the river Wye was uneventful and quiet. When the group arrived at
the Boat Inn, a string of paparazzi were waiting patiently. Darren bypassed
them. He stormed off to the inn. William grabbed Guy by the collar.

           
“It’s
none of my business on what goes on between you and my son-in-law, but Mr.
Rowling I must say you’re a good man. If you ever need a favour, please feel
free to contact me.” William said as he smoked on a cigarette.

           
Guy
perplexed by William’s offer, had no words.
Why’s
he telling me this?
He shook his head.

           
“I
must go. My driver’s here. He has a set of dry clothes for me.”
 
William added.

William left Guy in
stupefaction. Guy headed in for a pint.
 
With his throat parched Guy felt a cool pint
would do the trick. As he walked into the pub, paparazzi shouted out to him
about the cake and his interest in Grace.
How
the hell do they know that? I haven’t told anyone about Grace, but they’re
screaming questions.
Guy flipped them two fingers and ignored their calls.

Guy went over to
the bar and ordered his pint of Stella. As he waited for his drink, Darren
approached him. Darren had a tea towel filled with ice resting on his nose to
ease the swelling.

“I don’t know
what’s gotten into you, Guy. We use to be best mates. We’re brothers and now
you act like you’re too good. What the hell’s happened to us?” Darren
questioned.

“You’ve changed
for worse. The guy I use to know doesn’t exist. All you care about is booze,
money and women. You don’t even care about the game or give a damn who you
marry.” Guy retorted. Guy didn’t want another scrap with Darren. He wanted to
drink his pint in peace. Darren was desperate for answers and continued on with
his questioning.

“Judging by your
reaction, I’m assuming you heard news. You’re upset I signed a trade contract
to the Tottenham Heat for
£
45 million pounds. You’re jealous
because I’ll be making
more
than
you.” Darren sneered.

Guy knew nothing
of Darren’s trade. Football trades are splashed on the front-page.
How did he keep that a secret? Darren loves
the spotlight!
Guy shook his head.
There’s
something dodgy here.
Guy drank the last of his pint and placed the glass
on the bar.

“You’re wrong
Darren. That’s not it, at all. You’ve got your head so far up your arse, you
can’t see the daylight. Nor do you give a
fuck
.”
Guy gritted through clenched teeth.

The words cemented
the end of friendship and loyalty as brothers. Guy left the pub feeling
liberated.

♥

Mercedes Maybach, Aston Martins, Rolls
Royce and Bentley’s lined Worthington Hall’s driveway waiting for valet
parking. As the sun set hall lanterns were turned on and landscape lighting
changed to pink for tonight’s occasion. It was the family dinner even though
Darren and Guy’s true family weren’t attending.

           
Grace
finished the last of the treacle pudding. She turned to Trevor to see if he
needed any help.

           
“No
Grace. We’re done. My staff will take care of the rest. I’ve prepared a
wonderful dinner for us and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you.” Trevor
said as he wiped down a counter.

 
          
At first Grace was flattered by the
initial invitation, but in the kitchen she saw Trevor’s true colours. During
the day Trevor barked orders to staff. Trevor made some cry and swore loudly.
Yet, with Grace, Trevor acted sweet and kind. He hovered about extending a hand
here or there and giving unsolicited advice. It was as though he was Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde.

The other members
of staff noticed and began to distance themselves from her. Grace didn’t like
it. She wanted to be liked among others. Whilst she appreciated his help it wasn’t
Grace’s intention to ride on his coattails of success. Trevor noticed her
hesitation.