Just a Family Affair Read Online Free PDF Page B

they put the top down on his Austin Healey. As they drove out of Eldenbury and along the road that led to Honeycote, Patrick turned his idea over in his mind. Today would be the ideal occasion to announce an engagement, he thought. He felt a flicker of excitement in his belly, and the corners of his mouth turned up.
    They reached the crest of Poachers Hill, with its dizzying view of Honeycote below. Patrick could see the church, the tower of the brewery and, if you followed the road carefully, the golden walls of Honeycote House peeping through the bare branches of the trees. In a month or so, when the trees were green, you wouldn’t be able to see it at all.
    He pulled over into the lay-by that served as a viewpoint for tourists. He switched off the engine and turned to Mandy, clearing his throat.
    ‘I’ve had an idea,’ he said casually. She looked at him quizzically, and he gazed at her for a moment, remembering the first time he had kissed her. He’d only done it to wind her up, wanting to punish her for transforming his sister Sophie into a total trollop for the ball they’d gone to that evening. Patrick had wanted to make it quite clear to Mandy that no one messed with his family without his say-so, that giving Sophie a cleavage and a fake tan and a ridiculous hairdo had been totally inappropriate. But as soon as their lips had met he had been lost. Tearing himself away from her, leaving her breathless and gasping and desperate for more, had been an act of iron will. In the process of teaching her a lesson, he’d fallen in love himself.
    She was smiling back at him now, the little dimple flickering in and out of the creamy flesh at the corner of her mouth.
    ‘What?’ She was intrigued. Patrick wasn’t one for ideas. He was never conspiratorial. But he was grinning at her, his ice-blue eyes, which could be so cold when he was displeased, sparkling in the sunshine.
    ‘I think we should get married.’
    Mandy blinked. Once. Twice.
    ‘It’s about time, don’t you think? We’ve lived together long enough. We love each other . . . don’t we?’
    Patrick looked at her, suddenly anxious. She burst out laughing. Patrick was rarely anxious or unsure of himself.
    ‘What’s so funny?’ he asked indignantly.
    ‘You. You’re nervous! I’ve never seen you nervous.’
    ‘I’m not bloody nervous. I just . . .’
    Patrick trailed off, feeling foolish and exposed. He hadn’t expected Mandy to laugh at his proposal. Was it so ridiculous?
    ‘I’m sorry,’ he said stiffly. ‘I thought it was a logical step. Obviously I was wrong.’
    Mandy bit her lip, realizing he had mistaken her laughter for derision, not delirium.
    ‘I’m laughing because I’m happy, you idiot!’ She flung her arms around his neck. ‘I think it’s a fantastic idea. Of course I want to marry you.’
    Patrick felt the tension in his shoulders melt away at her touch. His worst fear was always ridicule; any suggestion that he was being laughed at or undermined meant the barriers went straight up. But now he knew he’d misunderstood, relief flooded through him and he managed a smile.
    ‘Good.’
    She frowned. ‘You do mean . . . soon, don’t you? You’re not just going to ask me and then make me wait for ages and ages?’>
    ‘Of course not,’ said Patrick.
    ‘And we don’t want a fuss, do we?’ she asked anxiously. ‘A nice service in the church, of course. And then everyone back to the house for lunch.’
    That was what he loved about her. She might love her labels and her shopping, and she might spend an inordinate amount of time on her appearance, but Mandy was surprisingly down to earth. Anyone looking at her would think she’d want the full works: Sudeley Castle, an army of bridesmaids, vintage cars, a Robbie Williams lookalike to serenade her. But it seemed not.
    ‘Everyone makes too much fuss about weddings these days,’ she went on. ‘I think it would be much more fun to keep it low key. Though obviously . . .’ she