Page 15 of The Spare

‘That makes two of us,’ Annabel says. I press my lips together. The hairstylist is, like everyone else helping with the wedding, NDA’d up to the eyeballs, but even this level of disclosure is more than I’m comfortable with.

‘I don’t know,’ Flora says helplessly behind me. ‘She’s really nice. I know you probably think she’s the baddie, but she’s not. She never, ever thought my brother would leave you for her. She really didn’t. She walked away and blocked his number and everything.’

I assume that last part is for my benefit. I hold my hand up so that the hairstylist will stop prodding me and swivel around on my stool. All of us, except for Ewan, are still in our robes. I’m delighted Charlotte is here; she’s keeping Mum company downstairs, thank fuck.

‘Yeah, right,’ my sister pipes up. I have to agree. There’s no way I believe she wasn’t playing Xavier, at least a little.

‘Seriously,’ Flora insists. ‘She was completely distraught. I met up with her before I came home for Christmas. She honestly believed she was never going to see him again.’

‘Well, I’m sure she’s smiling like the Cheshire Cat now.’ It comes out as a hiss.

‘She’s not. She has no idea Xav’s called things off with you. I told you, she blocked him. He’s on his way down there right now to try to win her back. As far as she’s concerned, he’s walking down the aisle today.’

‘That,’ Minty says, ‘is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.’

I purse my lips. ‘Thanks a lot.’

‘So is Benedict stepping up,’ Ewan reassures me, twirling the stem of his champagne flute between his fingers.

‘That’s not romantic,’ I point out. ‘It’s pragmatic. Generous, yes, but not romantic.’

‘But he told you he wanted a “real marriage”,’ Annabel points out. There’s a snarky undertone that tells me she’s far more interested in rattling me than reassuring me, and it has me regretting divulging that particular detail to her and Minty.

I make a face I suspect confirms that her jibe has landed. To be clear, the prospect of getting physical with Benedict de Vere isn’t remotely unappealing.

But it’s still bloody terrifying, even having had five days to muse on it.

‘How long will you make him wait before you fuck him?’ Ewan asks, his incorrigible desire for gossip clearly overpowering any compassion he might feel for me.

I glance at Flora, who’s looking around the room as if desperate for an out. Poor girl. Octavia is making a horrified face beside her. ‘I’m not having this conversation,’ I say.

‘Hear me out,’ he says. ‘So, you know how in olden times posh women used to, like, hire other women to breastfeed their babies? Like, wet nurses. Well, if you don’t want to suck Benedict’s dick, I could be your proxy. Like, your “wet mouth”? And I wouldn’t even charge you.’

I can’t help it. A very unbecoming snort escapes me. Ewan is so outrageous, and I’m so bloody relieved he’s here to lighten the atmosphere today. I don’t know how the hell he comes up with this shit, I really don’t, but God bless him all the same. The other three crack up, too.

‘I think the word you’re looking for is whore,’ I say.

‘That works too,’ he agrees airily. ‘What do you think?’

‘Does Benedict get a say?’ Annabel wants to know. ‘I’m not sure you’re his type.’

‘I’m everyone’s type,’ he says. ‘Besides, I’d make it worth his while. I’d give him a lot more back-passage access than Wentworth here would, and you all know it. God, I’d bend over for that man so quickly. He wants wedding-night anal? I’d be like, Bring it on, my friend. Just work me open.’

I’m shaking my head now, my jaw hanging open. He is unbelievable.

I just wish he would stop reminding me that, if I somehow survive the ceremony today, my wedding night awaits me later.

‘For the love of God, can you please at least try to rein in that relentless libido of yours?’ I ask, attempting to sound fed up when I’m nothing of the sort. The thought of Benedict taking out his relentless libido on Ewan is pretty amusing.

‘Fine,’ he says with a huff. ‘I’ll think of something completely repellent.’

He stands still and closes his eyes, and we all watch him in silence. After a few seconds, he opens them and sighs happily. ‘Done.’

‘What did you think about?’ Flora, who absolutely shouldn’t encourage him, asks.

‘Oh, it was an easy one,’ he says. ‘I just imagined having to shag Wentworth here. Ugh.’ He shudders. ‘Totally sorted me out.’

CHAPTER 7