Page 84 of The Only Way Is Up

‘I’d already discounted you as a suspect, because you seem like a person with integrity and Ruby is a very good judge of character. She can sniff out a bad egg from a mile off.’ Daisy thought of Christian: Ruby’s reservations about him had turned out to be bang on. ‘Also I don’t think you’re a very good liar.’

Will gave a short laugh. ‘No, I’m rubbish.’

‘That’s a good thing,’ Daisy told him. ‘And I just couldn’t see you coming on that skiing holiday with us if you were selling stories behind my back. That takes a special kind of . . . what’s the word?’

‘Duplicity?’ suggested Will.

‘Ooh, that’s a good one. I was going to say treachery, but yours is better.’

‘I’m doing Julius Caesar for English Lit, so I know all about that. “And some that smile, have in their hearts, I fear, millions of mischiefs.” ’ He blushed at his impromptu performance and picked at a loose thread on his sleeve.

‘Mmm, that sounds about right.’

‘So do you want to find out who it is?’ asked Will.

‘I’ve thought about that a lot, actually. I’m leaving Shipton Combe on Monday, so does it matter? The stories have been nothing more than idle gossip – bruising, but there’s been no real damage. I could just let it go.’

‘Aren’t you even a bit curious? Don’t you want to find out which one of the people around that table betrayed you?’

Daisy laughed. ‘You make it sound like Judas at The Last Supper.’

‘I’d want to know, that’s all,’ Will shrugged. ‘And if you were interested, I thought I could help you.’

Daisy sighed and stood up. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

Will beamed at Daisy, reaching over to take a notebook out of his schoolbag. ‘Thought you’d never ask.’

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

On Friday morning, Daisy woke up in Tom’s bed with a large brown dog flumped across her legs. She barely had time to stretch before Tom came in with a tray of coffee and toast, balancing it on the edge of the bed while Daisy sat up and tucked the duvet around her. He was fully dressed in his usual headmaster gear of cords, white shirt and a dark green jumper. To Daisy he looked solid and dependable and sexy as hell.

Daisy brushed the hair out of her face as Tom leaned over to kiss her. ‘Been a while since I’ve had breakfast in bed.’

‘I’d stay but I have to go to work, I’m afraid. Got a load of kids heading off on their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition in about twenty minutes. I should go and wave them off. Are you off to Milton Park later?’

‘Yep,’ Daisy nodded happily. She picked up a piece of toast, biting into it, talking between chews. ‘Ruby’s play starts at four . . . then I’ll bring her home after . . . Will’s coming with me . . . Simon and Stella are meeting us there . . . Back about seven.’

‘Are Simon and Archie staying the weekend?’ asked Tom.

Daisy nodded, her mouth full of toast. ‘Mmm. They’re booked into the pub for the weekend. The plan is to hang around for the fete tomorrow, then fumigate the cottage when I leave on Monday.’

Tom hung his head, looking a little deflated. ‘Selfishly, I hate the idea of you leaving. We’re just getting started.’

Daisy felt the same way but tried to sound upbeat. ‘It’ll be fine. You can come and visit me in London, and I can come back when I’ve got a free weekend. Ruby’s going to want to come here to see Will anyway.’

Tom nodded thoughtfully. ‘Exam season is coming up, so I’m going to be pretty busy anyway. It’s probably just as well you won’t be around to distract me.’ He slid a hand under the duvet and up Daisy’s thigh, smiling playfully.

‘Oi, stop that.’ Daisy swatted away his hand. ‘You’ll spill my coffee.’

Tom laughed, then asked more seriously, ‘Does Ruby know about us yet?’

‘No, not yet. I’ll talk to her later, but I’m sure she’ll be fine about it. My guess is she’ll see you as a considerable upgrade from Christian.’

‘Kind of boring though, in comparison.’

‘There is no comparison,’ replied Daisy firmly. ‘You are from entirely different worlds. And I can’t begin to tell you what a good thing that is.’

Tom looked cheered by the thought. ‘So I’ll see you tomorrow then. At the fete?’