by Lisa Hobman
‘NICE!’ the two voices announced in unison and then descended into a fit of giggles.
Cassie remained silent but felt a little sorry for whomever they were discussing. There was nothing wrong with being a decent human, after all. Someone shouldn’t be hated for that.
‘Yeah, I heard that he’s had a fling with his secretary.’
‘Oh yeah, I heard that too.’
Shit, Cassie thought. They’re talking about Pippa and Jasper. Her eyes widened and she tried hard not to move and giveaway her presence.
Voice number one spoke again. ‘I bet all these so called late nights and business trips are excuses so he can go get his rocks off with someone who has a bit more about her.’
‘Oh yeah. Fancy the job, do you?’
Voice one laughed. ‘Oh, God yes! I’d ride him like a—’
The door swung open and someone walked in, forcing the girls to stop berating Cassie’s friend. Although she was a little surprised to hear them referring to Jasper as someone they’d pounce on. He wasn’t exactly male model material.
‘Hey ladies. Have either of you seen Cassie? I seem to have lost her.’
Cassie recognised Vina’s voice and was on the verge of shouting out but the next words from the gossip bitches stopped her mid inhale. ‘Cassie?’
Voice one giggled. ‘Yeah, you know, Cassie the really nice girl who came out with Vina tonight.’
‘Oh yes of course,’ voice two chimed in. ‘Cassie, the nice girl. Really nice.’ The two girls sniggered and Cassie’s heart plummeted like she was on the sharp descent of a rollercoaster.
‘Hey, I don’t know what you’re finding funny about my friend but have you seen her or not?’ The annoyance was evident in Vina’s voice.
‘Nah. Maybe she went home. Probably can’t handle her drink. Usually happens to nice girls.’
‘Hey. Stop it. Whatever your inside joke is about. Stop it right now. Cassie is my best friend and my brother’s fiancée, so you might want to think twice before mocking her. He does run the bloody company after all.’
Voice number one laughed again. ‘Oh come on, V, we’re only having a giggle. And we were just talking about how Lena here would like to ride—’
‘A taxi home!’ the voice now known to be Lena interjected. ‘Yeah, work tomorrow and all that. Home time for us, right Tanya?’
‘Probably a good idea. We wouldn’t want you turning up for work hungover, now would we? What would Seth think to that? Hmm?’ Vina’s acidic tone cut through the atmosphere like a cheese wire.
Cassie waited until she heard the ladies room door close and silence had descended before she unlocked the stall door and made her way to the sink. She washed her hands and then, with the weight of everything she had overheard weighing her down, she dried her teary eyes.
Chapter Seven
Standing in the little shop surrounded by hundreds of images of pretty, elaborate, and mostly over the top wedding cake designs Cassie wanted to scream, ‘Cake is cake for Pete’s sake! Can we just go home now?’ But instead, like the dutiful wife-to-be she was, she smiled sweetly as Mrs Guthrie and her son chatted to the designer about the perfect cake for her wedding. Cassie’s wedding. Not the current Mrs Guthrie’s—although you’d have been forgiven for thinking otherwise.
Seth stood there nodding in agreement with his mother and making all the right, affirmative noises as she talked at the designer about colours and flavours. Cassie watched her fiancé, knowing full well that this is exactly what he must do in his boring business meetings. Every so often he would turn and smile at Cassie or kiss her head. She knew there was something not quite right seeing as he was never overly affectionate in public. Although, there was the distinct possibility she was being paranoid after the conversation she had overheard earlier in the week. They were just jealous, she repeatedly told herself. Clearly they both fancied him. One of them admitted as much to the other. But after hearing Pippa talk about Jasper having an affair she couldn’t help the doubt that niggled at her.
Once the meeting had come to an end and Cassie had sampled so much that each one melded into the other and she had no clue which was her favourite, they agreed on one. Cassie had all but given up on having an opinion about her wedding. What was the point? So long as she married the man of her dreams in the end it would all be perfect. Or at least she hoped it would.
Cassie and Seth walked his mother out to her car where her driver was patiently reading a newspaper waiting for her return. After air kisses they waved her goodbye and decided to walk home seeing as the little cake shop wasn’t far from their apartment.
The sun had begun its lazy descent and as they passed the Kelvingrove Art Gallery it was lit up with the orange glow of the early evening sun. The many windows glistening like mirrors as the light hit. They sauntered hand in hand in contented silence, through the park that surrounded the gallery and Cassie inhaled the fresh breeze. Living here was wonderful. It was easy to pretend that you were out in the middle of the countryside instead of on the edges of one of the busiest cities in the country. A squirrel leapt from a tree to their left and paused in the centre of the path as if to assess them, before taking off and scurrying up the opposite tree.
‘I love being surrounded by all this green,’ Cassie said, absentmindedly as they walked.
Seth squeezed her hand. ‘Yes, it’s pretty to look at but you can’t beat the hustle and bustle of the city to prove you’re alive.’
‘Don’t you ever imagine yourself leaving the city? Even when you retire?’ Cassie couldn’t imagine living in the city forever.
He frowned. ‘Leave Glasgow? Never. It’s what I thrive on, poppet. This place. The pace of life. I’ll sleep when I’m dead, darling.’ He chuckled.
Cassie couldn’t help the sinking feeling that knotted her stomach. She had visions of them maybe moving to the seaside when he retired; long walks on the beach, maybe getting a dog—even though that idea would horrify Mr Clean. But the city was what he loved so maybe she could make do with visits to the seaside and countryside. Kelvingrove Park was a great compromise after all. And to have it practically on her doorstep was great.
‘Come on. Out with it. I know you have something on your mind.’
She glanced up at him and sighed. ‘Oh, nothing I’m fine.’ The expression on his face told her he wasn’t buying it. ‘I’m just a wee bit overwhelmed I guess. All this wedding stuff—’
‘See this is why I wanted to sort it all out. It’s stressful enough without you having to arrange everything too.’
‘But that’s what a bride is supposed to do; get stressed about the decisions she’s making. Not those being made around her, Seth. I know you want to save me from it all but like I’ve said before; I’m not some damsel in distress. It’s not like “My Fair Lady” and I’m some project you have to work on.’ She echoed the horrible conversation she had overheard and a shiver travelled her spine as she did so. ‘I’m your equal and I need to be treated that way.’
‘Cassie, where’s all this coming from? I’ve never thought of you as some project. And of course you’re my equal. Who has planted such nonsense in your head, sweetheart?’
‘No one,’ she lied. ‘Oh, I don’t know… I just feel a little bamboozled.’
He pulled her into his side. ‘Darling, this is the last thing I wanted. Just say the word if there’s anything you want to change about the wedding and I promise it’s done.’
Guilt niggled at her and knotted her stomach simultaneously. Was she blowing things out of proportion? Was this just a normal bride thing?
She nuzzled into his embrace. ‘Just forget it. It’s fine. I’ll be fine.’ A heavy silence fell between them and Cassie searched for something to fill the void.
Eventually Seth beat her to it. ‘Vina says you had a nice girls’ night out whilst I was away. Although from what I gather you had rather a lot to drink and got all emotional,’ he teased. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about it?’
His use of the word �
�nice’ made her shiver again. ‘There was nothing to tell. I guess I’m just behaving like a typical bride.’ She shrugged and grinned in the hope he would let it go.
He didn’t. He stopped walking and turned to face her, placing his hands on her arms. ‘Cassie, be honest. Are you getting cold feet?’
She shook her head. ‘Oh, no Seth, not at all. Are… are you?’
He laughed. ‘Why on earth would you ask me that? Haven’t I been the one making all the arrangements as quick as possible?’
Fair point. ‘Well… yes… but…’
He huffed and let his head loll backwards. ‘Oh, for goodness sake, Cassie, just spit it out. If you need to say something just say it.’ His sudden change of mood irritated her.
Taking a deep breath to bolster her confidence she looked him square in the eyes. ‘Am I too nice for you?’
His eyes narrowed and he tilted his head. ‘Nice? Why do you make that sound like an insult?’
She shrugged. ‘I just wonder what your colleagues and staff think of me. The age gap. The fact that you’re wealthy and I’m quite the opposite.’
He tugged her hand and began walking again. ‘Cassie, you really are being absurd. No I don’t think you’re too nice. I think you’re marriage material or I wouldn’t have bloody proposed, would I?’ Annoyance edged his clipped words now. He was clearly exasperated.
Cassie stopped this time. ‘That’s the thing though. You didn’t actually ask me to marry you.’
He crumpled his face and made a snorting sound. ‘What the hell are you talking about? You do remember that night at dinner, don’t you?’
‘Yes, of course I do. But… what you actually said was that you wanted to look after me. Then you asked if I would let you. To which I said yes.’
He lifted his arms in exasperation and let them fall to his sides again. ‘And your point is? Bloody hell, Cassie, it was obvious what I was asking of you. I gave you a damned ring, didn’t I?’
Her lip began to tremble. ‘Why are you angry with me?’ Although she was angry at herself for getting upset and appearing like some neurotic little woman. ‘And I love my ring. But… do you actually want to marry me, Seth?’
He huffed and stepped closer, enveloping her in his arms. ‘I gave you a ring. I booked a drafty old cottage in that tiny godforsaken town. I sent you wedding dress shopping. We’ve picked a cake. I’ve booked the church. What do you think?’
Tears escaped Cassie’s eyes and left heated trails down her cheeks and she internally cursed herself for letting her emotions run so freely. ‘I think I need to know for sure. I need the words, Seth. But more than that I need to know that I’m the right girl for you. That I’m who you really want.’
He swiped at the moisture on her face with his thumbs and kissed her nose. ‘Cassie, I want you and I need you. So, can we please stop this ridiculous conversation? And just to clarify, Cassandra Montgomery will you please still marry me?’
She sniffed as a smile spread across her face and she nodded fervently. ‘Yes, yes I will.’ She leapt into his arms and he hugged her tightly.
‘Thank goodness. Now can we go home? It’s getting bloody chilly now the sun’s gone.’
And just like that the overheard gossip was forgotten and left exactly where it belonged—in the toilet—and her mind was eased. Seth Guthrie not only wanted her, he needed her. And that counted for so much. To top it off she had her official proposal.
Everything was wonderful again.
*
‘So, what does one do on an editing masterclass course that one can’t simply do online? And don’t you already know it all anyway?’ Seth asked from their bed as Cassie packed her little wheelie suitcase. ‘I mean you do sell your services as such.’
‘It’s a refresher really. But I think it’s better to be more hands on. You know?’
‘Hey, you’d better not be putting your hands on anyone but me,’ he replied.
She giggled like a silly schoolgirl at his response. ‘You know what I mean. It’s better to actually to speak to people directly when you’re learning. And it’s good to meet others in the same field. Swap ideas and such.’
‘You mean like networking?’
She lifted her head and nodded at him. ‘Yes. Like networking. You catch on fast,’ she teased.
As she passed the bed he made a grab for her and pulled her down on top of him. ‘Well don’t you be getting too friendly with any of the men on this masterclass. I’m the only master you need in your life,’ he told her as he swatted her bottom.
‘Ouch! And I hope that was a joke, Mr Guthrie.’
He rolled his eyes and freed her from his grasp. ‘You take things far too seriously, soon-to-be-Mrs Guthrie.’
She stood beside the bed, hands on hips. ‘Hmm, well after the whole “obey” thing I wouldn’t put anything past you.’
He growled and flung himself back into the pillows like a moody teen. ‘Ugh, I thought we’d moved on from that now? I admitted defeat on it, didn’t I? Let it go, will you?’
She bent to kiss his head. ‘Now who’s taking things too seriously? I appreciate you compromising on the vows. No woman in this day and age wants to say they’ll obey anything except the law of the land.’
‘Yes, and you made your point. Anyway, when will you be back? And why are you going on a weekend? Seems a waste to me.’
‘Because, my darling fiancé, it was the time slot that worked for the course organisers. It’s summer so we’re using the college out of term time, meaning we have to take it when it’s available. And I’ll be home Sunday evening just like I told you before.’
He huffed. ‘It’s only bloody Edinburgh. I don’t know why you won’t let me drive you. I could’ve booked us a suite at the Balmoral instead of you staying in some dirty student hovel.’ She opened her mouth to respond but he held up his hand. ‘Don’t bother, Miss Independence. I get it. You’re capable of getting across the country under your own steam… or that of a train… or rather, I know it’s not actually a steam train… You get my point.’
She burst into fits of laughter at his bumbling. He didn’t give in easily and she loved that he was beginning to relax a little. Things had been so much better since they cleared the air.
Seth stuck out his bottom lip. ‘Hey, you’re laughing at me.’
She bent to kiss him once more. ‘But only because you’re funny in the best possible way. Now I have to go. Behave yourself whilst I’m gone!’ she repeated his own parting words from the Seattle trip at him as she grabbed her jacket and made for the door.
‘I wouldn’t dare do anything else, Mrs Bossy Bottom!’ he called back.
Chapter Eight
On arrival in Edinburgh, Cassie walked for twenty minutes from Waverley Station, passing the National Museum of Scotland—one of her favourite places—en-route. She was carried along by Chris Cornell’s dulcet tones as he sang to her in French through her earbuds about someone trying to change him. Hmm, I know that feeling, she thought, rolling her eyes. But the negative thought evaporated as quickly as it had appeared. A smile stretched her face as she inhaled the warm summer air and headed towards the campus.
Edinburgh’s Old Town, where the campus was located, was a mixture of Victorian, Edwardian and neo-classical architecture with some more modern structures dotted around for good measure. The imposing buildings lined the roads like sentries on guard to protect the cities multi-cultured residents. The modern red brick university building in Lauriston Place seemed a little out of character with the majority of the period structures. Its black-framed windows appeared like arrow slits in fortifications, but of course Cassie was thankful that no archers would be firing on her as she walked into the main entrance.
The college was eerily quiet; its corridors void of the usual chatter and myriad students milling around. But then again it was a Friday afternoon during the summer vacation; a time when janitors and maintenance staff were the only people walking the halls in preparation for the next semester to begin
.
Once she had located the lecture theatre noted on her letter, she entered and settled herself in a seat, taking out her notebook in readiness. She was momentarily taken back to the day she met Vina under similar circumstances—although at least this time she was in the right place.
*
As courses go it was quite a relaxed affair. The other people seemed nice and they were from a mixture of career backgrounds, from authors to copy editors, to scriptwriters. After the first afternoon of study the cohort went to the local pub for drinks and a bite to eat. They chatted about their own work lives and shared pointers with each other about some of the more intricate practises.
The conversation quickly moved on to relationships and Cassie proudly announced that she was getting married soon. She was showered with congratulations and asked to share the details of her dress, the cake, etc. When asked about her fiancé she told her fellow gathered students about Seth and this sparked many shared, knowing glances.
‘Okay, I’ll say what everyone’s thinking,’ Tim, the freelance proofreader said as he leaned forward. ‘You’re marrying Seth Guthrie? The Seth Guthrie? Property mogul, wealthy businessman, etcetera, etcetera?’ He frowned in what appeared to be disbelief.
Unease at his attitude prickled at her skin and she rubbed her arms. ‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘And you’re doing this poxy course?’ Many of the group gasped and chuntered at his insulting choice of words but he held up his hand. ‘All right, all right, what I mean is, you’re still working? When you’re marrying one of the richest blokes in Scotland? Are you mad? Shouldn’t you be a kept woman? I mean, what’s the guy playing at?’ He sat upright again as he laughed and glanced around at his peers, clearly expecting the same reaction from them.
Sarah, the indie author, interjected, ‘Tim that’s none of your business. I think you owe Cassie an apology.’
He held up both hands now and shrugged. ‘Aye, aye, I’m sorry. I tend to speak my mind. I just find it a bit strange that someone would still need to work if—’
