by Sharon Booth
Then she didn't think anything more, because exhaustion overwhelmed her, and sleep came quickly.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Someone was banging on the door. 'Breakfast!'
The pain hit Eliot as he tried to open his eyes. Rays of sunlight filtered through a gap in the curtains and pierced his lids like arrows shot through a balistraria. He winced, wondering what was happening, as their sharp points penetrated his skull. He reached out a hand, groping towards Eden for comfort. His fingers touched something hard, and he forced open his eyes, flinching at the effort. He was staring, not at Eden's sleeping face, but at a whitewashed wall. Where the hell was he?
He tried to turn his head, but the effort was too much. He lay still for a moment, struggling to make sense of where he was and what was going on. With a huge effort, he managed to drag some jumbled memories from his throbbing brain. An argument, the pub, drowning his sorrows. Too much dratted beer! Then that whisky. Oh, he should have steered well clear of the whisky. It had an awful effect on him. He should have remembered that when Emerald — Emerald!
'Are you up? I've got your breakfasts here,' came the voice from the other side of the door.
Eliot groaned as it began to come back to him. Slowly, he turned his head to confirm what he already feared he was about to see. Emerald! She was fast asleep, curled up against his back, golden hair spread out over the pillow. No wonder he was so close to the wall. They were in a double bed, but she'd taken up more than half of it, leaving him with barely any room to move. Bloody hell!
He was in bed with Emerald. How was this going to look to Eden? She'd never believe that nothing had happened, and he couldn't say he'd blame her. She was going to take a lot of convincing that this was an entirely innocent situation.
Making an enormous effort, he managed to shift himself over onto his other side and tried to remember how Emerald had ended up staying with him.
'Look, if you don't open this door now I'll leave the breakfast tray outside. Don't blame me if it gets cold. You ordered it, so there'll be a charge whether you eat it or not.'
There was a loud muttering and then the sound of a tray being set down outside the door.
Eliot closed his eyes again, wondering what he was going to tell Eden. What if his kids found out? Of course they'd find out! How could they not, once Eden had thrown him out. Because she would throw him out; who could deny that she had every right, and not just because of this little performance. It was all coming back to him now, the way he'd spoken to her, the cruelty he'd shown. He ran a shaking hand through his hair. He felt disgusted with himself, and quite nauseated. No, really nauseated.
The realisation that he was about to be sick had him bolting upright, despite the stabbing pain in his head, all his previous attempts not to disturb the sleeping Emerald forgotten, as he scrambled over her and rushed to the en-suite bathroom.
Afterwards, he swilled his mouth out with water and stared at his reflection in the mirror, hating the man he saw there. He couldn't believe it. How had he come to this, for God's sake? Anger, he realised bitterly. His temper, his lack of understanding, and his usual trick of running away from an argument. He deserved everything he had coming.
He jumped nervously as Emerald appeared at the door, her hair tangled, her eyes sleepy as she yawned and said, 'Bloody hell. What a night!' He closed his eyes to her reflection, realising she was wearing only her underwear. When she didn't move, he turned to face her, heart thudding. 'Emerald, I'm so sorry.'
She looked surprised. 'Sorry? For what?'
'Last night. You know —'
'Oh.' She blinked. 'Would you like a coffee? I can ask the landlord. I could murder one myself.'
'No thanks.' Was she serious? Who could think about coffee at a time like this? Any road, he always started the day with tea. Good strong tea. Eden made a cracking brew, just the way he liked it. What time was it anyway? He looked around for a clock, wishing he had his watch on. Eden had bought him a beautiful one for Christmas, but he only ever wore it for best. 'We need to talk.'
It seemed to have finally dawned on Emerald what she was wearing. She belatedly folded her arms across her chest. 'I guess we do. I'll get dressed. Won't be a minute.'
He waited in the bathroom, pacing up and down until she called him out into the bedroom again. Seeing the clock on the wall, he could hardly believe it. Twenty-past eight! He'd never slept in that late in his life! He had to get out of here. 'I know this sounds stupid,' he began, hardly able to stand the sound of his own treacherous voice, 'but, what exactly happened last night?'
Emerald was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. She surveyed him in silence for a moment, then she sighed and folded her arms. 'Don't look so worried, Eliot. Nothing happened. We talked for a while and then I helped you up to your room, that's all.'
'I know that,' he assured her. 'I don't care how drunk I were, I wouldn't have done owt with you.'
'Oh, thanks,' she said, sounding bitter.
'I mean, I'd never take advantage of you, that's all. And I'd never cheat on Eden. What sort of man do you think I am?'
'Then why ask?'
'I mean, how did you end up staying here? I can barely remember talking to you, to be honest.' A faint memory stirred. Emerald's face, full of sympathy as he whined about not being able to go home. Bloody hell, he was an idiot. 'How did you end up in my bed, is what I'm asking.'
Emerald went crimson. 'Er, we talked a lot and I'm afraid I had a few drinks, too. I couldn't drive home and, as I had to get you upstairs anyway, it seemed easiest to crash out next to you.'
'I'm so sorry, lass.'
'Sorry?' Her voice sounded choked. 'What have you got to be sorry about?'
'For dragging you out at that time of night and putting you in this position.'
She laughed. 'You haven't put me in any position. Stop worrying.'
'I need to get home.'
Emerald tutted. 'I ordered breakfast for us both. He's late.'
'The landlord? He left it outside the door. That's what woke me up.'
Emerald's eyes lit up. 'Then let's eat!'
She opened the door and lifted the tray, carrying it into the room. 'Looks okay. Tea might be a bit cold but it's better than nothing.'
'I haven't got time,' Eliot began.
'You may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb,' Emerald pointed out, quite appropriately he supposed. 'You're late anyway. Might as well eat. Besides, you need something to mop up that alcohol.'
He realised she was right and sat down at the tiny foldaway table in the corner.
They ate in silence. Eliot wasn't hungry, but Emerald seemed to be starving. She even finished his leftovers. They both swilled the whole thing down with lukewarm tea and he thought about the cups of tea Eden made, and longed for home.
'How am I going to face her?'
Emerald eyed him over her mug. 'Eden?'
'Who else?'
'Just tell her the truth. I'm sure she'll believe you. She should know you well enough by now. You're so bloody honest that there'll be no doubt in her mind.'
Eliot wasn't so sure. Maybe any other time he'd agree, but after the way he'd spoken to her last night, why should she think well of him? Why should she trust him? He'd let her down again. 'Would you, after the things I said to her?' He shook his head, wincing as the pain shot through his eyes. He was never drinking whisky again. Ever. 'I were a cruel sod, and that's the truth of it.'
'I think you're being too hard on yourself.' Having finished her full English, Emerald was now buttering a slice of toast. 'She went behind your back, after all. She was going to take George to see Deborah Fuller when you'd expressly forbidden any contact with that family.'
'But she were only doing it for the best,' he said. He could see it all so clearly now. Eden would never do anything to hurt him, or to risk losing George. She loved his children as if they were her own. If she'd succumbed to Deborah Fuller's blackmail it was only because she'd thought she had no choice. And, anyway, she'd sai
d she'd changed her mind. Why hadn't he believed her? She wasn't a liar.
Yet here he was, expecting her to believe that he'd spent the night with Emerald in a double bed and nothing had happened. He had no right to ask her to trust him. Not anymore. Where the hell could they go from here? 'She's going to hate me,' he groaned.
Emerald chewed her toast, considering. 'I'll explain the situation,' she said at last. 'Tell her what happened. Look, Eliot, I'm no fan of Eden's as she's no fan of mine, but I do know that she loves you, and she'll trust you. I'm sure of it.'
'But will she forgive me? For everything I said? For the way I behaved yesterday?'
Emerald sighed. 'I'm pretty sure she will. Stop worrying.'
He glanced at his watch, appalled to see the time. 'I have to go,' he said. 'She'll be frantic, and there's jobs to be done an' all.' He stood up, and Emerald dropped her toast and pushed her plate away.
'You can't drive,' she told him. 'You'll still have alcohol in your blood. I'll drive you home.'
'But you were drinking an' all,' he pointed out.
Emerald shrugged. 'Only a couple of glasses of wine. They'll be out of my system by now. You, on the other hand, are lucky not to have alcohol poisoning, so there's no way I'm letting you risk your licence.'
'Fair enough. You're right. I'd be sunk if I couldn't drive,' he admitted. 'Can we get off, though? I need to get this sorted, one way or t'other.'
Emerald was already handing him his jacket. Eliot tugged on his boots and waited while she collected the rest of her things, then they left the room and headed downstairs. His heart thudded with guilt, as if he'd had a torrid night of passion with her or something. How could he ever convince Eden that he hadn't betrayed her — and with Emerald of all people?
****
Any hopes Eliot had harboured that he could make a quiet return to the farm and seek out Eden alone were dashed as they drove into the farmyard, to see her walking towards the house, carrying a couple of bulging black bags.
'She's collected the sheets and towels from't' bunk barn,' he murmured, feeling guilty all over again. Like she didn't have enough on her plate already, and here he was about to burden her with yet more worry.
Emerald pulled over and turned off the engine, and Eliot flinched as Eden swung round and stared at them. As she dropped the black bags on the ground, he climbed out of the car and stood, waiting for her to reach them.
'Where the hell have you been?' she demanded, 'and what were you doing driving my car?' she added, jabbing a finger in Emerald's direction. 'I was going to call the police to report a stolen car until I realised the keys had been taken and Jed said you weren't in your room. You do realise I had to get a taxi to take Ophelia to school?'
Eliot hadn't even thought about that. He should have realised Ophelia would be stranded with both cars stuck at Ravensbridge, since Jed didn't have a car either, using Eden's when he needed it. Some father he was. 'Where's George?' he asked, realising she hadn't mentioned taking him to Mrs Thompson's.
'You said he wasn't to leave the house, so he hasn't. He's inside with Jed. I rang her and then I rang the nursery and told them both he wouldn't be in today.' There was a challenge in her eyes. 'So? Where were you? And why did she bring you home?'
He gave Emerald an apologetic look. It wasn't her fault — any of it. He didn't want her getting any blame. 'I were at The Green Dragon getting hammered,' he admitted, shamefaced.
To his surprise, Eden tutted impatiently. 'I know that. Mrs Thompson informed me that she rang here last night and spoke to Emerald to warn her that you were getting drunk on whisky and she was worried you might drive home.'
'Ah.' Eliot's heart sank. 'Right.'
'So, what I want to know,' Eden continued, 'is firstly, where did you go after the pub shut? Secondly, why didn't Emerald wake me up to tell me where you were? And thirdly, why did she wait until this morning to collect you, and what took you so long?'
Emerald raised an eyebrow at him and he felt his spirits sinking into his boots, along with his stomach. 'Eden, about last night —'
'Yes?' She eyed him coldly, no trace of the apologetic, weeping Eden she'd been last night. He knew he should be glad. He'd hated to see her so upset and loathed himself for making her cry. Even so, this new stony-faced Eden was scary. He couldn't imagine her being willing to accept his apology or believe his story.
'First off, I'm right sorry for the way I behaved,' he began. 'I were out of order, and —'
'I'll leave you to it, shall I?' Emerald offered, slamming the car door shut and handing Eden the keys.
Eden grabbed her arm. 'Oh, no you don't. I want to know why you didn't wake me up when Mrs Thompson rang last night.'
'You were exhausted,' Emerald protested. 'Jed said you'd been crying nonstop for two hours. I thought you needed your sleep.'
'Bloody hell, Eden, I'm that sorry,' Eliot murmured. 'I were a right pig to you.'
Eden stared at him for a moment, then she sighed, her whole posture relaxing. 'Yes, you were. But I should never have taken George to meet Deborah Fuller. You had every right to be angry with me.'
'Not like that! I were totally over the top, and I can't tell you how sorry I am.'
Eden swallowed. 'I'm sorry, too. Really I am.'
'Aw, that's lovely. All sorted,' Emerald said brightly. 'So, if that's everything, I'll just —'
'It's not everything.' Eden and Eliot spoke at the same time, then looked at each other.
'It's not everything,' Eliot repeated, hanging his head. 'There's summat else you should know.'
'What should I know?' Eden looked from him to Emerald and back again. 'What's going on?'
'Look, I know I were out of order last night and I'm that sorry, but I swear to you, nowt happened.'
'What do you mean, nothing happened?' She turned to Emerald. 'What's he talking about?'
Emerald shot Eliot an impatient look. 'You could have explained that a bit better,' she said. 'Eliot got drunk last night, as you know. Mrs Thompson tipped me off, so I thought, rather than wake you, I'd go and pick him up from The Green Dragon.'
Eden waited, then she turned slowly to Eliot. 'But that was last night.'
'Aye,' he said heavily. 'It were.'
'What — what are you saying?' she said faintly.
'When I got there, Eliot had booked a room. We were in the bar, and I had a few drinks, too. We were talking, going over things — you know. Anyway, I helped him up to his room and — well, I ended up spending the night there, too.'
Eden's eyes were like saucers. 'In his room? With him?'
Eliot stepped forward, putting his hands on her shoulders. 'Eden, love, I'm asking you to believe me when I tell you, nowt happened. I fell asleep straight away and slept right through. Only woke up at eight when landlord knocked on't door with breakfast. We had summat to eat and then we came straight back here.'
'I drove him because I was afraid he was still over the limit,' Emerald chimed in. 'His Land Rover will need collecting later.'
Eden said nothing for a moment, her eyes searching Eliot's until he felt as if he were having laser surgery.
'I know I've got no right to ask you to believe me,' he said desperately. 'Especially not after the way I refused to believe you yesterday. But I swear to you, Eden, I never did owt, and I don't know what else to say to convince you. I'll do anything — anything you want to prove it to you. '
He shut up as she reached out a hand and held it to his cheek. 'I don't need proof,' she said calmly. 'Do you think I don't know you by now, Eliot Harland? Of course nothing happened. I trust you one hundred per cent.'
Relief and gratitude washed over him. 'I really don't deserve you,' he murmured, staring at her in amazement.
'Look, I was stupid yesterday,' Eden said, 'and so were you. Let's forget it, shall we? Let's learn from it and put it behind us.'
'Gladly,' he said. 'I'm so sorry.' He put his arms around her and held her to him. 'Thank you,' he whispered against her ear, and she squeeze
d him tightly.
'Well, er, I'll just —'
Emerald's voice broke the spell, and Eden pulled away, fixing her nemesis with a cold stare. 'Don't think I haven't sussed you out,' she said. 'I know perfectly well what you were up to, and I could have told you from the off it wouldn't work.'
Eliot blinked, confused. What was she on about?
Emerald tossed her hair defiantly. 'I have no idea what you mean. I was doing you both a favour, and here I am again getting the blame.'
'Eden, it weren't Emerald's fault,' Eliot said. 'She tried to help, that's all.'
'You're a good man,' Eden told him, 'but you can be a bit dim sometimes. I know full well who Emerald was trying to help — herself. To you.'
'Don't be daft!' Eliot was mortified. As if Emerald was interested in the likes of him! Eden was looking at him through rose-tinted glasses, which was nice in a way but quite humiliating in another.
Eden ignored him. 'Back off, Emerald. I've been patient with you, because I knew nothing would come of it, but I'm not blind and I'm not a saint. I think you know perfectly well what I'm talking about.'
Eliot watched as Emerald's face suffused with colour. She looked across at him, her eyes revealing her embarrassment.
As she turned back to Eden, however, he saw Emerald's expression change. She put her hands on her hips and a coldness gleamed in her eyes suddenly. 'Oh, I know what you're talking about, all right,' she said. 'You're judging me by your standards. That's what.'
Eden gasped. 'And what the hell do you mean by that?'
'I mean,' Emerald snapped, 'just because you happily had an affair with a married man, doesn't mean I was hoping to do the same. We don't all have the morals of alley cats.'
There was a stunned silence as Eliot registered what had been said, and its implications. Slowly, Eden turned to look at him, and he winced as he saw the devastation in her face.
