Breaking All the Rules

by Rachael Richey

  “What, this was today?” Jenny was staring at her in horror. “He asked you out again, to a picnic? Kate, you mustn’t!”

  “I know. That’s why I came home. But I really want to, Jen. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Is it because I know that after I marry Richard I can’t ever go out with anyone else again? Is that it?”

  “I don’t know, Kate, but you really must keep away from him. You have to marry Richard. You do still want to, don’t you?”

  Kate sighed. “I suppose so. I can’t let Mum and Dad down now anyway. And I do still love Richard. Nothing has really changed. I think it’s all just commitment nerves.”

  She curled up in the corner of the sofa. “I don’t really know Sam anymore. I think he’s just exciting because he’s done interesting things. But I don’t really need to be an explorer. I’ll be better off with Richard. As the wife of a lawyer. We’ll be rich enough to buy a yacht, remember? I’ll be fine. Once we’ve had sex on Friday, I’ll be fine.”

  Chapter 13

  Friday 17th July

  “Kate! Richard’s here.”

  Her mother’s voice reached Kate as she was attempting to brush the tangles out of her hair. The weather hadn’t improved, and she had got caught in a very heavy shower, which had caused her hair to puff out like a clown’s wig. She sighed, put down the brush, and clipped all the hair up on top of her head. No time to sort it now. At least she’d managed to smooth her fringe. She got to her feet, checked her reflection in the mirror, and headed for the stairs.

  Richard was standing in the hall, chatting to Helen, and he looked up as Kate appeared at the top of the stairs.

  “Darling, there you are. I’m so sorry we couldn’t spend time together on Tuesday. It was probably the worst day you could have picked, actually. I was tied up with one thing or another until nearly midnight.” He stepped forward as she reached the bottom step and pulled her to him. “But it was a lovely thought to come and see me.”

  Kate stood on the bottom step and stared into Richard’s eyes. “It was my fault,” she said sadly. “I should have thought it through. I just realised how long it was since we’d seen each other, and thought I’d do something about it. Sorry if I embarrassed you.”

  “Embarrassed me?” Richard’s eyebrows shot up. “Why on earth would you have embarrassed me? You hardly spoke to anyone.”

  “That friend of yours at the court? Tom, wasn’t it? I spoke to him.”

  “Ah, Tom’s okay. Bit of an old fusspot, but a good barrister. You hardly had time to talk to him, though.”

  “He said something odd, actually.” Kate stepped off the bottom stair and led the way into the conservatory. “I need to ask you about it.”

  Richard followed her, and they sat down on the sofa, looking out across the valley. “What did he say? He didn’t upset you, did he?”

  “No, no. Nothing like that.” Kate hesitated. “Well, actually, I guess it disturbed me a little.” She glanced up at him. “He thought he already knew me. Seemed to think he’d met me a couple of times at some parties in London. One of them in Mayfair.”

  Richard stared at her, a frown furrowing his brow. “So? He was obviously mistaken. What’s the problem?”

  Kate shifted uncomfortably. “I thought maybe—maybe you’d been taking other women to parties.”

  Richard stared at her, and for just a second, an odd look flashed into his eyes. Then he started to laugh. “Honestly, Kate, you really are the limit. There are lots of girls who look like you. Tom’s not the youngest person in the world, and I’ve been thinking his memory was a bit off lately. You do know there are women at the parties I go to, as well as men, don’t you? And I do talk to them. There were women at the dinner I went to on Tuesday night, too. Are you going to suggest I’m up to no good with them too?”

  Kate looked away, her face feeling hot. How could she tell him now what she’d seen at the restaurant? And yet she had to. She turned to face him. “Yes, actually. Yes. I was walking past that restaurant you went to on Tuesday night, on my way to the station, when I saw you going in. You had your arm around a woman. What was that about?”

  Richard looked momentarily shocked and ran a hand through his hair. “What? What d’you mean? My arm around her?”

  “Yes. You were just going through the door of the restaurant, and you had your arm round the waist of some skinny woman with shiny hair.”

  “Ah. Yes. I was just guiding her through the door. Honestly, Kate, you’ve seen me do that before. I didn’t have my arm around her, I had my hand on her waist, guiding her through the door, as I said. You didn’t really think I was being unfaithful, did you?”

  “I didn’t know what to think,” Kate muttered miserably. “That’s why I texted you. To see what you said. Who was she anyway?”

  “You texted me to check up on me?” Richard’s face had gone a little pink. “Don’t you trust me, Kate? We’re getting married in a week. Do you honestly think I’d be going on a date with another woman?”

  Wincing slightly, Kate turned away again and stared down the garden. “No. I guess not. But who was she?”

  “A client. Well, to be exact, a friend of my client. There was a whole group of us. I told you that.”

  Kate sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t really think you’d be unfaithful. I should have realised it was all quite innocent.”

  Richard moved closer, put his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her towards him. “It’s all right. You’re under a lot of stress. Perfectly normal just before your wedding. It’s nice to know you care, anyway.”

  “Of course I care.” Kate’s voice was muffled by his arm. “It’s our wedding, not mine.”

  “Of course.” He smiled down at her. “Are we all right now, then?”

  “Yes, we’re all right. Can we go to bed now?” Kate looked up at him, her hand beginning to stroke his chest.

  “What, now? It’s half past seven!”

  “Yes, now. And bugger the time. I’m not suggesting we go to sleep.” She stood up and held out her hand to him. “To do what I actually went to London for.”

  “Kate!” Richard pulled her down onto the sofa again. “Sex? Now? Your mother is just getting dinner. Both your parents are in the house and wide awake. I’m not sure now is the best time.”

  “I can be quiet, and you can be quick. Come on, we can get it over with before dinner.” She stood up again, pulling on his hand.

  “Get it over with?” Richard got to his feet and stared at her. “Honestly, Kate, that’s not the way to look at it…”

  “It is this time.” She was pulling him towards the stairs. “We haven’t done this for weeks, Richard. It won’t take long, but I need to do it now. We need to connect. Come on.”

  Still protesting mildly, Richard followed her up the stairs and into her bedroom. She gently closed the door behind them, sat on the bed, and grinned at him expectantly. With a little laugh, he sat down beside her and leaned in to kiss her.

  ****

  “You look very tired, Kate.” Helen handed her a plate of chilli. “Are you feeling all right?”

  “I’m fine, Mum. Don’t fuss.” Kate frowned and scattered salt on her dinner. “Just glad it’s the end of the week.”

  “And glad to see Richard, I’m sure.” Helen smiled at her future son-in-law. “You’ve been a stranger lately. I think Kate has been pining for you.”

  “Mum!” Kate felt her face flush with annoyance and embarrassment, and took a long swig of her wine. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Well, I hope you’ve been pining a little bit.” Richard smiled at her. “It doesn’t bode too well for our marriage if you’ve been perfectly happy these last few weeks without me.”

  “I’ve missed you, of course I have—that’s why I went to London—but I think pining is a little strong. I don’t think I’ve ever pined, Mother.”

  “More wine, Kate?” Her father held out the bottle to her, his eyes sympathetic.

  “Please, Dad.” Kate gave him a l
ittle smile. He was on her side as usual. God, she wished her mum didn’t fuss so. Pining for Richard, indeed. She glanced sideways at him. He was tucking into his dinner with unaccustomed zeal, and she couldn’t help wondering if their few minutes of passion in the bedroom was to blame for his appetite. She herself just felt sleepy. She was glad they’d done it. As usual, it had been very good. Quick, but still very good, and she felt rather more well disposed towards him. She had been right. Sex was what she needed. She must remember to tell Jen.

  “You haven’t forgotten you have to go to church on Sunday, have you?” Helen looked pointedly at Kate. “For the banns.”

  “What?”

  “They’re reading the banns for your wedding on Sunday. You ought to be there.”

  “Do we have to?” Kate sighed, and laid down her fork. “Haven’t we already done that?”

  “They have to be read three times, Kate. I explained all that to you.” Helen sighed also. “This is the last time. You really should be there if you can be. And since Richard is here this weekend too, it would be nice if we all went.”

  “Oh, god, all right. Why make such a fuss about it, though? Why are we even getting married in church? We don’t believe all that stuff.”

  “I’m afraid that was my mother’s idea.” Richard looked apologetically at her. “And you know how hard it is to argue with her when she gets a bee in her bonnet.”

  Kate nodded. “Oh. Right. I remember now.”

  Peter topped up Kate’s wine again. “I think your grandmother thought it would be nice in a church, too. More traditional. And she is helping to pay for it.”

  “Oh. I forgot Granny was paying for some of the wedding. I told you we’d elope. We could have avoided all this.”

  “Kate, this is all part of the tradition of marriage.” Helen put more rice on her plate. “You should be enjoying it. Savour it. You only get to do it once.”

  Kate looked up and caught her father watching her. He raised his eyebrows. She shook her head slightly and managed a small smile, then applied herself to her dinner.

  She would be so glad when it was all over. She had completely forgotten that Granny was helping to pay for it. Yet another reason she couldn’t change her mind at the last minute. No, she would definitely be marrying Richard in one week. And one day.

  She sneaked another glance at him. He had dressed hurriedly after their little tryst in the bedroom, and the collar of his shirt was askew. She smiled to herself. That actually made him look a little bit more interesting. She would just have to keep remembering how interesting he could be in bed. And anyway, whatever her mother said, people did get married more than once.

  ****

  Sunday 19th July

  “I publish the banns of marriage between Kathryn Anna Granger of this parish and Richard David Cresswell of the parish of Tiverton. This is the third time of asking. If any of you know any reason in law why they may not marry each other, you are to declare it.” The vicar stopped speaking and glanced briefly around at the sparse congregation.

  Kate found she was holding her breath just in case someone came in and declared that she shouldn’t marry Richard. That she should marry them instead. Feeling very guilty, she reached out and squeezed Richard’s hand. He returned the pressure and smiled at her. He was looking very nice this morning, and Kate ran her eyes over his dark trousers and open-necked pale blue shirt. Very smart, but very boring. Why did he never look untidy? He wasn’t in court now. He was in a tiny country church in a little village in the wilds of Devon. Even the vicar was probably wearing wellies under his cassock. Richard had looked far more interesting last night when his shirt was messed up. She’d need to work on that. Not that she didn’t like him looking smart, but it had its place, and he just didn’t seem to be able to do casual very well. He’d never actually seen her when she was slopping around the house in sweat pants and an oversized T-shirt. When he stayed over, or she stayed at his, she always wore her best pyjamas and got dressed as soon as she got up. When he wasn’t there, she could be found eating ice cream straight from the tub, her hair in a tangle, and her clothes resembling those found in most people’s rubbish bins. She sneaked another glance at him. He was in for a shock after the wedding. She wasn’t going to stop being her. He’d just have to put up with it.

  The vicar announced the next hymn, and they all rose. Kate glanced along the pew at her mother who was standing very proudly and singing lustily, obviously very pleased that their family were the centre of attention at the service. There was another person she couldn’t let down. Her mother had been waiting all her life to be able to organize a wedding for her daughter, and she was revelling in it. Since she was unlikely ever to get the chance to do the same for Vicky, Kate had better go through with hers. She looked down at the hymn book in her hand and realised she had no idea which hymn they were singing. She flicked over a few pages and pretended to mouth along, aware of a low rumble from Richard beside her. He wasn’t very good at singing, but he always tried his best. She nudged him with her elbow and smiled up at him again. He did look very nice today. Maybe they could have sex again later. Since he was busy again during the week, there was a good chance this would be their last opportunity before the wedding. She would see him on the Friday for the rehearsal, but obviously they wouldn’t be spending the night together. It would be bad luck for him to see her on the morning of the wedding. Or so everyone kept telling her.

  The hymn finished, and the vicar said a short prayer before reading out a few notices, then dismissing the congregation. Kate filed out of the church in the wake of her mother and Richard, accepting the congratulations of the other few people there. At the door the vicar shook her hand heartily.

  “Good to see you, Kate, and your fiancé. Not long now, less than a week to go. I expect you’re both very excited. I’ll see you all here on Friday afternoon at four, for the rehearsal. It shouldn’t take long, just a formality, really.” He moved on to the next person, and Kate followed her mother and Richard out into the churchyard.

  “Glad that’s over.” She rolled her eyes. “After next Saturday I never have to go in there again.”

  “Really, Kate.” Helen hurried her towards the gate. “You could have waited until we were out of earshot to say that.”

  “Oh, Mum, the vicar knows. He knew we wouldn’t have been here today if it wasn’t for the banns. Apart from the odd carol service, none of our family ever go to church. I shall be so glad when this is over, won’t you?” She looked up at Richard.

  “Well, I guess so. It’ll mean we’re married, so that’ll be a good thing.” He reached out to take her hand, but she moved slightly too far away and walked a little faster.

  “Come on, let’s get home. I’m starving.” Kate set off at a fast pace towards their house. “Hope Dad got the lunch on.”

  As she opened the front gate and made her way up the path, Kate began to relax and felt really guilty about not letting Richard hold her hand. She knew full well why that had been, and she was quite ashamed. She had wanted to avoid any possibility of Sam seeing her holding her fiancé’s hand. How ridiculous was that? He knew she was getting married. What possible harm could it do? But she still didn’t want it to happen.

  At the door she turned to wait for Richard and her mother. She caught his hand and pulled him into the house behind her.

  “Just going up to my room for a minute,” she said over her shoulder to Helen. “We’ll be back down as soon as lunch is ready. It smells good.”

  She took the stairs two at a time, Richard following behind, ran into the bedroom, and jumped onto the bed.

  “Come on, just time for a quickie before lunch.” She grinned up at him, kicking her shoes across the room.

  “What, now? Kate you’re incorrigible! We can’t do it now. Lunch is nearly ready.”

  “So what? It needn’t take long. Friday didn’t. Come on, don’t waste time.” She wriggled up the bed and held out her arms enticingly.

  “Really, Kate,
what’s wrong with you?” Richard reluctantly climbed onto the bed beside her and kicked off his shoes. “You’re not usually like this.”

  “We don’t usually go nearly six weeks without sex!” Kate pulled her dress over her head. “It was too long, Richard. We have a lot to make up for. And this is probably our last chance before the wedding. I assume you’re too busy all week.” Her bra had joined the dress on the floor, and she was lying on her back, looking up at him.

  “Yes, I will be.” Richard slowly undid his trousers. “But this all seems a bit forced. I’m not sure I’m in the mood.”

  “Not in the mood!” Kate sat up and glared at him. “Not in the mood? Your future wife is lying here offering you her gorgeous body, and you’re not in the mood? What’s wrong with you? Are you getting old?”

  With a smile, Richard pulled off the rest of his clothes and got onto the bed beside her. “Well, if you put it like that, how can I refuse? Getting old, indeed. I’ll show you.”

  ****

  “So I’ll see you on Friday, then.” Kate reached up and gave Richard a quick kiss on the cheek. “We have to be at the church at four.”

  “I know.” He smiled down at her. “Behave yourself, and I’ll try and call you in the week.” He walked off down the path and got into his car.

  Kate closed the door before he’d driven off, and wandered into the kitchen. Helen was loading the dishwasher, and she glanced up.

  “Pop the kettle on, will you, love? Just fancy another cuppa.”

  Kate obliged, and sat down at the kitchen table. “Think I’ll see if Jen can come over,” she said. “I haven’t seen her for days.”

  “Good idea. She can come for supper, if you like. We’re only having leftovers, but she’s very welcome.”

  “Maybe.” Kate shrugged and got to her feet. “I’ll text her.”

  She fished her phone out of her bag and wrote a quick message.