In the low light of the marquee, Ellen’s dress sparkled and diamonds, previously unnoticed in her rose crown, also dazzled the onlookers. Her hair, under the low light, shining a rich deep mahogany red to her waist. They were a breathtakingly attractive couple together. As they seated, the band began to play. An army of waiters and butlers took their cue and swarmed the tables with food and scurried to and fro ensuring that all the guests were catered to. Champagne flowed freely and for the discerning there was a choice of six wines to accompany the meal as well as coffee and cognac later.
After the sumptuous meal, the stage curtain lifted revealing a full orchestra. Matt took her hand and she hesitantly followed him onto the dance floor, her splendid gown trailing as she walked. He took her in his arms and Ellen, taken by surprise by his perfect steps, followed his moves perfectly. She smiled and laughed as they dance and everything was else momentarily forgotten. Under the changing lights, her dress shone and glittered. Other couples began to join them, until the floor was full of swirling graceful dancers. Around her, the guests all merged in a brightly coloured sparkling mass of happy people. Ellen looked happily at Matt, knowing that the world was a wonderful place, full of romance, love laughter and happiness. She tilted her head provocatively and smiled, showing her even white teeth before she realized that Matt wasn’t even looking at her, but was looking around the room as they danced; his eyes seeking amongst the crowd. Her smile faltered. She felt her gaze drawn to one part of the room, where she saw Dean, his eyes looking at her with such unbridled passion and love. She knew he wanted to be the one dancing with her right then. She realized the depth of his love; suddenly realized that he loved her enough to watch her find happiness even if it wasn’t with him. Her heart felt it was suddenly being torn from her chest and she felt herself choke back a sob. Instead, she smiled at him apologetically. His eyes darkened and he turned and disappeared from the room. She returned her gaze towards Matt; his eyes were dark and brooding. She involuntarily shivered as he looked at her. He smiled at her slowly; he had been watching her all the time, a smile that made the hackles rise on the back of her neck. She tried to give him her best smile, but was interrupted just as a manservant tapped him on the arm. Matt released her from his arms and she felt relieved.
“Excuse me sir, there is a telephone call for you.” He nodded and without saying anything to Ellen, just turned and left her stood in the centre of the dance floor. The song ended and the audience applauded. Ellen picked up her skirts and started to make her way back to the head table. A hand placed gently on her arm stopped her.
“May I?” She turned to see Dean. “Come with me.”
Before she knew it she was in his arms, whirling round and round to the music. His eyes never left hers as they danced and danced. He drank in her beauty; his eyes showered her with such love, the look that she had wanted to see from Matt, her new husband. It was a love that made her feel secure. She began to laugh, a happy laugh that came from her heart. Suddenly they stopped dancing, because the music had. Ellen hadn’t even heard the music; they had been in their own world. She would have been happy forever in his arms; together they made their own music. Ellen forced herself back and away from Dean.
“Please Dean. I need some air.” She walked to the large French windows at the side of the dance floor as the band played another beautiful song. He started to follow her and she turned to stop him. “No, I need to be alone.”
Outside, in the warm evening, she leant on the patio decking, built as part of the marquee. Flowers were along the balustrade out here too with outside lights. Birds in the distance were chirruping, cheeping and settling down for the night. Across the landscaped lawns, passed the lake, swans and ducks were also getting ready to sleep. It was an idyllic setting. Behind her, the music played and couples were dancing happily. She looked down at her wedding ring glinting in the darkness. Where was Matt? He should have been by her side all evening, not left her even for one second. If he hadn’t, she would not have been given the chance to dance with Dean; a dance she would never forget. Questions about Matt rose to be answered and then sank unanswered, rose again and again and kept repeating, the thoughts burrowing in her head, eating away at her mind like maggots through a corpse. She pressed her hand against her head to stop the thoughts. Feeling arms go around her, she melted backwards into them and rested against his chest.
“Oh Matt.” She felt the person stiffen behind her and turned to see Dean behind her.
“No. Just me.” He bent his head and kissed her, before she could say another word, his breath against her cheek. The kiss was so tender so passionate that it said everything that was within his heart and her heart heard every word. She felt herself being pulled into his arms deeper and deeper, into his kiss deeper and deeper, until their souls touched and merged. It was a moment where time froze. When the kiss stopped and he pulled back to look at her, she felt lost.
“Ellen, what a fool I have been to let you go.”
“Dean.” She tried to find the words, but instead none came and she looked into his chest and rested her forehead against him. His arms were still around her, holding her tightly. Tears began to fall from between her lashes and not wanting him to see her crying, she pushed away from him and turned and ran down the steps onto the lawn and ran across the landscaped lawns. She ran as fast as she could in her designer heels and her dress flowing behind her. He ran after her and caught her by the trees by the lake. He grabbed her and pulled him to her once more taking her face in his, kissing her with everything he had.
“I have to speak to you and it has to be now. I know I will never get another chance. I love you. I love you.” She looked away, tried to avoid his eyes, but he shook her. “God damn it Ellen, I love you. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, I hear you.”
“I will always love you. I know you have chosen Matt. I really hope you will be happy, but you need to know that I love you. I always have and I always will.”
He looked at her intently, his eyes searching her face, her eyes, memorizing her look, her lips. Her lips; lips that were so ready for kissing. Lips that belonged to him. He kissed her again and felt her melt into him. She felt his heart beating strong against her, felt everything he was. Felt as though she had come home, in his arms, a place she never wanted to leave. She had come home, finally. She wished she could stop time right at that moment, and when his lips left hers, she felt bereft.
“I will always be here for you, no matter what.” His jaw clenched and she saw his pain and sadness in his eyes clouding the love he felt for her. He released her and turned and walked away, every step away from her ripping her heart into millions of shreds.
She turned and looked towards the lake. What had she done? What on earth had she been thinking, to marry a man she didn’t love, didn’t really love? Why didn’t she realize it before now?
Standing in the almost dark, she shivered. Up at the main house, the outside lights were being switched on, causing the trees to suddenly take form in the glow of the lights. Servants were going from one torch to another, and slowly, one by one flaming fire torches lighted up the lake. She heard a twig snap, and turned to the sound, fully expecting to see Dean again. Instead, she found Matt sneering at her.
“Well, that was a pretty little scene. I can’t leave you alone for a minute without you throw yourself at the first man in sight.” His eyes glinted dangerously. She stepped backwards,away from him, whilst trying to think of what she could say. He grabbed her forcefully and pulled her to him. Holding her tightly against his hard body. He kissed her hard on the lips. There was no passion. Nothing. Just a territorial placing of his lips upon hers. He held her arms, his fingers gripping her maliciously. “There! That will remove any memory of him. You are my wife and don’t you ever forget it.” He spat to the side in disgust. She tried to pull away. “Oh no you don’t. One more thing.” He paused, making sure she saw the anger in his eyes, and heard the malice in his voice. “If I ever see you with him again,
I will kill him.” He released her in disgust, and she stepped to the side to get out of his arms reach. She picked up her skirts, and walked away, back towards the house briskly. Nearer to the marquee, where she could feel safe. She turned back to see if he was behind her, but he wasn’t, and she saw him silhouetted against the reflection of the lake. He was looking at the lake and appeared to be lost in his thoughts.
She brushed off the newly mown grass, which had caught on her dress as she had walked back, and quickly went up the stairs, and back into the marquee. Her mother rushed up to her.
“Darling, where have you been?” The guests have been asking for you.”
“Matt and I went for a walk by the lake,” she stammered.
“Oh darling, there will be plenty of time for that later!” She laughed happily. “You have the rest of your lives together.” She took her arm, and together they walked towards her guests.
Seated at the head table, Ellen took her champagne and drank it in one long gulp. Her hand was trembling so much that she had to put the glass down. She looked along the table for another glass. As if on cue, a butler appeared behind her and refilled her glass. She drank it quickly and held her glass out to be refilled again. Then she took the bottle off him and shooed him away to get another. As she was finishing her fourth glass, a woman sat down next to her. It was the dark haired companion of Dean’s.
“I hope I am not disturbing you?”
“No, not at all.” Ellen’s voice was distant and slurred. She didn’t know why, but already this woman annoyed her. She was well dressed, beautiful, had a very sexy French accent and worse still, she was seeing Dean. No, she had no reason at all to take an instant dislike to her.
“I’m Priscilla Harrison. You don’t know me. I work with Dean”
“Mmm yes.” Ellen held up her glass in a mock toast.
“I know this isn’t the time to talk but can we meet? It’s very important.”
“I am sure my husband and I would be delighted, I am sure.”
“No, that is not possible. Just you and I. It is about your husband.”
“Oh that should be really interesting. I bet you are an ex-girlfriend. Got any tips?” Ellen could hardly contain her disdain and sarcasm.
“No, I am not a girlfriend. I am serious.” Veronique looked around. “I have to go. I will call you when you get back from your honeymoon. Please remember me.” Veronique stood up and started to walk away hurriedly.
“Oh don’t you worry.” Ellen shouted in a semi-slur and a semi call. “I’ll remember you all right.” Ellen finished another drink and stood up, her body slightly swaying to her own music. She grabbed a man passing the table.
“Dance with the bride?” She smiled at him drunkenly. He smiled at her tipsiness, and then politely, and carefully escorted her to the dance floor. He gently held her up, and guided her faltering steps, and she chattered incoherently. Occasionally, she rested her head on his shoulder, messing her hairstyle as she did so. When that dance finished, another man replaced the last, and Ellen remembered dancing so many dances with a blur of men throughout the evening. After a few dances too many, the room began to spin by itself.
“Excuse me, I need some air.” She pushed the man away and turned, rushing towards the patio door that, only a few hours earlier, she had walked through in style.
She stumbled down the steps and staggered towards the lake. She was aware of her legs moving under her long skirt and remembered to pick it up at the front so that she could move freely. She didn’t stop until she reached a wooden bench by the lake. Behind her she heard raised voices, heated in the midst of an argument.
“NO! You let me go!”
“After it’s taken me all this time to find you? You must be joking.”
“Get your hands off me, or I will scream!” She heard his laughter.
“You think anyone will hear from here? Really? Besides I am the master here now.”
Ellen followed the voices to the family picnic area. She was astonished to see Matt struggling with the dark haired woman called Priscilla. Neither of them was aware of her presence. Ellen took a step back, and ducked rather gracelessly behind a large conifer tree. Her mind was screaming. ‘What is going on?’ It took her only a few seconds to sober up. The voices continued. Matt was shouting.
“What are you calling yourself now? Huh? Where are you living? Are you fucking that Dean guy? Are you? Are you?” He slapped her face hard, so hard that the sound of the slap echoed around the grounds.
“I won’t tell you.” She glared at him defiantly, “You have no right to know.”
“No right? Don’t you give me that.” He pulled her to him and kissed her hard on the mouth. She struggled against him, squirming and trying to get out of his strong grip. She kicked him and he still held her fast. She leaned back and spat at him, her saliva hitting him square in the face.
“You fucking ungrateful bitch!” He threw her backwards and she fell to the floor.
“You bastard I hate you.” She got up. “I would kill you given the chance.”
“What’s happening here?” Dean appeared from the other side of the picnic area. Veronique crossed the short distance between them and threw herself into his arms.
“Oh how sweet,” Matt sneered. “You came to save her.”
“Are you alright, Priscilla?” He held her close to him protectively.
“Priscilla? Priscilla? How pretty. There is a name I will never forget.”
Veronique turned to face him, feeling Dean standing behind her, his hands on her upper arms, gave her a strength she didn’t know she had before.
“You don’t frighten me anymore, Matt. I am a different person to the one you knew.” She lied bravely. Matt threw back his head, and laughed.
“You, you could never change.” Veronique bristled at his words, and pulled herself up to her full height.
“You think you married into money? A good family? I could soon put her right, ruin this sweet little deal you have got yourself.”
Dean watched the exchange between them, whilst he didn’t know what Veronique was talking about; he could see the obvious effect her words were having on Matt.
“You fucking little schemer. You’re trying to blackmail me, me of all people.”
“No, that is where you are wrong. I want you to leave her, and me, alone. I feel sorry for your wife. She has no idea about you. Who you really are. What you are really like. I do.”
“You are a jealous little bitch, that’s all.” Matt was aware that Dean was listening, and tried to turn her words on her. “You just want me back. You can’t have me, so you want to ruin it for her.” Matt stepped forward, murder in his eyes. “Don’t you dare fucking threaten me.” He raised his hand to hit Veronique, but Dean stepped around Veronique to position himself before Matt and between them.
“Look, I don’t know what is going on here, but it has to stop. You want a fight, you fight me Matt. Not a woman!” Veronique grabbed his arm.
“No, Dean. It’s not necessary. I have said my piece.” She tugged at him to follow her. He walked with her, glaring at Matt as he passed him. Veronique turned back, “And if you ever come near me again Matt, I will not be held responsible for my actions.”
They left together. Behind the conifer tree, Ellen’s heart was pounding so loudly she was afraid to move. The air was suddenly so quiet around them that she thought if she moved a muscle, he would hear her. She remained frozen to the spot, praying he wouldn’t see her. Whilst she had heard and seen everything, none of it made any sense to her. Obviously, there was something, or had been something, between Priscilla and Matt. Matt had never mentioned her at all, but from his reactions this evening, his emotions were very charged, and his eyes told her that whatever it was with Priscilla, it wasn’t over yet.
Matt turned to face the tree she was hiding behind, his sixth sense warning him of another presence. Ellen froze once more, visualizing herself as part of the tree. His eyes scanned the area, and finding nothing
, he looked away, and then started up the path back towards the main house. A few moments later, Ellen picked up her skirts, and ran in the opposite direction. She knew a quicker route to the marquee.
Breathing heavily from the run, she straightened her hair and entered the marquee smiling. Her face was still flushed from her run when Matt found her. He believed it was from the champagne and the excitement of the wedding. He put his arm around her and now, she felt nothing but revulsion at his touch.
“Missed me, my sweet?” His eyes were as cold as ice. He smiled. She smiled in return, her professional smile. She stiffened as he lowered his mouth to hers to kiss her. She felt his lips upon hers, and felt a wave of nausea rise from the pit of her stomach. She thought of his lips on Priscilla’s only moments before. He was obviously still thinking of her, the other woman, and she felt him hardening against her where his hips pressed against her thigh. He looked down at her, his eyes darkening as though storm clouds were approaching.
“Don’t you enjoy my kisses as much as pretty boy’s?” She looked up in shock and surprise. He leant down and whispered in her ear “You are a fucking cheap whore. A slut of the worst kind.” They were standing closely together, her veins filling with ice as he spoke. This was her wedding day, supposedly the happiest day of her life, and now it was the worst ever. What had been a happy future full of hopes, dreams and promises had now become a future of eternal nightmares, of broken promises, dark empty nights and hatred. A deepening chasm of darkness, and complex emotions, stood between them. Matt let her go and he walked away. Again she was left standing alone. ‘What had happened tonight and what did it have to do with Dean and Priscilla?’
To Murder Matt Page 14
