A Paper Marriage

by Jessica Steele

  Oh, help ! All at once it struck Lydie like a bolt from the blue that, somehow or other, for today's purposes, she was going to have to tell Jonah that he was her boyfriend! Oh, heavens. Yet she just couldn't have him mingling with her family and referring to someone else as her boyfriend.

  'Er...' she began, but was so overwhelmingly conscious of him sitting so close to her, and of what she must say to him, that she could get no further.

  `Er?' he prompted-and her newly discovered thumping tendency was on the march again.

  She would have liked to move her head away from the close proximity with his, but she could not afford to have anyone else hear what she had to say. `I-um-need to talk to you-rather urgently-on that subject,' she said in a low voice.

  `Shall we go outside?' he asked blandly, obviously picking up that she did not wish to be overheard.

  She gave him a speaking look-she really was going to thump him before this wedding was over. `For the purposes of today, and until I can explain,' she said through gritted teeth, `you are my boyfriend.'

  His head came closer, and to her amazement he brushed aside her night-dark hair and planted a kiss on her cheek. `Forgive me, darling,' he murmured, `I forgot to do that when we said Hello.'

  Thump him? She'd like to throttle him! Her insides were having a fine old time within her. He was playing with her; she knew that he was. And, having designated him her boyfriend, there was not one darn thing she could do about it!

  She moved her head out of range, and gave him an icy look. He smiled. Lydie gave her attention to the printed Order of Service they had each been handed. `Do you know these hymns, Aunty?' She concentrated on her great-aunt instead.

  `Backwards,' her great-aunt replied. `Is it serious?"

  'What?"

  'You and your man?'

  Oh, grief. Lydie found she had the utmost trouble in lying to her great-aunt. 'I'm working on it.' She played for safety, saw and heard Alice Gough smile and then actually giggle, then the strains of Richard Wagner hit the air, and everyone got to their feet.

  The ceremony was lovely. The bride looked radiant, and Lydie felt a lump in her throat as she witnessed her only brother being married. She saw her mother trying to be surreptitious as she reached for her handkerchief, and Lydie felt choked again when she spotted her father take a comforting hold of her mother's hand. Her father might have been very out of sorts with her mother all this week, with verbal communication between them at a minimum, but that did not mean they did not still care deeply for each other.

  As they had always been going to have to provided Jonah turned up, that was-he and her father met up with each other as they mingled outside of the church. `How are you, Wilmot?' Jonah at once greeted her father, extending his hand.

  Her father shook hands with him. 'I'm in your debt, Jonah. I think we should meet.'

  Jonah nodded, his eyes on the man who had been a stone heavier and a lot healthier-looking the last time he had seen him-three years ago. `May I call you?' Jonah asked.

  `If you would.' And, turning to his wife who had appeared at his elbow, `You remember Jonah?"

  'Isn't it a perfect day?' Lydie's mother commented, evidently still uncertain whether to like her daughter's escort or not.

  Jonah smiled politely, and looked at Lydie, `Quite perfect,' he replied to her mother.

  There was no time then, or for some while, in which Lydie could explain to him why she had let her family believe that she and he were dating. But while Jonah was undoubtedly waiting, and she did not lose sight of the fact that she had some explaining to do, Lydie noticed that her great-aunt had started to wilt, and her great-aunt became her first priority.

  The wedding reception was being held at the bride's home, Alcombe Hall. But when Lydie and her great-aunt started to walk the quite some distance to where Lydie had been able to park her car, Jonah took charge and offered, `My car's right here, Miss Gough.' And, before Lydie could say a word, he had opened up the passenger door and was helping Alice Gough in. Then Jonah was turning to the slightly stunned Lydie, his expression bland, but something indefinable lurking in his eyes. `See you shortly, dear,' he said, and Lydie knew then that if he made the smallest attempt to kiss her cheek in parting she was definitely going to thump him.

  She took a step away. He got the message and he drove off, and Lydie mutinied like crazy. First of all Marriott had arrived at the church after her, yet had still somehow found a favoured parking spot, and secondly that was her great-aunt he had just gone off with, not his.

  By the time she had reached her car, though, Lydie was starting to wonder what in thunder was the matter with her. She should be grateful to him that, whether or not he too had spotted her greataunt's look of weariness, he had saved her the need to walk quite some way. Lydie recalled how Jonah had said he had the greatest respect for her father. That had been evident in the manner in which he had spoken to him-and she was grateful to him for that.

  So, it appeared that there was nothing the matter with Jonah other than that he was enjoying himself hugely at her expense-she could still feel the imprint of his mouth against her cheek. And why wouldn't he enjoy himself at her expense? He might have asked to be invited to this wedding, but he hadn't asked to be nominated her boyfriend. Which then brought what was the matter with her down purely to nerves. Fact one, she found him extremely unsettling. Fact two, she owed him all that money. Fact three, she hadn't even got a job yet, and any time now he was going to tell her his idea for how she should begin to pay him back.

  Lydie pinned a smile on her face on arriving at Alcombe Hall. She joined Jonah and her greataunt, who appeared to be getting on famously, and who had waited for her before tagging on to the procession waiting to shake hands and congratulate the bride and groom.

  After which Jonah found a chair for her aunt and, with waiters hovering, accepted refreshment for the three of them. With everyone i n happy spirits time went by, with more photographs-a good number having been taken at the churchand guests chatting and renewing old acquaintances until it was time for the meal and the speeches. But at no time did it seemm the right time for Lydie to have a private conversation with the man who was, whether he liked it or not, her manfriend in particular that day.

  Jonah had been placed in between Lydie and her great-aunt at the meal table, and Lydie had to give him top marks that he saw to it that her great-aunt was not neglected. He was attentive to her too, pleasant and affable, but it was still just not the place in which for them to discuss what they had to discuss.

  Nor was there any space later, when the meal was at an end and all the speeches over and the guests started to move about. Because by then Lydie was thinking in terms of getting her greataunt Alice home. She knew the dear love had enjoyed the wedding, but sensed she had had enough. And was certain of it when modern music started issuing forth from one of the rooms and her great-aunt visibly winced.

  `You look worried?'

  Lydie looked up to see Jonah addressing her. `I think I should take Aunt Alice home, but...' She didn't have to finish.

  He nodded understandingly. 'I'll come to your car with you when you're ready.'

  Lydie supposed the drive of Alcombe Hall was as good a place as any on which to have their discussion. But it took them some while in which to say their courtesy farewells.

  By then all Lydie could think of was that her great-aunt seemed to sorely be in need of rest and quiet. `Take my arm, Miss Gough,' Jonah suggested when at last they were out on the drive.

  `This gravel path is very uneven in places.'

  'I'll go and bring the car up, you stay there,' Lydie attempted, but Alice Gough would not hear of it. They went very slowly to Lydie's car, and Lydie could not help but notice how heavily Aunt Alice leaned on Jonah. `You'll stay and enjoy the rest of the-er-festivities?' Lydie asked him, for something to say as they progressed to her car. 'You-um-said you liked weddings,' she reminded him.

  She looked across at him. His answer was to grin-and something ha
ppened in her heart region. Lydie did not speak to him again until they had safely assisted her great-aunt into the front passenger seat and, on their way to the driver's door, had walked to the rear of the car. And there Lydie halted. Jonah halted with her.

  'I'm-sorry about you having to pretend to be my boyfriend today.' Having got started, she apologised in a rush.

  `What was all that about?' he asked solemnly, and she was glad he was taking her seriously.

  `Even now I'm not sure quite how it came about,' she confessed. `When I got home, after seeing you on Monday, I had to own up to my father that I'd seen you and that you'd said he wasn't to worry about the money. That you'd said he was to forget about it. I know, I know-I lied again,' she inserted hurriedly. `But my father's a very worried man, and he's hurting badly over this.'

  `Hurting?' Jonah repeated. 'I'm sorry to hear that.'

  `Anyhow,' she rushed on, `he was adamant he would not forget about it, and, I don't quite know how, but he was insisting on seeing you-he still is-and I was saying something about it being difficult, that... Well, you know and I know that the debt is mine-' She broke off to take a look inside the car and with relief saw that here greataunt was not fidgeting to go home but had nodded off to sleep. `Anyhow, I said something to the effect that I didn't want him to see you.'

  `And he, naturally, wanted to know why?'

  She nodded. `He insisted on knowing why. I again said it was difficult.'

  `You were floundering.'

  `I'm new to this telling lies business.'

  `You seem to be doing exceedingly well at it.'

  She did not thank him for that comment, and said in a rush, `I was getting very hot under the collar by this time. Dad-um-noticed my warm colour and was certain I was blushing because... Well, he seemed to think I...' she faltered '...that I had fallen for you.' She was feeling very hot under the collar again by this time. `Well, to be honest, I rather led him to think that,' she felt she had to confess. She had no intention of telling this sophisticated man of her father's comments about the crush she'd used to have on him. `Well, what with one thing and another,' she rushed on, `and I wasn't thinking, just working on instinct, I kind of gave my father the impression that I was seeing you-backed up by the fact you wanted to come to Oliver's wedding. He-um-seemed to think that made you-um-a bit keen on me,' she ended, her voice tailing off lamely.

  `You do appreciate that I'm not in the running to be anyone's "steady"?' Jonah asked gravely.

  `Don't flatter yourself !' she snapped pithily, up in arms in a second.

  He smiled that insincere smile, and her right hand itched. `Having established that fact,' he commented, `there seems little more to say.'

  `Just a minute!' She halted him when she thought he might be thinking of walking away. `We were going to discuss what you'd been able to think of in terms of me paying you that money back.'

  `You want me to tell you now, how-?"

  'Please,' she interrupted; she had waited nearly a week to hear. `My own idea is to get a couple of jobs and make regular payments...'

  `What sort of work were you thinking of?"

  'Anything I can find. Nannying during the day, night-time too if I can find something. But, generally, I'm prepared to do anything.'

  He eyed her steadily. `Anything?' he questioned. `You said anything?'

  Of course, anything. He had saved her parents from having to move out from Beamhurst Court. `Anything,' she agreed. But added quickly, `Anything legal, that is.'

  His mouth picked up at the corners-involuntarily, she rather thought. But he sobered, and asked, `How old are you?'

  She was sure he knew how old she was, but answered, `Twenty-three. Why?'

  He shrugged. `Just making sure that anything I propose is quite legal-amongst consenting adults.'

  She stared at him. 'I'm not too sure I like the sound of this,' she told him cuttingly.

  He seemed amused, and she added awaking shin-kicking tendencies to her head-thumping tendency list. He looked from her to bend and look into the car, where her great-aunt, Lydie saw as she followed suit, was starting to stir from her doze. `You know where I live,' Jonah began as he straightened up.

  `I don't, actually,' Lydie told him.

  Jonah took out his wallet and extracted his card, and handed it to her. 'You'd better come and see me tomorrow-at my London apartment.' `Tomorrow? Sunday? At your home?"

  'Yes to all three,' he replied, and she knew he was playing with her again.

  `But I thought we were going to get something settled today.'

  `Don't you think it would be kinder if you took your great-aunt home?'

  He was right, of course, but it annoyed Lydie that he was presuming to tell her how to look after her great-aunt, even if he was right. Lydie looked at his card and saw that he had an address in London and he also had a house-Yourk House, to be precise-in Hertfordshire.

  But she wanted this settled and done now. `I can come and see you tonight?' she offered.

  'Hmm, that might interfere with my plans for this evening,' Jonah answered pleasantly.

  `Tomorrow will be fine,' Lydie said quickly, a funny sensation hitting her stomach that he was obviously seeing some elegant blonde at any time now. `What time?' she asked. `I can be with you just after breakfast.'

  `I like to have a lie in on Sundays,' Jonah replied nicely. She'd like to bet he did ! 'Let's see,' he contemplated. `Come early evening.'

  She was having dinner with Charlie tomorrow. `I have a date tomorrow,' she was pleased to let him know.

  `Really, Lydie ! Two-timing me so soon?' he mocked.

  She supposed she had earned that-he hadn't asked to be designated her boyfriend that day. But she waited. Though, when he did not suggest another time, she realised that he clearly expected her to cancel her date. `What time early evening?' she capitulated.

  `Shall we say-seven?"

  'Seven,' she agreed, and turned from him.

  He was there at the driver's door before her to-sardonically, she thought-open her car door for her. He wished her now awake great-aunt a pleasant journey home, and took a step back.

  He had not closed the door, however, when Alice Gough's voice floated clearly on the air. `What a very nice man, Lydie. He'll make some girl a wonderfull husband.'

  Suddenly speechless, Lydie looked from her great-aunt to where Jonah was standing with a look of mock horror on his face. Looking straight up at him, Lydie was glad to find her voice. `Thank heaven it won't be me!' she tossed at him, and, slamming the door shut, she put her foot down and got out of there.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  WITH her great-aunt cat-napping for most of the way to Penleigh Corbett Lydie had plenty of space in which to reflect on the day. Though it was not thoughts of her brother and his lovely bride which occupied the major part of Lydie' s mind, but Jonah Marriott.

  Why he had wanted to come to the wedding was as much a mystery to her as ever. But come he had and, she had to admit, he had done nothing to let her down. Though that didn't alter the fact that she still had that sword of fifty-five thousand pounds dangling over her head. Heaven alone knew what Jonah would come up with-and would he be prepared to wait while she earned enough to pay him back?

  Lydie drove at a sedate pace and it was a little after seven when they reached her great-aunt's home. Lydie went indoors with her, and was concerned enough about her great-aunt's lack of colour to suggest she wouldn't mind keeping her company overnight.

  `That would be nice!' Alice Gough exclaimed. `I don't see nearly enough of you, Lydie.'

  Feeling a touch guilty that, for all she wrote regularly to her great-aunt, she could have visited her more often than she had, Lydie made a mental note that, no matter in which part of the country she would end up working, she would make all efforts to visit her more frequently.

  They discussed the day's events, with Alice Gough asking, `When are you seeing Jonah again?"

  'Tomorrow,' Lydie answered truthfully, and her aunt smiled serenely.<
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  `I think you'll do very well together,' she commented.

  Lydie opened her mouth to state that there was nothing serious between her and Jonah Marriott, but her great-aunt was looking ready to doze again, and Lydie thought it might be a better idea to talk in terms of going to bed.

  Aunt Alice decided she had eaten enough that day to last her a week and required nothing more than a warm drink. She insisted on making it herself, but did allow Lydie to make up her own bed. Eventually Lydie said goodnight to her but, not ready for sleep, she stayed downstairs.

  Lydie pottered about, tidying up the kitchen and idly thinking of how her parents had decided to stay an extra night at their hotel. Out of consideration for their housekeeper, who was ex pecting her to return, Lydie got out her mobile phone and rang Mrs Ross to say she would not be home until tomorrow.