She’d given Kitty permission to tell Josh about Felix and their recent run-ins. In fact, Thea had encouraged it. The more they’d laughed about him in the office or when mucking out the stables, the more time she’d had to think about him. But Josh wouldn’t know that he’d already been to the farm. Three times. She usually told her younger brother everything, but not where Felix was concerned.
“Joshie!” Ammy’s voice rang out as she and Lucas bustled into the room wearing a couple of Thea’s woolly hats on their heads. “I thought I heard Wendy.”
“Hello, angel!” Josh scooped his niece into his arms, kissing the side of her head. “What’s all this?” He picked at the layers of white tulle she was wearing. Lucas had followed Ammy into the room but had immediately gravitated to his father’s legs, eyeing Josh and holding on for dear life. He must seem like a mountain to the little boy. Thea smiled. He was far shyer than Ammy.
“This is my dress! For Daniel’s wedding. I was trying it on, and Lucas was marrying me to my Ken doll. But then we heardWendy, and I wanted Lucas to meet her.” As if she’d immediately changed her mind, Ammy grabbed Thea’s hand. “Mum, can we see the horses?”
Thea shook her head, glad of the distraction. “No, you cannot. You need to take that dress off right now, young lady. You can’t get it dirty before the weekend.”
Felix looked at Thea. “What’s happening at the weekend?”
She opened her mouth to speak, but Josh cut in first, a steely edge to his voice. “Amber Valentine and Daniel Cunningham are tying the knot. You might remember the two of them?”
Damn, her brother could be brutal. Felix lowered his head, examining his shoes.
“Yes, and I’m the flower girl, so I get to wear a pretty dress.” Ammy twirled around in a circle. “Mum doesn’t have a dress to wear, though. She’ll probably borrow something from Kitty, as usual.”
Felix turned his head towards Thea, and a simmer hit her cheeks. Ammy had made her sound penniless.
“Let’s hope she keeps away from chocolate fountains this time.” His words were almost a whisper, and Thea pulled in an uneven breath.
“Mummy said she’s going under effluence.”
All heads, apart from Lucas’, spun to Ammy.
“Sufferance,” said Thea, remembering the throwaway remark she’d made to her daughter when the invitation had arrived.
“Yes. She said everyone will stare at her and that she’d rather pull her eyelashes out than go alone.”
Thea cleared her throat. “That’s enough, Ammy. I’m sorry,” she added to Felix. “My daughter can be a little dark.”
It was true, though. Shewasgoing under “effluence.” The thought of attending anyone’s wedding without a plus-one gave her nausea. She’d have to spend the whole day fending off well-meaning questions about her relationship status. Everyone seemed to have a vested interest in whether the poor widow of Small Oaks would find love again.
“We should go,” Felix said, taking Lucas’s hand. “Josh, it was nice to see you again.”
Josh tapped his index finger on the floral tablecloth and nodded at Felix, one eyebrow peaked. “Likewise.”
“I’ll see you out,” Thea mumbled, keen to escape to fresh, tension-free air. Thank goodness Felix had taken his makeup off before Josh arrived. If he had a problem with a bit of spilt wine, she didn’t like her chances explaining away his poorly applied blusher.
16
THEA
When the four of them made it into the yard, Thea sucked in a deep, cleansing breath. The kids skipped around on the cobbles, giggling and holding hands. Turning in circles again. She should probably separate them before they lost their omelettes. But before she could, the intense scent of Felix’s cologne reached her nose.
“Are you okay?” His voice was deep. Reassuring.
Thea puffed her cheeks. “I’m fine. It’s been a long day, and sometimes, my circumstances get slightly overwhelming. You know?”
How could he possibly know? Felix owned a multi-million-dollar company with an army of staff catering to his every demand. He didn’t have to get up at dawn every day just to ensure a farm full of animals would live another twenty-four hours. And he didn’t have to go to a wedding on his own this weekend. To be stared at like a specimen in a Petrie dish.
“Look,” he said, his voice almost a whisper. “I know weddings can be daunting when you’re flying solo. I… I can go with you if you like. As your wingman.” As he waited for her response, Felix’s eyes tightened.
Thea paused, inhaling deeply. Was he serious? She studied his face. He looked more nervous than earnest, and a muscle ticked in his cheek. Why would he even offer? There was nothing but bad blood between him, Daniel and Amber. And she hadn’t exactly been the most welcoming over the last few weeks. It was a ludicrous suggestion.
But before she could turn him down, a little hand threaded through her own, and she peered down to see Ammy at her side.
“We’d like that. Thank you, Felix.”
