Thea laughed. “I’m not sure yet, but please, just for today, no mention of bidding. Let’s keep things wedding-related.”
Felix gave a slow shake of his head. “Okay, agreed. Just for today, mind you. So, if we can’t talk about your good fortune, what shall we talk about?”
“Yours,” she replied.
19
FELIX
On the drive, Thea had done her best to convince Felix he was welcome at the wedding, a fact he highly doubted. But he needed to be on his best behaviour.
As they pulled into Barrow Manor, the venue, Thea gasped, her mouth hanging open. “Amber wasn’t kidding. This place is straight from the history books.”
Felix ran his eyes over the hotel’s facade with its ivy-clad walls and tiny lead-light windows. The hotel had an excellent reputation, and he wasn’t averse to giving it a once over in case it came up for sale in the future.
“It is. It’s said that Anne Boleyn lived here. Let’s hope Amber’s matrimonial happiness runs a little smoother.”
Thea frowned.
“I’m sorry, that was uncalled for. I have the highest respect for Amber.”
Felix turned off the engine and opened the door. He walked around the front of the car to let Ammy out. Quite the model passenger, she’d not drawn on the windows with sticky fingers and hadn’t incessantly asked how many more miles there wereto go. He desperately missed Lucas and his quirky ways, but spending more time with Ammy in the future might help his son gain her good manners.
He opened the door for Thea, too. She stepped out of the car and smoothed down her dress. The breeze moulded its thin cotton against her, outlining every single centimetre, every gentle curve of her body. Felix couldn’t tear his eyes away.
“Kitty!” squeaked Ammy, running to hug a very tall, very long-haired woman. She wore an olive green bridesmaid’s dress and carried a baby bump the size of a bowling ball. He remembered her now. She’d been quiet at Amber’s birthday party. Understated. Until he’d upset everyone. At the thought, Felix clamped his jaw tight.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Kitty said, bending down to kiss Ammy on the top of her head. After admiring the little girl’s dress, she moved over to Thea, threading an arm around her shoulder and pulling her in. Mid-hug, her eyes met Felix’s and narrowed. The slightest wave of nausea washed over him. Why had he thought accompanying Thea today was a good idea?
Thea stepped back, fingers on the scrunchie at her wrist. “Kitty, I think you and Felix know each other already.”
Kitty stared at him with thinly veiled suspicion, the tight line of her lips sounding alarm bells in his gut.
“Yes,” he said. “It’s been a while. I hear you’ve been doing great things at the Sanctuary.”
At his words, Kitty openly glared, not saying anything. Damn, he was playing to a tough crowd. Yes, he’d messed up, but five months had passed, and he wasn’t in the habit of making public apologies.
Thea cleared her throat, and when Felix turned, wide, pleading eyes greeted him. His heart melted. He’d do anything to remove the crease from between her brows. He turned back to Kitty. “Look, I know my being here today is a little awkward.But I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my past behaviour. It’s something I deeply regret.”
Kitty eyed him steadily before giving him a quick nod and addressing Thea again. “I’ll take Ammy now. We’ll fix her hair. You relax and enjoy the day off. She’ll be fine with me.”
The tiniest spark of energy pulsed through Felix. He really liked Ammy, but if she was with Kitty, he’d have Thea all to himself.
After a quick hug with her mum, Ammy climbed the hotel steps and disappeared behind the thick wooden door.
“Well, I think that went well,” Felix said, trying to sound as upbeat as possible.
Thea faced him, mouth agape. “Are you kidding? That was awful.”
“I admit, it could have gone better, but they don’t call me the King of the Schmooze for nothing. I’ll win your friends over.”
Thea tutted, no doubt questioning her sanity for bringing him. Felix shrugged and stepped up to the entrance, holding the heavy door open for her.
He’d never been to Barrow Manor, but he knew the family who owned it. He cast his eyes around the cavernous space. Wooden panelling clung to almost every wall, and dark portraits of angry-looking Tudor folk studded the grand staircase. It had charm, but to his mind, it desperately needed an update.
“You’re not planning to go home with a new hotel in your pocket, are you? At least get me to the bar before you begin negotiations. This place has a maze, you know. I’m sure you could haggle yourself a discount, what with all the hedge trimming you’d have to do.”
Felix snickered. “Good idea. Not the topiary, the drink.”
