I follow her out into the garden, back towards the hotel. ‘Sadie, those women, what they were saying… do people really think that? That I’m just out for Rupert’s money?’ Does someone want to scare me off? For a moment, I wonder whether to tell Sadie about the text message, the letter, the feeling of being watched.
Sadie stops, the shadows from the wooded area to the left of us hiding one side of her face. ‘No. Of course not. But Rupert was a very eligible widower for a while – you’re bound to have some people – some women – who are jealous. And things happened so quickly. Obviously, we all know you two are very much in love.’
‘I meant what I said in my speech, you know. That I want to live the perfect life with him. He told me that he knew immediately that I was the one for him, that he knew straight away we were meant to be together, that we’re twin souls…’ I trail off as I catch sight of someone lurking in the entrance to the woods.
‘Emily?’ Sadie turns to me, frowning. ‘Are you OK?’
‘Yes… you go on back, I’ll be in in a minute. Just need some fresh air.’
I give her a quick smile, waiting for her to move off before I turn my gaze to the woods. The figure still stands there, watching me, and a ripple of unease snakes up my back. It’s the same person, I think for a moment, the same person who was watching the house. Isn’t it? With a quick glance towards the hotel, where warm light spills out of the windows and I can make out the shadows of people dancing and drinking, I take a deep breath and turn back towards the trees, fully intending on finding out who is there and what they want from me, even though I feel as if my knees are quaking like some cartoon character. But as I step forward, the grass soft under my feet, I find there is no one there. But there was. I am sure of it. A dark silhouette watching me walk across the garden with Sadie. I rest a hand on my chest in an attempt to stop my heart from racing. Someone was definitely watching me, the only question is, who?
Chapter Twelve
Rupert watches from his comfortable position sprawled across their huge king-sized bed in their ocean view bedroom, complete with balcony, as Emily gets ready for dinner. They are on their honeymoon in an exquisite hotel in Hastings, Barbados, still another two weeks of bliss ahead of them. Rupert isn’t too sure how he feels about the hotel, despite the luxury they are surrounded by. He had left the honeymoon decision up to Emily and had been partly horrified when she had announced that Coconut Court was her first choice. He’d tried to dissuade her at first, but she had been adamant that she wanted to stay here – that she’d heard only good things, and she was only planning on ever having one honeymoon, and besides, she had already booked it. He couldn’t find it in himself to tell her that he and Caro had honeymooned on the island, albeit at a different hotel. That he had proposed to Caro on a beach not five miles away from where she was suggesting they spend their honeymoon. Sadie had told him he was mad when he mentioned it.
‘Bloody hell, Rupert… are you sure about this?’ Sadie had looked at him in horror, then at the confirmation email on the screen of his phone. ‘What if Emily finds out you went to Barbados with Caro? That you bloody proposed to Caro there!’
‘She won’t… not if you don’t tell her. Please, don’t tell her, Sadie. She’s got her heart set on it, and I don’t want to disappoint her.’
‘She’ll be more than disappointed if she ever finds out the truth.’ Sadie shoved the phone back in his direction, and he fumbled, almost dropping it. ‘You’d better hope that someone doesn’t let it slip.’
‘She doesn’t need to know,’ Rupert implored. ‘Please, Sadie. I did try to tell her in a roundabout way. I tried to persuade her that Thailand would be nice, but she wouldn’t listen, and it was too late. She’d already booked it.’
Sadie had just looked away, changing the subject, but Rupert hadn’t missed the look on her face. Now, he pushes the memory down, out of sight, convinced that despite Sadie’s disapproval, he has made the right choice. The hotel is one hundred per cent high-end luxury, and he’s determined to make new memories here with Emily over the next fortnight.
‘So, what do you think of the honeymoon so far?’ he asks Emily, as she pins her short curls up into some complicated hairstyle in front of the mirror. Her skin already glows with the beginnings of a light tan.
‘Beautiful.’ Emily meets his eyes in the mirror and smiles, a tiny lifting of her lips. ‘Everything I hoped it would be.’
‘What made you decide on this place? Apart from the reviews, obviously. I thought you’d be more… I don’t know, India, or Peru. Somewhere… less relaxing.’ Rupert genuinely is curious about Emily’s decision. The fact that he’s even had to ask her just shows how much they still have to learn about each other. He could have told you that Caro would have picked the Caribbean every time, thanks to fond memories of childhood holidays (Rupert’s childhood holiday memories were more Cornwall than Caribbean), and a love of long days stretched out on the sand soaking up the sun.
‘Someone recommended it.’ Emily pouts into the glass, pressing her lips together and checking her lipstick hasn’t gone astray.
‘Someone?’ Rupert frowns.
‘Yes, Sadie or Amanda, it might even have been Will. I don’t remember who exactly.’ Emily spins on the stool to face him, satisfied
