After all, Cecelia’s weaponry consisted of empty words. She would never actually hurt Flora. Would she?
6
The next time that Sophie and Flora saw Cecelia was at Alistair’s birthday party. Like the Queen of England, Alistair had two birthdays. A family one and a public one. This was the public one, where anyone who was anyone was invited. Michelin star chefs cooked up tiny portions of pretentious food and the gardens of Cavendish Manor rang with fake laughter only rich people can produce. Impeccably dressed waiters appeared before the guests could even register that they were thirsty. Classical music played from speakers sequestered among the shrubs. Not slowed down by her ‘funny turn’, Cecelia had gone all out.
Sophie walked on the outskirts of the gardens trying to avoid everyone. Normally, she and Flora would have teamed up and spent the entire time together, giggling, dodging Cecelia and making fun of the guests. But Flora had been spending less and less time with her since that fateful dinner. Every day she seemed to be ‘working late at the centre’. When they did see each other Flora would talk endlessly about Linda and Ethan and what she was going to do. Every time Sophie went to broach the subject of moving, Flora appeared to sense it and change the conversation or come up with an excuse to leave.
Sophie was becoming increasingly frustrated, as she knew that danger was coming for Flora. And she was the only person in the world that could protect her from it.
When they had married into the Cavendish family, Sophie genuinely believed they were both getting their fairy-tale ending. In Greg, she had found a like-minded, intelligent and ambitious businessman and Flora had found the gentle giant she always wanted in Sam. But to enter into the Cavendish family was to be swept up in their web of toxicity. Flora had kept herself on the outskirts of family life. She never accepted or used their money unless she had no choice; whereas Sophie had thrown herself in headfirst and fully embraced the Cavendish life, seduced by a wealth and power beyond her wildest dreams. But now she was inside she had been exposed to the secrets of how the Cavendish family retained their wealth and power. She had seen that Flora was in more danger than she could ever realise since her revelation on Friday.
Sophie had always protected Flora and she was not about to stop now. But she could not protect Flora if they were not talking. Sophie knew that Flora was a coward when it came to uncomfortable conversations. Her friend was beautiful inside and out, but her need to please people stopped her from standing up and saying what she truly felt. It saddened Sophie that Flora had felt unable to talk to her. Honesty had never been a problem between them before they married into the Cavendish family.
Did Sam have something to do with it? She always thought that he had begrudgingly accepted their close bond but now she wondered if Sam was just biding his time, waiting for an opportunity to get rid of her.
She knew she could be irritating, always turning up and taking up so much of Flora’s time. But he didn’t – couldn’t – understand what bound Flora and Sophie together. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and had not known hardship, neglect or cruelty in the way that Sophie and Flora had. Sophie had had to fight to get them to where they were today. She was not going to let Sam or any of the Cavendishes ruin it. She would protect Flora at all costs, whether she wanted to be or not.
The four of them – Greg, Sam, Sophie and Flora – had travelled to the party together. Greg had driven whilst Sam and Flora cuddled in the back. Sophie enjoyed watching the glow on Flora’s face when Sam embraced her. After everything that she had been through, Flora deserved happiness. Sophie looked at Greg, his face compassionless and focused. She wondered what he was thinking. Did he even think about holding her hand? When was the last time he had cuddled her? She went cold inside and returned to surreptitiously staring at Flora and Sam through the wing mirror of the car.
Cecelia and Alistair had been waiting for them at the entrance to the house. Sam and Greg were held by their mother and the girls were pushed to the side like the spare parts Cecelia thought they were. Alistair bowed his head to Sophie and gave her a knowing smile. She went cold again. His smile was designed to remind her of the power he had over her. Everyone who met Alistair Cavendish instantly warmed to him. After all, he was charming, handsome, generous with laughter and an extremely shrewd businessman. It was only if you looked closely, behind the façade that you could see the psychopath in the bespoke tailored suit.
7
Escaping another dull conversation – no, she had not gone to Oxford University like Sam and yes, Manchester College of Art was ‘coming up in the world’ – Flora went around the side of the building towards the back door, intending to seek a bottle of wine from the bar inside. Since marrying into the Cavendish family, she had begun to drink more heavily. It seemed the only anaesthetic to the shallowness that came with this pretentious world of money she had married into.
Raised voices from around the corner of the house stopped her in her tracks. Was that Sophie? She almost did not recognise her friend’s voice as it trembled with a fear she’d never heard before.
Greg’s voice rang out, echoing off
