Page 29 of Tears of Glass

“What did he say, Faith? What did you stay to hear?”

“Why isn’t he engaged?” My head shakes from side to side. “He’s marrying her, he chose the family.”

“Um. No, he’s not getting married.”

I scramble from the floor. “What the fuck? Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t Gerard tell me?”

Tabitha sends me a ‘don’t shit with me’ glare. I think Abi taught her how to do it. “You said you didn’t want his name mentioned.”

“Uh. Well, yes. But ground-breaking news... Come on...”

“Nope.” Lewis pipes up. “I distinctly remember the moment we got to Brighton you told us you didn’t want to hear his name.”

“So, he’s not marrying... her?”

“No. As soon as you smashed that heart, he jumped off the stage and that was the last we saw of him at the ball. Mum was furious. Sienna bowed out, honest I think she knew, then two weeks later Mum was ranting. I mean she was on the verge of a breakdown. Said he’d disgraced the family one last time. Grandma won’t talk to him.” Tabitha talks so fast I can barely focus on one word she says to the next. They whorl about in my head like a word game I can’t win.

“But... but...” I rub at my face. “What the fuck is happening here?”

“I don’t know, Faith. I don’t know what happened, but I think Elijah was trying to give you a sporting chance to meet some contacts before he told Mum and she threw the mother of all hissy fits.”

My eyes focus, and I watch a small smile curve Tabitha’s lips. “Of course, Mum had her own plan in place. In the true Fairclough way.”

“But, why hasn’t he come and told me? Why hasn’t he explained? Why?”

“Faith. You smashed a giant glass heart and then ran away.” Her hand squeezes mine. “And I’m thinking he feels pretty shit.”

“So this is why he hasn’t said sorry?”

“Sorry? What?”

“I’ve got to go.”

“Go where?”

Using all the force of my arms, I manage to push my way back up off the floor. Lewis grabs me and hauls me the rest of the way up. “Come on, Faith. Let’s talk in the morning when your head is clearer and you don’t stink of wine and fags.”

I fight my way out of his hold with my elbows. “No.”

I swing back out of the door and slip my way down the stairs. It’s okay, my arse hurt anyway. Out in the street there’s no cab with a yellow light on in sight.

But it’s okay, I can walk to Kensington from here.

I don’t know where he will be. He was at the bar, then I sent him away... and he looked at me...

Where the fuck are my shoes?

Bollocks.

I’m... Well actually I don’t know where I am, when the hum of an engine idles in the road next to where I’m trying to look at Google Maps on my phone. Kensington has evaporated. It’s a problem.

“Faith, what the hell are you doing?”

It’s him. His eyes search over the sight of me as he opens the passenger door of the MG Roadster.

“I’m coming to yours.”

“Why?”