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Daisy drew in a long breath as she forced her lips into a smile.

‘Of course,’ she said, knowing it probably wasn’t true. It wasn’t like Penelope was ever going to come down and see for herself.

‘Well, shall we take the tea into the drawing room?’ Penelope continued, as if she hadn’t even asked Daisy a question, let alone heard Daisy’s reply. ‘We don’t want to sit out here in the kitchen, do we? Theo, can you take the tray, please? Daisy can help me with the plates.’

There was no question in her sentence, and so Daisy instinctively moved to pick up the large set of plates set on the counter, but no sooner had she moved than Penelope barked at her.

‘No, not those, Daisy. Not for biscuits. Archibald, get Daisy the proper plates.’

Daisy pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a smirk. Being named Archibald was one thing; having your wife use it was another. Penelope sounded like she was ordering around a child.

The drawing room was, like the rest of the house, exactly as Daisy had expected: an outdated cliché of how the wealthy would dress their rooms, with a miniature grand piano in one corner, and velvet curtains with large drapes folding down. A large pink rug sat on the faded carpet and none of the furniture matched, with a floral sofa, two large leather armchairs and several small tub chairs.

After Theo had placed the tea tray on the coffee table, Daisy put the plates down next to it before taking a seat and allowing Penelope the room to pour the drinks.

‘I didn’t bring sugar, but I assume no one will need it,’ she said. ‘I do not understand people who suffocate the taste of tea with sugar, do you, Daisy?’

‘Well, I let my customers choose how they want their drinks,’ Daisy replied. ‘I’m not sure they’d pay me for them otherwise.’

‘Of course, of course you do,’ Penelope said, fixing them all identical drinks with milk and no sugar. When everyone had a cup of tea, Theo’s mother took a seat in one of the tub chairs, but despite the softness of the fabric, she looked anything but relaxed. The way she placed her hands upon her knees reminded Daisy of a poster she’d seen from the 1940s, demonstrating all the good qualities a wife should have. She didn’t know whether she should laugh or cry.

‘Well, this trip was a welcome surprise,’ Theo’s father said, as he helped himself simultaneously to a shortbread and a piece of flapjack, seemingly able to ignore Penelope’s glare. ‘I have to say, we were talking only the other day about how long it’s beensince we’ve seen you. Not that we’re not pleased, but is there any particular reason that you’ve graced us with your presence today?’

Daisy’s heart began hammering in her chest. She had assumed telling people about her engagement would be exciting. That it would be the type of moment when people would sweep around you and congratulate you, pat you on the back, and say how excited they were for you. But she had the distinct impression that it wouldn’t be that way today. She glanced at Theo, wondering if he was going to say anything, and it was only then she realised she had kept her hands folded the entire time, the antique ring tucked out of view.

As she held Theo’s gaze, he offered her a warm smile before reaching out and taking her hand.

‘Actually, there is. We have a bit of news to share.’

Daisy didn’t want to look at Theo’s parents’ faces. She wanted to keep her eyes on him only, but she knew that couldn’t happen. Steeling her breath, she slipped her hand out of his, displaying the ring in all its beauty.

‘Theo asked me to marry him. And I said yes.’

She waited for the snarky comment, the cutting remarks that made Daisy feel less than two inches tall. But instead, Penelope smiled broadly, her face beaming as she reached forward and took Daisy’s hand in hers.

‘Oh, I’m so pleased,’ she said.

‘You are?’ Daisy and Theo spoke simultaneously.

‘Yes, I’ve been so worried that you lost that ring after you asked for it to give to Heather. Tell me, Theo, you did give that ring to her when you proposed then, didn’t you?’

21

Daisy wanted the floor to swallow her up. No, sheneededthe floor to swallow her up, because the only other options were storming out of the room, having some very choice words for her fiancé with his parents there watching, or bursting into tears. And she had a horrible feeling that she was closest to the latter.

She swallowed hard repeatedly, feeling Penelope’s eyes boring into her, but what was she supposed to say? That she knew Theo had already used this ring to propose once? And that she didn’t mind? She’d have had a hard time sounding truthful, considering she hadn’t even known that Theo and Heather had ever been engaged before. Besides, at that moment, Daisy wasn’t even sure she could speak. Once again, she attempted to swallow down the lump that had lodged itself up in her throat, but before she managed to clear it, Theo was speaking.

‘Heather and I didn’t get engaged, Mother, as you know,’ Theo said. His voice sounded remarkably calm and at any other time, it might have put Daisy at ease. But Penelope’s smile only broadened, and it had the same effect on Daisy as nails on a chalkboard. A cold shudder ran down her spine.

‘Yes, darling, of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring that up.’ Penelope looked at Daisy. ‘She rejected him, you know, but good thing too, or else you wouldn’t have that pretty little ring on your finger, would you?’

That was it. Daisy couldn’t take any more. Tears of betrayal were clogging her throat. She needed to get out of the room and fast, but she didn’t want it to look like Penelope had won. She hadn’t. None of her tears were for Penelope. It was the fact that there was yet another omission by Theo – another part of his life that Theo had kept from her – that hurt so badly.

In as controlled a manner as she could, she stood up and smiled graciously.

‘Sorry, if you don’t mind, I’m just going to get some water. I think the organic flapjacks needed another ten minutes in the oven. They’re somewhat undercooked and a little cloying.’

With that, she walked out of the room.