Lizzie Marshall's Wedding Read Free Page B

good, until I got that letter yesterday. I didn’t get much sleep last night, as you can imagine. It was hard enough trying to sort it all out the first time around. I just don’t have the money. If they void the agreement, I could lose everything. That’s why I went for a walk to think things through – and what happened?  I met that bloody man! It’s like it never rains but it pours.’
    ‘What happened with him, Becky?’ Susie coaxed.
    Becky shifted uncomfortably. Even thinking about him irritated her. ‘I was walking across the fields towards the pond. I know I shouldn’t have been, without permission, but it’s second nature to me to go there when I’m having a bad time. I could hear someone shouting and I saw a figure in the distance, near the house but I’d forgotten the new owners moved in on Thursday, to tell you the truth and I thought it was Bill Jenkins, doing the garden, so I waved back and went on. When I got to the pond, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was empty!’
    ‘No!’ Susie said, clearly shocked.
    Jess reappeared with another bottle and refilled their glasses and Becky waited until she’d sat down before continuing.
    ‘There’s a sign up saying to keep away or something. I didn’t really get a chance to read it. The next thing I know, Max bloody Bedford is racing towards me, yelling at me to get away from there and threatening me, saying I’m risking my life! He was like a madman. I’m not really sure what happened next, I think I may have had a funny turn or something because it felt like the ground had vanished from beneath me and I was falling. He grabbed me, picked me up and marched off with me then unceremoniously dumped me on the old witches’ oak, tree stump, without so much as a by-your-leave.’
    ‘Wow!’ Susie said. ‘Actually, that’s sort of romantic, and rather sexy – in an odd way.’
    Becky and Jess glared at her.
    ‘You’ve been too long without a man, if you think that’s romantic.’ Jess shook her head in disbelief.
    ‘I said, sort of! I think it is romantic to be swept off your feet, especially by someone as gorgeous as Max Bedford – and he did save you from falling, so that’s romantic too. What happened then?’
    Becky sipped her wine and cast her mind back to that morning. She could remember it all so vividly. 
     
    ‘What the hell are you doing?’ Becky had snapped.
    Max Bedford set her down on the witches’ oak tree stump and stepped back, glaring at her. ‘Saving your life,’ he said, clearly displeased. ‘Can’t you read? This is private property and that area is dangerous. You could have been seriously injured – or worse!’
    ‘Don’t be ridiculous! The pond’s been there for centuries and it’s perfectly safe. I’ve swum in it hundreds of times.’ She stood up and smoothed her clothes with one hand, trying to regain her composure. She was shaking with anger and surprise.
    ‘So you come here often do you?’ he said sarcastically.
    Becky tilted her chin up. ‘All the time.’
    ‘Well, perhaps in future, you’d be good enough to ask. I’m Max Bedford and my mother, Margaret is the new owner of Beckleston Hall. And you are?’
    She met his eyes then watched as he looked her up and down, his brow creasing just a touch as if he found her discomforting to look at, or unpleasant; like something the cat had brought to him. She felt her temper flare.
    ‘I’ve lived here all my life and the moon will turn to cheese before the day dawns when some jumped up, London banker can tell me where I may or may not go!’ She could feel her cheeks burning as she stepped forward to pass him but he stood in her way.
    Their eyes held for a moment then she saw his mouth twitch.
    ‘You did say banker, didn’t you and not ...’ he said, a grin spreading across his face.
    Becky was astonished. ‘Yes,’ she said still furious, ‘I did say banker – but it’s not what I meant.’
    She was even more astonished when he burst out