‘So boringly tetchy.’
‘Would you rather I was more like your stepmother, then?’
‘Not at all, but I’d prefer you didn’t bite my head off every time I opened my mouth.’ He took a gulp of his drink. Then appeared to think about it before draining his glass in one long swallow.
Seeing the way his face had darkened, Isabella thought how easily his mood slipped – gone was theeasy-going insouciance of before; in place now was sulky annoyance. But then she had just deliberately riled him by taking him to task over Julia. Observing the taut expression on his face, she suddenly thought how similar he looked to his father. Not for the first time she wondered if, like his father, Ralph had his own darker side, and how that might manifest itself. She sipped her drink in silence, letting him stew in his own petulance.
Eventually, and after he’d lit a cigarette, he spoke. ‘I wonder if the real reason you’re so cross is because it was your idea that I charmed and flattered Julia. Perhaps you feel guilty?’
‘Perhaps I do,’ she conceded.
As though the admission had mollified him, he offered up a smile. ‘You have to admit, though, it was quite funny when she fell over, wasn’t it?’
Isabella shook her head. ‘No. It was horrible. Like watching a car crash.’
‘Then you shouldn’t have made me dance with her.’
‘I wanted you to make her happy, not get her punished by your bully of a father. It’s common knowledge back at home that he locked her in her room the next day, and with nothing to eat.’
Ralph frowned. ‘How would anyone know that?’
‘Come off it, Ralph, you can’t sneeze in the village without everybody knowing about it.’
‘Well, they got it wrong. Julia was simplyoff-colour with a hangover and needed to rest.’
‘And who told you that?’
‘My father and Miss Casey.’
‘You don’t think that’s exactly what he would tell you to hide what a monster he is?’
Viciously stubbing out his cigarette, he said, ‘You know what, I’m sick of this conversation. I used to think you were fun.’
‘You mean you thought I was as shallow as you,’ she fired back.
He glared at her, then getting to his feet and whipping out his wallet from the inside pocket of his suit jacket, he threw down a handful of money on the bar. ‘I’m not sticking around for any more criticism from you. I’m off someplace where the girls know how to enjoy themselves, and where they don’t feel the need to put a fellow down.’
Quick as a flash, she scooped up the money and threw it at him. ‘Then you’d better take this with you as you’ll need to pay those girls, won’t you?’
What happened next took no more than a split second. First, Isabella saw Ralph raise his hand to strike her across the face, then the man sitting at the bar on the stool behind Ralph snatched hold of his arm. ‘That, sir,’ he said, ‘is no way to treat a lady.’ Wrenching himself free, Ralph looked ready to strike the stranger who had intervened.
The stranger was now on his feet. ‘Apologise to your friend this instant,’ he said. ‘And do it before I feel the need to take you outside and teach you how to be a gentleman.’
With people looking on, including the bar staff, Isabella saw the reluctance in Ralph’s face to do as he was being asked. She didn’t think she could feel more disgusted or disappointed in a person. ‘You truly are your father’s son, aren’t you?’ she said.
The change of expression on Ralph’s face told Isabella that her words had hit home. ‘I’m sorry,’ he muttered.
‘Try saying it like you mean it,’ the other man said.
‘It’s all right,’ Isabella said, not wanting the ugly scene to become any uglier. She was embarrassed enough as it was. ‘He’s said he’s sorry.’
The man shrugged, but then jabbed Ralph’s shoulder with a finger. ‘Time you went, I think.’
For a moment Ralph looked as if he might disagree, and in the strongest terms. But then without glancing back at Isabella, he strode away, his head up, brazenly defying the stares of those who had witnessed the altercation.
Another theatrical exit, thought Isabella, watching him go.
‘Are you all right?’ the man standing in front of her asked.
