Chapter 33
Megan had been painting all morning and had finally finished the watercolour. Although she was pleased with the result, she was still a little hesitant to show it to Tobias. All morning she had been thinking about Ted. It was hard to believe he was her grandfather, yet that was undoubtedly what he was. Megan was left to contemplate whether her mum ought to know the truth, too. Surely she had every right to know her true parentage and, in all honesty, Megan resented having inherited the dilemma.
Tobias had been an absolute rock of support. He had shown nothing but kindness and patience. He had always made his attraction towards her clear, but had never pushed or forced her in any way. Megan’s insides tingled at the flashbacks of yesterday’s picnic. Even then he had shown constraint, whereas she would have lost herself in his arms. Despite her experience with Adam and all the warnings she’d tried to give herself, it was futile. She was falling for Tobias. He was so handsome, caring, good fun, and her body ached for his. How could she not?
She packed up her things and waited for the painting to dry before placing her picture in a carry case. Today she had walked to the estate rather than take her car. A footpath running from the back of the cottages led to the grounds of Treweham Hall.
She had borrowed a chair from the summerhouse and was returning it when she overheard voices coming from inside. Pausing, she waited before opening the glass door. She recognised one of the voices. It was Nick’s.
‘What was I supposed to do? You nearly ran into her, for God’s sake. You were driving like a lunatic!’
‘And why’s that?’ came a rasped reply. Megan shot to the side of the door out of sight.
‘Look, I’m sorry, Seb, please.’ Megan froze. She could just about make out the two figures through the gap in the glass door. Nick stood in front of a blond-haired man: she recognised Tobias’ brother from the pub.
‘You let her believe it was Tobias. How could you?’
‘Because I care about you.’ Nick’s voice grew softer, deeper. Megan’s eyes widened when she saw the two men embrace and share a long, tender kiss. Gulping, she dropped the chair on the grass and hurried home.
Nick and Sebastian? Kissing? Her mind spun. But Nick had had a fling with Finula and he’d flirted with her, too… Realisation dawned: he must be bisexual. And it must have been Sebastian driving the car that night, and Nick deliberately led her to believe it was Tobias.
Megan was still in shock later that day when working at The Templar. She was itching to speak to Finula, but they had been so busy behind the bar. Finally a quiet spell descended, and Megan grasped the moment.
‘Finula, can I tell you something?’
‘Sure, what is it?’ Finula was wiping down the bar and collecting glasses.
‘I saw Nick and Tobias’ brother in the summerhouse at Treweham Hall. They were kissing.’
Finula looked straight at her, opened her mouth to speak and was interrupted by a customer. Damn, thought Megan, wishing their shift would hurry up and finish. She was frantic to learn what Finula knew.
At last it was closing time. Locking the door after the last customer, Finula beckoned Megan over to sit by the inglenook fire.
‘Nick and I went out together for a few months last year. It was good in the beginning. He was very attentive, made me feel special. Then came the tell-tale signs.’
‘What do you mean?’ Megan sat forward slightly.
‘I’d notice him looking at other people – men, as well as women. I saw the way he looked at Sebastian. We all suspected Sebastian was gay – not that it mattered. Then I found a magazine in his car. We’d been out for the day, and as he was paying for petrol at the garage I had a nosy inside his glove compartment. A semi-naked man from the front cover of a magazine stared back at me. I quickly put it back.’
‘Really?’ gasped Megan.
Finula nodded and continued. ‘Then it all came to a head one night when Nick got drunk. He got nasty, saying how inhibited I was. I retaliated, so he got nastier. Afterwards he was sorry, but I’ve never forgotten the things he said.’ She shivered in disgust.
‘What?’ whispered Megan.
‘He proposed a threesome,’ replied Finula coolly.
‘You’re joking! The cheeky swine.’ Megan was dumbfounded.
‘Denied all knowledge the next day when he was sober, but it was the end. I never dated him again.’
‘Don’t blame you. Does Tobias know about this?’
‘Yes. I told him. Not long after Nick and I finished, he started seeing Sebastian, on the hush-hush. Only me and Tobias sussed out what was going on. The relationship’s been on and off for months.’
‘But Nick’s… quite flirty… he’s—’
‘A bisexual slag,’ Finula finished with bitterness in her voice.
Megan found it hard to take in. Who would have thought this sleepy Cotswolds village held such secrets? The next-door neighbour really being her granddad; Sebastian being the driver who nearly killed her; and now the local vet, who preferred hamandcheese on his toasties!
