Page 68 of Arrogant Heir

He sends a smiley face emoji.

I call him hoping he’s joking to get my attention because I haven’t replied to him in a few days with so much going on.

‘You won’t come to me, so I’ve come to get you back.’

I buzz the house and ask Albert to give permission for Simon to enter the grounds. I’m flinging clothes into my case and running around checking I’ve got all my stuff. The last thing I want is to be alone with Simon in this cottage. But it’s not long before I hear shoes crunching on the gravel path and a knock at the door. I open the door to see Simon’s smiling face, and Albert heading back to the house.

Simon reaches for me and tries to kiss me. I pull away.

‘Don’t be like that, my darling. I know what I did was awful, but how many times do I need to apologise before you forgive me?’

If he’d said this to me three months ago, it would have been a very different conversation. I was rejected and heartsick and I would have talked myself into being with him. But since Damian, I’ve never been clearer about what I want. And I don’t want Simon.

I chew on my lip and try to figure out how to tell him, gently. He hurt me badly, but I’m past wanting to hurt him in return. In truth, I wish he hadn’t come. He’s like a stranger to me.

Before I can compose a sentence to tell him we’re not getting back together, he whips a black velvet box out of his jeans pocket and falls to his knees in front of me.

‘Jamie, my darling. I know we’ve done this before and I messed it up in the worst way, but this time it’s for real. Please say you’ll marry me. We can have a big wedding or get married abroad if you prefer. I just want to marry you, so please let’s do it as soon as possible.’

I stare at him. This was the last thing I expected. Simon isn’t the overly romantic type and last time he proposed, it was more like he was asking for my order in a coffee shop. It was casual, and he wasn’t effusive like this.

He’s still on his knees on the thick carpet and I’m staring at him, speechless.

‘Jamie? Are you going to answer me?’ His usually confident voice is tremulous, and I think he’s realising that I will not be the pushover, he thought.

Finally, I shake myself out of my stupor. ‘Please get up,’ I say. ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you. Not now. Not ever.’

His mouth falls open, and this time it’s his turn to look genuinely shocked. ‘But why? This was always what you wanted.’

‘Yes, it was what I wanted. But it isn’t what I want now. I’m afraid it’s too late, and it wouldn’t be the right thing for either of us now.’

He rests on the edge of the sofa looking shellshocked and I explain further, telling him I don’t believe it’s what he really wants either. If it was, he wouldn’t have called it off like he did. I tell him I think it happened for a reason and it’s for the best that we don’t get married.

He suggests we get back together, and I move into his flat if I don’t want to get married. Explaining that I don’t want to is the most difficult thing I’ve done because he looks devastated, and I don’t want to hurt him. I know how that feels and it’s the last thing I want to do to anyone.

He says that seeing me in the paper broke him. I tell him our relationship is over and it’s nothing to do with Damian.

I can see he doesn’t fully believe me, but I ask if he’s okay and he rises and says huffily that he’d better leave, and he won’t bother me again.

‘Simon,’ I call after him, as he storms out the door.

I message him to drive safely. There’s nothing more to say. And then I collapse on the sofa and burst into tears.

He offered me everything I ever wanted, and I turned him down. I know it was the right thing to do, but my heart grieves the fairy tale.

It’s all over.

I enter the house and Alice shows me into the library. Arthur greets me and says it’s good to have me back.

I explain I’ve come to pick up my things and drive home in my car.

‘I didn’t want to leave without thanking you for your kindness and to say goodbye. It’s been a real honour to work with you,’ I say.

Honey’s bobbing around my feet and wagging her tail. Arthur offers me tea, but I say I can’t stay.

He asks how the charity ball was. It’s all I can do not to burst into tears, but that wouldn’t do, so I hold it together and tell him it was wonderful.

‘Are you okay?’ he says. ‘You don’t seem quite yourself. You’re in the papers again today. I must say it’s a cracking photo. You and Damian make a beautiful couple. Thank you for agreeing to accompany him and play along with the mystery girlfriend story.’