“Ali, you didn’t!!!” exclaimed Sheila Davenport.
Alison Farrell Montgomery sipped a chilled glass of wine in the comfort of her award-winning English garden. “Billy needed to hear the truth, Sheila,” reasoned Alison. “Connor is all wrong for him.”
Sheila cleared her throat. “Ali, you told me weeks ago that you wouldn’t insert yourself into the middle of Will’s relationship with Connor.”
“I haven’t!”
“You have!” Sheila refilled her wine glass. “If you keep this up, Will is going to end up alone and he’ll blame you for ruining his chance for happiness with Connor.”
“Sheila, what am I supposed to do? Connor is so weak-willed that he can’t handle the fact that I want to buy my son a house as a wedding present! It’s not my fault Alistair Windsor squanders whatever income and assets he has on cheap booze and even cheaper teenage girls!” Alison fingered the white tablecloth. “I can think of fifty well-bred men in Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa who would be perfect for Billy…but he wants Connor.”
“Yes, he does. Besides, Will won’t make a bad decision. He’s not like Nicholas.”
Alison nodded in agreement. “Is Nicholas still trying to find himself?”
“Worse than that,” sighed Sheila. “He wanted to sell his shares in Davenport Technology to Elijah…for all people…”
“How did you stop him?”
“I’m the trustee on Nicholas’ trust fund. He can’t do a thing with those shares without my consent.”
Alison pondered Sheila’s words carefully before saying, “I wonder why we have such a hard time letting our youngest children live their lives without our interference?”
“I wish I knew,” reflected Sheila, honestly. “I don’t want someone to take advantage of Nicholas…in much the same way I’m sure you don’t want Connor to take advantage of Will.”
“Exactly! This is why we’re best friends,” smiled Alison.
“I do hope Will and Connor get married. I’m having the most delightful dress made in London,” cooed Sheila.
Alison smiled, lightly. “I’d be surprised if Billy went through with the wedding, but, I suppose, anything is possible.”
“Oh. Hello, Mama. Mrs. Davenport,” said Jill Stanhope Montgomery as she walked through the English garden. “It’s a lovely day.”
Alison forced a tight smile on her face. “Jill. What brings you to the estate?”
Jill stood her ground because she knew her mother-in-law would love nothing more than to see her falter. “Hannah and Kate wanted to see the new puppies. Warren called ahead. I merely wanted to enjoy a cool drink inside…if that’s all right with you, Mama.”
“As you were,” Alison stated with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Jill smiled pertly, walked into the main house, and took a deep breath. She knew that neither Sheila nor Alison realized that she’d overheard most of their private conversation. Jill couldn’t stop from giggling at the thought that Will might call off his wedding to Connor. It would cause a scandal among their set, but it meant Jill could avoid that wedding. Jill couldn’t believe her luck. As Jill walked into the Morning Room, she ordered a drink from the kitchen, sank into a chair, and felt like everything was going right for the first time in a long time.
“You’re here a lot.” India Montgomery eyed her sister-in-law with great contempt as she picked up a long-forgotten book on a side table.
“It’s nice to see you, too, India,” said Jill, lightly. “How are you?”
“Fine,” snapped India. “I hope you’re not staying long.”
“I’m Warren’s wife. I have every right to be on the family estate,” huffed Jill.
India eyed Jill carefully. Even though Jill was married to Warren, India felt nothing towards her. To India, Jill was just a woman with too many high ideas and little substance. “Tell your husband to come see me. It’s been years.”
“Then come by for dinner tonight. I’m sure Hannah and Kate would love to see their Auntie Indi.”
“Some other time,” India replied, stiffly. “If you’ll excuse me…”
Just then, a brilliant thought flooded Jill’s mind. She knew she had to act fast, so she said, “I suppose you haven’t heard the news.”
“The lives of the masses do not interest me,” sniffed India.
Jill felt like a cat toying with its prey. “Oh. I thought you’d like to know about Connor and… Oh, never mind.”
“Connor?” The name fell from India’s lips with such passion she felt like she’d erupt. “What about Connor?”
Jill sighed, lightly. “Oh, it’s probably nothing. Anyway, the masses don’t interest you, so…”
“Tell me, Jill.” India’s eyes darkened with hot anger. “If you don’t…”
Jill could feel the hairs rising on her arms. She knew India was unpredictable, but she had never seen it for herself. She’d never seen India go from pleasant to terrifying in the span of a few seconds. In all truth, Jill was frightened. “I heard…that Will…is considering calling off his wedding to Connor.”
“Who told you that?!?” India demanded to know.
“I can’t say!”
“Tell me, Jill!!!”
“I heard your mother tell Sheila,” Jill said, quickly. “Apparently, Will and Connor had a fight the other day and…” Before Jill could finish her thought, India was gone. Jill tried to catch her breath just as one of the servants brought her a perfectly chilled glass of iced tea. However, Jill couldn’t think about anything in the moment except for the fact that she’d given India a loaded gun. Everyone knew how India felt about Will and Connor. It was only a matter of time before India did something to ensure Will called off the wedding. However, no one could blame this on Jill. Alison and Sheila didn’t know she’d overheard them. No one would ever believe India. And, in that moment, Jill realized she’d played this just right. Her hands were clean. Whatever happened next wouldn’t be her fault because Will was already having doubts, Connor was fiery, and India was unstable. No, Jill told herself, whatever happens next won’t be my fault…It’ll be God’s will. And, with that realization, Jill Stanhope Montgomery absolved herself of everything that would transpire from this split decision…
In our next installment, Kenny demands more of Barbara…
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