Rules for Dating a Romantic Hero Read online

  RULES FOR DATING A ROMANTIC HERO

  Harriet Evans

  ‘In the company of an unmarried couple it is impolite to ask when they will be announcing their engagement.’

  Ronald Twistleton-Smythe’s Guide to Modern Manners, 1926

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Epigraph

  Rule One

  Rule Two

  Rule Three

  Rule Four

  Rule Five

  Rule Six

  Rule Seven

  Rule Eight

  Rule Nine

  Rule Ten

  Rule Eleven

  Rule Twelve

  July 2013

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  Also by Harriet Evans

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  From the Daily News, Friday 6 July 2012:

  Good news for everyone who misses their weekly fix of Downton Abbey: the real-life version is about to get interesting. Those in the Norfolk area on Saturday lunchtime should hurry along to Chartley Hall, one of England’s greatest stately homes. It is the family seat of dashing, brooding Dominic, Marquis of Ranelagh (regularly voted the UK’s most eligible bachelor). The house is without a mistress, but, my sources say, not for long. The Marquis, also known as Nick, has been dating ‘ordinary’ girl Laura Foster, whom he met when she visited the house with her parents four years ago. Theirs has been a stormy relationship, to say the least, with Laura furious at the lack of wedding bells. But I hear things could be about to change. The Marquis has funded Laura’s very own pet project, a children’s bookshop in the village. It opens this weekend with speeches and a hog roast and, we presume, a rare sighting of the elusive couple. Will Laura get the one thing she’s been wishing for … a ring?

  Rule One:

  Shoot anyone who compares you to Kate Middleton

  Sometimes, Laura found her situation funny. Most of the time it was wonderful, if pretty weird. But sometimes there were moments when she’d have to bite the inside of her mouth to stop herself from laughing. She’d close her eyes and wish her flatmate Paddy could see her judge the Cutest Pug Competition. Or her best friend Jo could watch her come down the stairs of Chartley in a long ballgown, curtseying to a Very Important Royal Person.

  After the moment was over she’d allow herself a small grin, nothing more in case anyone was watching. Because she was the only one who seemed to think it was completely bloody crackers that she, Laura Foster, was living this life. She had literally nothing to her name (unless you counted her ‘Friend to Animals’ Brownie badge and her First Prize for Best Doodle at St Mark’s Primary School, 1989).

  There was only one reason for it, too, and that was Nick. She had realised a while ago that being with Nick meant she had to give up a lot, but it was always going to be worth it.

  She’d said this to Jo once, sitting outside the pub, glugging white wine spritzers. Jo had swallowed an ice cube and nearly choked to death.

  ‘Give up a lot?’ she’d said after a few minutes, once the colour in her face had returned to (nearly) normal. ‘That’s blimmin’ rich! Quite literally! Get over it, Laura, what are you on about?’

  Laura had swirled her glass around so the ice clanked loudly, like chains. ‘It sounds stupid, forget it. But there is stuff you give up,’ she said. ‘It’s hard to explain.’

  ‘What exactly? Spending your own money? Living in a hovel? You are funny, Laura. If I were you I’d give up living with Paddy and doing your job in a heartbeat.’ Jo was down to earth. ‘God, I’d give up being married to Chris and having Iris if it meant shacking up with Nick in his house. Most people would. You’re Kate Bloody Middleton!’

  Then Jo leaned forward, breathing wine fumes into Laura’s face. ‘Don’t go around complaining. It makes you sound like one of the ugly sisters out of Cinderella. I mean, ’cos of the complaining, not ’cos you’re ugly.’

  Laura had laughed and said, ‘Of course. You’re right, I should shut up.’ And she didn’t talk to Jo about it again.

  After all, these little things that worried her more and more lately – they were just in her head, weren’t they? Why couldn’t she just forget about the annoying stuff and enjoy the rest of it? Pretend her life was as perfect as everyone assumed it was? Like Mum and Dad’s neighbours, whom she’d bump into on the high street back home. Or her work mates who thought the whole thing was hilarious – ‘Where’s Laura? Entertaining the King of Denmark this weekend?’ Or her old friends who’d started off thinking it was mad and now thought it was great. And it was, wasn’t it? Why on earth wouldn’t it be?

  But Nick and Laura’s relationship wasn’t great. She didn’t know why, she just knew things weren’t right. And they hadn’t been for a while, really, not since … well, it was hard to say when. She thought that maybe he was still angry with her for what she’d done. Or that she regretted coming back to him. On the surface, everything continued as normal. She could forget about it most of the time, pretend it was all in her head.

  Perhaps it all really started the day of the grand opening of the bookshop.

  Rule Two:

  Real-life romantic heroes come with real-life families. And families are like neighbours – you’re stuck with them. Make the best of it.

  ‘Laura, dear. You look lovely. I’m sorry to disturb …’ Lady Rose Balmore, Nick’s elder sister, came into the bedroom (without knocking – she never knocked). She gave Laura a brief smile as she bustled past her and flung open one of the small cupboards in the eaves of the roof.

  ‘I am sure there’s a pair of candlesticks in here that would be perfect in the Green Chamber. We put them away when all the work was done, and Tony’s convinced they belong downstairs again. You don’t mind me looking, do you?’

  Laura paused in the act of picking paint out of her hair. She’d been up ’til 2 a.m. the previous night at the bookshop. ‘Go ahead,’ she said, even though Rose was already rifling through the cupboard. ‘Be my guest.’

  Downstairs a loud bell sounded and Rose stood up. ‘Aha! Opening time.’ She cocked her head. ‘My favourite moment of the day.’

  Every morning, come rain or shine, every day of the year (except Christmas and New Year’s Day) a bell would ring at 10 a.m. to declare Chartley Hall open for business. From Nick’s small, sunny bedroom, right at the top of the vast building, Laura could look out and see the visitors arriving. Cars crawling up the long avenue of oaks, cameras and phones snapping away. Men, women and children in their hundreds swarming across the terrace, up the great front stairs, marching out across the vast back lawn where teas were served.

  Sometimes Laura would emerge from Nick’s private quarters onto the main corridor of the house and people would stare at her in surprise. Who was this person, coming out of a secret doorway? Was it a … a real-life aristocrat? Then they’d examine her more closely, and either look away or move on. Oh no, she’s one of us. Doesn’t belong here. Lost her way probably. It made her smile that it was so obvious to them.

  Of course, if she happened to be walking through the house with Nick, it was a different story. People stopped and stared and giggled, as if David Beckham, Colin Firth and Prince William all rolled into one had suddenly appeared in front of them. Rose, Nick’s other sister Lavinia, or their still-glamorous mother Vivienne all got the same reaction. The Needhams were a good-looking bunch, even if, like Nick, they either didn’t know or didn’t care.

  There was just something about them. Their mother had been a film star and their father came from a family as old as the Wars of the Roses. Though Laura thought that was all rubbish – didn’t everyone come from someo
ne who was alive several hundred years ago? And it was hardly like they were perfect, either.

  Rose had – though to mention it was to bring on a stare so cold it could freeze Hell – an early marriage to a rock star and a stretch in rehab for heroin addiction under her belt. These never seemed to come up when she was making speeches to the Women’s Institute on Living in the World’s Most Beautiful House. No, it was very much part of the past, and not to be discussed.

  Laura sometimes like to remind herself of it, though, when Rose said something particularly Daily Mail-ish. Nick’s family had a happy knack for rewriting history, which was good, because they’d been around so long Laura supposed you couldn’t always be raking up old mistakes.

  Recently, now that both of Rose’s children were away at boarding school and her husband Sir Malcolm was often abroad on business trips, she’d been spending more than half her time at Chartley Hall.

  ‘Good morning!’ she’d say, sweeping past a gaggle of bug-eyed pensioners kitted out in all-weather mackintoshes. ‘Have a wonderful day! I see you have a guide to the gardens. May I recommend the pergola? It’s so pleasant this time of year.’

  If the world was fairer, or if they were all living in Sweden, Rose would have inherited the house, and maybe she’d have been the best person for the job. She did really love it. Maybe too much. Laura watched her now as she gazed out of the window, fingers drumming on the wide ledge, absorbed by the view of the park, the curve of the East Wing of the house, then tore herself away, turning back towards Laura.

  ‘Are we all ready?’ Rose gave her a bright smile. ‘Is it … ah. Are you wearing that for the opening?’

  Laura looked down at her khaki silk Topshop button-down shirtdress. ‘Yes. Er, I bought it specially.’

  ‘Right. Right, wonderful!’

  ‘Rose,’ Laura said. ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘I only thought you might want to wear something more traditional.’ Rose cleared her throat delicately. ‘This is your big day. Of sorts.’

  ‘What’s the traditional dress for opening a children’s bookshop?’ Laura said, trying to sound jokey. ‘Harry Potter scar’n’specs? Mog? Meg?’ She knew she was rambling, she always did when she was nervous. ‘The other Mog, I always think it’s weird that there are two different cats called—’

  ‘Yes, yes,’ Rose said sharply. She moved towards Laura, smoothing her pale pink Chanel suit over her hips with brisk efficiency. ‘You know, dear, you have to stop going off the point. Nick’s spent a lot setting you up in this business. People are going to be watching you today.’ One neat finger flicked a brave lock of bobbed hair out of her face. ‘Please don’t let him down.’

  ‘He didn’t set me up, I applied for the grant and the Foundation gave it to me …’ Laura began, then stopped.

  ‘Nearly all the funding – you still have to get the final piece,’ said Rose briskly. ‘And, of course, I’m sure you will.’

  Laura shrugged and smiled, determined on this, of all days, not to let Rose wind her up. ‘Come now. Less Lady Thatcher, eh? Today’s a celebration.’

  Rose closed her eyes, just briefly, and smiled. ‘Of course. Perhaps I shouldn’t have said it. We’re all so proud of you. This bookshop’s a wonderful thing for the village. For the whole estate. I should leave you to do your make-up.’

  She patted her on the arm graciously and left Laura, who had just spent ten minutes doing her make-up, staring at herself in the mirror.

  Breathe deeply. It’s going to be great. Had the carpet fitter fixed the metal trim that Casey had tripped over only yesterday? Had the wholesaler delivered the last of the Peppa Pig books? Would the paint be dry? If the paint wasn’t dry and people started sitting down on windowsills it would be a disaster, a huge, mega, painted-bottoms disaster. Breathe …

  The door opened again and she whirled round, hoping it would be him.

  ‘Can I borrow Ma’s necklace, Laura?’ Lavinia, Nick’s younger sister, wafted in on a cloud of heavy perfume, her long boho skirt swishing, her anklet bracelets jangling lightly. On her hip was a small, grubby child, Egg. ‘Oh and Nick said it’d be OK if I took that quilt? It’d look great in the cottage. Plus it’s so cold in there, you know? No big deal, but it really is cold in there.’

  Laura said, ‘Hi, Egg. Hi, Lavinia. The necklace is in the safe. You’ll have to ask Nick.’

  ‘But you wore it last week, haven’t you still got it?’

  Breathe. ‘No. It’s a diamond necklace, Lav. I’ve only ever worn it that once. He doesn’t let me keep it on the chest of drawers in the saucer with my Accessorize plastic diamond earrings, you know.’

  Lavinia put her head on one side and stared at Laura, her pale blue eyes drifting over Laura’s dress. ‘He lets you wear it, though. It’s not fair, I mean, that was Mum’s necklace.’

  It wasn’t your mother’s, Laura thought. It’s the estate’s. I’m not trying to steal it. It was really heavy and the clasp gave me a blister and besides, it’s not actually that relaxing wearing thousands of pounds round your neck like some show pony. Not for the first time, Laura wished Nick was here. No one ever seemed to try it on when he was around.

  ‘Sorry. Look, Lav, I have to go and make sure everything’s OK before the opening, so …’

  ‘That’s a great dress, is it Marc Jacobs?’

  ‘It’s from Topshop,’ Laura said. ‘The only thing I can afford from Marc Jacobs is a plastic bag.’

  ‘Right. He doesn’t actually do plastic bags. OK. Well …’ Her eyes strayed round the room, like a lazy magpie.

  ‘Have you seen Nick?’, Laura said hurriedly. ‘He was up so early this morning I missed him.’

  Lavinia shook her head. ‘No. But Charles said they had some project. They’ve been in his study for hours. He’s exhausted. There’s so much going on at the moment, isn’t there?’

  ‘Er … yes,’ Laura said vaguely. The truth was Nick had been so wrapped up in the house lately, closeted away with Charles, full of plans, and she wasn’t part of them. The finances of Chartley, not great since his money-wasting father’s death, were more worrying than ever thanks to mortgages, insurance premiums and the modernising of the estate. ‘I don’t really know what’s up.’ She felt that she could at least talk to Lavinia about things. ‘I feel bad. I’ve been so busy with the shop that I haven’t really asked him about it.’

  ‘Right. Egg, don’t bite Mummy, OK? You look great, Laura. Oh, I meant to ask? What’s the free book situation, by the way? Just let me know when you know.’ Lavinia bent forward and suddenly kissed Laura, ‘Well done. You’re such a clever girl, I honestly don’t know how you do it. See you later.’

  Laura was left facing the door.

  She turned back, looking herself over one more time with a sigh. Why did her dresses always crumple the moment she put them on? Why was her hair already greasy? Then she took another deep breath. You’re a real person. You’ve got a proper job working four days a week for the council, for God’s sake. This bookshop is another job. So that makes two more jobs than Lavinia or Rose have, unless you count butting in as a job, in which case, yes, they have full-time jobs—

  The door swung open again. ‘Yes?’ she almost snarled.

  ‘Hello, Laura.’ Nick stood in the doorway and her heart jumped at the sight of him. He paused at the door, looking at her, then shut it quietly. She thought with a pang how tired he looked. He was always tired these days. ‘I’m sorry I missed you this morning.’ He came towards her and took her in his arms. ‘You look gorgeous.’

  ‘I’m glad you’re here.’ She inhaled the smell of him – sweet, hay-like sweat, something spicy. ‘Everything all right?’

  ‘Sure.’ He nodded. ‘All set for today?’

  ‘Oh yes. Your sisters are both on excellent form, by the way.’

  Nick kissed her. ‘Forget about them.’ He stroked her cheek. She loved the feeling of his body against hers, his comforting, muscular solidity.

  ‘It’s jolly hard to when they stroll in
while you’re getting dressed. Can’t we get a lock for the door?’

  ‘Rose only wanted the candlesticks,’ he said into her hair.

  Laura stepped back. ‘Aha, she didn’t actually. She came in to check on me. Make sure I wasn’t wearing something stupid.’

  Nick sighed. ‘She means well.’

  ‘No she doesn’t!’

  He laughed. ‘You’re right. She means unwell. Never mind. I love you.’

  ‘I love you, too.’ She kissed him, his jaw, his nose, his lips.

  ‘Can we start season three of The Sopranos tonight?’

  ‘You bet.’ She gripped his shoulders. ‘Nick, thank you for today. For everything.’

  He looked at her, almost amazed. ‘Why? It was your idea. You got the funding, you found the place. You’ve done everything while still doing that other job back in London. You’re incredible.’

  ‘I’m not. And we don’t know if it’s going to work.’

  ‘It will work. That’s what I’ve been talking to Charles about. The estate’s changing. We need to plan for the future. Find other reasons for people to come here, and you’re a main part of that.’

  For some silly reason, Laura could feel her heart thumping in her chest. ‘Me?’

  ‘I mean the shop. Not you. I know you hate all that stuff.’ He sounded so businesslike. She was oddly shy then, and glad when he pulled her towards him again, and kissed her gently. ‘You can do anything, Laura. And this is your thing.’

  They stepped apart, still smiling stupidly at each other. She grabbed her shoes and bag and the two of them walked out together, down the winding old staircase and out onto the corridor, hung with portraits of Nick’s ancestors. Laura gazed up at a Van Dyck portrait of Lady Sybil Needham. She’d taken over the running of the estate and then moved to Paris in her old age, marrying a man thirty years her junior. Hello old girl, she thought, staring at the poised figure with the serious eyes and clever face. I’ve always rather liked the look of you.