style="font-size:15px;"> “And where are you off to?” Hilary fixed Genevieve with big questioning eyes.
Genevieve felt most unwilling to confide in this moody girl but what excuse could she offer? “I wanted to see Blaine for a moment,” she explained as casually as she could. “The receptionist said he was in.”
“Actually he didn’t go out.” Hilary reached out confidentially for Genevieve’s arm and drew her away. “He and Sally are making a night of it. They had dinner together in the hotel. He’s with her now, if you know what I mean?” Hilary rolled her brown eyes expressively. “I’d leave whatever you wanted to ask him to the morning if I were you. You wouldn’t want to embarrass them.” She smiled her kitten smile.
God no! Genevieve felt pierced by an arrow, at that moment ready to flee.
“What is it, anyway? Maybe I can help you?” Hilary’s voice had grown unabashedly affectionate as Genevieve’s desperation slipped out.
“I don’t think so, Hills.”
“Try me.” Hilary guided Genevieve to a couple of chairs. “You know you really will have to get over running to Blaine for help,” she warned gently, unsuccessfully trying to keep her jealousy opaque. “This time tomorrow night you’ll be a married woman.” Hilary couldn’t help herself. She smiled in broad triumph. “You’ll be entering a new life. Your name will be Genevieve Garrett not Courtland. Isn’t that thrilling?”
Quietly, Genevieve removed the other girl’s small hand from her arm. She had never felt less thrilled in her life. “You’ve never liked me, have you, Hilary?” she said levelly, putting years of pretence to one side. “On this night of nights, please tell me. What have I ever done to you?”
Hilary burst into a cascade of tinkling laughter. “Oh, my, Genni, surely you know having you around changed my entire life. For the worse.”
“In what way? Why on earth have you been afraid of me? I would never want to hurt you. We could have been friends. Good friends. We’re cousins. We could have forged an unbreakable bond. But you would never let me get close.”
“Why on earth would I when you had perfected the art of getting between me and my brother.” Hilary’s pretty face was set into unpleasant lines.
“You’re talking nonsense, Hilary.” Genevieve was feeling sicker by the moment. “It’s so unfair. To me. To Blaine. He loves you.”
“No, he doesn’t. Not really. I don’t touch his heart. What heart he has he reserved for you. The fatherless child.” Hilary gave in to the huge temptation to say her piece. “Hell, you seduced him when you were a kid. You even robbed me of my father’s love.” A little sob rose to her throat. “When Dad was alive you used to twist him around your little finger. He hardly noticed me. I was the changeling in the Courtland fold.”
Genevieve felt she might burst out crying, too.
“Hilary how did you let all this bitterness grow in your heart? It’s not true. Not any of it. How long have you felt like this?”
“Since forever.”
“Poor Hilary! You’re breaking my heart,” Genevieve said and meant it.
“I don’t think so.”
“Absolutely,” Genevieve replied, feeling like she was mortally wounded.
“That’s why I’m glad your getting married.” Hilary smiled almost genially. “I knew one day you’d be out of our lives.”
“That’s no way to talk.” Genevieve rose to her feet in protest. “How can you feel like this, say such things to my face, and still come to my wedding?”
“Why?” Hilary looked up at Genevieve, brilliant malice in her eyes.
“Because dear, sweet, beautiful, Genevieve, it’s the day my brother will give you away forever.”
Hilary was still sitting there feeling slightly shaky, but thrilled to have dispensed with the fleeing Genevieve, when Blaine suddenly materialised beside her, almost making her jump out of her skin.
“Isn’t that Genni?” he demanded in the kind of voice that demanded a straight answer.
It took a tremendous effort for Hilary to pull herself together. How could she deny it? That white-gold rope of hair, the model figure, the grace of movement. “Yes, she just popped in to say hello.” She tried a blithe smile, thinking fast.
“Damned odd.” Blaine looked like he was about to take after her, such a restless radiance about him.
“Not really.” Hilary rose, grasping her stepbrother’s arm. “She and her bridesmaids were having a girl’s night out. That was Genni’s BMW parked out the front. Not supposed to do it, of course, but trust Genni to pull it off. A pity. You just missed her.”
“And how was she?” Blaine bent his light lancing glance on his stepsister.
“Oh, lovely! Deliriously happy.” Hilary turned an innocent face to him. “I’ve never seen a girl so much in love.”
“The little fool!” Blaine’s hard, handsome mouth tightened. “He’ll never make her happy.”
“But he will, Blaine,” Hilary insisted, hugging her brother’s arm. “She’s the love of his life!”
And we’re finally free of her.
“Don’t,” Blaine warned, his voice so strange Hilary stared at him vaguely terrified.
“Where’s Sally?” she asked in an effort to divert him.
“She went home an hour ago.” Blaine was still frowning, looking more formidable by the minute. “Surely you knew? We went right past you and your friend.”
“I must have missed you,” Hilary lied. “Sally’s a darling. Mum and I are delighted she’s the woman in your life.”
“Don’t be so dim-witted,” Blaine responded impatiently, his eyes silver chips in his arresting dark face. “Your mother thinks no such thing. As for you? A bit of wishful thinking. Are you sure that’s all Genni wanted?” he insisted. “To say hello?”
“What else?” Hilary wanted to turn and bolt, instead she lightly punched his shoulder. “She’s on top of the world. I am family.”
“So why did you turn down the role of bridesmaid?” Blaine challenged, giving her that lancing look that always made her feel so exposed.
She tried to make a joke of it. “You know. Genni’s so tall. So are her friends. I didn’t want to be the little pipsqueak in the middle. Genni understood. Come and join us for a minute.” Hilary had a powerful nervous urge to draw her stepbrother away.
“No thanks.” Blaine glanced down at her. “I want to leave a message at the desk. Goodnight, Hills. Sweet dreams.”
She stood on tiptoe to kiss his lean cheek. “You, too, brother mine. It’s going to be a wonderful day tomorrow. Like Genni, I can’t wait.”
