Читать книгу Christmas Weddings - Georgia Hill - Страница 13

‘Jed has always had, shall we say, a difficult relationship with our mother. I seemed to fulfil her expectations as a son. Did what I was told, did well at school, university, went into a career of which she approved. Jed, on the other hand, was rebellious, even as a baby. Fought her on everything and anything.’

‘I can well believe it.’

Alex gave Millie an old-fashioned look and pushed up his glasses. ‘I’m not sure mother knew how to handle him after sailing though motherhood with me. But, even though Jed can be rebellious and doesn’t take orders very well, underneath it all what he most likes to do, especially for those he loves, is please them. Make them happy. The more pressure mother put on him to settle down to something, the more frustrated he became that he couldn’t find a career that both he and mother wanted. And I’m afraid, when Jed is in that position, he simply clams up. Keeps his secrets very secret.’ Alex leaned back and pursed his lips. ‘We all thought he’d settled to his management consultancy, he was certainly very good at it and then he met you and went in another direction altogether.’

Millie was silent for a moment, digesting this new information. It made a mad kind of sense. Whenever Jed had done something he thought she disapproved of, he’d simply avoided telling her.

‘It still doesn’t explain why he felt he needed to work for my biggest rival.’

‘No,’ Alex agreed. ‘It certainly doesn’t explain that.’ He stood up. ‘I’m sorry I can’t shed any light on that, my dear. But there must be a good reason. Jed doesn’t do anything to hurt people in such a blatant way. It’s simply not in him. He’s a loving man.’ Alex coughed again, embarrassed at all this talk of emotional matters. ‘And I think he loves you very much.’

Millie stood too. ‘He’s got a funny way of showing it.’

Alex’s eyes twinkled. ‘That, I can’t argue with.’

Eleri came to collect their empties. ‘Was everything alright?’

‘It was delicious,’ Alex said. ‘Especially the marshmallow flower things.’ He reached into his pocket. ‘I nearly forget to pay. That wouldn’t do at all, would it?’

Millie stayed his arm. ‘On the house. I appreciate you coming and trying to put things right.’

‘Just trying to help.’ He shrugged back into his coat and wound his scarf around his neck. He reminded Millie of a well-meaning giraffe.

‘Good morning, ladies,’ he said and went.

Eleri picked up their mugs. ‘What a lovely man,’ she said. ‘Such a kind face.’

‘He was very taken with you.’

‘Was he?’ She concentrated on clearing the table, but Millie detected a quickening of interest.

‘Absolutely. Wound up tighter than that cashmere scarf he was wearing, though.’

‘Yes, I got that impression too.’ Eleri laughed. ‘I’ll just have to try and do something about that then, won’t I, cariad?’ Then she rolled her eyes as Biddy shouted another demand from behind them.