June 12th 2016

Here's today's update. Enjoy. Let me know what you think about Daniel's attitude towards Veronica.

Sarah, xx

~*~*~

"You've got my engagement ring already?"

"Hello, Sophie. It's lovely to talk to you, too."

"Don't get smart with me! You've got the ring?"

"I do."

"And?"

"And what?"

"What's it like?"

"It's a ring."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Are you deliberately being unhelpful?"

"Yes. Until I present you with the ring, you're not going to find out anything about it."

"But, that's so not fair!"

"I never said it was fair."

"Daniel, c'mon! Tell me!"

"Um, how about... no?"

"Don't be mean."

"Ok, think of it like this. I tell you every little detail about the ring and then when I propose, it's a little less special. Or, I don't tell you anything about the ring and when I get down on one knee, you'll be wowed. Your choice."

"Well, when you put it like that... Tell me now!"

"No."

"Fine. But,  just so you know, when you ask me to marry you, I might say 'no.'"

"You can't say 'no.'"

"Why not?"

"Because you've already proposed to me and I said yes. And I won't technically be asking you to marry me, in any case. I'm just putting a ring on your finger."

"Don't try to use logic and reasoning with me. Can you at least send me a photo of the ring?"

"No."

"Danny..."

"What did you just call me? You never called me Danny before."

"I do. Sometimes."

"But not when it's just 'Danny' on its own."

"You're trying to distract me. Stop trying to distract me!"

"Want to hear about my showdown with Veronica?"

"... Tempting."

"Is that a 'yes'?"

"Yes. What has she done now?"

"She's demanding this, that and the other. She wants half the marital home, all the jewels that she's worn over the years and she wants a hefty payday."

"Why do you sound almost happy with her demands?"

"Because there's not a chance in hell that she's getting even close to half what she's demanding. The house belongs to the Dukedom. The jewels belong to the Dukedom. The only thing she can demand is half of Laurence's personal wealth, which he squandered on booze and blondes. So, if she wants half of a hundred and eighty-six thousand, nine hundred and forty-three pounds, sixty-eight pence, then I will gladly sign her a cheque this second."

"What about the house in Ibiza?"

"Laurence couldn't afford it with his personal bank account, so he used the income from the Dukedom to pay for it. So, that's technically mine, too."

"How did Veronica take the news?"

"She doesn't know yet. See, that's the other thing. There's a massive question mark over the legality of their marriage."

"Seriously?"

"They married abroad- in Bali, I believe- but unless they filed the correct paperwork in this country, it may be invalid."

"What would that mean for you and Samuel?"

"Ah, that's the next thing. You know how my parents had a penchant for having affairs?"

"Yeah?"

"Turns out, Laurence was never sure if Samuel and I were his children, so he had a DNA test done on both of us."

"I take it that your both his children."

"We are. Which will come in very handy for proving legitimacy, should it come to that."

"This is all shades of fucked up, Daniel."

"You're telling me. Still, not even a soap opera writer could pen this better."

"Haha, true. What's Connie's take on all this?"

"She doesn't know yet. The only ones that do know are me, you, Evelyn and a lawyer friend of mine, Julius Halstead-Flack."

"... I'm sorry, his name is what?"

"Julius Halstead-Flack. Yes, I know, pretentious name, but he's the best. He and his investigative team-"

"Investigative team?"

"Forensic accountant and private investigators. They're all doing a superb job."

"So, they're good, are they?"

"The best."

"Do you think... maybe... could they do a search on my past once they've dug around in your family's history?"

"You want a private investigative team to do a background check on you?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because if they don't, someone else will. Once people find out that we're engaged, there's going to be tons of stories on us, Daniel. I can imagine the headlines now- they'll call me a gold-digger; say that I took advantage of you after your loss; I'm only interested in your title. They'll find things out about me- my past relationships; the fact I had an affair with a married, family man; that I was once pregnant when I wasn't married. Everything that makes me an unsuitable wife for someone like you, Daniel, they'll find out. I... I need for you to know what type of baggage I come with."

"You know I don't care about your baggage, Soph."

"Please, just ask them. Send the bill to Phillip Grey."

"Sophie-"

"Just do it."

"No."

"Daniel-"

"I'm not doing it!"

"Ok."

"Don't be pissed at me for it, Soph. I don't care what everyone else says, I'm marrying you regardless. We all have a past;if you can accept me for mine, I can accept you for yours. All that matters is what's ahead of us, not what's behind us. Do you understand?"

"Understood."

"Good."

"..."

"I have to go, Soph. We're trying to decide on what flowers to have at the funeral, and then we've got to tackle the menu for the dinner after."

"Dinner?"

"Don't ask. Remind me tomorrow night to fill you in on what's going on next weekend, ok?"

"Ok?"

"All you need to know is that this funeral will not be like any other funeral you've ever been to, or will go to."

"Um... ok."

"Don't worry. Nothing sinister will happen, but... it'll be... different."

"Can't wait."

"Now, now, Sophie Clément. There's no need for sarcasm. Save all your sarcastic energy for when you meet Veronica."

"Done. Right, off you go to sort out the flowers. What's the options, by the way?"

"Lillies or carnations."

"Hm... neither."

"Veronica is pushing for Lillies, so everyone else is going for Carnations because she hates them."

"So, Carnations?"

"Yep."

"Basically, everything Veronica demands she wants, you're all doing the opposite."

"Well... not always. Laurence happened to like Carnations. I think he only ever liked them because she hated them, but, you know..."

"You're unbelievable."

"Don't pass judgement until you've met the witch, with a capital B."

"You could just say 'bitch,' you know?"

"I could have, but where's the fun in that. Anyway, must do, babe. I don't want to miss the look on Veronica's face when she doesn't get her own way!"

"Yeah, ok, off you go, then. Make sure you take a photo, ok?"

"I shall."

"Love you, baboon."

"Love you, too, 'gator."