Dory's Avengers (41 page)

‘Put like that, Chloe love, of course not. However, what if we gave him a reason to take Theo out of that house? Even better, a reason to bring Theo to Applethwaite?'

Everyone's attention was on Brains now.

‘Do you have something in mind, Brains?' asked Chris, voicing what they were all thinking.

‘Er, yes as a matter of fact…'

‘Thought he might,' Chloe interrupted, laughing. ‘Dad usually has an idea!'

‘Yeah, I have an idea; and actually, Chris, it rather involves you. You and Georgie are planning to get married, aren't you? Why not make it sooner rather than later?'

‘What on Earth has us getting married got to do with…'

‘I think I know,' Georgie said suddenly, her eyes shining as she realised what Brains was getting at. ‘Weddings have guests, don't they? It would be only right to invite the groom's nephew, for example…'

‘Yes, Uncle Chris,' yelled Abi, leaping up from Louis's side in excitement. ‘Yes! Yes! Yes! It's about time you two tied the knot! Invite Theo and…'

‘Hold on, all of you,' said Louis. ‘You're forgetting that His Lordshit doesn't let Theo out for
anything
. Don't you think Theo would have been here today otherwise? You can invite him all you want, but I don't think there's any way His Lordshit will let him come…'

‘Well, we invite the whole family of course,' said Georgie. ‘I didn't think for one moment His Lordshit would let Theo come alone, or even just Theo and Marina. It'll mean putting up with His Lordshit for a day, but it'll be worth it to get Theo…'

‘What you'll get is just His Lordshit, if you get anyone at all,' said Louis. ‘It's a great idea in principle, but just remember who we're talking about. It's going to take more than a wedding invite to get Theo out of there…'

‘What if someone were to be on hand to persuade His Lordshit that it's a good idea?' asked Chloe.

‘Who?' asked Cameron, briefly breaking off from nuzzling Chloe's neck. ‘Lysander?'

‘I don't think that'll work,' said Lysander. ‘I'm not exactly flavour of the month with His Lordshit.'

‘No, I wasn't thinking of you, Lysander,' replied Chloe. ‘I was thinking we use the girlfriend…'

‘What girlfriend?' asked Matilda, sharply.

‘Theo's girlfriend. Sorry, Matty, didn't you know?'

‘You mean Catherine Lorimer?' said Lysander. ‘How did you find out about her, Chloe?'

‘She found us, actually,' replied Chloe. ‘Two or three days after Christmas. She'd made contact with an Unsponsored family she knows; her father's head of Europe Logistics UK…'

‘Sponsored?'

‘No, that's the beauty of it,' said Lysander. ‘It's a European firm so the UK branch doesn't have to accept endorsement. Also His Lordshit's anxious to keep Philip Lorimer onside, especially with the Games coming up, so if anyone has influence on His Lordshit…'

‘You're leaping ahead, and I think you've lost a few people,' said Chloe to Lysander, reaching out to pat his arm gently before continuing. ‘Catherine's free from Sponsorship, as is her father. She's free to move with the Unsponsored and that's just what she did. Her friends brought her to us. My God, she's shy; it must have taken a lot for her to pluck up the courage to come and talk to us…'

‘She's crazy for Theo. She'd do anything for him…'

‘Lysander! Shall I go on?'

‘Yes, Chloe, sorry.'

‘Catherine told us that Theo had explained his whole horrible life to her the previous day. She said her father was deeply suspicious of His Lordshit, and also of the fact that Theo's never allowed out of the house. Philip had apparently guessed, correctly, that His Lordshit had put Theo up to starting a relationship with Catherine so that Philip would have to spend a lot of time in His Lordshit's lair…'

‘So he doesn't really fancy her, then?' asked Matilda hopefully.

‘Sorry, Matty, but I think he does,' said Lysander, and Louis added, ‘If Theo's seeing this Catherine, he must like
her. There's no way he'd ever do anything to help out the SponsorSHIT Scheme!'

‘You've always got me, Matty,' said Max, patting Matilda's bottom and earning himself a slapped face.

‘We're kind of moving away from the point here, guys,' said Brains, noticing how anxious his daughter was to carry on speaking.

‘Thanks, Dad,' said Chloe as everyone settled down. ‘Catherine went to talk to Theo, gave him a chance to put his side of the story across. Theo was completely honest with her. He even showed her the scars on his back; she said they're awful…' Chloe bared her teeth before continuing.

‘She also said he told her all about Dory's Avengers; and showed her a letter you'd sent just before Christmas, Louis?'

‘Yes, that's right. We wanted him to know that he's got a lot of friends among the Unsponsored, and that we'd get him out of that prison one day.'

‘She read the letter?' asked Matilda, perking up again.

‘Yes,' said Chloe, laughing. ‘She did mention your name, Matty. I gather you outlined rather explicitly what you'd like to do with Theo…'

‘Oh yeah, baby!' said Matilda, laughing as she danced round the pole she'd talked Dex into having fitted in the pub.

‘I think you're too late, Matty, sorry. The point I'm getting to is this: Catherine will do anything to get Theo away from His Lordshit. How about we use that?'

‘How?'

‘Simple. Chris and Georgie – you choose a date for the wedding sometime soon. If you don't mind, that is?'

‘We don't mind at all. It's about time Chris made an honest woman of me,' said Georgie, smiling at her fiancé.

‘Two – we get the invites sent out, including one to His Lordshit. Three – I liaise with Catherine and her father,
find a way to persuade His Lordshit that it's a good idea to attend the wedding…'

‘We could invite the Lorimers,' said Georgie.

‘We don't know them…' began Chris, but Georgie interrupted.

‘His Lordshit doesn't need to know that, does he? We can say what's his name, Philip? Philip always stops off here when he visits that haulage place in Carlisle. We could say he had a happy holiday here once, anything!'

‘Brilliant, Georgie!' said Chloe. ‘The Lorimers get their invite, and it's the most natural thing in the world for them to bring the subject up with His Lordshit. Catherine can get all excited about going, and as she's Theo's girlfriend of course she'll want Theo to go too. His Lordshit wants to keep in Philip's good books…you know I really think this could work. What do you think Louis?'

Louis was silent for a little while as he thought over the conversation, then suddenly he smiled his first proper smile since his awful discovery just before New Year.

‘I really think this could work too. Chloe, you're a genius!'

Part Three

An Unsponsored Wedding

Chapter Sixteen

Life carried on in Applethwaite after Nicola's funeral, and as the winter slowly gave way to spring it began to take on some sense of normality. Happy that Nicola's death had sent a stark message to the Applethwaite Unsponsored which had been received and understood, Lord William contented himself with just leaving two security guards in the village. The Unsponsored soon learned to ignore these guards completely and get on with their lives. Louis's training went from strength to strength; following the death of his mother he was more determined than ever to compete for gold at the Games. Lysander hadn't been persuaded by Lord William to return to London; he did, however, continue to head Leisure and Fitness from the sanctuary of Applethwaite. His Lordship had been right in his conjecture that he wouldn't find anyone better than Lysander at the job, but neither he nor Louis was happy with the situation.

‘Why do you insist on staying in that bloody village?' grumbled Lord William as, yet again, he had to make do with Lysander only being present via computer at his inner circle meeting.

Louis's grumbles were completely different.

‘I thought you'd quit, Dad. I thought you'd put Sponsorshit oppression behind you.'

‘Bear with me, Louis!' was all Lysander would say on the subject.

Plans for Chris and Georgia's wedding were well underway by the time the first thaw of spring arrived. The wedding was planned for the second weekend in May, giving Applethwaite Unsponsored FC time to complete their season's fixtures. There was a little difficulty in getting a licence to marry, Georgie being one of the defiant Unsponsored, but Lysander managed to use his continuing influence with the Sponsored to resolve the situation, and from then on preparations ran smoothly. The reception was to be held in The White Lion, unsurprisingly, and Alan had been put in charge of the catering as both Georgie and Dex would be rather occupied on the big day. As their father had sadly passed away the previous year, Dex was going to be giving Georgie away. Abi, Matilda and Jenny were lined up as bridesmaids. As for the best man, Louis arrived one morning for training to find Gideon ecstatically happy at having been asked by Chris to fulfil that role.

‘I'm so honoured!' Gideon repeated over and over again to Louis, who was as delighted as his mentor.

‘That's brilliant, Gideon. Best choice Chris could have made.'

‘I know that had Elliot been alive I wouldn't have got a look-in…'

‘Which makes you the perfect choice, doesn't it? Who was Elliot's dearest friend, after all?'

‘Thank you, Louis; you say some lovely things. Let's celebrate with one of those amazing gymnastic displays for which you're so renowned!'

Chris and Georgie sent the invites out at the beginning of March, the Unsponsored network having got word to Catherine and her father that they were imminent via Chloe. Philip and Simone Lorimer had been put in the picture concerning Theo's miserable existence as soon as they'd picked Catherine up from the St Benedict residence just after Christmas. Never one to keep anything from her
beloved parents, Catherine told them every detail; and by the time the Lorimers were approached with the wedding invitation idea they were fully in favour of trying to get the badly treated young man away from his cruel father.

‘The man can't call himself a father,' said Philip to his wife, both knowing that they would die before they hurt Catherine.

Theo and Marina also knew of the plan thanks to Catherine, and it was with growing anticipation that they waited for the post to arrive each day. Around the time that the invites were expected, Philip contrived to be at the St Benedict residence on a daily basis, using discussions about the forthcoming Games as an excuse. Catherine always came along too; she was so obviously in love with Theo it wasn't in question that she'd want to spend time with him whenever the opportunity arose. Philip was already in possession of his family's invite when the eagerly awaited letter arrived at the St Benedict residence. Calling round shortly after breakfast, Philip was gratified to see the post still unopened at Lord William's side. Greeting Philip and Catherine, Lord William offered Philip coffee in the drawing room before they talked business.

‘Coffee would be lovely, thank you, Lord William,' said Philip, adding ‘Perfect' silently as His Lordship began to open his post. Catherine and Theo sat down with Marina on the beanbags, all desperately trying to look as if they were watching television while Lord William opened the crucial envelope.

‘Well, well!' said His Lordship, genuinely surprised. ‘Well I never. Christopher Farrell's getting married.'

‘Oh,' said Philip, apparently surprised. ‘Do you know Chris and Georgie then?'

‘Christopher is…my wife's brother.'

‘Goodness me, of course! I should have realised!' Philip was playing a blinder, looking for all the world as though he
was just piecing together Lord William's connection to Chris Farrell in his mind. ‘I've known Chris and Georgie for a while; I stop at that lovely inn whenever I've got business in Carlisle. Our invite arrived just this morning; we could all travel together. Cathie can't wait, can you, dear?'

‘It's so exciting, Your Lordship. I love weddings,' said Catherine, eyes shining, playing her part expertly too. ‘I told you Theo would be coming too, didn't I, Daddy? I told Daddy that Chris is your uncle, Theo…'

‘Not so fast, young lady,' said Lord William, still sounding amiable enough. ‘Theodore's got his little nervous problem, haven't you, son? It's a big step for him.'

‘Theo, I'll be with you every step of the way, I promise! Oh please, darling, it'll be such fun…'

‘I don't want to let you down, Cathie darling. Maybe just this once…'

‘Theodore!' Lord William cut in, his voice sharpening a little. ‘I'm really not sure it would be a good idea. Perhaps I should go, maybe with Rosanna…'

‘What about me, Father?' asked Marina. ‘I'd like to go too.'

‘Surely Lord Theodore would be all right, just this once,' said Philip to Lord William. ‘He'll have all his family round him, and Catherine. My daughter's such a calming influence…'

‘Wait, wait, the lot of you. I haven't said
anyone
's going yet…'

‘Going where?' asked Rosanna, choosing that moment to walk in the room. When Lord William showed her the invite, she immediately made her feelings clear on the subject.

‘I'm not going to that bloody backwater to attend some poxy little wedding.' Cursing his older sister inwardly, Theo made an admirable attempt to stay calm on the outside.

‘It's not always about what
you
want, Rosanna. Your
Lordship, I'd like to go. Just for Cathie's sake; I'm sure with her support…'

‘Will you all stop clamouring and let me think!' shouted Lord William. ‘Rosanna; if I say you're going, then you go. Theodore, if I think you'd be better off staying here, then you stay. I'm not sure…'

‘Your Lordship,' said Philip, his voice calm even though his stomach was churning. ‘It's just a suggestion, but wouldn't this be a fine opportunity to get some positive publicity for the Scheme?'