Given and Denied

Chapter 11.

Everything fell into silence as we all turned to look at Ashcroft.

"Now then".   He said, quietly.
"Do you think that we can manage to all calm down a little bit and have a dignified drink together, without involving the rest of the bloody restaurant".
He said.

"If you'll just excuse me".  I said, without really looking up and trying to squeeze myself passed him,  "I cannot stay".

Ashcroft leaned down towards me, his face literally just inches away from my own, so close that I could feel his breath on my cheek.

"Oh,  but my dear, I actually think it would be in your very best interest that you do stay ".  He sneered.

I glanced up at him from my awkward position between the table and the booth seat and swallowed hard.

"You see, Jose as just given me a bit of juicy information. I think our Gwen here would be most interested to learn of it".  He smiled.

I frowned at him, as I slowly sat back down again. I didn't know what he meant by this but thought it best however, that I stayed put.
Ashcroft was now grinning at me as he placed two large glasses of white wine down in front of both Marcus and I.

"I suppose congratulations are in order then".  Marcus said reluctantly, as Ashcroft now slid one of the  glasses across the table towards him.

"Oh, she's told you then".  Ashcroft smiled,  "Yes, we're extremely happy about the forthcoming event, aren't we darling". 

"Extremely".  Beth confirmed, smiling broadly.

I put my head down. Not because I was jealous or sad that it was not me who was having Ashcroft's baby, far from it in fact.
I wasn't even thinking along those sort of lines at all, although it might have been misconstrued that I was.
No, the real reason for my silence and apparent sadness was for my friend Amelia. She would not have any idea about any of the goings on in here tonight.
For all she knew, Ashcroft had finished it with Beth, leaving Amelia to believe that they could now get on with their own relationship, the best that they could, living in the knowledge that Ashcroft had been unfaithful and had fathered another woman's child!
Amelia would not have any idea  that he was, in fact still seeing Beth by going to premier's and having dinners out with her.
Oh, how I detested him!
It now appears that he hadn't even tried to finish it at all with Beth. He was still very much in her company and she was under no illusions whatsoever that he was being true only to her.
Although....... She had suspected me of secretly meeting him here tonight, so perhaps she didn't trust him as much as she was making out that she did!
And with very good reason.
If I was with Ashcroft Jennings, I would not trust him either!!

"When is the baby due then?".   Marcus suddenly asked Beth and therefore shaking me awake from my own thoughts.

"Oh, Not until the Autumn".   Smiled Beth, looking down at her neat, little bump. "So we've got loads of time to buy stuff, plan things  and get everything sorted before then".

My stomach twisted.
Were they seriously suggesting that they were going to make a life together?
What about poor Amelia?
Didn't she have a say in any of this?
Didn't she have a right to know what was going on in her absence and what their plans were?
I felt really sick and had heard enough.

"Look".   I said, swallowing hard,  "I really do have to go". 

And I started to get to my feet once again.

"But you haven't heard what it is that Jose told me yet!".   Ashcroft protested. 
"It really is........... Very enlightening". 

"Yes, come on Gwen, don't be so rude. At least drink the wine Ashcroft got for you". Marcus said, looking over his own glass at me.
"It's the least you can jolly well do!".