Read Chapter 2: — THE ARRANGEMENT

Gavin Price’s family owned the quarry outside town, a hotel, three rental properties, a supermarket franchise and enough land to make people lower their voices when discussing planning applications.

His mother chaired a charity committee.

His uncle sat on the county council.

His godfather had recently retired from the police.

Everybody in the valley knew somebody who owed the Prices something.

Emma’s mother called that “being connected.”

Emma’s father called it “people buying themselves a village.”

Gavin smiled at Emma as if the disagreement were irrelevant.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I’ve heard nothing about you.”

That amused him.

The next day’s lunch had already been booked at the best restaurant in town.

“No pressure,” her mother insisted.

There was, of course, pressure everywhere.

Her younger brother Noah had transferred into a better secondary school after Gavin’s family made calls to the governors. Aunt Beth’s piggery had received an emergency business extension from a community lender after the Prices vouched for her. Peter had been promised subcontracting work at a new hotel development.

Emma listened until she understood the architecture.

They had not arranged a date.

They had assembled a debt.

At lunch Gavin ordered champagne without asking.

He told her he could get her a job nearer home, help Noah into a top sixth form, find her parents a newer house, buy her a car.

“You wouldn’t need to worry about money again.”

Emma put down her glass.

“I don’t worry about money enough to marry it.”

Peter kicked her ankle under the table.

Gavin laughed, but his eyes did not.

The lunch deteriorated.

He drank.

He insulted a parish councillor at another table.

He boasted about knowing which bank managers could be “helpful” and which planning officers understood “how things worked.”

Finally, in front of half the restaurant, he offered Emma a house, a car and a cash gift if she would “give him a proper chance.”

She stood.

“No.”

The room quietened.

Gavin’s smile vanished.

“You’ll regret embarrassing me.”

Emma looked at him.

“No. You’ll regret assuming I can be bought.”