Page 55 of Not Exactly Mr. Darcy
“You won’t have to. They can talk to me. Or Gran. Or Tobias. And if we don’t talk to them, they’re going to report on the Hall reopening anyway, whether you like it or not. So we might as well make the most of it. This way we get to tell our side of the story.”
“No.” He rose. Stabbed a finger at her. “I don’t want the media on the premises.”
And he turned and strode out of the room.
Chapter 12
Well, that had been unexpected. Liv sank back against her seat and glanced at the faces of those who remained. None of them seemed to wear the shock she felt at witnessing Liam’s overreaction. “Can someone please explain what that was about?”
Nobody spoke.
She sighed. “I don’t understand why he thinks people would want to talk to him.”
“Because they will want to talk to him,” Gran murmured, then looked at George. “Will you tell her, or will I?”
George’s mobile features twisted. “You can.”
Her heart thudded. What was so mysterious?
“Olivia, there’s something we didn’t want to tell you that you should probably know. Liam is pretty sensitive about reporters because for a long time he’s been … I don’t know, ishoundedtoo strong a word?” Gran glanced at Tobias.
He nodded. “Hounded works.”
“He’s been hounded by certain members of the press who have made his life very difficult at times.”
Was he some kind of secret celebrity she didn’t know about? Maybe she should do another Google search on him.
George sighed. “His wife died in a car accident ten years ago.”
Her heart skidded. “His wife?” He’d been married?
“She was pregnant.”
Breath snagged. Oh, the poor man. “How awful.”
“Yes, but that’s not the worst of it. See, Trinny was running away to be with another man.”
Liv covered her mouth, her heart wrenching with compassion. No wonder he was surly and grumpy. “Oh, poor Liam.”
“Exactly. Then a few years ago, he thought he found love with someone else. Then Toni left him standing at the altar. Literally.”
“Oh no. Howterriblefor him.”
George nodded. “So some people have had a lot of fun making fun at his expense, which is why he’s pretty sensitive about reporters and interviews.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Now you do.”
“Ineverwould’ve agreed to the newspaper article if I’d known.” Those papers that fed on gossip and innuendo. Why would they feast on someone’s pain? “I should cancel—”
“No, don’t do that. You’re right,” George continued. “If we’re reopening the Hall, then we need to expect media attention. We probably should want media attention because that helps get the word out, right?”
Liv nodded slowly. “I just wish I’d known.”
The trio glanced between them. Then Gran said, “We probably should’ve said something. Or we figured you would know something by now. So, we’re sorry.”
“I hope it will be okay.”Please Lord, let it be okay.“I’m sure we can work out how to do this without putting the spotlight on him at all.”
