‘Don’t I at least get invited in for a few minutes? I’ve come all the way from Exeter in this awful weather. I’ve been on my feet all day, shivering and dressed in next to nothing while being forced into every conceivable pose by an incredibly arrogant photographer who thinks he’s the next Nick Knight.’
‘Nick who?’
Victoria rolled her eyes. ‘You’re such a philistine. He’s the iconic fashion photographer every model would give his or her soul to work with. Of course he’s done me many times.’ She shuddered. ‘Are you going to keep me standing here all night?’
‘I suppose you’d better come up to the flat.’
* * *
At the top of the stairs, Gage flung the door open and shouted to Tamara, ‘We’ve got a guest.’
She drifted out from the kitchen in the middle of drying her hands on a towel. ‘Oh, who—’
‘So you’re his little girlfriend. I should have guessed.’ Victoria looked smug. ‘I hope I’m not interrupting your evening, but I absolutely have to talk to GG.’
‘I’d prefer it if you stopped calling me by that idiotic name.’ Gage gritted his teeth. In the beginning she’d used it as an affectionate nickname, but when their marriage had started unravelling and she’d realised the name irked him, Victoria had wielded it as a petty act of revenge.
Tamara plastered on a bright smile. ‘Would you like a cup of tea, Victoria? We were just about to have one. I’ve got somefreshly baked mince pies as well. With Cornish clotted cream of course. Now it’s December we have free licence to eat them every day, not that Gage indulges so I have his share too.’
‘Oh, gosh, not for me, but thank you.’ His ex shuddered. ‘I rarely touch carbs because they show up dreadfully on camera.’ A tiny frown marred her smooth brow.
Botox, had to be.
‘The younger models can get away with it, but when you reach your thirties, things change.’
‘Thirties?’ Gage spluttered. ‘You’re—’
‘That must be so hard. You have amazing discipline and self-control,’ Tamara interrupted.
Now he felt guilty as relief skittered across Victoria’s face.
A lot of people, and women in particular, were sensitive about their age. Who could blame them if it threatened their livelihoods? Men in the public eye tended to get a lot more latitude when it came to showing grey hair and a few extra kilos. Women were frequently sidelined in favour of younger replacements. He should’ve thought before he spoke.
‘I don’t know why I was surprised when Taff told me you’d opened this place. At least you’re getting paid for sticking your nose in a book now, so that’s something.’
Victoria’s pointed remark almost made him blow up at her again, but Tamara caught his eye and gave a tiny shake of her head. She was right. He had no need to be petty and vindictive.
Gage surprised himself by talking about Becky and his newly rediscovered family.
‘My eldest niece, Emily, is working in the shop on Saturdays. She’s a great character and not at all shy. Ems absolutely loves books too, although she despairs of what she calls my dull taste in reading. She just turned eighteen and gets mad when her parents still treat her like a child, at least from her point of view.’
‘She’s lucky her parents care so much,’ Victoria said. ‘Mine were always very distant and packed me off to boarding school as soon as they could.’
‘Your grandmother was different, though. A really lovely lady.’ His gaze clouded over. ‘I always found it amazing that she liked me and was supportive of us.’ The corners of his mouth dragged down. ‘I wish I’d kept in touch with her. How is she?’
‘Grandmama is actually the reason why I’m here.’ Victoria dabbed her eyes with a white lace handkerchief and he noticed her hand shaking.
Gage felt his colour drain away. ‘She’s not—’
‘Dead? No. I’d hardly make a big deal of seeing you in that case, would I?’
‘I suppose not. So why then?’
‘It’s a bit awkward, but I need a huge favour.’
Here we go.
‘I expect she took our divorce hard?’
