‘Ah. I am sorry never to have met her.’
‘Yes,’ put in Toby. ‘Shared history is so special. We were laughing remembering it, weren’t we, Lettie?’
‘New memories are also special,’ said Léo. ‘And Juliet and I are happy to be making many of those. I don’t think that she wants to rehash the past too much.’
Juliet was suddenly aware that both men were bristling with irritation, and she felt annoyed. Today was meant to be about her mother, but was Léo playing some macho game, coming over and announcing what she wanted, with no reference to her at all? At least Toby had been talking about Lilith, even if she knew better than to trust his motivation.
‘Well, actually,’ said Toby, looking at Juliet, ‘it’s the future I would like to talk to you about. I have a friend who owns a flat in Cadogan Square. He’s moving to Dubai for a couple of years and wants someone to live in the place. He’s keen to get someone reliable, so for a friend of a friend it would be bills only, no rent. I thought immediately of you, Lettie. I can’t imagine that you’d want to stay here with all the opportunities opening up to you in London. Why, it was only last week that the editor ofRoundUpwas asking after you. When I told her you’d moved here, she wasn’t so interested as she needs someone in London,who is right on the scene of the news and gossip. But if you were thinking of moving back, I’m sure she’d love to meet you.’
‘Petra Sharpe is interested in me?’ she gasped.
‘Very.’
‘Who is she?’ asked Léo.
‘She’s the editor ofRoundUp– it’s an online news magazine that moves constantly and has a reputation for being first with major stories and scandals involving politicians – personal and professional. Heaven knows who their sources are, but it’s such an exciting site. I can hardly believe she’s even heard of me, let alone that she’s interested in me working for her.’
‘Well, you should believe it, Lettie. You’re in the perfect position to drive your career forward: independent, childfree, talented and smart. Don’t waste away here at Feywood.’
‘I-I don’t know,’ she stuttered. ‘It sounds amazing, but obviously I am happy here…’
She trailed off and looked at Léo, whose face was uncharacteristically blank.Wasshe happy here? She had thought she was with Léo, her photography and painting, her owl-shaped bread, her little dog. But the opportunity that Toby was dangling in front of her, if it was real, couldn’t be ignored. The chance to live in London again and to work for such a fresh and exciting company was dizzying. Things with Léo had felt rocky in the past few weeks, and hadn’t she sworn to herself that she wouldn’t let her decisions revolve around a man again? Her gaze returned to Toby, who looked extremely pleased with himself. She recognised that look and it gave her a chill, reminding her of the many times he had ‘sorted things out’ for her and she had been swept along, only to find that his promises were castles in the air and had been designed to keep her exactly where he wanted her: under his thumb. Neither man spoke, and before she could, the tinkle of a knife against a glass cut across the garden.
‘Lunch is served!’ boomed Rousseau, his voice carrying effortlessly through the throng of people.
Relief flooded Juliet.
‘Let’s go and eat,’ she said. ‘I can’t wait to see what you’ve made, Léo.’
The lunch, though informal, was delicious, and Juliet was glad when she remembered that she was expected to sit at a sort of top table, comprised only of family members. Up until now she had been dreading this arrangement, wishing she would have Léo’s comforting presence beside her through the lunch and speeches, but now she was glad that her father had insisted on it being only himself, Sylvia, the three girls and Lilith’s brother, their Uncle George. It gave her an opportunity to think about what had been said, without either Toby or Léo giving their own opinions on the matter. She half listened to the speeches, only three and mercifully short, as her mind roamed across the years, from the hilarious cocktail evening to her previous life in London to how things were now. She mulled over the concepts of happiness, contentment, fulfilment, but had come no closer to any clarity when Rousseau announced:
‘And now, please raise your glasses to Lilith, and enjoy the rest of the afternoon with the kind of gusto she would have appreciated.’
Everyone clapped and cheered and quickly filled their glasses up again just in case the champagne ran out, but it never seemed to at Feywood, no matter how rickety the roof became.
As the golden light of early evening permeated the garden, Juliet saw Léo emerging from the cookery school. Softened by champagne and gladness that the event had been better than bearable, she walked over to him.
‘It went well today. Thank you for the lovely food. I think everyone’s hoping Dad might pop off soon so that we can do this all over again.’
Léo’s smile was tired.
‘I do hope not, although it has been a marvellous day.’
‘Have you finished now?’
‘I think so. I sent Sylvia to sit down as she was looking very tired, but the caterers did most of the cleaning up, so it hasn’t been too bad.’
‘Would you like to get a drink?’
‘Oui, that would be good.’
They collected some fresh glasses and went to sit by the side of the pond, where it was deserted. Juliet knew she had to broach the subject.
‘I’m sorry for that weirdness with Toby today. I suppose that’s why he’s been trying to get hold of me recently.’
‘What do you make of his offer?’
‘I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s even real. And if it is, whether it’s what I want.’
