After dinner, they settle in the lounge for tea and whisky. Charles worries when the guests split into small groups to engage in more personal conversations, but Elsy allows him to just keep on nodding along next to her.
She’s entertaining the woman from across the street with tales of juicy trysts, stolen from various Netflix shows. It’s far-fetched, butthe woman was gagging for an episode of Kate and William of Hampstead, and she buys it all.
When she steps away to join her husband, Elsy drops her charming act and doubles over.
‘I’m properly dying now.’
‘Show it. That’ll be our way out.’
‘You think?’
‘My mother is many things, but she’s not sadistic.’
Elsy moans and drags herself towards the couch. Alice isn’t paying any attention to them at the moment, but she will eventually scan the room and notice Elsy’s poor form.
Charles’ phone vibrates against his thigh. He tilts half of the screen out of his trousers pocket, but before he can display the photo sent by Loris, a firm hand grips his shoulder.
‘Charles Ledwell!’ Herr Reinhard Heidenreich knocks their glasses together. ‘What a fine young man you’ve grown up to be.’
‘Thank you, Sir.’
‘I would love for you to meet my granddaughter. You have to pay us a visit.’
Reinhard squeezes Charles’ shoulder again, winking and grinning, evidently unmoved by the plot of Kate and William of Hampstead.
‘I’ll contact you if I ever find the time to come to your beautiful country.’
‘Naturally, I heard you will have your hands full. Congratulations on your MBA admittance.’
‘It’s not official yet…’
Charles gives the man a tense smile and steps back, to escape the conversation and a third shoulder squeeze.
‘Your brother would be really proud of you.’
Reinhard shifts in front of a painting, and Charles freezes.
The comment is a heartfelt platitude, one he’s acted appreciative of countless times, so their guests would feel good when he felt nothing. But tonight, it strikes an unpleasant chord and gets up his nose.
‘What for?’
‘Pardon me?’
‘What part of the fine young man I’ve grown up to be would make Frederick proud? If we’re being honest?’
‘I’m afraid I’m not sure what you mean.’
‘My friend!’ Milton brandishes a decanter as if it were a sports trophy. ‘You must give this one a taste!’
‘I’m licking my lips!’
Reinhard edges towards the bottle display, casting puzzled glances at Charles who, not sure of what he meant either, pivots to meet his brother’s fixed eyes in the portrait. So serious. So staid. Reinhard is right. This guy would be proud. But this guy isn’t Fred.
Charles takes his phone and opens Loris’ photo message, to peel back irksome thoughts he can’t afford to dive into now.
20:46 WITH ONE LThis is how I left it before my shift
Charles zooms in on the completed pieces of mirror in the drawing. ‘Holy shit, this is insane.’
