‘I should be saying that to you. You’re the guest, you’re the one who should be enjoying yourself.’ She smiled and carried the full tray to one of the side tables. She was going to ask one of the professional waiters to carry it downstairs. She couldn’t bear the thought of dropping dozens of antique crystal glasses, showering the stairs with lethal shards.
‘No,’ said Hugo. ‘It’s very important that the hostesses enjoy themselves too, otherwise it’s just a lot of hard work for nothing.’
Lizzie looked at him briefly before gathering more glasses. ‘I have enjoyed myself actually. Everyone’s been very co-operative – on the whole.’ Electra had lit a cigarette while people were still eating pudding, but lots of people did in London, she realised.
‘And now they’re waiting for you to go through to the drawing room,’ said Hugo.
‘Oh no! I must go and make coffee!’
Hugo shook his head. ‘That’s in hand. I promise you. Come and join your guests.’
As she allowed herself to be ushered into the drawing room, Lizzie realised that Hugo could probably tell she was a bit shy and was happiest when doing something practical.
‘So who’s making coffee?’ Lizzie asked, as Hugo was still by her side, although there was a free chair next to Electra, across the room.
‘Meg, of course, but also the Italian chap who has so charmed the ladies. How do you know him?’
As Electra seemed to have been more than a bit charmed, Lizzie wondered if Hugo minded, although he didn’t seem to now. ‘He’s a friend of Meg’s. She does waitressing work. Luigi is a head waiter but the restaurant he works for is being redecorated so he’s been working for the same catering firm as Meg does, while he has nothing else to do.’
‘Vanessa seems to be having a nice time which is great. She’s been quite miserable since that dreadful man left her, I gather from my mother.’
‘I’m really glad too.’ Lizzie focused on a buttonhole in Hugo’s jacket for a few moments and then looked up. ‘I was a bit scared of Vanessa when I first met her but she’s really nice when you get to know her.’
Hugo nodded. ‘She’s not as sophisticated as she likes to appear. Which, from an older brother’s perspective, is a good thing. Ted was very bad news for her.’
Philip, Alexandra’s childhood friend, came over with a plate of chocolate mints. When Hugo and Lizzie had both taken one, Lizzie said, ‘Did you manage to find a flat? Or are you still living with your parents?’
‘No, I managed to find one in Queen’s Gate. I gave up trying to find somewhere a bit cheaper. It’s nice. It has a little balcony. Electra likes it.’
Lizzie didn’t think she could ask if he and Electra would live in it after they were married but she wanted to know.
‘Does Electra live nearby?’ she said instead.
‘Not too far. Knightsbridge. She has a part-time job in a very swish office in Sloane Street.’
Lizzie smiled weakly. ‘How nice.’
‘Yes. She organises wedding lists for people. She makes sure they don’t get too many fondue sets or ramekin dishes. Apparently that can be a problem.’
Lizzie didn’t know how to respond to this.
‘I know!’ Hugo went on. ‘Who’d have thought that having a wedding could be so fraught with potential problems?
Lizzie wanted to smile but felt she shouldn’t really. ‘I wouldn’t have thought Electra needed to have a job.’
‘She doesn’tneedto have one,’ Hugo explained. ‘But she likes to have something to do in between shopping trips and social engagements. She does a bit of modelling, part-time, too, and raises a lot of money for charity. She’s very committed to her charity work.’
‘She is very beautiful,’ said Lizzie. ‘I can perfectly understand why she models.’ She didn’t think she could comment on Electra’s charitable feelings. They weren’t evident in the way her beauty was.
Hugo was looking down at Lizzie in a thoughtful way and she got the impression he was about to ask her what her career plans were. As she didn’t have any she cleared her throat to stop him.
‘I know you said someone was organising coffee,’ she said quickly, ‘but I should go and see what’s happened to it.’
‘It’s here,’ said Hugo, indicating Ben and Luigi, both holding trays.
Electra came up to collect a cup of coffee. Although she really wanted to move away from her, Lizzie felt it would look rude.
‘Have you worn the dress I sewed the buttons on for you?’ she asked, making conversation.
