‘The same as before, I’m afraid.’
‘No sign of improvement at all?’
Romily shook her head. ‘So tell me how you two met,’ she said, keeping her voice as casual as she could while glancing at Max.
‘It was wonderfully romantic,’ Isabella gushed, ‘Max came to my rescue.’
Max scoffed. ‘I’d hardly call it romantic, me stepping in after that churl raised his hand to you.’
‘Heroic then. How does that sound?’
He smiled indulgently at her. ‘A slight exaggeration, darling.’
‘Who, I should like to know raised his hand to you, Isabella?’ asked Romily.
‘Oh, it’s all history. He’s since made an apology, which I’ve accepted, so water under the bridge now. I’m much more interested in hearing about the delicious man shacked up here with you, and currently in the kitchen making us hot chocolate.’
With a roll of her eyes, Romily tutted. ‘He’s notshacked up hereas you so vulgarly put it; he’s a friend who is visiting.’
Isabella wriggled her toes on the fender. ‘If you say so,’ she said with a smile. ‘Is he a souvenir from your trip to America?’
‘Put your overactive imagination away, Isabella, and behave, or you’ll find yourself back out in the snow.’
‘And knowing Romily of old, as I do,’ said Max with a laugh, ‘I wouldn’t put her threat to the test.’
Isabella smiled up at him. ‘It’s funny, isn’t it, to think how you all know one another from yonks ago.’
‘All?’ repeated Romily.
‘Well, you and Evelyn that is.’
An eyebrow raised, and knowing what Evelyn had told her aboutaone-off moment of madnessthat had occurred between her and Max at Bletchley, Romily looked askance at him.
In the silence that followed, as brief as it was, a log on the fire popped and spat. ‘There are no secrets between Isabella and me,’ he said. ‘She knows that I had a bit of a thing for Evelyn all those years ago. And that it wasn’t reciprocated in the way I would have liked at the time.’
‘Be that as it may,’ Romily said, surprised at his admission, ‘it would be better that you never repeat that while you’re here at Island House.’
‘Of course,’ he said. ‘The last thing I would want to do is cause any trouble. I thought it might be prudent of me to give Evelyn a ring later, just to explain the situation.’
‘Yes,’ said Romily, ‘that might be prudent. Do you have her number?’
‘No. I was hoping you would give it to me.’
‘Of course,’ Romily said, turning to look at Isabella. The girl’s face was now glowing radiantly from the heat of the fire, and it was obvious from the adoring expression in her twinkling eyes as she looked up at Max, that she was hopelessly in love with him.
Romily wanted to be happy for her, but to be in love with a man like Max, how could that ever be a good thing? Short term, yes. But if Isabella was wanting something lasting and meaningful, Max could only disappoint her. Unless he had changed. Could he have done so? She reminded herself of that look of concern and the protective arm she had seen while out in the hall.
‘I know what you’re thinking, Romily,’ said Isabella.
‘You do?’
‘Yes, that Max is frightfully old for me.’
‘Is that what you imagine me to be thinking, Max?’ Romily asked him directly.
‘Oh, I wouldn’t presume to trespass on that fine brain of yours,’ he said smoothly.
‘But, Romily,’ continued Isabella, ‘you can’t possibly criticise me for doing exactly the same thing as you did? Jack Devereux was years and years older than you, wasn’t he?’
