If someone had carved the perfect man from a block of marble, they couldn’t have done a better job.
Aware her mouth was hanging open for the second time that day, her gaze alternated between the chiselled perfection of Lysander’s face, and Tania, who did not seem at all pleased to see him.
‘What the hell are you doing here, Donkey?’ Tania said, her voice as pinched as her features. ‘This is my week. And it’s Christmas, for the love of God. I thought you were spending it in LA.’
‘I know, I know. I should have been at a house party in the Hills, with Justin and Kenny. In living legend Cindy Crawford’s guest house, to be precise. They promised me dinner at Mr Chow’s– chicken satay and lemon drops– you must remember those cocktails? Brigitte would have turned green, if she wasn’t already busy entertaining Ron Howard for the holidays. She’s determined to get the old man cast in a film with Hanks. But instead, I took a last-minute job shooting here in the mountains. And I decided I couldn’t think of anything nicer than spending Christmas with my loving sister.’
‘Sarcastic sod. Well, anyway it’s tough luck. All the rooms are full. You’ll have to find somewhere else to sleep.’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘Shouldn’t be a problem.’
‘Oh, come on, Tits. Remember we talked about how you need to work on your anger-management skills. Chill out a little.’
Amidst trying to keep up with the name-dropping– which didn’t seem so much like dropping, more like napalm bombing– Madeleine had so many questions. Donkey? Tits? The accompanying sub-questions were backing up behind the main ones. She turned to Rose, her lips already forming the first one. The one burning a hole in Madeleine’s brain. Why did Tania call him Donkey? The ramifications were endless … But Rose’s expression made her pause and close her mouth. Then frown. Rose was staring openly at Lysander, but she looked about as pleased to see him as Tania did. Her nose wrinkled in distaste, as though Lysander had brought with him some rotting carcass or weeks-old milk.
‘The couch will do fine,’ Lysander said, advancing into the space. Dropping his bag at the end of a sofa, he warmed his hands in the heat radiating from the hexagonal glass wood burner in the centre of the living space. Greeting Clara with a comment on her radiant beauty and a kiss on each cheek, he rounded the end of the table and stopped in front of Rose. He drew in a lengthy breath as he looked at her. ‘It’s been a while,’ he said. ‘How are you?’
‘Very well. How are you?’ Rose said, starchy and unusually formal.
‘Good. You didn’t reply to my messages.’
‘No. I didn’t.’ Rose crossed her arms.
Even though she sounded calm, there was something behind the words that sounded anything but, in Madeleine’s opinion. Her frown deepened and settled into place, even though she did her best to hide it when Lysander sighed, then shifted his gaze onto her.
‘I don’t think we’ve met,’ he said.
‘No, I’m Madeleine.’
‘Hi, Madeleine. I’m Lysander, the Ice Queen’s brother.’
‘I know,’ she said, failing to stop herself from sounding gushy. ‘I mean, I know who you are. I’ve seen you in magazines.’ She bit her lip as Tania snorted in what Madeleine could only assume was disgust.
Turning away, he acknowledged Tom for the first time. ‘Any chance of something to eat?’ he said.
‘No, there isn’t,’ Tania said, before Tom had a chance to reply. ‘You’re far too late for dinner. Maybe you should go into Près du Ciel centre and find something there?’
‘It’s not a problem,’ Tom said, lining up coffee cups onto a tray. ‘I can make something.’
‘Yes. It is a problem,’ Tania said, her frown gaining traction. ‘You’ve finished cooking for the evening.’ She huffed. ‘He can have what’s left of the cheese and biscuits.’
‘Whatever,’ Lysander said, a lazy tone joining the lazy smile which had reasserted itself. ‘Is there a glass of plonk to go with it?’ He pulled the cheeseboard across and sat down.
Rose got abruptly to her feet. ‘Think I’m going to turn in,’ she said.
‘I might come down with you,’ Madeleine said. Combined with the tone of her voice, the way Rose was heading for the stairs like a cat with its tail on fire had her wanting to make sure she was OK.
‘’Night, then,’ Lysander said, a definite prickle behind the seemingly innocuous words.
Rose’s shoulders stiffened, but she kept moving and headed out of sight. On the top flight of the steps, Madeleine heard Tania telling Lysander under her breath not to be such a bastard, to leave Rose alone.
At the doorway to Rose’s bedroom, Madeleine asked again if she was all right.
‘I’m fine,’ Rose said, but Madeleine remained unconvinced.
‘I don’t mean to pry,’ she said. Rose huffed a laugh. ‘No, really, I don’t. You guys clearly have history. You don’t want to talk about it. That’s fine. I just want you to know I’m here for you.’
Rose sighed, then nodded. ‘I know you are. And thank you. I mean it.’
‘Thing is, I have so many questions,’ Madeleine said, unable to stop herself. ‘Why does he call her “Tits”, for example?’ She shook her head at herself. ‘But now is clearly not the time.’
