She smiled and nodded. “They will. They’re looking forward to seeing you. Clara Reynolds has joined us at the last minute and I know she’s desperate to see you after so long.”
I hid my groan until she’d gone. Clara Reynolds had a son who she was desperate to set me up with and had been trying for at least three years. Robert Reynolds – never Rob or Robbie – was exactly what anyone would imagine English aristocracy to be like – a hundred years ago. We’d gone to the same school, him in the boys’ section, and we’d seen each other at school events. Never parties, or in bars or clubs when Lala and I were old enough to sneak into them, because Robert was too busy in strange societies, trying to mingle with people who could give him a leg up into the world of the tweed coat and grouse hunting. His mother had been on the periphery of Society for years, attending school with Livi, only a couple of years ahead, but she’d been there because of new money not old. And she wanted her son to marry into old money. She wanted country estates and relatives with titles, a wedding on the cover of celebrity magazines and grandchildren who wore a knee length sock in their prep schools. Lara was too wild for Robert, so she’d settled her sights on me, not that Robert cared.
I doubted he’d ever had an erection in his life.
I found a blue knee length wrap dress that would fit in anywhere on the island, a red bikini underneath in case I found myself at the beach. I had no plans for the day, something I was loving more than I cared to admit. In autumn, my days would be scheduled: school, study, and building my identity as something other than who I was born to.
Monty wanted us to go to Formentera, the island off Ibiza’s south coast. Just me and him, a day to ourselves without any drama. He was making a play, that was obvious, only I wasn’t sure why, or if I wanted him to succeed.
Not when my daydreams were more about the bartender than the model.
I wandered out of my room and down the back stairs to the kitchen, bowls of fruit and fresh almond based yoghurt ready to be served to the party of people that I knew would be outside near the pool, the long banqueting tables fixed there yesterday.
Everything was vegetarian, or vegan. For the next few days, the finca would be a meat and alcohol-free zone. There wouldn’t be any loud music and incense would be the main perfume. Livi’s focus would be on cleansing and finding peace.
My sister would likely stay elsewhere for the next few days.
“Jameson! It’s so lovely to see you! You look beautiful!” Clara was the first person I saw outside, almost as if she was waiting for me to appear. “It’s been too long – Robert and I have missed seeing you in London!”
I accepted the hug because there was no other choice. “How are you?”
“I’m good. So looking forward to this. And Livi said you’re having a party weekend – I’m hoping both Robert and I can I be here for it. It sounds wonderful!”
I saw my mother behind Clara’s shoulder, already looking the picture of peace, and glared hard enough that she should’ve felt it.
She didn’t, or if she did, she ignored it completely.
“It should be fun.”
“Absolutely. I hear the first night is a masked ball. That sounds fabulous. You’ll never know who you’re kissing.” She gave me a cheeky wink. “You never know if Mr Right will be the one behind the mask.”
I subdued the cringe, knowing exactly who she was hinting at, and replaced it with the smile I knew would pacify pretty much anyone. “It should be a fun weekend.”
“Definitely. Are you joining us for yoga?” She left her arm around my waist as we dropped down the steps towards the tables.
Another half dozen women were settled there, some already sipping coffee and teas, platters of fruit already out. “I don’t think so today. I might pick up a class tomorrow morning.”
“You totally should. I don’t know how I’d manage to stay so calm with everything in my life if it wasn’t for yoga. I have the most amazing teacher back in London. You should come stay with me and Robert, and take some lessons. And it’ll give you and Robert chance to be re-acquainted!”
“Jameson’s heading to New York in the fall.” Livi decided to finally chip in. “She’s finishing her architecture training.”
“Oh.” Clara’s other hand went to her chest. “I thought you were done studying.”
“No. I have two more years to complete, then I’ll be fully qualified. I’m hoping to be based in America afterwards.”
Livi raised her eyebrows. She knew my plan, and she hadn’t disputed it, but neither had she said much about it.
“That may change. Everything changes when you meet the person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with.”
I stopped. My skin had broken out in goosebumps at her words, and I could only think of one person, someone I’d spent barely half an hour talking with in total. Someone I’d never touched.
Tommy.
“Excuse me, I’ve forgotten something from my room.” I slipped from her grasp and headed to the kitchen, needing silence where I could gather my thoughts.
I found coffee,not decaffeinated, and cream. In the fridge was a carb-loaded croissant and jam, homemade by an old woman who lived near the beach. I drank and ate, feeling like a teenager with a crush, thinking romantic thoughts, having the same breakfast I did when I thought myself in love with Finn, only that was when I pretended to like coffee and secretly winced at the taste.
I’d just finished the croissant when the kitchen door opened and Lawrie came in, dressed in suit trousers and a white shirt. His glasses were different, thicker framed, like Clark Kent’s, and he looked tanned but tired.
