“Never mind me.It’s just rather amusing thatyou’renow the one who doesn’t know.”
“Err…”
“Sixteen years.I’ve known him sixteen years, give or take.Sometimes it’s seemed longer.”
“So…you still see each other?Get along?”
She gave a wry smile.“I think Nikki is the easiest person I’ve ever met to get along with.We got along famously.”
“But you divorced.”
“He met someone else.”
“Oh, Christ, sorry.But they broke up, too?”
“Oh, no, hell would freeze over first.He’s completely obsessed.”She glanced over at him.
“Of course, it’s totally understandable.”She kept her eyes on him for a moment longer.“What?”Suddenly she spluttered, “You’re not…jealous?Of this new person in Nikki’s life?Thatwouldbe deliciously amusing.”
Ben straightened in alarm and confusion.
“Jealous?Of Sir Nikolas’s new girlfriend?Of course I’m—”
“So, Exeter, yes?”
Ben nodded weakly.
* * *
Once over his initial embarrassment of being forced together for the day, and realising Philipa wasn’t going to tell him anything he wanted to know, Ben enjoyed his day immensely.He had his blond growth cut out and that made him look and feel more himself.He bought some groceries, based on Philipa’s advice about what meat Nikolas liked to eat, not sure why she laughed at this, but not calling her on it, and then they’d taken Radulf for a walk along the canal and had lunch in The Turf—the only pub in Britain, so Philipa informed him, which was not accessible by car.It served only locally sourced food and all the ale and wine was from either Devon or Cornwall.Even the gin Philipa drank (in impressively large quantities) was from Plymouth.When Ben commented politely that Philipa had a good appetite, she merely replied dryly that food was clearly something else they had in common.
They arrived home at teatime to find a car in the driveway in front of the house.Neither of them recognised it, but as they entered the kitchen, Kate rose from the table and introductions were made.Kate explained Nikolas had sent her to relieve Philipa.Of babysitting duties?Yes.Both women laughed, and Ben made a show of being annoyed.Secretly he was enjoying all the attention.Philipa made her farewells and they were left together.Ben claimed he wanted to start on dinner.Kate suggested why not relax first—a swim maybe?
Ben loved anything physical and agreed.He didn’t know if he owned a swimsuit, though.So what?—she hadn’t brought one.
They agreed skinny-dipping would be fine.
After all, she was the one thing he did remember.
He remembered a lot of her…
* * *
Nikolas arrived back at the house just after midnight.He’d been tempted to stay in London overnight but felt incredibly guilty at leaving Philipa for so long.She knew the house well and would no doubt have made herself at home, but she was a busy woman.All the royal family were always incredibly busy.
He saw the car from the ridgeline.The glass house threw light out, illuminated the valley.It was one of the reasons he’d had the house designed so—their lives had needed a little more light shining upon them at the time.Sometimes, however, it was a disadvantage.He not only saw the car, he recognised it.It was Kate’s car.
The house was quiet.Radulf rose from his basket and padded over to greet him.The kitchen was a mess.Someone had cooked.There were three or four empty bottles of wine on the counter.
He heard scuffling of bare feet on granite floor slabs, controlled his expression, and turned.Ben was coming out of the room he’d been put in, scratching his ribs idly, a sheet wrapped loosely around his waist.“Oh, hi.You’re late.”
“Did I wake you?”
“Sorry.I promised I’d stay up but—”
“Kate came.”
Ben grinned and slid onto a stool alongside Nikolas.“Yeah, she did.”He poked Nikolas’s arm in a friendly way.“Lots of times.Jogged my memory about all kinds of things.”
