He waited, smoking happily, and got back.
:More words maybe?
:Yes and no?
:Thank u.How r u?school is brill
He squinted at this, shaking his head in despair.No one was supposed to enjoy school.But it had been one of his better moves, he thought, bringing Emilia from Russia to school in England—well, Scotland.A school recommended by Philipa, favoured of her favourite royal and perfect for a girl like Emilia who didn’t see the world in a conventional way.They had an unconventional relationship, Nikolas and Emilia.Neither understood it, so both left its possibilities hanging there to be examined at some later date.They were having too much fun to tie down what they were to each other in customary terms, and Nikolas, like Emilia, could never be bothered to conform to other people’s expectations.That he was a forty-five-year-old man and she was a thirteen-year-old girl with no relation to him didn’t bother them at all.
On a whim, Nikolas whistled for Radulf, and just as the dog turned, he snapped him with his phone camera.It was the dopey, ears askew and looking appealing expression that the dog specialized in.Nikolas shook his head despairingly again but sent it anyway.A few moments later she replied with a selfie.She appeared to be happy, coppery snakes of hair wild around her face and not stuffed into a hat now.He made a dumb face, took one of himself and winged it to her.
She immediately texted
:U R smoking!
He winced.
:I’m telling Ben.
This was bad.
:What do u want not to?
There was a long pause.
:Bribery?U cant bribe kids!It’s illegal!
:Since when?So?
:2 come for xmas
:What about Babushka?
:She not seen Devon either
He thought about this.It was the only downside to bringing Emilia to school here—her grandmother had been left on her own once more.But she’d desperately wanted this chance for her granddaughter, so she had agreed.Emilia andUlyana Ivanovna for Christmas.Why not?
:OK but I want very good present
:I will make u something in manual
:Deep joy
:Love you bye xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
He smiled—Emilia had learnt early on that kisses, hugs, karma and any form of emoticon annoyed him excessively and never stinted, therefore, in their use.
:I never think about u- goodbye
He snapped his phone shut, chuckling at the thought of Ulyana Ivanovna seeing the house.He could teach Emilia to ride—and play tennis.It was getting boring beating Ben all the time.Now he could defeat Emilia, too.
* * *
Ben was still on the phone when Nikolas arrived back.He had his feet up on the table, and a succession of mugs around him with used teabags on spoons.Nikolas shivered with disgust and thought about calling for a servant before he remembered he didn’t have any now.
Ben hung up and took his feet down.“Jono’d been seeing the doc once a week for about six months.A couple of months ago the doc mentioned the possibility of him attending a residential course for a week.”
Nikolas sat down.“And?”
