Back in her room at Villa Celestia, Helena took the necklace out of the box again and held it against her neck, smiling as she looked at its sparkling reflection in the mirror. She took the note out of the box before carefully replacing the necklace and unfolding the piece of paper to read Teddy’s handwritten message.
Sorry not to be seeing you on your birthday, really missing you. I’ll be at the airport Sunday to bring you home. I hope you like your present. Teddy. X
Helena grabbed her phone and typed a message.
Really missing you too. I love my necklace so much. Thank you. See you Sunday. Xxx
She pressed send.
There was a tap on the door. ‘Can I come in?’ Mandy said as she opened the door, not waiting for a reply. ‘I saw you come back and… hey, you look happy.’
Helena picked up the box. ‘Look what Teddy has sent me. He’s written me a note too, says he’s missing me and is planning on meeting me at the airport Sunday.’
‘Not sure how long you’re going to be able to keep up the secrecy,’ Mandy said.
‘I told Mum this afternoon actually,’ Helena smiled. ‘She took one look at the necklace and virtually put two and two together.’
‘Oh, that is beautiful,’ Mandy said, looking at the necklace.
‘I’m going to wear it tonight,’ Helena said. ‘Which reminds me. Mum won’t tell me where we are going, but I think dressing up is called for.’
‘I was going to ask you what the dress code was,’ Mandy said. ‘Not that I’ve got much choice. Only brought one dressy dress with me for Saturday night.’
‘Me too.’
‘Saturday night dresses it is. Right, see you later.’
* * *
Helena had just zipped up her dress and was fastening the catch on the necklace when her phone rang with a video call. Smiling, she answered it. ‘Hi, Teddy.’
‘Happy birthday, darling Helena. Oh, you look lovely. I wish I was there. I miss you.’
‘I wish you were here too,’ Helena said. ‘It seems strange not seeing you on my birthday, especially now that Mum is here with Leon. You three have always been part of my birthday celebrations.’
‘I did think about hopping on a plane, but as we haven’t told anyone about us yet, I thought it might blow our cover.’
‘Mum took one look at your present and guessed, so I confirmed it for her, so if you want to mention it to your mum…’ Helena said. ‘I haven’t seen Leon yet to have a word, but maybe tonight I will talk to him.’
‘Where are you dining tonight?’
‘No idea. Mum says it’s a surprise. I think it’s somewhere along the coast as we have a taxi booked.’
‘Have you enjoyed the retreat so far?’
‘It’s been fantastic,’ Helena said. ‘I’ve learnt so much and met some lovely women, including Elisabeth James. Lots to tell you when I get back.’
‘Oh, Mum’s just called out it’s time to walk Bella, better go. Enjoy your birthday – we’ll go somewhere special when you get back. Love you.’
31
The barbeque and pizza oven created a real party atmosphere over the terrace and garden at Villa Celestia that evening. Guy had set up a French jazz playlist in the background and Sandy opened bottles of Prosecco to toast Helena’s birthday, even though she wasn’t there. Romain arrived with Twiggy, who immediately attached herself to Sandy, and Romain wandered over to Guy to give him a hand with the barbeque, whilst Zoe was in charge of the pizza oven.
Isobel sipped her Prosecco and glanced at Liz. ‘It’s a cliché we would never use in any of our books of course,’ Isobel laughed. ‘But I have to say, Guy Lyon is rather dashing – a real live silver fox. If only I was a few years younger and not happily married,’ she raised her eyebrows suggestively. ‘As it is, you are the lucky recipient of his charms.’
‘Stop it,’ Liz said, her gaze not leaving Guy, who was talking animatedly to Romain. There were more and more times when she caught glimpses of the real Guy, the one she was already fond of. The one who was endowed with more charisma than any man was really entitled to. The one she knew she would like to know more in another life. But what was the point? She lived in England and he lived in France. ‘He is rather wonderful,’ she confessed quietly. ‘I could easily fall in love with him if things were different.’
‘Does he feel the same about you?’
