It wasn’t until much later, after Annabel had gone to bed, that Betty asked Caroline about Angus.
‘He makes me feel alive, as if I’ve been dead for over a decade, buried alive by Frank.’
Betty’s voice was urgent. ‘You know you can leave him, come and stay here with us. You have to stand up to Frank, threaten to expose him for his debts, his gambling.’
‘I married the man, so I’m beholden to him under law. What kind of judge will dispute that? It’s not as if there’ll ever be any women judges.’
But Miranda urged her on. ‘You have to make your own change, Caroline. We live in a man’s world, where women are continually told to keep the peace. We’re told that we don’t know enough about theworld to make decisions – that we aren’t strong enough to stand on our own.’ She looked at her. ‘But we are, if we just have confidence in ourselves. You have the bravery inside you, Caroline. I’ve seen it in everything you do. I know you’ll find a way to save yourself, set yourself free.’
Caroline felt her heart lurch. The mere idea of risking Annabel for her own happiness railed against her very core.
In any case, Frank would always win. He knew how to manipulate everything she said, knew how to make her feel lowly, unworthy.
How could she ever stand up to him?
LUCY
THE LATE MORNING SUNSHINE SPARKLED ON THE PUDDLESas Lucy dashed through the Georgian streets of Soho. It wasn’t as auspicious as Mayfair, but Lucy didn’t mind. Here she was, Lucy Jones from Cornwall, meeting handsome and wealthy Richard, and he was to introduce her to a theatre agent who would help her become a new stage sensation.
It hadn’t been easy to take a day off work, and in the end she’d pretended she was ill. She knew that Betty would guess she was lying, but it couldn’t be helped. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need the palace job much longer. With the help of Miranda’s money, she’d bought the blue dress from Dickens and Jones on credit – it cost a bomb, but she’d have money soon, wouldn’t she? – and she’d had her hair curled specially at the hairdressers, too.
Today, she had to look her very best. This was her big chance to impress Metcalf, and she had to be spectacular and determined, ready to do whatever it took to get ahead.
But as she came closer to the restaurant, doubt fluttered through her. She couldn’t bear for Betty and the others to be right, that Richard was fobbing her off once again. They’d guessed correctly about the meeting with the owner of the Apollo never happening, after all. What’s more, she’d neither seen nor heard from Richard for eight days. If the agent didn’t show up, she’d be devastated.
Richard wouldn’t let her down, would he?
And so when she turned the corner and saw him, she almostcollapsed with joy. Wiping away a stray tear, she broke into a run, desperate to feel that connection.
‘There you are!’ Richard was dressed exquisitely in a formal suit, a grin on his face as she came racing toward him. ‘Don’t you look lovely!’
Something inside her melted as she collapsed into his arms. ‘I wish you’d come to Shirley’s wedding with me. It was dreadful. You see, everyone said that I was an idiot to—’
He interrupted her. ‘I’d love to hear about it, darling, but we’ll have to leave it till later.’ Taking her hand, he led her into the restaurant. ‘Right now, we have somewhere to be.’ He grinned as they passed through a corridor and up a flight of stairs.
Traditional, with high ceilings and an antique serenity, the restaurant sat above the everyday life of the street, away from prying eyes. Oak panels lined the walls, tall bay windows along one side. Darkbrown leather chairs lounged around heavy mahogany tables, giving the place a masculine air, like the medieval hall of a secret society.
The place was empty except for a pompous-looking man in a tailcoat who spoke with a French accent. ‘How wonderful to have you back, sir. We’re almost ready.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Is the main party still due to arrive at one o’clock?’
‘Yes, as planned.’ Richard nodded as if everything were in place.
‘A party?’ Lucy whispered. Had he arranged more of a gathering so that he could introduce her to his friends? The tables were set for thirty people. Could this be bigger than she’d imagined?
Richard took her to one side, leading her to the back of the restaurant, and she wondered if there was something wrong with her appearance. Did she need to go to the ladies to fix her lipstick? Self-consciously, she began to pat her hair.
‘In the back room, you’ll find an outfit. I bet you’ll be sensational in it. It’ll be a long afternoon – we’ll probably go into the evening – but you’ll get to know everyone.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Some better than others.’
She gazed down at her new dress. ‘Can’t I wear this?’
He laughed. ‘Not for waitressing, darling. You have to look the part.’
Like he’d shot her with lead, she stumbled back against the wall. ‘A waitress?’
‘Oh, didn’t I tell you?’ He reddened slightly before giving her a soft smile, running his finger along her collarbone. ‘This is your chance to get to know some very influential men. The agent I told you about is coming, and a man who works in television, too. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to talk to them, to show them how useful you could be. Don’t see it as being a waitress, more like an actress playing a role, entertaining a special group of friends in any way you can.’ He grinned. ‘You’ll be part of the gang by the end of the afternoon, I promise you, and with wealthy, connected men like these, you need to make sure you don’t let this opportunity go to waste.’
‘B-but I thought we were having lunch?’ A tear coursed down her cheek, and he gently wiped it away with his thumb.
‘I arranged for you to be here, darling, to help you become a proper star.’ He smiled into her eyes. ‘Now, cheer up! Be your usual charming self, darling, keep people happy and do as you’re told.’
