His mouth twitched. ‘No, I meant why are you catching a train at all?’
We were standing facing each other on the platform, people carrying bags and trundling suitcases on wheels now beginning to stream steadily past us on their way to boarding the train.
‘It’s not Carl, is it?’ Luc asked urgently. ‘Carl’s okay, isn’t he?’
‘Carl’s fine.’ I considered him. He seemed genuinely concerned. ‘Thank you for asking,’ I said with stilted courtesy.
‘Then what… why…?’ He spread his hands, looking bewildered.
‘Why am I leaving?’
He nodded, his eyes searching my face. I averted mygaze.
‘Let’s just say I think I’ve outstayed my welcome.’
‘Don’t be bloody ridiculous. Come over here for a moment out of the way. I’ve got something to say to you.’ Taking my arm, he propelled me through the throng of people who were now irritably pushing their way round and between us. We sat down on the bench I had occupied earlier.
‘What is it you want to say?’ I asked coldly, not looking at him but addressing a point somewhere beyond his right shoulder. ‘Say it quickly, please, or I’ll miss my train.’
‘Good. Because you’re not getting on that train.’
‘Oh? And how do you propose to stop me?’
‘I’m going to tell you something I forgot to tell you last night.’
I looked at him then, looked him straight in the eye. ‘And what might that be, I ask myself? Could it by any chance be that you forgot to tell me you are getting married to Caroline?’
‘What?’
Well, if it was an act, it was a good one. To give the man his due, Luc looked totally poleaxed.
‘You heard me,’ I said.
‘Alix, what on earth are you talking about? Where have you got this from? Who said I’m getting married to Caroline?’
‘Caroline did.’
‘Carolinetold you she and I are getting married? When?’
‘When are you getting married? I haven’t the remotest.Surely you know?’
Again, he almost smiled. ‘No, you noodle. I meant, when did she tell you?’
‘This morning. While you were out this morning she paid me a sociable little visit to inform me of your engagement.’
‘Jesus.’ Looking away, he frowned very suddenly and very deeply. ‘I don’t believe this. Tell me what she said.’
I shook my head. ‘No, I’m not going into that. Suffice it is to say I would not describe her as my number one fan.’
We were both silent for a moment, sitting there, our eyes on the seemingly endless stream of people flowing past. We might have been watching paint dry. Then Luc turned and seized my hand, the one nearest to him.
‘Alix, look at me, please,’ he said. ‘Lookat me.’
Very slowly and deliberately, I turned my head. ‘I’m looking.’
‘It’s not true,’ he said, his eyes fixed on mine. He jounced my hand a little. ‘Do you understand what I am saying? It is not true. I am not getting married to Caroline, so whatever she said to you this morning, it was not the truth.’
‘Why did she say it, then?’
