Page 73

‘Well, isn’t she Little Miss Bloody Perfect?’ he spat. ‘Does everything right, and is so much better than me.’

‘You’re jealous,’ Sally said, realisation dawning on her.

‘Of what?’

‘Of Fliss! Because she’s made a success of herself and you haven’t. She’s got what you wanted – a successful career in television, being admired and respected. But she worked for it, Bill. Fliss worked her arse off to get everything she has now. And you wouldn’t know the meaning of hard work. You just expect to be handed everything on a plate because of your surname, but the world doesn’t work like that!’

‘Have you quite finished?’ Bill said coldly.

Sally stared at him. It was as though the mask was slipping at last, and she finally saw Bill for what he was: selfish, entitled, cruel. ‘Oh yes,’ she said, nodding vehemently as she slipped her feet into her heels and snatched up her handbag, stalking across the carpet towards the door. ‘I’m finished, Bill. I am well and truly done.’ Sally slammed the door behind her and stormed downstairs.

Tara knew that she looked good. She was wearing a silver fishtail gown that clung to her incredible curves, and she was in her element, the star attraction amongst an adoring crowd with endless people to fawn over her. Everyone had to be nice to her – they were here as guests of her father – and Tara revelled in the attention, accepting their compliments, enjoying having a captive audience for her witty anecdotes.

She moved through the crowd, greeting Sir Ian McKellen and Olivia Coleman, accepting glasses of champagne from passing waiters which were quickly drunk and discarded before she moved on to the next. The night felt charged with electricity, a frisson in the air as though something was going to happen. Yes, Tara was determined to have a good time tonight – with or without her husband.

Her mood darkened as she thought of Kit. The gulf between them was widening and Tara could feel him pulling away. He hadn’t been the same since Fliss had shown up and Tara was inwardly raging. It felt like twenty years ago all over again, as though the three of them were still locked in the same battle. But Tara had been crowned the victor – she had won the prize that was Kit, and Fliss wasn’t going to come back and usurp her after all these years.

Besides, Tara had another prize on her mind tonight.

She spotted Harry standing near the DJ booth, chatting to a young woman she recognised as an up-and-coming actress who had been lauded for her role as Becky Sharp in a recent ITV adaptation of Vanity Fair. The woman was around two decades younger than Tara, fresh and perky, and Tara’s mouth pursed distastefully. She threw out her blonde hair and smoothed down her dress, then sashayed over, placing a hand proprietorially on Harry’s arm.

‘Harry, could I have a word?’ She turned to the young woman with a tight smile. ‘You don’t mind, do you, darling? Lovely to meet you,’ she added carelessly as she steered Harry away. ‘God, you’re looking handsome tonight,’ she told him, and she meant it. Harry did look incredible in a tuxedo, with his innate confidence and undeniable air of sexuality.

‘What do you want, Tara?’ Harry looked amused, his eyes dancing as they ran over her, lust clearly on display despite his previous resolve. He had obviously had a few drinks already; this was going to be even easier than Tara had imagined.

‘I wanted to apologise,’ she murmured breathlessly. ‘For my childish behaviour, the last time we …’ She looked away coquettishly, letting him remember exactly what they had got up to in the old nursery. It had ended in an argument and a sharp slap from Tara, and they had kept their distance from one another over Christmas.

But now Tara was bored, horny, and thinking again about her career. If Kit wasn’t paying attention to her, then she felt sure that Harry would. And she could keep the pressure up on him once again about that movie role. Tara was nothing if not determined.

Harry raised a suggestive eyebrow. ‘I forgive you, Tara.’

Tara didn’t point out that he was the one who should be apologising for leading her on, dangling the promise of a part in his movie in front of her, in order to get her into bed.

‘I was thinking …’ she murmured, looking up at him from beneath her lashes, ‘… that I should make it up to you. Show you that we’re … friends again …’

A grin spread across Harry’s face, as he caught her meaning. ‘And how are you planning to do that …?’

‘Oh, I have a few ideas …’ Tara smiled, her eyes dancing invitingly as she turned and melted into the crowd, Harry following eagerly behind her.

Chapter 36

Lord and Lady Oliver descended the sweeping staircase to a round of applause. Their appearance was made especially poignant by the fact that, just yesterday, Neville had been in hospital.

‘The show must go on,’ he declared now, to cheers and laughter. It was as though he was back on stage, putting on his best performance. He looked better than he had in years and greeted people warmly on his way through to the ballroom, catching up with old friends, receiving slaps on the back as he moved through the crowd with his loyal wife by his side. Elizabeth looked radiant in a peacock blue silk gown, her silver hair swept up, emeralds glittering at her ears and throat.

Neville, however, had something else on his mind than just socialising. He was looking for Fliss. Tonight was the night he wanted to speak to her. He should have done it earlier – years ago in fact – but there was no time like the present. His recent brush with mortality had made him see that he needed to get his affairs in order.

‘I want to tell her tonight,’ he murmured to Elizabeth, as they moved through the crowd. ‘It’s only fair that she knows.’

‘It’s not fair at all, you’ll turn the poor girl’s life upside down,’ Elizabeth replied, speaking calmly, keeping a neutral expression on her face so that no one would suspect anything was wrong.

‘Is that all you’re worried about? Or are you worried about our lives being turned upside down?’

‘That’s definitely not fair! But you do have to think of our children. It will destroy Bill.’

‘He’s not fit to be my heir.’

‘Neville, I know he’s made some bad decisions but this will shatter him. Tara too.’