Page 126 of The Honeymoon Affair

‘Not Ellis?’

‘No point any more.’

I feel sorry for Ellis, who’s being so completely dismissed by her mother. But I suddenly understand where tensions could have arisen between Charles and Ariel. Because if he’s inherited his mother’s way of looking at things, I can see why he thought she was too ambitious for herself and not ambitious enough for him. Even though she clearly was.

My phone buzzes.

I’m going to turn into a pot of tea. I’ve had at least half a dozen cups already. Are you having fun?

Steve loves his tea. Half a dozen cups is nothing to him.

I tap out a quick reply saying that meeting the future in-laws is never exactly fun.

Maybe it’s you, not the future in-laws

I grimace as I recall meeting Steve’s mum. Although significantly younger than Pamela Boyd-Miller, Lorraine Carter has a lot in common with her. Mostly the belief that her son is a genius and no woman is good enough for him. I reply with a non-committal emoji and put my phone back in my bag.

‘You know that’s immensely rude,’ says Pamela.

‘Yes. But a sick friend is staying at my house, so I needed to check up on him.’

‘Him?’

‘Yes.’

‘And Charles is agreeable to this?’

‘It’s not up to him to be agreeable or not,’ I say.

Her eyes narrow. ‘You’re not dissimilar after all,’ she says. ‘I thought you were. You’re quieter. Younger too, obviously. And more in awe of him. But you’re like her in some ways.’

‘Like who?’

‘Ariel, of course,’ says Pamela.

She’s comparing me to the first Mrs Miller.

That’s surely not a good thing.

Chapter 34

Ariel

Only a mediocre person is always at his best.

W. Somerset Maugham

I’m nursing my burnt hand when Charles bursts into the kitchen, followed by Ellis.

‘Are you all right?’

‘What happened?’

They speak at the same time.

‘I forgot the hob was on and left an empty pot on it,’ I reply. ‘Burnt my hand on the handle.’

‘Let me see.’

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