Page 12 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘It’s a lot to process and it may take some time to figure out. It sounds like you have a good ally, though – your cousin.’

‘Margot. And yes. She’s exactly who you want around when everything goes tits up – no-nonsense, bolshie as anything, and utterly fearless… And you wouldnevercross her. The night I told her, she threatened to cut Jon’s bollocks off with gardening shears.’

I wince at the mental picture.

‘Exactly,’ she says with a wry smile. ‘She wouldn’t actually do it, but Icanimagine her showing up on his doorstep, a giant pair of shears in hand, if only to scare him.’

She mimes a snipping action and I snigger. Margot sounds like a real character.

‘Hah! Jon’s doorstep. Wherever that may be,’ she says, her lips drawing into a scornful line.

‘Mmm.’

‘I feel like such an idiot, Poppy. And I’m not an idiot. I’m clever and I should have known better. I’ve wasted six months of my life, which puts me back at square one. I really thought Jon was… well, you know.’

‘Is that why you wanted to see me? To re-open your case?’ I ask, wondering if we’re getting to the crux of Kate’s visit. ‘It may not be wise to leap straight back into dating,’ I continue, ‘but I’d happily be your matchmaker again sometime in the future.’

‘Hmm?’ she asks, seemingly confused by my question. ‘Oh, no – it’s nothing like that. I’m done with romantic pursuits – at least for some time.’

NowI’mconfused. ‘Then how can I help you? Oh,’ I say, thinking I might know what she’s come to ask. ‘Did you want me to be there when you confront him? To support you?’

‘No. I mean, I’ll need to face him eventually, but I haven’t decided how or when – and my cousin is part lioness, part gorgon, remember. Margot will back me up.’

I have no doubt Margot would make the perfect lieutenant in a confrontation, but I’m still baffled why Kate asked to see me. Maybe she needed to talk it through with someone who’s not tangled up in this mess. ‘So, is there something else I can help you with then?’ I prompt.

‘Ithinkso.’ She hesitates, biting her lower lip as if she’s summoning the courage to say what’s on her mind. ‘Poppy, you’ve always been so kind to me and almost immediately, I felt like you understood me and what I was looking for in a partner.’

We exchange smiles. It’s good to hear that she felt as connected to me as I did to her.

‘And, you know how I said I keep going back and forth on what to do next?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well…’ She lifts her chin and looks me straight in the eye. ‘I’ve decided. Poppy, I need you to help me get revenge on Jon.’

‘Revenge?’ I’m so surprised, the word pops out of my mouth before I can temper my reaction. Typically, I love a challenging case, one with a twist or an especially tricky aspect to figure out, but for the second time this morning, I’m left speechless.

The air in the room hangs heavy with Kate’s request, and I can tell she wishes she could suck the words right back into her mouth.

* * *

Kate

Now that I’ve said the R-word out loud, it sounds ludicrous, if not improper. And judging from Poppy’s reaction – she’s gawping at me, her mouth hanging open – it’s also improbable.

What was I thinking? I’m not Inigo Montoya and this isn’tThe Princess(Bloody)Bride!

‘It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? And wrong?Reallywrong. I mean, peace, forgiveness, and all that rubbish, right?’ I say, my hands fisted in my lap.

‘It’s notwrong, Kate,’ she says adamantly, finally rejoining the conversation. ‘Being angry is completely understandable.Andnormal,’ she adds hurriedly.

If that’s meant to reassure me, it doesn’t. Methinks the matchmaker doth protest too much.

‘It’s just…revenge, Kate… Is that really what you want?’

I eye her across the conference table, my resolve wavering by the second. ‘Yes?’ I reply, though it comes out as a question. ‘Oh god, I really have no idea. Hearing myself say that…’ I lace my fingers in my lap and frown out the window.

‘And I’m guessing Margot’s had a hand in this?’ she asks gently.

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