Page 33 of Wild About You

‘I – er…’ I said, but then saw Fi was giving me a very definite look. Ajust-go-along-with-itlook.

‘Don’t worry,’ said Roshni breezily. ‘My brother-in-law has agreed it and I’ve even invited Tally and Lucinda, who I found in the courtyard, loitering. No soldier left behind.’

‘Come on, Anna.’ Fi gave me a small and – she would have said – loving shove. There was no other place to go. I’d rather not have risked my fragile détente with Jamie, but I wasn’t being given a choice.

‘Jamie said your design skills are brilliant,’ said Roshni.

‘Did he?’ I said, wondering how I was heading for the house at such speed when I’d declined the offer several times.

‘I don’t mean to impose, but if there’s any chance I could discuss our little garden in London with you, I’d really appreciate it.’ She was striding ahead and I was struggling to keep up. Fi was bringing up the rear.

‘Of course.’ I could feel myself running out of words, and I was aware that I was speaking carefully and crisply. My telephone voice, Sean used to call it. It was the class thing,again. Knocking me off-kilter, making me try to appear a different version of myself.Don’t do this, Anna, I thought, gritting my teeth.

Roshni came to a sudden halt. ‘Oh God, I’m galloping, aren’t I? So sorry. Fi!’ She held her arms out towards Fi, who gave her a rueful smile. ‘Just shout at me when I do that.’ As everyone caught up, we started off again. ‘I can see itisan imposition, Anna,’ Roshni said.

‘What?’ I broke out of my self-chastising thoughts. ‘No, not at all, we can talk about your garden.’

We’d reached the side door. Roshni turned the handle and pushed the door open. She caught my gaze and her smile was sincere. ‘Thank you. But only if you want to – I mean it.’ She gestured towards the door. ‘After you.’

We entered Jamie’s flat to find Tally and Lucinda sitting at opposite ends of the green dilapidated sofa as Kes and Jake bounced up and down between them, the smell of baking pervading the whole place. Roshni shot me a meaningful look. ‘I’ll just check on the cakes,’ she declared loudly. ‘I’ll leave you all to have a nice chat.’

I glanced at Fi questioningly. ‘She’s a bit mischievous,’ Fi murmured, ‘but well meaning.’

I sent Callum a text.Family gathering in flat. Will you join?

I was used to him taking several hours to answer, but this time it was instant.

No way hahaha.

Hugo was engrossed in the children, barking delightedly and stretching out his front legs, lowering himself into a doggy bow, showing that he wanted to be involved in their games. I’d hoped I might stroke him as a way of avoiding speaking to anyone, but I clearly wasn’t going to get a look in.

Jamie was in deep conversation with his brother. Tally was concentrating on her fingernails and Lucinda was neatly positioned, legs swept to the side and crossed at the ankle, princess-style. She really was perfect for Stonemore. Perfect for Jamie.

‘Such a lovely day, isn’t it?’ she said to me brightly.

‘Oh yes,’ I said. ‘Beautiful.’ She smiled in response, but I could see her eyes flicking towards Jamie every few moments. If she kept staring like that, the laser-like intensity would have the flesh melting off his bones before long.

‘So you’ve adapted to this lovely place?’ Lucinda continued. ‘People tend to stay for their whole lives. That’s always what I thought I’d do.’ She was holding a long-stemmed glass containing something sparkling like champagne, which she was fitfully sipping.

Was Roshni trying to get us all drunk? As if on cue, she appeared, carrying a full glass for me.

‘I thought it was just tea and cake?’ I said, accepting it, then putting it down immediately. There was no way I was drinking in this situation. Her smile broadened, and she returned to the kitchen.

‘Do you ride?’ Lucinda said suddenly.

‘Nope,’ I said, wondering how many glasses she’d drunk.Not many riding schools in our neck of the woods, I added silently. I had once been taken on a trip for ‘disadvantaged children’ to a farm where I bounced around on a pony for half an hour whilst clinging to a neck strap. Utterly terrifying.

‘That’s a shame. You really should ride.’ Her eyes fixed on the place she wanted – Jamie’s face. ‘Don’t you think, Jamie? Anna should ride, shouldn’t she? If she’s going to stay at Stonemore?’

Roshni appeared in the doorway. She was holding a plate of fairy cakes but gave no indication that she was intending to offer them to anyone. She had heard Lucinda and come to watch what was developing.

‘Jamie!’ Lucinda half shouted, then gave a tinkling laugh. ‘We’re over here! Don’t you think?’

‘I’m sorry?’ Jamie reluctantly joined us.

‘Anna can’t ride. But it’s a skill one should pick up in the country, don’t you agree?’

‘I can ride,’ Tally chimed in. ‘It’s not exactly a special skill.’

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