Chapter Nine #3
Flynn went on, ‘Kate and Dad are on our table too, but I can’t remember the other four.
’ He frowned in concentration. ‘Oh yes, we’ve got Mark “I’m God’s gift to Highbury” Knightley and Saint Jane.
When I saw that Kate had them paired off, I made her give them other partners immediately — on the grounds of cruelty to dumb animals. ’
Kate was certainly on a matchmaking mission; I forced a smile. ‘Who’s the dumb animal — Mark or Jane?’
He shrugged. ‘Either. Both. Look at him talking to her over there.’ His lip curled.
‘He’s probably holding forth about his exploits in India.
You know the sort of thing — exciting late night negotiations to purchase biodegradable paper clips for the office, thrilling weekends spent sampling cups of tea for Donwell Organics’ new line in Lapsong Souchong. ’
‘That’s from China, you idiot,’ I said, with a giggle.
‘I’ll take your word for it, my Darjeeling. But Mark Knightley seems to lead such a dreary life, doesn’t he? Work, work, work — he must be the most boring man on the planet. What a waste of all those years in a place like India.’
I shook my head. ‘Actually, from what I know he had a very busy social life in India. But I agree, over here it seems to have been all work and no play.’
Especially since he split up with her , I added to myself.
Flynn stared across at Mark and Jane. ‘Why do women bother with him?’
‘Isn’t it obvious?’ I risked a quick glance myself, trying to see Mark through the eyes of a stranger. ‘He’s extremely good-looking. Very intelligent. Great company, believe it or not.’
And a sublime kisser.
I allowed my thoughts to wander, just for a moment . . .
Flynn’s edgy laugh brought me back to earth. ‘Strewth! Who’d settle for me when they can have all that?’
I reached up and put my finger to his lips. ‘Be quiet, you know you’re wonderful. Different from Mark, of course, but still wonderful.’
He pulled me to him. ‘And you’re very different from Saint Jane.’
I pressed my body against his, feeling curiously light-headed. His face was so close, I just knew he was going to kiss me. Here. Now. In front of everyone—
‘Emma, your father wants you.’ It was Mark, right beside us, his voice icy with disapproval. ‘According to the agenda for the evening, you should have announced dinner three minutes ago.’
Flynn let go of me with a scowl. ‘Three minutes, is that all? Keep your hair on, mate. Anyhow, looks like some of us have other agendas for this evening, doesn’t it?’
‘Speak for yourself,’ Mark said, tersely.
Without a word, I lifted my chin and stalked off to make the announcement. Inside, I was seething. Trust him to interfere; Big Brother, always watching over me.
Well, he wouldn’t be able to guard me all night, would he?
* * *
~~MARK~~
While I talked to Jane, I kept a close eye on Emma and Churchill; at least, as much as I could without seeming rude. Then Henry joined us, in a flap about timings and wanting Emma to call everyone through to dinner.
‘I’ll get her for you,’ I said, suddenly aware that she was clinging to Churchill in a most suggestive manner.
Needless to say, it was exactly how I’d have liked her to cling to me.
So I interrupted them, then immediately regretted it; I must have sounded like a pompous old fart.
And I wondered what Churchill meant about other agendas; could he sense that mine was to keep him away from her for as long as possible?
Emma’s voice came across the public address system, clear and confident.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, dinner’s about to be served.
If you haven’t already done so, please look at the seating plan in the far corner and find out who your partner is.
Then, in your pairs, form an orderly line by table number and we’ll go through into the Marlborough Room. Thank you.’
As soon as she finished speaking, people surged to the back of the room, anxious to see the plan. I hung back, in no hurry to join the crush.
Elton sidled up to me. ‘I don’t need to look at the plan, someone said we were on your table. Gusty’s gone to the Ladies, but she’ll be back in a tick.’
Before I could answer, Kate arrived with Harriet in tow. ‘Hello, you two,’ she said brightly. ‘Waiting for your partners?’
Harriet looked distinctly uncomfortable; I couldn’t tell whether it was because of Elton, me, or the outfit she was wearing, which I could only describe as two black net curtains held together by large, vicious-looking gold safety pins.
‘That’s right,’ Elton said. ‘Gusty won’t be long, she’s—’
‘Oh no, Philip,’ Kate put in, with a peal of laughter. ‘You’re not allowed to sit together, I’ve deliberately split couples up so that they have to be sociable.’
Elton smirked. ‘What a great idea, can’t wait to see who you’ve got lined up for me. And Gusty won’t mind a bit, she’s always more than happy to network.’
At that moment Emma hurried up to us, her face pale and set. ‘Kate, I need a word about the seating plan. In private.’
Kate smiled at her. ‘In a minute, Emma.’ She turned to me with an apologetic look. ‘Slight change to the original plan, you’re partnering me now.’
‘Delighted,’ I said automatically, wondering what was bothering Emma; maybe Kate had slipped up and she’d not been paired with Churchill.
Kate turned to Elton. ‘Philip, you’re with Harriet. It’s the first Highbury Foods party for both of you, I thought you could compare notes.’
The effect on Elton was instant; his features froze in an ugly mask. ‘For fuck’s sake, I can’t possibly partner her .’
We all stared at him.
‘Gusty knows no one here except me,’ he went on, his voice rising to a petulant whine. ‘It wouldn’t be fair to split us up, I insist on us being together.’
Emma moved forward. I saw her hand start a swift upward swing and knew that in a couple of seconds she would slap Elton’s face. Even though the wanker deserved it, I couldn’t let her do it.
‘Harriet,’ I said, stepping quickly in front of Emma, ‘I’d love you to be my partner — it’s the first time here for me, too. Kate, would you mind?’
Kate let out a long breath. ‘Not at all, I’ll partner Terry. Which means you can partner your girlfriend,’ she added, with a dismissive nod in Elton’s direction.
I gave Harriet a reassuring smile. ‘Shall we lead everyone in to dinner?’
As she came to stand at my side, blushing and giggling, something made me glance across at Emma.
She was looking straight at me, as if waiting for my cue .
. . Her lips mouthed ‘Thank you’, then curved in a dazzling smile that made my heart pound like a drum.
For a moment we were the only people in the room, sharing a secret, understanding each other perfectly, bound by old indestructible ties.
Perhaps the evening would be tolerable after all.
* * *
~~EMMA~~
Philip seemed unaffected by his outburst, devouring four courses with obvious relish.
Some of us weren’t quite so relaxed. I merely picked at the meal I’d been looking forward to for weeks; Harriet was even clumsier than usual, dropping her cutlery with monotonous regularity and giggling every time Mark retrieved it; Kate barely spoke, as if she couldn’t trust herself to be civil to anyone; and even Mark seemed to have lost his appetite.
He made up for it in wine, though, and I couldn’t blame him. We were on the Table From Hell.
With the normally talkative Terry hampered by a silent Saint Jane on one side and a glowering Kate on the other, it was left to Flynn, Gusty and Tom to keep the conversation going. Gusty was more obnoxious than ever, boasting constantly about Maple Grove being ‘something big in Bristol’.
I managed a wan smile when Flynn whispered to me, ‘Doesn’t she mean “Bristols”?’, before returning to my thoughts.
Thoughts about Mark. Feelings of . . .
Gratitude, that was it; for my own sake as well as Harriet’s. After all, he’d rescued both of us from a humiliating scene, although I suspected no one else had noticed my instinctive reaction to Philip’s rudeness.
On one level, Mark had taken charge of the situation in his usual way — understated yet totally effective; on another level, his intervention had been nothing less than heroic. There was simply no other word for it.
I decided I would ask him for a dance, to thank him properly.
So, when we’d finished the meal and the disco had started, I made my way towards him.
But I had to grab the table to steady myself — probably the effect of too much wine and too little food.
By the time I’d recovered, he was on the dance floor with Harriet; trust him to go the extra mile.
Dad beckoned to me from the next table and I went over, sympathy at the ready. ‘How was your special menu?’
He grimaced. ‘I’m not sure, there may be — repercussions. Kate and Tom are still taking me home, aren’t they? I hope they don’t stay too late.’
I made reassuring noises and moved away, on the pretext of checking that everyone was enjoying themselves. In reality, I was looking for Flynn. After such a promising start to the evening, I’d hardly exchanged two words with him. Now he was nowhere to be seen.
As I wandered round the room for the third time, I came to an abrupt halt. A few feet away, in a secluded corner, Mark was leaning back against a pillar; arms folded and eyes closed, the sadness on his face unmistakable.
He must really miss Tamara on a night like this . . .
I took a deep breath. ‘Mark, would you like to dance?’
He opened one eye, then the other, and gave a sardonic laugh. ‘With you? That’s the last sodding thing I need.’
I clenched my fists and turned away, his rejection stirring dark memories. ‘You’re as bad as Philip. No, you’re much, much worse!’
‘Didn’t mean it to come out like that, must be the drink,’ I heard him mutter.
What sort of apology was that?