Chapter Twenty-Three
Aster swept through Heathrow’s Terminal Five, her carry-on bag rolling silently behind her. She’d timed her arrival precisely, aiming to minimise interaction with the trade delegation before the flight. The upgrade to first-class had been a necessary extravagance, ensuring a reprieve from forced small talk and prying questions.
As she approached the first-class check-in desk, Aster smiled as the attendant checked her in.
‘Good afternoon, Lady Aster. Checking in for the flight to Mumbai?’
Aster nodded, handing over her passport and booking reference. As the attendant processed her paperwork, Aster’s gaze drifted to the nearby business-class desk, where a small gathering of people wearing matching lanyards were huddled.
‘Lady Aster Byrne!’ A shrill voice cut through the airport noise, laced with a hint of resentment.
Aster turned, her face an impassive mask, to see a short, plump woman with frizzy red hair marching towards her. The woman’s lanyard bounced aggressively as she moved.
‘I’m Penelope Hardwicke, the delegation coordinator,’ she announced, a touch too loudly. ‘We were expecting you to check in with the group, Lady Aster.’ The emphasis on Aster’s title carried a note of disdain.
‘Ms Hardwicke,’ Aster replied coolly, ‘I’m afraid my schedule didn’t allow for that. I’m sure you understand.’
Penelope’s eyes narrowed, her lips pursing. ‘Well, now that you’re here, we need to go over the itinerary and protocols. The minister is joining us in a few days and I can’t stress how important it is that things run smoothly and everyone plays their part.’ The last words dripped with barely concealed disdain.
‘I’m certain all necessary information will be provided on the flight,’ Aster responded, her tone glacial. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me.’
Before Penelope could retort, a tall, lanky young man with thick-rimmed glasses approached. ‘Lady Aster! It’s an honour to meet you. I’m Ethan Croft. I’ve been working with your sister Nick on Hiverton’s tech initiatives.’
Aster’s expression thawed ever so slightly at the mention of her sister. ‘Mr Croft. Nick has spoken of your work.’
Ethan beamed. ‘She’s brilliant, isn’t she? The way she’s integrated blockchain technology into the muslin supply chain is revolutionary. I’m hoping to expand on that during this trip.’
A ghost of a smile played at the corners of Aster’s lips. ‘Indeed. Nick’s always one step ahead’
Penelope, clearly miffed at being sidelined, interjected. ‘Yes, yes, very nice. Now, Lady Aster, about the delegation protocols—’
‘I’m sure Mr Croft can brief me, if necessary,’ Aster cut her off smoothly. ‘Now, I have some urgent matters to attend to before we board. Good day, Ms Hardwicke. Mr Croft, I look forward to hearing more about your work with Nick in Mumbai.’
Penelope, clearly frustrated by Aster’s dismissive attitude, pressed on. ‘Lady Aster, I must insist we go over your schedule. We have a series of engagements planned—’
‘I’m afraid that won’t be necessary,’ Aster interjected coolly. ‘I’ll be travelling on to Kolkata directly after our arrival. I won’t be available for any Mumbai events.’
Penelope’s face reddened. ‘But that’s not possible! As part of the delegation, you’re expected to attend all events. Especially the High Commissioner’s black-tie gala!’
‘As I’ve said, Ms Hardwicke, it won’t be possible,’ Aster repeated, her tone brooking no argument.
Penelope’s eyes narrowed. ‘The gala is on the final night. You’ll be back in Mumbai to catch the return flight the next morning. There’s no reason you can’t attend.’ She paused, then added with a hint of triumph, ‘Nick assured me you would be there.’
Aster felt a flicker of surprise, quickly masked. She nodded curtly, realising she’d been outmanoeuvred by her sister. Nick had found a way to make her pay for the first-class upgrade, after all.
‘If you’ll excuse me,’ Aster said, her voice cool and controlled, ‘I believe they’re boarding first-class now.’
Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and strode towards the first-class gate, leaving behind a smugly satisfied Penelope and a bemused Ethan.
As she walked away, Aster allowed herself a small, rueful laugh. Nick had played her masterfully, ensuring she couldn’t completely avoid her obligations to the delegation. It was a reminder that her sister was always thinking several moves ahead.
Boarding the plane, Aster was momentarily distracted by the opulence of the first-class cabin. Soft lighting glowed off polished wood and buttery leather, creating an atmosphere more akin to a luxury hotel than a plane. Each seat was a private pod, a cocoon of comfort and exclusivity.
As she settled into her plush seat, Aster’s mind drifted to her wardrobe crisis. The emerald silk dress was lovely, but hardly appropriate for a High Commissioner’s gala. Perhaps an emergency shopping trip in Mumbai? Or maybe she could convince Clem to overnight something suitably glamorous…
So engrossed was she in mental fashion logistics that she barely registered the presence beside her until a familiar voice broke through her reverie.
‘Well, if it isn’t my favourite auction saboteur.’
Aster’s head snapped up, her eyes meeting Edward’s twinkling gaze. He lounged in the adjacent seat, looking unfairly handsome and entirely too pleased with himself.
‘Edward?’ Aster spluttered, composure momentarily deserting her. ‘What the hell?’
He grinned, clearly enjoying her discomfort. ‘Why, I’m part of the delegation too. Complete coincidence, I assure you.’
Aster’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. ‘Oh really? And what’s your role in all this?’
‘Just some work with a small government agency,’ Edward replied airily. ‘Looking into a few… issues.’
‘How conveniently vague,’ Aster muttered.
She glanced around desperately, hoping to spot an empty seat, but the cabin was full. With a huff, she reached for the partition between their seats, slamming it closed.
Edward’s voice drifted through moments later, addressing a flight attendant. ‘A glass of champagne for myself and my lovely companion, please.’
The partition flew open again, Aster fixing Edward with a glare that could melt steel. ‘I am not your companion,’ she hissed.
Edward merely winked at the flight attendant, who giggled at their antics.
Aster glared at her.
‘I’ll have a grapefruit juice, please.’ Sliding the partition closed again, she waited until the attendant brought her glass around to her side. Aster was amused to see she was served by a different attendant. No doubt it was policy not to annoy or upset the first-class passengers. The first attendant’s giggling had been very unprofessional in Aster’s eyes.
Annoyed with herself for being so easily bothered, she pulled out her phone and sent Nick a quick message seeing if she could duck out of the function. The response was quick and brutal. If she failed to attend, she would let the family down. Aster hissed. Every time, Nick was one step ahead.
‘Problems?’
Edward’s disembodied voice drifted through the partition.
‘No.’
‘Maybe I can help?’
‘With my lack of problems?’
‘I heard a hiss. Maybe there’s a snake on board. Should I call an attendant?’
‘For a snake?’
‘Who knows? Apparently, Hollywood made a successful film on that very premise.’
Aster’s lips twitched. She liked the sense of ridiculousness.
‘And what if you start a panic?’
‘Well, the source of that hissing needs to be located.’
Aster smiled at the humour in his voice and slid open the screen.
‘If you must know, I was trying to get out of this ball at the end of the week.’
Edward raised an eyebrow. ‘Not one for social engagements?’
‘Hardly.’
‘Maybe you could bring a book?’
Aster frowned trying to work out why that was familiar.
‘A book? We’ve joked about books before, haven’t we?’
For a moment, a deep scowl flashed across Edward’s face. Then it was gone, replaced by a warm smile like a sunny day.
‘It was in the nightclub. We both agreed the music was dreadful and that the very least the club could do was to provide a quiet reading spot.’
‘Ah, right.’ Aster nodded and then looked out of her window. A silence fell between them and she turned back awkwardly. She had nothing to fear from him. ‘Thank you. I think what I hate most about that evening is the lack of memory.’
‘Not feeling powerless? You strike me as someone who would hate that.’
‘Oh, I do,’ she laughed ruefully. ‘But even when I’ve seemed to be in a powerless state in the past, my brain has been working overtime to develop solutions, things I can do or get others to do to improve the situation. But that night…’ She sighed. ‘That night, I wasn’t even present. I didn’t even know I was powerless, that I was in danger. I mean-’ She trailed off, biting her lip. ‘Anyway. Every scrap of memory that I can claw back from that evening and the following day is a godsend, and even if I can’t remember it, it’s good to know about it.’
Uncomfortable at having said so much, Aster looked out the window again.
‘So, about this ball. Apart from the desire to be anywhere but there and no books to read, have you any other objections?’
Aster was about to reply, but broke it off laughing. Her answer sounded inane. As she looked at Edward, his eyebrows shot up and she realised how rarely she laughed.
‘It’s just, and I know this sounds insanely dumb, I have nothing to wear.’
‘Then I think your solution is obvious.’
‘Buy a dress?’
‘No. You don’t want to go. So don’t go.’
‘I have to go.’
‘You don’t have to do anything.’
‘Of course I do. My sister said so.’
‘And…’
‘And clearly you don’t have any siblings.’
‘I don’t, but if I did, I still wouldn’t do things just because they said so.’
‘We have a different sense of family. I will do anything for mine.’ She stared hard at him. ‘Anything. What if your parents asked you to do something? You’d do it for them, wouldn’t you?’
‘I guess, but they died when I was twenty.’
Aster had been leaning towards him, engaged in the conversation but now she recoiled. It was too much. She was overwhelmed. He had no family. Nothing. And the pain of losing her own folks suddenly came crashing down on her as she contemplated losing her sisters as well. The plane began to taxi.
‘Are you okay?’
Lost in her own thoughts, Aster shook her head, trying to dismiss the uncomfortable bond between them.
‘Yes. I’m sorry about your family.’ She picked up a book and nodded towards it. ‘Look, I’m just going to read now. Excuse me.’
Closing the partition between them, she took a sip of her grapefruit juice, but it tasted too sour. She put it to one side and wondered just how much more this flight could screw up.