Chapter Forty
‘Of course, how could I forget her,’ he answered with a smile. He took her hand and shook it warmly. ‘How are you, Annie? It’s been a long time.’
‘I’m very well thank you . . . and yes, it has been some time.’
Their eyes locked and suddenly they might have been the only two people in the room.
Annie could feel the heat rise in her cheeks and she knew in that moment that what she felt for him had not changed. ‘And, er . . . how are you?’ she managed to ask, although her voice came out as a croak.
‘Oh, you know – I mustn’t grumble.’ He shrugged, never taking his eyes off her as Marie left to check with the cook how long the dinner would be.
‘And your little girl?’ She didn’t like to question him about his wife.
‘Oh, she’s fine, growing like a weed. And your family? Marie told me you have a young son.’
She nodded. ‘Much the same. Adam seems to grow another inch every time I turn my back.’
‘So have you come to London especially for this evening?’ he asked. ‘I had no idea you and Marie had kept in touch.’
She shook her head. ‘No, I live here now. We moved some time ago when I opened my new shop.’
‘Really?’ He was surprised that neither John nor Marie had ever mentioned it, although in fairness he didn’t see that much of them. He and John both worked in office jobs for the government and sometimes didn’t see each other for months.
Marie returned and the conversation was stopped from going any further when she announced, ‘Dinner is ready, would you all like to follow me to the dining room please.’
Annie felt as if her legs had developed a life of their own as Alex tucked her hand into his arm and escorted her along the hallway. Her hand felt as if it was on fire as the warmth of him seeped through his jacket and her heart was thumping so loudly, she was sure he must be able to hear it.
Could she have known it, seeing her again had greatly affected him too. He did wonder why her husband hadn’t accompanied her, but was selfishly glad that he hadn’t. At least he could have her to himself, if only for a little time.
The dining room was ablaze with candles and a huge fire was roaring up the chimney.
The table looked superb. Marie’s finest silver cutlery, bone-china dinner service and glistening cut-glass goblets were laid on a crisp, white cloth and a huge vase of flowers stood in the centre of the table, scenting the room.
‘Please be seated,’ Marie told them as the maid poured them their first glass of wine. She and John sat at either end of the table with Miriam and Victor on one side and Annie seated next to Alex on the other.
‘There is a choice of starters,’ Marie announced. ‘Please do tell the maid what you would prefer. We have soupe à l’oignon or escargots de bourgogne.’
‘Or for anyone that doesn’t speak French, that’s French onion soup or snails in garlic,’ John chuckled.
The men all decided on the second choice while the women opted for the soup, although, as delicious as it was, it seemed to stick in Annie’s throat. She was painfully aware of Alex’s closeness and was sweating despite the bitterly cold night beyond the windows.
For the main meal there was a choice of coq au vin or boeuf bourguignon, both of which proved to be delicious, followed by dessert, profiteroles or crème brulée, served with thick, fresh cream.
‘Oh goodness, I must have put on at least ten pounds this evening,’ Miriam groaned with a giggle when they’d finished. ‘Compliments to the chef, Marie. Everything was beautiful.’
‘I was very lucky to find and employ a French chef.’ Marie smiled. ‘I tend to find much of your English food quite bland. Now, you must have some cheese and biscuits with your coffee before the men retire to John’s study for a cigar and a glass of port.’
Eventually the women made their way back to the sitting room where glasses of sherry were waiting for them and Marie commented innocently, ‘It was nice to see Alex again, oui, Annie?’
Not knowing quite what to say, Annie merely nodded as she sipped at her sherry.
She’d already had far more wine than she normally drank and she was beginning to feel a little tipsy.
Thankfully the conversation turned to Marie’s baby and soon after she led them upstairs to see the nursery that was being prepared for the new arrival.
‘The waistbands on my skirt are becoming a little tight.’ She smiled. ‘But John tells me he will still love me and it will be worth it when our little one arrives. I can ’ardly wait.’
‘And what are you hoping for, a boy or a girl?’ Miriam asked. She already had one of each.
‘Oh, John and I do not mind what it is,’ Marie answered. ‘That is why we agreed to stick to neutral colours in ’ere. The main colour is yellow, so it won’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl.’
‘Very sensible,’ Miriam agreed. She could see that the room would be very attractive when the decorators were finished, but then she wouldn’t have expected anything else from Marie. She had taste.
When they made their way back downstairs, Miriam excused herself to visit the ladies’ room and Marie turned to Annie. ‘Is everything all right, ma chèrie? You ’ave been a little quiet this evening.’
‘Everything’s fine,’ Annie assured her as they took a seat. ‘I suppose I’m just a little tired.’
‘And it was nice to see Monsieur Alex again, oui?’
‘Er . . . yes.’
Seeing the flush that rose in Annie’s cheeks, Marie frowned. She had a feeling she was missing something here, but she had no idea what it might be. Even so, she would make it her business to find out. Smiling she topped up Annie’s glass once more.
‘Would you like a lift home, Annie?’ Alex asked when the evening was drawing to a close.
‘Thank you, but I believe John has already ordered a car to take me home,’ Annie answered.
He looked disappointed. ‘Oh, in that case I hope to see you again at some point. Look after yourself.’
‘You too.’ She hurried away to fetch her coat, then she kissed Marie and John goodbye, nodded to the other guests, and left.
On the way home her head was spinning. So much had happened recently.
Peggy and Levi deciding to get married. Discovering who her birth parents were, and then the terrible attack on Nancy.
And now seeing the man who still owned her heart this evening.
It was no wonder her emotions were all over the place.
Thankfully when she got back, Nancy had gone to bed leaving Jamie to sit by the fire and read the newspaper in case Adam woke and needed anything. He really was such a thoughtful young man and she knew Nancy would be in good hands when they did get married.
‘Did you have a good evening?’ he asked.
She nodded. ‘It was lovely. Thank you for stopping to keep an ear out for Adam.’ Nancy was so much better, but she still tired easily.
‘I’ll get off now then.’ He stifled a yawn. ‘I’ve got an early start tomorrow so I’m ready fer me bed. Night, Annie.’
She followed him downstairs and made sure that all the doors and windows were securely locked behind him.
With a quick glance across the road to ensure no one was there, she went back upstairs to get ready for bed.
Half of her had loved seeing Alex again but the other half was sad that she had.
It had awakened feelings that she had been trying to bury.
She wondered why Alex’s wife hadn’t accompanied him to the dinner party, but perhaps they were still on bad terms. He had told her long ago that he only stayed for the sake of Lucy, his little girl.
With a sigh she slipped between the cold sheets, but the dawn was rising before she eventually fell into a restless sleep where her dreams were full of Alex.