“Hi, Venetia. You’re looking lovely.”
Venetia smiles, and I wasn’t lying because tonight she does. She’s wearing a beautiful emerald green dress that complements her amazing red hair, which is hanging long and wavy down her back. Her fair skin looks glowing and, on the whole, she looks totally amazing.
She smiles with gratitude and says in her trademark husky voice, “I went to a spa for a few days. It was just what the doctor ordered after the emotions of the last few weeks.”
I stare at her in surprise because, out of all us, Venetia appears to have no emotion. She’s always been the closed one of the group. There’s a wall she puts up that lets hardly anyone in and she can be totally relied upon to be level-headed and the one who always tells it how it is.
As I stare at her, it strikes me that I don’t really know much about her at all. Mind you, if my friends knew half the stuff about me, they would be astonished.
She drives towards the town and says unexpectedly, “Have you seen much of Arabella lately?”
“Not really. Her parents came, and I wasn’t brave enough to go and call. I know Fleur did and there was some sort of altercation, but that all happened before… well, Anton.”
Venetia nods. “Terrible business. I still can’t believe he’s gone, can you? Poor Fleur.”
“Yes, poor Fleur. I know we all doubted her sincerity when she first came, but I really do believe she loved Anton.”
Nodding, Venetia says sadly, “I wonder what she’ll do now?”
Thinking back to our conversation yesterday, I say sadly, “She’s struggling. She was quite cold towards me when I popped round and I heard she’s going away for a few days.”
“Do you know where?”
“No, but probably to stay with one of her friends from Anton’s club. We forget she’s part of another crowd sometimes and they will know more than most what she’s going through.”
“Why, have their husbands been murdered too?”
I stare at Venetia in surprise, because her sharp tone is unexpected. “No… I didn’t mean that… of course not.”
She sighs. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so on edge. What happened to Anton is truly terrible and, of course, not normal. Perhaps I’m just on edge about this whole thing. If Anton was murdered, then who did it? This place is like a fortress most of the time and if anyone got in, surely one of us would have seen them. Just getting past those electric gates is a feat in itself, then again… you don’t think that it could have been…”
I shake my head in horror. “One of us? Oh my god, Venetia, no, of course, it wouldn’t be any of us. We loved Anton. Why would any of us kill him?”
She shrugs. “Perhaps it was an accident. Who knows, he may have been arguing with someone; the bruises on his body would explain a fight. Maybe he was pushed and hit his head.”
“I doubt it. If that did happen, whoever he argued with would have pulled him out and called for help. No, I don’t think it was murder, or an argument. Probably he was walking by his pool and slipped and his injuries were a result of that.”
Venetia laughs softly. “Typical Miranda, always looking for the good in everyone and the simplest explanation. What does James think? He’s seen a few cases in his time. Surely he has an opinion on this?”
My heart twists at the mention of James and I say bitterly, “I wouldn’t know.”
Venetia looks at me with interest as I sigh heavily. “We don’t talk anymore. James and I, well… we may live in the same house, but we lead very separate lives. I’m not sure when it all happened, but has been the case for some time now.”
To my surprise, Venetia nods. “Same.”
I stare at her in shock and she laughs dully. “Matthew and I are like ships in the night. I work away a lot and when I’m home, he works. We haven’t had a holiday in ages and our sex life is practically non-existent.”
She turns into a parking bay outside the local wine bar and says with determination. “Come on, let’s go and have some fun. I don’t know about you, but I need to switch off from The Chase and all its problems for one night. How about we forget our partners, enjoy a few drinks and remember the women we are for once?”
As I follow her inside, I say quickly, “What about the car? You can’t drink.”
She shrugs. “Then we’ll get a cab home, or who knows, perhaps some kind man will offer us a lift? Come on, Miranda, let’s forget our stuffy husbands for one night and remind ourselves that we’re attractive women who deserve better.”
As I follow her inside, it strikes me how little I know of my friend. I never thought for one moment she was going through the same thing as I am and it makes my heart lift a little. Yes, I’m up for a spot of serious flirting tonight because increasingly I’m becoming aware that my marriage is on the rocks and I need to find a replacement- sharpish.
* * *
The wine bar is heaving tonight and by the time we grab a bottle of Prosecco, it’s quite difficult to find a seat. Luckily, we notice a couple getting ready to leave in the centre of the room and quickly take their place.
Conversation is difficult because the noise is off the scale, so I just glance around me with interest and soon a man sitting opposite catches my eye. He is looking at me with a thoughtful expression and I smile before turning away. Hm, just my type. Dark hair, rough beard and clothes that tell me he takes care of himself.
Feeling conscious of him, I smile and act like a woman with no cares or worries. I pout suggestively and laugh at the conversation and just feel glad that I no longer wear my wedding ring. James hasn’t even noticed, but I stopped wearing it weeks ago. It now lives in my jewellery box because I can no longer stand the sight of it. It chains me to a loveless marriage and I want out.
Venetia appears to be on some sort of mission herself, and I recognise the lost expression in her eyes as she downs several glasses of Prosecco and desperately tries to enjoy herself. There’s a sadness to her that reaches out and pulls me in, because I must wear that same expression on my face. I’m surprised, though, because Matthew is a sweetheart. He’s always been funny, sweet and a bit of a joker. I’ve always envied Venetia because he appears to idolise her. In a crowded room, he always searched for her with his eyes. I see the longing mixed with pride when he watches her, and I always considered them the dream couple. The standard we all hoped to reach one day and yet here she is, looking so sad, it makes me catch my breath.
It must be an hour later that she says loudly, “All of that Prosecco has made me need the ladies. I won’t be long.”
Nodding, I watch her scrape back her chair and leave, and I turn my attention to my glass instead. However, almost as soon as she’s gone, her chair is taken and I stare in surprise as the man from across the bar slides into her seat and looks at me with so much heat in his gaze I’m blown away.
“Hi, I’m Miles Sullivan. I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve been watching you for some time now and you intrigue me.”
I blush. “Me?”
He nods and leans in and I swallow hard. “Yes, you. Tell me, what brings you out drinking on a Wednesday night?”
“Why not? My friend asked, and I fancied the company. I could say the same thing to you.”
He smiles and my pulse starts to race as my gaze travels the length of him. He has that confident aura of a man who knows he wants. A tanned chest peeks out from a shirt unbuttoned low enough to provide a glimpse of a hard chest, with a smattering of dark hair. A rough stubble-filled face gives him a masculine edge and his dark brown eyes flash as he devours me with one long, sexy look. I feel my mouth dry and run my tongue over my lips, my heart beating frantically as I imagine all sorts of deprivation at his hands.
This man is every naughty dream I’ve ever had, and he is looking at me with such intent that it takes my breath away.
Leaning in, he says in a husky voice, “I would like to get to know you better, but time is against us.”
I gasp, “Why?”
My heart flutters as he says ruefully, “Because I leave for New York in the morning.”
“Forever?”
He nods. “I run a business out there and will be away for some time. The trouble is, now I’ve met you and it kind of changes everything.”
“Why?”
“Because you are everything I’ve been looking for and I’ve been looking for a long time.”
My head starts spinning as the power of his words hits me. I try to tell myself he’s just spinning me a tale, a pickup line that he must use every day but he’s hit the jackpot with me because I’m desperate, needy and so open to adventure, I could write a book on it.
I note Venetia heading my way and he says urgently, “Meet me outside in five minutes.”
I feel my heart thumping as he leaves and Venetia says in surprise, “Who was that?”
I laugh nervously and reach for the bottle, pouring myself a large glass. “Some man trying his luck.”
Looking after him, Venetia whistles. “He’s impressive. What did you say?”
I shrug as if indifferent. “Nothing. I am married, after all.”
Venetia laughs. “But your marriage ended ages ago, as did mine.”
I stare at her in surprise. “What are you saying?”
Suddenly, she looks so sad it takes my breath away. “I’m saying I’ve made mistakes, and the biggest one was marrying Matthew. He’s a decent guy, but he bores me to death. He’s everything I’m not and living with him is suffocating me. I go away a lot to escape him and I don’t know what to do about it.”
She holds up the empty bottle of Prosecco and smiles sadly. “I’m getting us another one of these. I need alcohol tonight to dull the pain.”
As she makes to leave, I say quickly, “I’ll just head to the ladies. I won’t be long.”
She nods and I quickly head outside before I change my mind. This should be interesting.