‘So your dad and Hilary pretended that they had just bumped into each other accidentally?’ Sophie screwed her features into an incredulous ball. She had wasted no time in demanding an immediate account of my weekend the moment I had arrived at the office that morning, and she now sat staring at me in bemusement as I concluded my summary.
I nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘Bumped into each other accidentally in the Cotswolds?’ she clarified.
I continued to nod. ‘Yes.’
‘In a pub which was miles from where she was staying? Which she had decided to visit on a whim?’
‘Yes and… yes,’ I said.
‘God, I love your dad,’ she said, her face now relaxing into a smile. ‘He’s such value for money.’
I smiled. ‘I know.’
‘It is a very good story,’ said David, from the armchair in which he sat next to Sophie’s desk. ‘And, you know, I can actually understand their reasoning to an extent.’
Sophie turned to him. ‘And is the fact that you, Captain Harebrain, think their plan was a reasonable one supposed to carry some weight with somebody somewhere?’
‘I am simply saying,’ said David, ‘that I can see why, to them, leading Alice gently into a realisation of their relationship, rather than declaring it to her outright, might have seemed like a good idea.’
‘OK, well, thank you for your input and now shhhhh.’ Sophie reached across, placed a finger briefly on his lips and then returned her attention to me.
‘And did you,’ she asked, ‘at any time explain to Hilary that you hadn’t been at all fooled by the ruse?’
I pondered the point. ‘I don’t think I did. Dad knows, of course. But no, I didn’t say anything to Hilary and I’m pretty sure he didn’t.’
‘That’s even better,’ grinned Sophie, ‘because now Hilary’s gone away thinking that either she’s a better liar than Mata Hari…’
‘Or that I’m really dim.’ I concluded the point for her.
She clicked her fingers. ‘Got it in one!’
‘I’m certain she wouldn’t think Alice lacking in intelligence,’ said David.
‘Me too, actually.’ Sophie smiled at David. ‘You’ve just redeemed yourself there.’
He smiled, sighed and then hoisted himself out of the armchair. ‘Well, I’m just delighted the pair of you had such a lovely trip,’ he said. ‘And now, I must move on with Monday.’
‘Yes,’ I said, looking at the pile of mail on my desk. ‘It’s me to log-in, isn’t it?’
David paused by my desk en route to his office. ‘If you’re a little tired after your weekend, I’m more than happy to do the log-in today.’
‘You’re going to make somebody a lovely secretary one day, David,’ said Sophie.
He ignored her. ‘I actually find it quite relaxing.’
‘Thank you, David,’ I said, stealing a quick glance at Sophie who was now sitting in a despairing attitude, head in hands, ‘but I’m feeling well-rested and raring to go this morning.’
He smiled. ‘Well, that’s super to hear and I feel much the same.’
‘I don’t,’ muttered Sophie.
David walked through the open doorway of his office. ‘What a surprise,’ he said quietly, but audibly, before closing the door with an equally understated but definite click.
I looked at Sophie and she smiled broadly. ‘He’s getting so cheeky,’ she said. ‘Doubly happy I invited him to the book group dinner now.’
‘Aw, did you?’ I said. ‘And I assume he can come?’
She nodded, looking pleased. ‘He didn’t even ask the date.’
‘Really?’ I said, feeling surprised. David usually liked to plan ahead – and a very long way ahead at that.
‘I know,’ said Sophie. ‘It threw me a bit too. He just said yes, right away, and to let him know the date.’
‘But he’s usually so booked-up with Ascot and Queens and Wimbledon and Henley and goodness knows what.’ I thought for a moment. ‘You don’t think it’s because Romy is coming, do you?’
‘What would that have to do with it?’ asked Sophie, placing an elbow on the desk and resting her chin on her hand.
‘Well, when I told him a while ago who was going, he did seem very interested in her.’
‘Really? I didn’t know they’d even met.’
‘Yes, just briefly once or twice, when she’s popped into the office with Miriam. Maybe you’ve not been around.’ I picked up a pencil and began to tap it thoughtfully on my lower lip. ‘I think they’d actually make a really lovely couple, you know, because she’s so gentle and refined and—’
‘Northern?’ interrupted Sophie.
‘I was going to say ethereal, actually. And besides, being born in Northampton doesn’t make you northern. ’
‘OK.’ She shrugged and turned to her screen. ‘Anyway, are you bringing Stephen?’
I shook my head. ‘He can’t make it,’ I said.
She looked over her shoulder at me. ‘Oh no.’
I sighed. ‘He’s abroad on business. But it’s OK. I’m going to text Hugh later. I think he might actually be quite chuffed to be invited and I think Abs would love it.’
‘I think so too,’ Sophie agreed. ‘But it’s still a bit,’ she made a sad face, ‘about Stephen, though.’
‘It is a bit,’ I agreed, taking the first envelope from the pile of waiting mail.
I opened it and turned to my screen to log it in, realising as I did so that Sophie was still staring at me.
‘What is it?’ I asked.
She gave up any pretence of work and swivelled her chair to face me. ‘How are things with you and Jon?’ Her face was serious.
I laughed. ‘Gosh, you’re to the point.’
‘What can I tell you?’ She held her hands out, palms upwards, and shrugged. ‘It’s a gift. And besides, don’t think I haven’t noticed that you haven’t so much as uttered his name in days.’ She leaned towards me, resting her chin on her hand once again. ‘And it’s such a little name,’ she said. ‘Tiny.’
‘As usual, I haven’t got a clue what you’re on about,’ I smiled. ‘But things are fine with Jon.’ I looked again at the sheet of paper in my hand before binning it as junk mail. ‘I’m meeting him for a drink tonight, as a matter of fact,’ I added, looking at her.
She sat up and smiled. ‘Well, that’s great,’ she said.
‘It will be nice,’ I said, with affected nonchalance, reaching for and opening the next envelope. ‘You can come if you like.’
‘Thanks, but I can’t.’
‘Why? What are you up to?’ I asked, consigning a second piece of junk mail to the waste paper basket, rapidly followed by a third.
She didn’t answer and I looked up, to find her still smiling. ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
‘I just think it’s nice that you and Jon are sorting things out,’ she said. ‘I didn’t like the idea of you being upset with each other.’
‘Me neither,’ I admitted.
‘Right,’ she turned to her screen once more, ‘well, I’d better get on with this. And you,’ without turning around, she extended her right arm towards me and pointed downwards, ‘better start going through that bin of yours.’
I looked at the bin. ‘Why?’
‘Because you have just thrown away two cheques and an invoice from Riley Bathrooms. I don’t know, Alice Waites,’ she shook her head in a theatrically despairing manner, ‘it’s as if your mind is simply elsewhere this morning.’