Page 65 of A Summer Scandal

‘Just go, Cal.’

‘I—’

‘Have fun,’ Vi cut across him. ‘Don’t forget your sun cream.’

She turned her back on him and started to sort through the new delivery of feathers on her workbench, and she didn’t turn back around again until she heard him leave the birdcage to go home to his wife. She’d never felt more like her grandmother, and it made her as miserable as sin.

Life didn’t get any easier with Cal out of the picture. In fact, Violet’s Dearheart issues went from bad to worse a couple of mornings later when, despite attempts to intervene from Keris, the Lady Mayoress steamed her way along the pier and into Violet’s studio.

‘Gladys,’ Vi said, taking her foot off the sewing machine pedal. ‘What can I help you with?’

‘I have it on good authority that you’re organising an orgy on the pier in three weeks. Did you honestly imagine you’d get that past me?’

‘An orgy?’ Vi said, nonplussed.

‘I think she means Beau’s awards ceremony,’ Keris said, hovering by the doorway.

Ah.

‘Awards ceremony my eye,’ Gladys said, looking at her clipboard. ‘“A night of good sex”,’ she read, curling her lip with distaste as her voice dropped an octave, as if the words were summoned by the devil. ‘That’s what your advert says, bold as brass.’

‘My advert?’

Gladys sucked air between her clenched teeth and smacked her clipboard down for Violet’s examination. Clipped to it was a glossy A5 flyer for the awards evening, and someone, Beau presumably, had indeed advertised a night of good sex. Great. She made a mental note to throttle the affable American with one of Cal’s whips the next time she saw him.

‘It’s tongue in cheek, Gladys.’

‘Lady Mayoress Dearheart.’

Vi refrained from rolling her eyes, just. ‘It’s a perfectly legitimate awards ceremony. They’re using the pier as an emergency venue, that’s all.’

‘Bythey, you mean all manner of perverts and smut peddlers, I take it?’

‘Bythey, I mean people like Cal,’ Violet countered, and Keris high-fived the air behind Gladys, who was looking as if she’d swallowed a lemon.

‘I’m sure you’re more than well aware that Calvin’s salacious sideline was just a distraction, he needed something to keep him busy while Ursula was overseas on business.’

Violet’s eyes doubled in size.Overseas on business?Was the woman deranged?

‘And now she’s returned and things will get back to how they should be, you mark my words.’

Vi couldn’t decide if Gladys really believed the stuff she was spouting or if it was just wishful thinking.

‘And he’s told you that himself, has he?’ Vi hated herself for not being more dignified and keeping the question inside her head.

‘As good as,’ Gladys shot back. ‘He’s a Dearheart. He needed to sow his wild oats, and now he’s ready to return and plough his furrow.’

‘You’ve lost me,’ Vi said, wondering if she was one of Cal’s wild oats.

‘I think the Lady Mayoress means she wants Cal to plough Ursula’s furrow,’ Keris said, a wicked glint in her eye.

‘Don’t be so disgusting, Keris Harwood, I said no such thing,’ Gladys said, pushing her glasses up her nose.

‘You sort of did. And I don’t think you’re right, because Ursula’s a horror and would make his life hell. Surely you don’t want that for him?’

Vi looked between the two of them.

‘I’d thank you not to speak ill of my daughter-in-law,’ Gladys said, looking down her nose, but even Vi could hear the lack of conviction.

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