Page 69 of Mayfair Madame
“She’s not a prostitute. She’s a business owner and lives in Mayfair in a penthouse.” Why was this such an issue?
“So monied, then. I guess being on the game pays.”
“For fuck’s sake, Lucy. Didn’t you hear what I said?” My pulse raced, and if the cat hadn’t been sitting on my lap, I’d have got up and left.
“I heard you. Loud and clear. You’re dating a rich hooker.”
“Oh, my God. I shouldn’t have said anything. I shouldn’t have come.” As if she sensed my anger, Biscuits jumped off my lapand ran out the back door. If only I could do the same. “I’ll go see Mum, then head back to London.”
“Ellie.” The frustration in her voice was clear, but Lucy took hold of my wrist. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, you shouldn’t. Why can’t you be happy for me? For once in your fucking life.”
“I am, I am. I…”
“You don’t know her. She’s kind, thoughtful, caring.” She’d put me up in her apartment since coming out of the hospital. Paid for my ticket to get here.
I owed her a lot in a short space of time. Would Kate have done that for me? Would she fuck? Naomi was ten times the person Kate had ever been.
“Do you want to know why I look so ‘gaunt’, as you put it? I was in the hospital myself. An infection caught from the lake I jumped into to save a drowning man.”
“Why didn’t you say anything? Jesus, Ellie.”
“I would have done, but I was unconscious for two days and only got out of the hospital yesterday. I was staying with Naomi to recover. In her fancy penthouse, but you know what she did? She sat with me, all the time I was out of it. She slept in the fucking chair.”
All the pent-up emotion from the last couple of days spilt out. Tears streamed down my face. My chest heaved from the effort, pain radiating through my body as I sobbed.
I sat back down with a thud, covering my eyes with my hands. Gentle arms surrounded me, and her chin rested on my shoulder.
“My poor baby sister. I’m so sorry we weren’t there for you.”
There was a reason I hadn’t told them. I hated feeling a burden. They had enough on their plates as it was without my problems being piled on top.
“It’s fine. I’m fine.” I wasn’t fine. The journey had tired me to the point of exhaustion. I needed more than coffee and bacon to revive my flagging spirit.
“It really isn’t, but you’ve always been independent. You’ve never seemed to want our help with anything. You moved away. Made a new life for yourself, and at times, it was as if you didn’t need us. I know that’s no excuse, Ellie, and God knows I could have called more.”
“Yes, you could have.”
“But it never meant we didn’t love you.” She kissed my cheek and sat down opposite me. “Please stay and tell me more about your friend. What’s her name?”
“Naomi. Naomi Reeves.” Just the thought of her and my body flooded with emotion. The hair rose on my arms, and my fingers tingled with a need to touch her.
“What does she look like?”
“Are you really interested, or are you being nice?”
“I’m interested. I know I didn’t exactly show it, but if she’s making you happy, then I’d like to meet her.”
“You’re not just saying that? You’d really like to meet her?”
“I would love to. Now, let’s get you fed, and you can tell me more.” She stood and resumed her cooking, the bacon sizzling in the pan.
“I should call her. Let her know I’m here.”
I walked into the garden and watched my nieces as they played. Was this really what Kate had wanted?
Naomi answered on the first ring.
