Page 37 of You Only Live Once
‘Turns out she wasn’t the love of my life after all.’
‘You did declare that after only two days of knowing her.’
‘I’m passionate. What can I say?’
‘That’s one word for it.’
Edward gave his brother a side-eye glance and took a sip of champagne. ‘I take it you’ve had the pleasure of meeting my parents?’
‘Oh yes.’
‘Mother pointed out I didn’t have to bring my landlady as my date and that she had plenty more suitable women up her sleeve,’ said Jack.
Edward looked mortified and I grinned, giving a small headshake.
‘I told you she won’t give up. She went positively purple with apoplexy when you wrote and told her you were married. Seriously, all the staff took cover – as did I! Of course, once the news of the divorce came through, she was going around telling everybody that she’d known it wouldn’t last and that it was only a matter of time before you saw sense.’
Jack gave a long, deep sigh and leaned towards the bar, conversing with the barman as he got another drink.
‘Do you get this pressure too?’ I asked.
‘Me? No, not really. I’m only the second son, so I don’t really count, unless he gets bumped off, and then there will be a rush to get me up the aisle as fast as possible.’ He nodded his head towards where Jack was laughing with the barman over something, distracted from our conversation.
‘How do you feel about that?’
‘Which bit?’
‘Either. Both.’
‘I don’t really think about it. I used to be quite jealous of Jack with all the luck he had with women flinging themselves at him, but I also felt a bit sorry for him. His life was never quite his own. You shouldn’t have to flee to the other side of the world to get away from your own parents. I don’t think he really wanted to go, but it was always meet lady this, or I’ve arranged for you to have dinner with lady that. I can see that he felt he had no other choice.’
‘You missed him, didn’t you?’
‘Dreadfully. But, for God’s sake, don’t tell him. His ego is big enough as it is.’
‘Don’t tell him this, either, but I think his ego has shrunk a bit in his time away.’
‘What are you two gossiping about?’
‘Believe me, nothing very interesting,’ Edward quipped, flashing a conspiratorial look at me. ‘How’s the business going?’
‘Good, actually. Better than I could have expected. Quite a few clients have come back to me, and various other ones have recommended me to friends and family. Lily’s brother, Felix, and his family have been amazing, spreading the word far and wide, and that’s brought in some extra business. I even have a proper, if temporary, office.’
‘Do you? That’s great!’
‘I do. Lily has a studio in her garden that she wasn’t using and was kind enough to make it over to me until such time as I can set myself up somewhere away from under her feet. Having somewhere to go really makes it feel like a proper commitment, like it’s really coming together.’
‘That’s great, Jack. I’m really pleased for you. I know the parents have their issues with your decisions, but I just want you to know that I don’t.’
‘I know that.’ Jack smiled. ‘I’ve always known that.’
I took a sip of my drink and looked out of the window to where the garden was artfully lit, a large double fountain sprayed water into the still night, the droplets catching in the beams, shimmering like little fireflies over the pond in which it sat. It was clear that Jack had missed his little brother just as much as Edward had missed him, although I doubted either of them would ever say such a thing to the other.
The sound of crystal being tapped by solid silver rang out across the large room, bringing everyone to a hush. The earl nodded to his wife and stepped back. He might have the title, but it was abundantly clear who ran things around here.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, we’d just like to thank you all for coming this evening to celebrate the return of our eldest son back into the fold and the comforting bosom of his family.’
Edward’s drink went down the wrong way and I patted him on the back hurriedly as Jack shifted his weight and looked down, waiting for a hole in the ground to open up in which to disappear.
