Page 114 of Never Too Late
Sash flicked her eyes up to him and then to me.
An almost imperceptible nod gave her the go-ahead to proceed. But if that woman began attacking my daughter the way she’d torn me down back in that restaurant, my God, there’d be hell to pay.
But she didn’t. Incredibly, she asked how Sasha was liking her time in Paris, what the journey down here had been like and whether she’d enjoyed the tour. I saw Sasha visibly relax. Apparently, I’d unwittingly set my daughter up to expect the same treatment. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. Not for the Koh-i-noor would I have done that and yet I had. But then again, I hadn’t expected to ever see Madame Bertholle this weekend. Or ever. And nobody had chosen to tell me. That was the worst part. Yes, it had been a long time ago and I’d done my best to push it out of my mind. Tell myself it didn’t matter now. But I hadn’t expected this, not tonight. In time, perhaps, if our relationship continued to strengthen. But not tonight and without warning. I needed to get out.
‘And this is Kitty.’ She turned to me before I could make my escape. Tomas’s hand went to rest on mine but I moved it away and stood. At least this way, I had the height advantage on her, if nothing else. It was pathetic, I accepted that, but I needed something. Although she probably took it as a sign of respect that I was standing for her.
‘Madame Bertholle.’
‘It’s been a long time.’
‘Yes. Hasn’t it?’ I replied, catching the note of coolness in my voice and feeling it settle all around me. Part of me felt bad for raining on the parade but the other part was still furious that I’d been ambushed.
‘You look well,’ she continued.
‘Thank you.’ I made no effort to return the compliment, if that’s what it was. One was never sure with this woman. I’d initially thought she was pleased with my appearance years ago when she’d complimented me on my dress. It was only as the dinner progressed that I’d realised it was another dig. That I’d clearly not had anything that would meet her approval in my wardrobe so I’d had to borrow one of her daughter’s dresses, which she, of course, had recognised.
‘If you’ll excuse me, it’s rather warm in here. I’m going to get some air.’ With that, I left the room.
I stalked out through the flagstoned hall. Perhaps that was terribly rude but I didn’t care. She’d hurt me all those years ago and I had thought I was over it, that it didn’t matter any more, but actually, it did bloody well matter! Especially as I’d unwittingly made my daughter panic about her own acceptance in the Great Woman’s Presence, having relayed her the tale of ‘back in the day’.
I stepped out into the cold, clear night. Above me, the deep navy sky was pinpricked with a million stars. As I stared up, thoughts racing, a shooting star sailed across the darkness, its tail burning brightly for just a moment before it flared out and disappeared from view.
‘Did you make a wish?’
I whirled around at the deep voice.
‘I don’t think you want to know what I wished for, Tomas.’
He looked at me for a moment and I glared back.
‘No,’ he said eventually. ‘Probably not.’ Silence dropped back between us. ‘Are you coming back in?’
‘No.’
‘It’s cold, Kitty. You can’t stay out here all night.’
‘I can do what I bloody well please, Tomas. And I don’t accept you, or anyone else, telling me what’s right or wrong, or what I should or shouldn’t do any more!’
‘Kitty…’
‘You knew, didn’t you? All of you knew she’d be here.’
He heaved in a deep breath, paused then let it out on a sigh.
‘She has an apartment in the house. The whole thing is too much for her now so much of it is only opened for guests.’
‘So, it wasn’t even that shemightbe here? It was a certainty!’
He opened his mouth as if to contradict then closed it again before speaking. ‘Yes.’
I huffed out a laugh entirely devoid of humour. ‘And here I was thinking all this was behind us.’
‘Itisbehind us, Kitty!’
‘Youliedto me, Tomas! You all lied to me and Benoit lied to my daughter! It might be by omission but it was still deceitful.’
‘Leave Benoit out of it. This is between me and you.’
