Page 75 of Wife After Wife
Megan’s hand stilled, then dropped away.
“Harry?” She shifted away so she could look at Ana properly. “What?”
“Oh, nothing’s happened,” Ana said, sniffing and wiping her tears away. She was pulling herself together, regaining some composure. “All we’ve done is kissed, that’s the honest truth. But he wants to divorce Katie and he wants me to end it with Percy. I think I’m in love with him, Megan.”
Now that she’d blurted it out, she knew it to be true.
Megan took a large gulp of wine. “Holy shit. I knew he fancied you,anyone can see that. But this? Ana, for god’s sake. Have you thought about poor Katie?”
“Of course. And Maria. But Harry says it’s been over for years, and he’s going to do the right thing by them both.”
Megan’s expression was sober. “Harry’s a womanizer, Ana. One’s never enough.”
The words came as a shock. “I know all about Merry, I’ve spoken to both of them about it. It was never serious—”
“And Bennie?”
“Who?” Anna stared at Megan, bracing herself for something she desperately didn’t want to hear.
“She was the first one. A Soho barmaid. It went on for at least two years. They have a son. Harry never sees him; Bennie asked him to stay away. We never talk about it. I actually found out from Charles.”
The shock made Ana shaky. How could Harry not have mentioned this?
“Harry told Charles all about your bloody sister too. Even about thespecial talentsshe learned in France. And there have probably been others, Ana.”
Ana stared at the carpet, feeling sick.
“Look. You know I love my brother to bits, and I sort of understand his behavior. He’s pretty sensitive underneath all that self-confidence. He has to be Mr. Charisma for the job. We both had a ghastly time when our parents and Art died. It’s a massive thing to lose three people you love, especially when you’re a teenager. I compensated for that by shagging every man with a pulse, and he’s done something similar.”
“He told me how difficult things were,” said Ana. “He said he was too young to deal with it all.”
“Probably, but don’t make excuses for him, Ana. He’s behaved terribly. I wouldn’t want you to be the next distraction; plus he’s your boss, for god’s sake.”
“I think he’s changed.”
“He told you that?”
She needed to move this on. It would take time to process everything Megan had said. “Charles wasn’t exactly whiter than white, was he? Look what happened tohiswife! She ended up in rehab. But you weren’t slow to move in on that particular married man, were you? Touch of the pot calling the kettle black?”
“Touché. OK, that’s kind of a good point. But I’d known Charles all my life. I don’t think you know the real Harry.”
Ana sighed. “All I know is that I can’t stop thinking about him. But you’re right—I don’t want to be his next bit on the side. If I’m giving up my future with Percy, it has to be for more than that, and he’s stepping up.”
“What do you mean? Harry wants to marry you? Are you serious?”
“He hasn’t actually said that, and Katie won’t agree to a divorce, so there’ll be a long wait. But once he’s separated, then we can be together.”
“And your career? How’s that going to go down with everyone at Rose?”
“I’ve proved I’m good at my job, so the fact that I’ll be with Harry should be irrelevant.”
“Ana, listen to yourself. You think people would treat you the same if you were Harry’s—what? Live-in lover? Do you...”
She stopped at the sound of the key in the lock. “Oh god, Charles.”
“Good evening, my lovelies! I come bearing...” Charles halted as he took in Ana’s face, streaked with tears. It was probably the first time he’d seen her anything other than composed. “What’s going on?”
Megan looked at Ana, who nodded. “The wedding’s off.”
