‘I appreciate everything. I really, really do. But Rosie and I, we have to get back to real life now. We – ’
‘Helloooo?’ a very loud voice sing-songed down Jamie’s hallway, and both of them turned in its direction. ‘Darling? Are you all ready? Daddy’s got some lovely pork chops on the go, so …’ A tall middle-aged lady, immaculately dressed in wide-leg white trousers and a camel-coloured, sleeveless, cashmere jumper, came striding into the kitchen. Her short, ash-blonde hair was beautifully styled and her face flawlessly made up. And as if her appearance did not scream ‘Posh’ loudly enough, the pearl earrings with matching necklace sealed the deal.
Libby felt instantly at a disadvantage in her torn jeans andStar WarsT-shirt. The woman froze for a moment in the doorway, her eyes on Libby, before her beautiful face broke into a wide smile. ‘You must beher,’ she said, moving across the kitchen to take both Libby’s hands in hers and then kissing her cheek. ‘I’ve heard so much about you from my family. It’s frightfully good to finally meet you.’
‘Uh … hi,’ Libby squeaked out, more than a little overwhelmed.
‘Libby, this is my mum, Olivia.’
‘Oh don’t be so ridiculous, darling,’ Olivia said, looking over at her son but still holding onto Libby’s hands. ‘Nobody calls me Olivia.’ She turned back to Libby and softened her tone. ‘I’m Bunty.’
‘Hi Bunty,’ Libby said, smiling up at this perfect woman and wondering why all posh people had such weird nicknames. Bunty sucked in a breath as her eyes swept Libby’s face. ‘My God, you really are beautiful,’ she whispered; then her eyes dropped down to Libby’s chest. ‘Is that a Storm Trooper over your breasts darling?’
‘Uh … yes,’ Libby replied, feeling her face heat.
‘How fascinating.’
‘Mummy?’ Rosie’s voice sounded from across the room, where she was standing with Beauty. When the dog caught sight of Bunty her ears pricked forward and she came bounding up to her.
‘Sit!’ The command was belted out in a way that only incredibly posh, incredibly doggy people can master. Libby nearly fell into a squat herself. Beauty came to an abrupt halt and her backside sunk to the ground. It was the first time Libby had seen her obey a direct order. Bunty released Libby’s hands to give Beauty a scratch behind the ears and then moved to Rosie, who was bravely standing her ground in the doorway, clutching Alan in front of her like a shield.
‘Well, aren’t you a scrummy thing,’ Bunty said as she crouched down to Rosie’s level. Rosie frowned at her and pressed her lips together. ‘I hear Beauty has fallen head over heels in love with you. I think you and I are going to be the only ones who’ll be able to train her – we’ll have to work together.’ Rosie’s frown melted away and she gave Bunty a tentative smile. ‘And who’s this one?’ Bunty asked, pointing at the dog-eared, fluffy spider.
‘He’s Alan,’ Rosie told her.
‘Ah, I had a second cousin twice removed called Alan, terrible whiskey problem but an overall good egg – strong name. He must be very special.’ Rosie nodded and her smile widened a fraction.
‘Do you think he’d like a friend?’ Bunty asked, reaching inside her bag and pulling out another soft toy, this one brand-new, also fluffy and … a woodlouse. Rosie’s eyes widened for a moment as Bunty held out the toy. She looked over to Libby, who gave her a nod, then she slowly reached out and reverently took the new toy from Bunty’s outstretched hand.
‘Thank you, lady,’ Rosie said, snuggling her face into the fluff.
‘Seb calls me Nana Bunty. Would you like to call me that too?’
‘’Kay,’ muttered Rosie as she gathered both toy mini-beasts up into one arm and took Bunty’s hand in her free one.
‘Right then,’ Bunty said, leading Rosie across the kitchen to Libby and Jamie. ‘Now, we really must get going. The Beeb have forecast a good half hour of sunshine this afternoon. If we’re not careful we’ll miss it and your father will have eaten all the pork, the old sod.’
‘What’s a sod?’ asked Rosie.
‘Oh, don’t worry, darling,’ Bunty said briskly, moving towards the hallway and pulling Rosie along with her. ‘You’ll get to meet one this afternoon.’
‘I … er … Mrs Granth … I mean Bunty, I was just explaining to Jamie that we – ’
‘Ah, yes. Jamie went through all that. I’m sure it can wait. Jamie, darling,pleasetell me you’re going to bring something for that animal. Last time he ate nearly a year’s supply of Luther’s food and you do know we have to have it specially imported.’
‘Right, Mum,’ Jamie muttered as he slung Beauty’s huge sack of dog biscuits over his shoulder.
‘But … I’m … I’m not really dressed to go anywhere. I …’
‘Nonsense. You look absolutely fabulous. And it’s just family. Nothing to worry about.’
Chapter 25
Independent lady
Libby leant over the huge sink in the massive bathroom she’d managed to sneak off to, and splashed water on her face. Rosie was having the time of her life with Seb and the two dogs (Jamie’s parents had a Shih Tzu called Luther – a tiny ball of fluff with an inordinately loud bark, which Rosie loved almost as much as Beauty) in the grounds – yes,grounds –of the goddamn mansion which was Jamie’s family’s London home in Richmond (it was only one of the family homes, the other being on the south coast – you know, near thetwoboats they also owned). Libby had known from Jamie’s accent that he was posh and his house in Wimbledon suggested a certain amount of wealth, but that was nothing compared to this. However it wasn’t just the shock of all this luxury that had pushed her to her bathroom retreat.
‘Just family and nothing to worry about’– that was what Bunty had said. Well, it might just be family, but it was becoming clear that Libby was not considered a part of that, and the wholenothing to worryaboutassertion seemed to be very far from the truth. Giles, Jamie’s father, was the polar opposite of his wife. He seemed quiet and watchful, and viewed Libby with undisguised suspicion.
