35. Interlude
Steely light poked through a chink in the heavy curtains, providing a faint glow in the recesses of the room. Audrey curled under the covers and became aware that there was empty space beside her and only residual warmth. She sat up, looked around the room that was devoid of any other human life.
She seemed to have sunk irretrievably into the pillows and mattress and it was only with an effort that she was able to extricate herself. She stood, her toes curling into the plush carpet.
More aches in even more peculiar places.
Audrey pulled on her dressing gown and pushed back the curtains. Sky the colour of slate hung over the London skyline and the sight added an extra chill to the already frigid air. She shivered slightly, and made her way to the landing. At the top of the stairs she stopped and detected the unmistakable aroma of freshly-brewed coffee wafting upwards.
The kitchen was warm, there was coffee in the pot and there were boxes of groceries on the kitchen table. Audrey stared at them as though they weren't quite real. The oven was on and when she pulled open the door she found a number of croissants gently warming, the pastry visibly flaking.
It was as though she had stepped into some strange alternate world, like finding herself in the Beast's castle with its invisible servants.
She poured herself some coffee, found - wonder of wonders! – cream in the fridge, and wandered back out of the kitchen. The faint sound of a one-sided conversation drifted towards her and Audrey followed it to Richard's study.
He was on the telephone and when he saw her standing in the doorway he smiled and beckoned for her to enter.
'-we have plans today … Perhaps … She's just come in now, I'll ask her … No, I am not putting Audrey on the phone!' Richard looked over at her. 'My sister-in-law. The harpy wants us to come for lunch tomorrow.'
A loud squawk erupted from the earpiece.
'That's what you get for nagging,' he said into the receiver. Richard met Audrey's eyes and put his hand over the mouthpiece. 'You don't have to say yes.'
For a long time, Audrey had thought that Mrs Poo was the only family Richard had; but from a handful of casual comments, especially in the past week, and certainly hearing his end of the conversation, it had become evident that Sonia, her husband and her children, were family.
She would meet them sooner or later and fforbes-Hamiltons never shied away from a challenge, even when they wanted to. Audrey pasted on a smile. 'Yes, all right.'
He removed his hand from the receiver. 'You can relax, she said yes … All right, we'll be there around one … Goodbye, pest.' He was laughing as he rang off, then stood and walked towards her. 'It will be all right. You'll like Sonia, she's very nice.'
But will she like me? Audrey wondered. It was an uncomfortable and unfamiliar feeling, worrying about what someone else would think of her.
And then Richard's arms were around her and everything else dissipated. He tasted of coffee, bitter, with a hint of sweetness.
'Good morning.'
'Good morning.' Another taste of his lips. 'There are actual groceries in your kitchen.'
'They were delivered earlier. You were still asleep.'
'Oh, you needn't look so pleased with yourself!'
His eyebrows went up. 'That's not what you said last night.'
'You know, smugness is not an attractive quality.'
His eyes flared with warmth, arms tightening around her and Audrey was all too willing to yield to him, until she realised that she was about to scald both of them with her precariously held cup of coffee.
'Probably just as well,' Richard said. 'We should get a move on if we want to make lunch.'
'Lunch? I haven't even had breakfast yet!' Audrey watched him closely. Three years of having bombshells dropped on her had made her alert to the warning signs. She braced herself. 'Just what are these sudden plans that we have for today? Where are we having lunch?'
'Paris,' he said, already heading towards the study door.
Audrey stared after him. 'Paris?!'
He grinned at her over his shoulder. 'I still owe you a lunch at Maxim's. Come on!'