'Don’t worry, we’ll be finished in time to get to that. I’m sure my father won’t let a drinks party finish any later than about midnight.’ He smiled wryly.
‘Great, thank you. Do I need to bring anything or, I don’t know,doanything?’
He looked puzzled, and I started gabbling.
‘I mean, you want me to be Mary, but should I wear anything special? Not that I have a halo tucked away in my suitcase, but maybe a dress or something? As for the rest of it…’
‘Yes?’
I had been about to make some inappropriate quip about being heavily pregnant and virginal and now I stared at Lando in horror as my brain caught up with my mouth.
‘Nothing, nothing. I could…put my hair up…’
I trailed off miserably.
‘Your hair’s fine. Nice, actually. And no need to dress up. I have something for you to wear, if that’s all right?’
I nodded mutely, silenced by the double whammy of my gobbledegook and his compliment –wasthat a compliment? It had passed by pretty quickly.
‘Good. I’ll see you later then. Enjoy the chipmunks.’
And he was gone. Thankfully, the film was so absorbing that Phina and Caspian had barely noticed or acknowledged their uncle’s presence, so there were no awkward questions. I let myself sink into the tumult of thoughts and feelings that were chasing around my brain and body, pushing off the blanket which was suddenly too hot.
NINE
Lando wasn’t at supper that evening, which made me even more nervous as I kept worrying that I was taking too long and he would be sitting in his studio tapping his watch and wondering where I was. Regardless of this, there was no question of turning down Pilar’s death by chocolate, but as soon as I had finished scraping the glaze off my bowl, I set off. Far from impatient, Lando’s face creased into a puzzled frown when I pushed open the door, once again breathing in that clean, woody smell. I wondered if I should remind him why I was there, but he put down his tools and smiled.
‘Penny. Thanks for coming. Sorry, I was rather absorbed there. I can lose hours when I’m working.’
‘Is it the Nativity you’ve been doing?’
‘No, I’m making Christmas presents for the children, little models of this house to hang on the tree. I thought it would be a nice memory for them. I’d show you but they’re not finished.’
‘I’m sure they’ll love them. It’s such a beautiful house, I’m not surprised you want to recreate it.’
‘I suppose it’s an attractive house. I like it well enough, but it doesn’t suit me. It’s a family house and obviously I’m not a family man. I’ll be putting it on the market after Christmas, hopefully for a quick sale.’
‘Oh, I see. Where will you live?’
‘I’m sure that my indiscreet sister-in-law has told you about my breakdown?’
I gave a tiny, awkward nod.
‘Obviously I need a very quiet, secluded life, and although I have that here, it is criminally wasteful to keep this house for myself and my father. I am going to move to Greece, get a small place there, do my work, live simply and not cause anyone any worry.’
Another one running away,I thought, and wondered if he’d considered India. But instead, I asked him, ‘Where will William go?’
‘I’m sure Ben can find some space for him; they’ve got plenty of room and he’ll like living in London.’
I nearly blurted out that everything could change, with another baby on the way and William freshly in love, but managed to bite my tongue.
‘Your breakdown – wasn’t that because of work? Now that you’re here and doing something you enjoy, something less stressful, don’t you think that family life might appeal?’
I’m asking for a friend…
Without replying, he stood up and went to a large box, from which he took a length of heavy fabric.
‘I’d like you to wear this, if that’s okay. I can pin it if you stand up.’
