‘Oh, Zara. I didn’t know you were here. Did Lando invite you?’
Zara did not answer the question.
‘I have been here for at least twenty minutes, waiting for The Help’ – she gesticulated sharply towards me – ‘to go and get him, but she seems either stubborn or incapable in some way.’
‘Zara, please don’t talk about Pixie like that. She is here to help me with the children, which is exactly what she is doing right now, as wonderfully as ever by the looks of things. Lando will probably be back up to the house for lunch.’
I could have cheered. Who knew Bunny had such a steely core? Zara was undaunted.
‘I can’t sit around tilllunchtime waiting for him. I shall go and find him myself.’
I stood up. Somehow, I wanted to take control of this situation, and I hated the thought of her bursting into that beautiful studio, breaking its peace and possibly Lando’s at the same time.
‘Look, I’ll go. The children are fine here for a few minutes. I won’t be long.’
Before anyone could object, I nipped out of the door, shedding gingerbread crumbs in my wake. I shoved my feet into my boots and pulled on my coat; even though the studio was only across the garden, it was freezing cold outside, to the point where surely it was only a matter of time before the snow started falling. A white Christmas in this setting would, I reflected, be almost ridiculously idyllic – but maybe not if the icing over was caused by one glance from Zara. I shivered for reasons other than the cold as I opened the back door and hurried across the frosty grass, my breath billowing out behind me in great clouds. I pushed open the studio door and allowed myself a moment to enjoy the slightly fuggy, wood-scented warmth as it draped itself around my body like a velvet robe.
‘Hi there.’ I felt rather nervous, seeing Lando sitting there in front of the window, his back to me as he leant over a piece of work. At least I had a legitimate reason for turning up, so there could be no confusion about my motives. He turned around and smiled when he saw me.
‘Penny! I – I didn’t think you’d come today. I’m glad to see you. I didn’t explain myself well last night. Please, sit down. Would you like a tea, coffee – something stronger?’
The pull inside me to curl up in a chair with a cup of tea in my hand and a dachshund on my lap was powerful, but I squashed it down firmly.
‘Oh, no, I’m sorry, Lando, I came to tell you that you have a visitor. Up at the house.’
‘Right, I see. Who is it?’
‘Um, it’s Zara.’
‘Zara? What on earth is she doing here?’
‘I don’t know, she didn’t confide in me, I’m afraid.’
He must have heard the edge in my voice.
‘Was sheveryrude? I’m sorry, Penny, she’s not very good with attractive women.’
‘What?’ I let out a shout of laughter. ‘I don’t thinkthatwas her problem.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Lando! Look at me.’ I gazed down at my comfortable clothing and tugged at my ponytail. ‘I hardly think I constitute a threat. I’m not sure who you’re being kinder to – me, by suggesting she might think I’m a looker, or her, for suggesting she might have a reason better than being supercilious to ‘The Help’ as she called me.’
‘She didn’t, did she? Penny, I’m sorry, she is rude. But I meant what I said. A tracksuit and tied-up hair doesn’t disguise your looks. You’re beautiful. I meant it when I said it before. And she can see that. It’s no excuse for her rudeness, but she’s got no self-confidence beneath the surface.’
‘I— I—’ I stammered, confused. ‘I think you’d better go up and see her, she was getting pretty impatient.’
And with that, I turned and scuttled out of the door and back across the lawn. He had called me beautiful. Again! What was going on? Once inside I threw off my outdoor clothes and dived back in to the children, to their world of gingerbread and paper chains and safety, pretending not to notice when the back door opened a few minutes later and Lando went to the office and shut the door behind him.
About twenty minutes later, I was drawing the curtains against the lowering sky as Pilar bustled around straightening up the room, when Lando and Zara came in. His expression was impossible to read, but he looked tired and stressed. She finally had a smile on her face, and I tried not to wonder what had put it there.
‘Pilar, Zara is going to be staying tonight. I wonder if you would be kind enough to make up the yellow bedroom, when you have a moment?’
‘Actually, Pilar,’ said Zara, her smile stretching a fraction wider, ‘could you do it as soon as possible? I’ve had aterriblytiring time and I’d besograteful. I simplymusthave a lie-down before lunch. Unless I can use our – I meanyour– room, Lando darling?’
Grateful to have a job to busy my hands, whilst also transfixed by this little soap opera unfolding, I fussed for longer than was strictly necessary over hanging the tie backs.
‘I’m sure that won’t be necessary,’ said Lando, supplication in his voice. ‘Will it, Pilar?’
