‘Well, the thing is…’ She glanced at Léo, sipping his coffee. ‘Look, Frankie was coming as something of a bodyguard. I’m scared of running into Toby, all right?’ The words came out in a rush, and she quickly reached for another pastry to busy herself with.
‘Toby?’ said Léo.
Juliet didn’t answer, the familiar feelings of shame and anxiety coursing through her. She wanted Léo to know, but she didn’t want to have to explain. Sylvia came to her rescue.
‘He was an unpleasant man that Juliet was unlucky enough to get involved with,’ she said, taking a croissant herself. ‘Managed to hide his real nature quite well, as I understand it, but clever Juliet realised and got herself out before he could do too much damage. He is persistent though, like a nasty rash, and it makes sense to have a buffer when possible – they work in similar industries, see. Do you want me to come, darling?’
Juliet smiled gratefully at her aunt and her elegant explanation. Whenever she tried to talk about Toby herself, she always ended up making excuses for him, not thinking people would believe how badly he had treated her, or that they would blame her for staying with him as long as she did.
‘No, Sylvia, I wouldn’t dream of it. The last thing you need is a long day in London. I’ll be fine, and if I do run into him, I’ll deal with it.’
‘I’ll come with you, if you like?’
The two women turned to Léo in surprise.
‘You?’ said Juliet. ‘Oh, well, that’s very kind of you, but I couldn’t possibly impose on you?—’
He waved her words away.
‘Non, it would not be any imposition at all. I am always glad to go to London and very happy to be your buffer to this unpleasant Toby. But only if you would like me to? I’m sure youare more than able to manage him alone, but it is always nicer, no? To have an ally?’
Juliet hesitated, but Sylvia spoke up.
‘He’s right. Take him with you, you’ll feel much better.’
‘Okay. Thank you, Léo, I’d be glad if you came.’
‘Good, then it is arranged. And, if you don’t mind, I will think of somewhere we can have lunch?’
Juliet laughed. Somehow, what she had seen before as Léo’s bossiness was starting to feel quite comforting.
‘Why not?’
The train journey to London wasn’t long, just over an hour, and Juliet found that it went by in a flash. Now that she had relaxed in Léo’s company, she found him funny and interesting, with his stories about life in Paris and his passion for cooking. Rather than overbearing, he was charismatic, but there was true character there as well, not just a charming, glamorous shell with nothing beneath, as there had been with Toby.Toby. How she hoped not to see him, but her editor’s office was in the same development where he worked, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had heard on the grapevine that she would be in town. Every time she thought about him, her stomach lurched, and she found herself tugging at her hair or clothes nervously, potential conversations running through her head.
However, they reached the office without incident.
‘My meeting will probably be two hours, are you going to be all right?’
‘I will be fine, I’m in London. Plenty to do, don’t worry about me. I will see you back here at one and we will go to lunch.’
She nodded.
‘Great, see you later.’
The meeting was one that Juliet had been looking forward to; finally, she was getting the opportunity to discuss her idea for a children’s book with the editors in another department of the media group which owned the paper she worked for, and when she emerged just over two hours later, it was with a smile on her face. Léo was sitting in the enormous glass and marble atrium of the building and rose when she emerged from the lift.
‘It went well?’
‘Very well, I can hardly believe it.’
‘Wonderful! Come, tell me about it over lunch, I think I have found the perfect spot.’
Juliet was about to ask where they were going, when the voice she had so dreaded hearing snapped across the hard, shiny space.
‘Juliet.’
She dragged her eyes around to look at Toby as he strode towards her, the heels of his polished black shoes clicking sharply on the floor. She felt herself shrinking inside as he got closer, and then a sense of panic began to rise.What to do?It was too late to get away.What to say?Her mind was empty. And then she felt Léo’s hand on her shoulder. She jumped, then leant into him and looked Toby squarely in the face.
