‘Of course, we are!’ Jess said, pushing her hair back and sneaking a quick wipe of a stray tear as she did so.
Jess loved drama and was a pretty good actress in the amateur productions she’d been in over the years, but I’d known her since playgroup and I wasn’t fooled. Tarquin’s words had done damage. I only hoped it was reparable.
‘It’s actually getting kind of late,’ Seb said, glancing at the face of his complicated looking watch. ‘We should probably make a move anyway, if Lottie’s ready.’
I was more than ready. I’d been feeling the long day before the showdown on the balcony, but the emotional impact of that, plus the champagne, and now I felt like my body was swaying. I wasn’t entirely sure if that was in my head or actually happening, although as Seb came to stand next to me and gently took my hand, the sensation stopped, so I guessed it had certainly had some physical element to it.
‘Oh, don’t go because of this, please!’ Jess said.
‘Don’t be silly,’ I said, reaching out and hugging her hard. ‘It’s nothing to do with that. You know I’d normally be in my pyjamas about five hours ago. It’s just time to go and sleep.’
A sparkle of the real Jess then showed as she pulled back and gave the tiniest raise of one HD brow.
I widened my eyes in warning in return, receiving a smile in reply. That alone was worth the tease.
‘Harry, darling. There you are!’
We all turned at the well-spoken words and saw a woman moving swiftly towards us along the balcony. If I had to choose one word to describe her, it would be elegant. Another would be expensive.
‘Ginny, how are you? We’re so glad you could come,’ Harry replied, as she kissed him on both cheeks.
‘Jess, how lovely to see you.’ The greeting procedure was repeated. ‘I’m dreadfully sorry to be so late. I had another engagement which rather ran on, but I did so want to make sure I at least said hello.’
‘That’s OK. Thank you for coming.’ Jess smiled back at her, before turning towards us. ‘Lady Carstairs, may I introduce my best friend, Lottie and—’
‘Seb, darling man. You didn’t tell me you were going to be here.’ She gave him a slightly pouty look, which she really made work for her. Something if I tried just made me look like a petulant five year old. ‘Hello, Lottie,’ she said, tearing her eyes away from Seb momentarily to meet mine. ‘How lovely to meet you.’
‘And you,’ I replied, automatically.
‘Seb and Lottie were just leaving, unfortunately.’
‘Oh?’ Her gaze flicked between us. ‘Can’t I persuade you to stay a little longer so we can get to know each other better?’ She smiled at me, but her gaze lingered on Seb.
‘It’s been a long day,’ Seb returned. ‘Another time.’
‘I’ll call you.’ I’d never heard three words loaded with so much promise and kicked myself for the knot in my stomach it created. I’d had my opportunity and I’d turned it down. What Seb did, and with whom, shouldn’t bother me.
It shouldn’t – but it did.
Seb gave a brief smile and a short nod but said nothing. Lady Carstairs gave me another smile, before leaning over to kiss Seb on the cheek, her lips lingering there momentarily. Pulling back, she met his eyes, then turned, waving as she disappeared back into the main throng of the party.
We said our goodbyes to Jess and Harry with a lot of hugs before Seb gently took my hand and led me to the balcony door, still open from Tarquin’s dramatic exit, before standing aside for me to go first and then stepping through after me. Turning, we gave the others a quick wave and I blew a kiss before Seb shut the door to give them the privacy they needed.
‘I hope that was OK to suggest leaving. It just seemed like Jess and Harry needed to talk.’
‘I was about to suggest it anyway, so it was good timing. Unless you want to stay a bit longer now?’ My glance slid to where Harry’s latest guest was laughing with a couple more of Harry’s friends.
He followed my eyeline briefly, then shook his head. ‘Nope.’
‘You all right?’
Seb frowned as he picked up my coat and proceeded to stand behind me, holding out the arms for me to slip it on. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘I just…’ I tucked my scarf around me as Seb shrugged into a smart wool pea coat, pulling the apartment door closed behind us as we stepped out into the hallway. ‘I’m just sorry you had to hear all that. I mean what Tarquin said about—’
‘Lottie. I already told Harry it’s fine and I’m telling you the same thing.’
A lift arrived and we stepped in, before silently and smoothly descending to the marbled lobby of the exclusive apartment block.
