‘Not at all. I’d be thrilled at the opportunity to help.’
‘I don’t suppose you could give me any make-up tips while you were at it, could you?’ Her hand went to her face. ‘I only ever wear a tinted moisturiser, maybe mascara if I’m feeling fancy.’
I grinned. ‘I can do better than that. You’ll be red-carpet ready by the time we’re done.’
Jules’ hesitant smile began to widen as she looked at her brother.
‘You shall go to the ball!’ he said, laughing and taking one of our hands in each of his. ‘And you’re going to win that bloody award!’ He leant over and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Well done, sis.’
Julie gave me a huge hug, wiped her slightly teary eyes and hurried back to the counter.
We both watched her go before Jesse turned back to me. ‘Thank you.’
I shook my head. ‘Not at all. It really is my pleasure.’
We both stood, Jesse tucked the cash I’d got out for the coffees under the condiments set, motioned to his sister about it, then took my hand and we pulled open the door, ready to sprint through the rain to the car.
‘Oh. My. God.’ The tones were loud, educated and unmistakable. ‘Felicity DeVere.’
‘Get in the bloody door, Minty. It’s pissing down out here.’
Jesse’s hand momentarily tightened around mine then dropped away. Araminta Montagu-Greer stepped in, followed by the owner of the male voice, who pushed the door closed behind him. A few people looked up. Jules glanced over and a coolness I’d never seen veiled her face.
‘Jesse.’
‘Magnus.’ The one word sounded like ice. Nothing at all like the usual warm tones I’d quickly been getting used to.
‘And who’s this?’ Magnus turned to me with interest. ‘I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.’
Minty took charge. As always. ‘Oh my God, Magnus, this is like, so bizarre. Felicity and I went to school together! And now we just happen to run into each other in some rando little coffee shop!’
Then she saw Jesse.
‘But, oh my, it looks like you landed on your feet after all that mess. Hello. I’m Araminta.’ She flashed a winning, and likely very expensive judging by its perfection, smile at Jesse and held out her hand. I curled my fingers into my palms, hiding the state of my own nails. The last manicure I’d had seemed so long ago and by the sounds of the work that needed to be done on the house, the next one wouldn’t be any time soon.
Jesse quickly took her hand. ‘Hello.’ He let it go just as quickly and I saw a flash of disappointment and confusion on Minty’s face. She had always been used to being the centre of attention at school and apparently not a lot had changed in the last twenty-five years.
‘So, what are you doing here?’ she asked, her eyes still soaking Jesse in despite his coolness. Araminta never had been one to give up on anything easily if she wanted it. If that something belonged to someone else, then so much the better.
‘I live here.’
Magnus gave me a confused look, then looked back at Minty. ‘You never told me someone you went to school with was here.’
‘I didn’t know, did I?’ she snapped back. ‘I thought you still lived in London,’ she continued, turning back to me.
‘I did. Until a short time ago.’
‘Well, I can see what drew you away.’
Magnus rolled his eyes and Jesse looked at his phone. I held my back rigid and refused the bait.
‘I’m just down visiting,’ she continued. ‘Magnus is my cousin. Another cousin of ours is getting married shortly so this is all just the preliminaries. You know how it is.’ She pulled a face, showing us all how bored she was by it, but Araminta Montagu-Greer had never done anything she didn’t want to and I highly doubted that she’d changed in that regard.
‘So how long have you two been together?’ Her eyes strayed once again to Jesse before returning to my face. ‘I have to say well done. Revenge is so sweet, isn’t it?’
‘We’re not together,’ I replied. From the corner of my eye, I saw Magnus throw Jesse a glance. ‘And I’m sorry, what revenge?’
‘Oh!’ She put her perfectly manicured and expertly tanned hand up to cover her plumped lips and gave a little giggle. ‘I thought you two… I mean, Adrian might be married to that heiress now, but he always did hate to be outdone. And believe me, you’ve certainly gone up a few leagues here.’
