‘So, what about you? What made you decide to come here?’
Tash shuffled nervously from one foot to another and Cleo quickly stepped in to save her.
‘I decided it was time to take back control,’ she joked, patting her belly. She didn’t want to discuss her real problems right now, any more than Tash did.
Ingrid frowned. ‘Don’t be silly. You’re in great shape.’
‘Thanks,’ Cleo replied, with a grateful smile. ‘Actually, I’m not that bothered about my weight. The main thing is I want to get fitter and healthier.’
‘And me,’ Tash agreed.
Cleo raised her eyebrows.
‘You? I bet you’re super fit. You certainly look it. I’m afraid at home I don’t do nearly as much exercise as I should and I eat far too many ready meals.’
Henrietta shook her head, fake-disapprovingly. ‘Well, you won’t be getting any of that here. Strictly fresh organic food, no caffeine, alcohol or refined sugar, nothing processed.’
Tash squeaked. ‘I hope we won’t be ravenous all the time? I can get awfully hangry.’
‘You’ll be fine,’ Henrietta reassured her, before giving an evil grin. ‘You can fill up on herbal tea.’
Cleo noticed Maya talking briefly to Lesley and Fran but she moved off pretty smartly and strode over to the table to top up her glass. Cleo suppressed a giggle. She could imagine Maya and Lesley would hate each other: two dominant, alpha females vying to be Top Dog.There might be fireworks!
After pouring her drink, Maya paused for a moment to pick up a carrot stick and dip it in hummus before popping it in her mouth. Then, to Cleo’s dismay, she strode towards her, Tash and the rest.
It seemed she’d already met the Norwegians, as well as Anthea and Ima.
‘Ima teaches yoga and Pilates,’ Tash said, trying to be helpful.
Maya sipped her drink. ‘I know.’
Ima cleared her throat and Cleo sensed a change in her demeanour. She looked on edge all of a sudden, her chin slightly raised, her thin, wiry arms rigid by her sides.
‘Have you had an enjoyable afternoon?’ she asked politely, but her bright-blue eyes shifted left then right and failed to meet Maya’s gaze.
Maya herself showed no signs of such discomfort.
‘Yes, thank you. I took the opportunity to do some research about yoga versus Pilates. As I thought, the general view is that Pilatesisbetter for you, or at least better than old-fashioned yoga.’
Ima gave a small, cool smile. ‘As I believe I said, it depends what you mean bybetter.’
‘Better for your fitness,’ Maya replied, quick as a flash.
Ima, unable to conceal her annoyance, sucked in air through her half-clenched teeth. ‘For your physical fitness, perhaps. But in my view, it depends on the individual.
‘Also, yoga has certain mental and spiritual benefits which are quite unique. Neither is better or worse than the other, they’re just different.’
She cleared her throat again and repeated, ‘As I believe I said.’
Cleo shuffled uncomfortably on the spot and noticed the others looked uneasy, too. Tash was staring hard at the ground.
It was obvious Maya and Ima had had words earlier – and the week hadn’t even started yet. Perhaps Maya would be running the retreat by the end of the trip; she clearly thought she knew more about Pilates and yoga than the teacher anyway.
It was a relief when Henrietta announced dinner was ready and called them all to the table.
‘Sit wherever you like,’ she said.
Cleo attached herself like a limpet to Tash and made sure they were side by side. One of the Norwegian girls sat on Cleo’s other side while Maya took her place at the centre of the table, directly opposite the woman in the pink-and-blue cheesecloth smock.
