‘I do my best,’ he smiled.
Lorcan shook his head ruefully.
‘So – any advice for handling the formidable Freddie?’
‘Tell him that story and he’ll love you for ever.’
Giving up, Will turned to go.
‘Be nice to his cats,’ Lorcan said to his back.
* * *
‘Freddie? Hi, it’s Will.’
‘Oh my God! It’s Will,’ Freddie mouthed to Ken, pressing the intercom handset to his chest.
Ken raised his eyebrows. ‘Buzz him in,’ he said, when Freddie appeared immobilised by panic.
‘Come up,’ Freddie said, and pressed the button.
At least he had a few minutes to compose himself while Will climbed the four flights of stairs. When the knock came, he opened the door, determined to be steely and cold. ‘Oh my God!’ he gasped. ‘What happened to you?’
‘Lorcan – he met me at the airport.’
‘Ouch!’ Freddie said sympathetically. ‘Well, you’d better come in,’ he said, pursing his lips, stiffening his resolve to be forbidding.
‘Thanks.’ Will strode into the room, cast his eyes around and spied a fat black and white cat curled up on the sofa.
‘Oh, you’ve got a cat! I love cats,’ he said, throwing himself down beside Didi and picking him up.
Apparently cats liked him too. To Freddie’s amazement, Didi didn’t protest at being disturbed, and within seconds he was squirming with pleasure on Will’s lap, legs sprawled, purring like a tractor while Will knuckled his belly.
Freddie positioned himself opposite them, perched on the edge of a hard chair, ready to do battle. He was feeling more hostile towards Will now, resenting the way he made the apartment feel instantly smaller and how Didi had rolled over for him.
‘She’s lovely,’ Will said, smiling down indulgently at Didi. ‘It is a she, isn’t it?’
‘You’d think, wouldn’t you?’ Freddie said drily, as Didi tumbled and writhed ecstatically under Will’s lazily stroking fingers. ‘We think he’s gay.’Slut! he thought and shot Didi a filthy look.
‘Well, Mister, what have you got to say for yourself? I take it you didn’t just come here to mooch the cat?’
‘No. I came to see Kate.’
‘She isn’t here.’
‘Oh.’
Just then, Ken appeared from the kitchen. ‘This is my boyfriend, Ken,’ Freddie told Will. ‘He’s a solicitor,’ he added threateningly.
‘Hello, nice to meet you,’ Will stood and shook Ken’s hand then sank back abjectly into the sofa.
‘What happened?’ Ken nodded to Will’s face.
‘Lorcan,’ Freddie explained.
‘Look, I know what you probably think,’ Will said, ‘but that stuff in the papers is all bollocks.’
‘Really?’ Freddie said cautiously.
