Whatever he was about to say, she didn’t want to hear it.
‘Look, I’ll leave you to get dressed,’ she said and dashed from the room before he could say another word.
* * *
Freddie was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee and flicking through a glossy magazine when Kate came in.
‘Well, when’s the wedding?’ he asked casually. ‘You’d better be making me bridesmaid.’
‘What wedding?’ Kate snapped. ‘You got it all wrong. He just came here to say that what happened was a mistake and to get me to go back to work.’
Freddie was aghast. ‘Bloody heteros! You couldn’t organise a shagfest in a brothel!’
Leaping to his feet, he grabbed Kate’s hand and dragged her back to her bedroom door.
‘He loves you, you love him,’ he hissed. ‘Now, get back in there and don’t come out until I’ve got a hen night to arrange and a wedding dress to design.’ He opened the door and gave Kate an almighty shove in the back, sending her staggering into the room.
‘You’re back!’
‘Freddie thought I should listen to what you have to say,’ she mumbled.
‘Remind me to lobby the Church for his canonization.’
‘So?’ Kate prompted. ‘What were you saying?’
Will sighed. ‘Just that I’m really sorry about everything. I had no idea about all the flak you’d been getting in the papers.’
‘Oh!’
‘If I’d known, I’d have come back sooner. I wouldn’t have hung you out to dry like that.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Kate told him. ‘It was my own fault, really. I shouldn’t have run off like that.’
‘No, you bloody shouldn’t. I sacked Louise when I discovered her part in it.’
‘You didn’t!’ Kate gasped, her eyes huge.
‘Don’t worry,’ Will laughed, ‘she told me to fuck off. But you have to come back to Tuscany with me. I’ll be lynched if I go back without you! They’re all threatening to go on hunger strike.’
‘But what about Tina?’ Kate asked, bracing herself.
‘She’s always on hunger strike.’
‘You know what I mean. I’m sure she wouldn’t want me there.’
‘I don’t see what it’s got to do with her,’ Will shrugged casually. ‘As far as I know, she’s busy reinventing herself as the Mother Teresa of Cambodia. Good luck to her!’
‘Don’t you mind?’ Kate asked. It was like picking a scab. She knew no good could come of asking, but she had to know.
‘Mind! Why should I mind?’ Will looked puzzled.
‘But I thought – I mean, aren’t you?—’
‘No, I’m notheartbroken. No, I didn’t beg her to take me back.’
‘You didn’t?’ Kate asked, edging closer and sitting on the bed.
‘No. We had a huge row after you’d gone. I told her she and I were through. I’m afraid she chose to spin that as a declaration of undying love.’
