Page 54 of The Way We Are Now

‘And a croissant?’

‘Please.’ Mind you, how was I to cope with the inevitable flaky croissant once it started to collapse around my mouth?

Maureen walked over. ‘Coffee?’ Her manner was still brusque, and I put it down to either she’d really liked the absent Susannah and thought I’d usurped her or, more likely, she recognised me as one of her own – a working-class chancer who’d somehow inveigled her way into the upper echelons of this little kingdom of hers, and to whom she now felt she had to defer.

‘Ah, Hannah.’ Theo’s mother was at my side once I was seated, frowning at Mary’s filled plate but saying nothing. I don’t suppose berating one’s kids in public was the done thing.

‘It’s Anna.’ I smiled politely.

‘What is?’ While Theo’s mother appeared cold, bloodless almost, her cheeks were red. Too much hunting in the raw north wind or too much gin, I surmised.

‘Sorry, you called me Hannah.’ I smiled again. ‘You know, with an H at each end…? It’s apparently a palindrome…’

‘I do hope Theodore is going to stay for lunch,’ she interrupted. ‘It’ll be a late lunch of course but… Do you know his plans?’

‘I need to get off, Mum.’ Theo appeared with two plates, placing a luscious-looking croissant, jam and butter in front of me. ‘I’ve to take Anna back to South Yorkshire and then, I’m afraid it’s head down for a while. I’ve end-of-year exams for the next two weeks.’

‘Of course.’ Ava Mandeville pouted. ‘I’d forgotten that.’

‘I could get the train back,’ I said, trying to put myself in a good light with Theo’s mother. ‘Really, not a problem.’

‘Oh?’ Ava turned to Theo with a questioning raised eye. ‘Would that be possible? I do hope you’ve not been neglecting your studies, Theo. You should stay for lunch and then crack on back to Leeds.’

Theo smiled winningly at his mother before picking up Mary’s napkin from the floor. ‘It’s all in hand, Mum. Anna and I’ll be off as soon as we’ve had breakfast. I’ll be back at my books by this afternoon.’

‘Well, do let us know how the exams go, dear.’

‘I’m actually hoping to catch up with Wills and Fraser and the rest of the Stowe gang once the exams have finished. One weekend in June? Meeting up with them for some do in London.’

‘Oh, that is good!’ Ava smiled for the first time. ‘I’m so pleased you’re in touch with those lovely boys from school. I saw Fraser’s mother last week – we were at a Save the Crocodile function in York…’

Crocodiles in the River Ouse? Well, there was a novelty.

‘…You have a key for the London house? Know the alarm? I’ll make sure Mrs Crabtree has been in – that there’s something in the fridge for you. Let me know your exact dates and your bedroom will be aired.’ She turned back to me, holding out a hand. ‘It’s been so lovely to meet you, dear. I do hope we meet again. Now, if you’ll excuse me…’ She bent towards Theo, proffering a cheek which he dutifully kissed and, frowning once more at Mary’s bulging mouth, walked back towards the open double doors leading to the entrance hall.

‘I’d forgotten all about end-of-year exams,’ I said, once we were back in the Mini. ‘Have you done plenty of revision?’

‘Enough.’ Theo grinned in my direction. ‘Don’t they always say, first- and second-year exams are not important?’

‘Well, I don’t know who says that,’ I retorted almost crossly. ‘I certainly put time and effort into mine.’

‘I wouldn’t have expected anything less.’

‘I suppose you’re one of these lucky people who can do the minimum and yet come out with top results? Fliss was like that,’ I went on sadly.

‘I do what’s needed,’ he said and then added, ‘Are you still up for spending some time with me in London? Having said that, I don’t think I can wait until then before seeing you again. How do you feel about coming over to Leeds one evening next week?’

‘What about your revision?’ I knew I couldn’t bear not to see him for a couple of weeks.

‘You can help me.’ He laughed. ‘How about it? You like history.’

‘I can get the train over.’

‘Great. And if you came over next Friday you wouldn’t need to get back to work.’

‘You mean stay with you? Overnight? In your student bedroom? In your single bed?’

‘It’s a double, and yes, I mean just that.’