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He shook his head. ‘Consequently, Zac is driving a tear-stained Robina back to London to clear her stuff from Adam’s flat, and he’s following them, presumably to make sure she doesn’t miss anything.’
‘While Aunt Mimi has taken to her bed with some eau de cologne and a bottle of aspirin,’ added Nicola, handing Dana her coffee. ‘Hurrah for a weekend in the country.’
‘Oh,’ Dana said slowly. ‘Oh, dear.’
‘My sentiments entirely,’ said Eddie. He studied her, frowning. ‘But I have to say you look as if you could use some aspirin and eau de cologne yourself.’
A good night’s sleep was all she really needed, thought Dana. And to wake to good news.
Zac’s absence was naturally a relief, but she’d counted on seeing Adam today to make some definite arrangements for their next meeting. His departure without a word was an unexpected setback.
She smiled with an effort. ‘Self-inflicted wound caused by too much champagne. I’ll recover.’
She paused. ‘I’m sorry about Robina. But it might teach Mr Belisandro to think twice before interfering in Adam’s private life.’
‘Apparently that was all her own idea,’ said Nicola. ‘She sent Zac a text asking him to meet her, then just got on the train and came. He told her it was a mistake and urged her to go back to London, but she wouldn’t listen.’
Dana made an effort to speak lightly. ‘Perhaps he’ll console her, as you suggested, by offering her the vacant post of Mrs Belisandro.’
Eddie gave her an old-fashioned look. ‘That,’ he said, ‘I doubt very much.’
It was a long morning and Dana soon regretted her decision to leave after lunch with the rest of the group. Mimi Latimer appeared at coffee time, clutching a handkerchief with the melancholy air of Joan of Arc at the stake.
She really sees herself as the injured party in all this, Dana thought fascinated, as she observed the Marchwoods’ unavailing efforts to divert her into a more cheerful frame of mind.
She finished her coffee quickly, and went up to pack, finding Mrs Harris coming out of her room.
‘I was asked to give you a note, Miss Grantham. It’s been rather hectic this morning so I’ve left it on your night table.’
‘Oh, thank you.’ Dana affected an air of nonchalance to hide the fact that her heart was beating nineteen to the dozen.
An envelope was propped against the bedside lamp, containing a single sheet of notepaper. And a four word message, with no signature.
‘Until we meet again.’
So Adam did think of me after all, Dana told herself exultantly.
‘Until we meet again,’ she whispered, crushing the note in her hand. ‘And it can’t be soon enough for me.’
* * *
However ten days passed before the receptionist at Jarvis Stratton told her there was a personal call for her on line two, and even then she thought it was probably Nicola.
Instead: ‘Hi,’ said Adam. ‘How’s the property market?’
At last, thought Dana, suppressing a sigh of relief. She kept her tone casual. ‘In good nick, thanks. How’s the world of public relations?’
‘Just now I’m more interested in the private kind. Can I persuade you to join me for lunch today?’
Dana hesitated. He was taking a lot for granted. Anyone else and she’d have invented a prior engagement, and suggested the following week.
But why take the risk, just for the sake of her pride?
‘You called at the right moment,’ she said. ‘I was just going to order a sandwich.’
‘Great. There’s a wine bar not far from you called Sam’s Place. Why don’t we meet there at one?’
‘Why not indeed,’ she said, adding, ‘Must go. There’s a call on another line.’
It wasn’t true, but she was afraid of letting her inner jubilation show.
She wished she’d picked something more interesting to wear than a navy skirt and a blue-and-white-striped blouse. But what could he expect in the middle of a working day? she asked herself, as she freshened her lipstick and applied a discreet misting of scent to her wrists and throat.
Adam was waiting at the bar when she walked in.
‘It’s busy,’ she said, glancing around her.
‘Always, but I’ve got us a table in the courtyard at the back, and a bottle of Frascati on ice.’
‘One of my favourites,’ said Dana, mentally resolving to restrict herself to a single glass.
