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‘You’re sure? And you’re fine to stay? It’s been a week now and I feel a lot better so if you’re bored of being driven around like a ceremonial doll, just say.’
‘I’m fine. It’s very relaxing sitting in the back of a limousine in designer clothing, so let me enjoy it a little longer. What have you been up to anyway? Did you and Sally have that cinema trip? And did the theatre action group find somewhere else to meet?’
Clem sat back and sipped her coffee as Arrosa filled her in on all the local news and told her all about meeting Sally for a couple of drinks at the local pub. Not exactly the most rock and roll evening for a single twenty-six-year-old, but probably the most freedom her sister had had in years.
‘Clem?’ A diffident note had entered her sister’s voice and Clem put her coffee down, all senses on alert. ‘What do you know about Jack Treloar?’
‘Jack Treloar? As in our “local bad boy done good, trying to take over the town theatre and commercialise it” Jack Treloar?’
‘That’s the one.’
Clem’s first instinct was to demand an explanation why Arrosa was interested inJack Treloarof all people but, knowing what it must have cost Rosy to ask the question and provoke the inevitable reaction, she made herself hold back.
‘Not much,’ she said, sifting through her scant knowledge and trying to exclude gossip and hearsay. ‘He’s about four years older than me so we were never in the same school year and didn’t hang around with the same group, although from what I remember he was always quite solitary. His dad was absent a lot, drifted in and out of his life, his mother did her best but he had a real reputation. If there was ever any trouble it was attributed to him. Then he took up with the local bigwig’s daughter, next thing she was pregnant and they got married. I don’t think they were more than eighteen, it was quite the scandal. They disappeared off to London where somehow he made money hand over fist. I think she died tragically a couple of years back, then six months ago he returned with his daughters and bought the most expensive house in the village. No one knows why he came back. Goodness knows he can’t have many happy memories of living in Cornwall. He left the town under the shadow of a scandal and has returned the same, especially now he’s trying to strong-arm the council into selling or leasing the theatre to him.’
She paused before giving in and asking the burning question. ‘Why? How have you come across him? He usually doesn’t descend from his clifftop mansion to mix with us mere mortals.’
‘He was at your play, so sometimes he does. Anyway, I’ve found myself babysitting for his daughters,’ Arrosa said, an evasive tone in her voice, and Clem nearly choked on her coffee.
‘You arewhat? How on earth did that come about?’
‘It’s a long story. I’ll fill you in some other time.’
‘I’ve got time now,’ Clem offered, but her sister was clearly not going to be drawn.
‘Honestly, it’s not very interesting. But whatisinteresting is what’s going on with you. Has the gorgeous Akil contacted you yet?’
‘I didn’t think that you thought he was that good-looking,’ Clem countered, and her sister laughed.
‘Objectively I can see that he is, but more importantly I know that you think so. Come on, spill the beans, what’s going on? He asked for your number a couple of days ago. Has he been in contact?’
‘We met up yesterday but nothing is going on, he’s just being kind.’ It was Clem’s turn to prevaricate as her sister let out a disbelieving—and most un-princess-like—snort.
‘If you say so. I’ve known Akil a long time and he has a real sense of honour and justice, but I wouldn’t have called him kind, not in the “give up a second afternoon to entertain a stranger” way.’
‘I don’t know, it seems completely in character to me. Did you know that he works for the mountain rescue?’
‘I’ve seen it mentioned in interviews, but he’s usually pretty quiet about it. Not really one for sharing at all. So he’s mentioned it to you, has he?’
‘I saw him in action. There was an accident and I just froze, it was horrid, but he knew exactly what to do. It was impressive.’
‘Handsome and heroic. He’s quite the catch.’
‘Rosy. Tell me honestly, are you having second thoughts?’
Clem held her breath while she waited for her sister’s answer. Arrosa and Akil belonged in the same world, the same social circles, the higher echelons of the same country, had shared goals. It would make perfect sense for her sister to have reconsidered, and if she did then it would be Clem’s duty to step aside and hide her own feelings. She might not be a princess, but she was a princess’s sister and she knew what that entailed. She’d seen the weight of that crown yesterday.
‘Not a second or a third or a fourth thought,’ Arrosa said emphatically. ‘And I can tell you something, nor is he.’
‘How do you know?’ Clem hoped her sister couldn’t hear how desperately she wanted that to be true.
‘Because he’s attracted toyou, Clem. It was so obvious when I spoke to him. And it’s obvious that you like him so what kind of sister would I be if I came between you, even if that’s what I wanted? Which for the record I don’t.’
‘He kissed me,’ Clem confessed and winced as her sister let out a whoop.
‘I knew it!’
‘It was only a brief kiss goodbye as he was heading for the ambulance.’
