‘Here –’ Back at Granny’s Nook, a white-lipped Jess took the newspaper from Ollie.
‘But it’s the gossip page.’ Jess was shaking with fear and anger. ‘Nothing in here is ever factually correct.’
‘I know, but … I just thought you ought to see it.’
Which English actor, currently filming and hustling for movie projects in Hollywood, is playing away behind his fiancée’s back? Who’s going to tell her? It’s only a matter of time.
Alongside, under an engagement photo of Ryan and Jess was a malicious snippet: ‘Isn’t this a super photo of Ryan Hearst and Jess Tate on their engagement day?’
Jess’s phone rang. ‘Jess, babe, It’s me. Just got your message. You OK?’ It was Ryan.
‘Yeah. I’m fine. Ollie’s just shown me something from today’s paper.’
Ryan looked down at the same article in front of him and his palms grew sweaty. ‘Oh yeah? What’s it about?’
She frowned and bit her lip. ‘Oh, it’s nothing.’
‘Sure?’
‘Yeah.’
‘What paper?’
‘The Sun on Sunday.’
‘Oh. I think I have that. Let me look.’
‘Don’t bother.’ But Ryan was already adding fake sound effects of searching, by rustling the paper in front of him.
‘Ah yes. Here we are. What page?’
‘Nineteen.’
Ryan rustled and paused, then, ‘The little shit.’
‘How do those people sleep at night, writing lies like that?’
‘Agreed. But I meant Ollie. Put that toe-rag on the phone.’
Jess did so, happy to prove Ollie wrong.
Ollie put the phone to his ear and swallowed. ‘Hi, Ryan.’
‘Listen, you wanker, I don’t know why you want to make trouble between me and Jess, but back off. I’ve already given you the benefit of the doubt after you shared a bed with her last week. And if I get even a sniff of you trying it on with her again, I’m going to hurt you where the sun don’t shine. Geddit, sonny?’
‘Ryan, I wasn’t doing anything, I just thought it better that Jess should know …’
‘GEDDIT?’
‘I get it. Yes.’
‘Good. Pass me back to my fiancée.’
Ollie did as he was told. Ryan sounded very angry. ‘I don’t want you mixing with that man.’
Jess, always the peacemaker, said, ‘He’s a mate. Just looking out for me, that’s all.’
‘Well, I don’t like him. I want you to come up to London tonight.’
‘I can’t. I’m working tomorrow.’
‘You’ve got a cold, haven’t you? Tell that bloody director you’re ill and need to have a couple of days off.’
‘I can’t let him down. Besides I’ll feel better tomorrow.’
‘OK. I’ll phone him myself.’
‘No, Ryan!’
‘You are coming up to London and I am going to spoil you. I’ll take you to the Ivy for dinner. Pack something sexy. Now get on the next train and I’ll pick you up from Paddington. Tell them you’ll be back when you’re better.’
*
The Ivy Club was soothingly warm and friendly. The waiter escorted them to a table where they could both see and be seen by the great and the good who were members here.
‘You look lovely, Jess,’ said Ryan, reaching across the table to hold her hand.
She smiled. ‘Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.’
Ryan picked up the menu. ‘What do you fancy?’
‘You.’
He raised the lids of his dark, almond-shaped eyes and gave her a look that melted her heart.
‘Not Ollie?’
‘Not Ollie.’
Jess couldn’t remember the last time they’d had a dinner like this. She’d never been to the Ivy Club before. More exclusive than the world famous Ivy restaurant, it was star spotter heaven. Underneath an enormous canvas of Damien Hirst butterflies, Jess recognised Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss and Harry Styles laughing and enjoying themselves. Everyone in the place was a butterfly, drawn to the heady mix of fame and fashion. Membership was very expensive but had been a present to Ryan from his agent when he’d landed the second series of Venini. The waiter was diligent but not intrusive, the smoked salmon followed by the saddle of lamb was fragrant and melting. Jess was starting to think the time was right to mention marriage plans when a tall, very thin dark-haired woman in a Donna Karan dress walked past, stopped and then draped herself all over Ryan.
‘Darling!’ She left blood-red lipstick on his top lip. ‘Haven’t seen you for ages. How’s Serena? I thought she looked a-may-zing in LA.’ She glanced towards Jess and feigned surprise. ‘Hello.’ She held out her bony hand. ‘I’m Amanda. I’ve been working with Ryan in the States.’
She turned back to Ryan. ‘You and Serena are coming to the Huffington Post fundraiser, aren’t you?’
Jess was watching Ryan carefully. He was completely unruffled. ‘I think so, yes.’
‘Good. See you there. I’m sure it will be ghaaastly.’
She kissed him again and nodded at Jess. ‘Byeee.’
Ryan picked up his napkin and wiped away the lipstick. ‘Sorry about that. Horrible woman. That’s why I didn’t introduce you.’
‘Who’s Serena?’
Ryan was cutting into the last of his steak. ‘What, darling?’
‘Who’s Serena?’
‘Oh, she’s been in a couple of the new Venini episodes. Young actress. Quite good. Sweet.’ He eyed Jess warningly. ‘The equivalent of your Ollie, so nothing to worry about, is there?’
*
Two days later and Ryan had gone back to LA and Jess was back in Trevay being bawled out by Jonathan. ‘Where’s your sick note?’
Jess blushed. ‘It was a cold, that’s all.’
‘If it was just a cold you should have stayed here. Not been outside the Ivy Club being photographed on the arm of your boyfriend wearing next to nothing.’
Jess bit her lip to stop the tears that had started to blur her vision. Jonathan was becoming meaner and more unpleasant to work with as the opening night drew closer.
‘I …’ a thousand excuses whirled through her mind before she decided on, ‘I’m sorry, Jonathan. I really wasn’t feeling well and Ryan insisted I went home to rest. The night out was supposed to be a treat.’
Jonathan stared hard at her, frowning, before turning away with a sigh. ‘OK, you’re here now and you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.’
Colonel Irvine, watching this exchange from the sidelines, beckoned her over to where he was sitting. ‘My dear, he’s got his knickers in a twist. You are wonderful in the role and you’ve missed very little. Ignore him. I suspect his annoyance is based on something other than a couple of days off.’
‘What do you mean?’
But the Colonel gave her a sphinx-like smile and said only, ‘Youth is wasted on the young!’
Jess couldn’t think what he meant, but she was worried that she had got on the wrong side of Jonathan. She liked and respected him and she didn’t want him to think that she was a shirker. She resolved to work harder to make up for it. Perhaps she could take him out for a drink when he was less cross?
*
At the end of the working day, she and Brooke prepared to go home to Pendruggan.
‘Thanks for looking after Ethel and Elsie. Were they all right?’
‘Completely fine. I think they missed you. Ethel kept jumping up at the window, I think she was looking for your car.’
Jess looked around for Ollie.
‘He said he had to shoot off,’ said Brooke.
‘He’s hardly said a word to me all day.’
‘After what Ryan said to him, I’m not surprised.’
‘What?’
‘Well, Ryan kind of told him to back off from you, didn’t he?’
‘Did he? When?’
‘On the phone. Ollie doesn’t want any trouble. He’s got enough trouble with Red coming down.’
‘Is she?’ Jess felt a cloud of disappointment dim the room. Everybody was deserting her. Ryan back in the US. Jonathan shouting at her. Now Red coming to upset things.
‘Yeah. Tomorrow, I think. Can’t wait to meet her. A proper bona fide rock star! If she’s a bitch to Ollie I’ll give her a piece of my mind. Louis says he met her backstage at a Prince’s Trust concert in the park and …’
Jess tuned out as Brooke gossiped with gusto all the way back to Granny’s Nook. She needed to think. Ryan had told Ollie to back off? Red was coming to Trevay? Her little Cornish applecart was well and truly being upset.