At nine-thirty everyone was all present and correct in the foyer awaiting Josh. I could have kissed every last one of them. Even Ben.
When Josh emerged from the lift he looked a little put out at first but quickly rearranged his expression to hide his irritation.
‘Ah, excellent. Everyone’s here. I missed you all at breakfast.’
‘Oh, sorry Joseph,’ said Avril.
‘Josh,’ he corrected.
She waved a hand in a whatever gesture. ‘I do like to take a quick walk in the morning, it helps me think of angles for the breakfast feature I’m thinking of running. You know, how the new department store, Hjem, brings the true flavour of Copenhagen to London. It’s so helpful to do some extra research. You know, so that we do justice to the Danish concept of hygge. This trip has brought it home to me, what it’s all about.’
‘Yeah,’ Fiona chipped in, ‘and I like to get out and take lots of photos so that I when I do my blog posts, I can show my followers an insight into how the new store reflects Danish culture.’
Josh nodded looking quite bewildered, surprised by the well-drilled students in front of him. ‘Right. Excellent. So is everyone ready for our trip to the Design Museum this morning? We have an excellent speaker who will be talking about the importance of Danish design to the national psyche.’
‘Yes, so Kate’s been telling us,’ said Conrad with a lie so bare-faced I had visions of his nose growing a centimetre a second.
‘Yes,’ Ben piped up clearly not wanting to be outdone by the others, ‘I’m thinking of running a feature on Danish happiness to coincide with the opening of the store. A lifestyle piece on how people can recreate the typical Danish cosiness and what they need to do. I think readers of the Inquisitor would be fascinated by the way that Danish culture is geared towards equality and togetherness.’
Ben’s outrageous declaration had me turning away, there was no way I could keep a straight face at that one or tamp down the little warm glow his words elicited, even though he probably didn’t mean them.
‘Right,’ said Josh nodding slightly wide-eyed. ‘I need a quick word with Kate and then we’ll be off.’
He drew me to one side. ‘I think it would be a good idea if you brought up the rear, make sure no one wanders off or lags behind. I’ll go up ahead with Mads. He seems nice enough but far too casual about things. We need to stay on schedule. I’m not sure he’s left enough time to get to the museum this morning, so we’ll need to walk quickly.’
‘Copenhagen’s very compact. I’m sure-’
‘Kate,’ his voice quivered with a definite repressed warning. ‘I want you to make sure everyone keeps up. We’ve got exactly three hours at the Design Museum, quarter of an hour to get to the market and then half an hour there before we have lunch nearby. If we fall behind there’ll be-’
‘Josh,’ I put up my hand, unable to keep quiet. He was clueless. ‘Mads knows exactly what he’s doing. Everyone is very laid back, that’s the Danish hygge thing.’
‘I’ll be the judge of that if you don’t mind. I think judgement might have been the issue.’
He clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. Conrad raised an elegant eyebrow and threw Josh a regal stare full of rebuke, Avril completely ignored him and carried on chatting to David and Ben while Fiona and Sophie were taking selfies and swapping phones.
Luckily Mads stepped in front of Josh. ‘The Design Museum is one of my favourite places. Today, you’re going to see a lot of chairs.’ In his sing-song accent, seeing a lod ov chess, sounded rather charming and like well-behaved children, all six journalists fell silent, turning to face him and listening with studious attention.
Bloody hell, that was a first.
Conrad groaned and clutched his hands to his heart. ‘Heaven, darling. Danish design. Chairs. Pure beauty. Strong, clean lines. Design classics.’ He fell into step beside Mads and I could hear the names, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, Alvar Aalto being bandied about.
Josh acting like an overenthusiastic sheepdog constantly doubled back to round everyone up urging them to pick up their pace. It was like a route march across enemy territory.
I stomped along at the back, conscious of the growing irritation among the group. Even Sophie was muttering under her breath which was not a good sign.
‘Illums Bolighus,’ announced Conrad in theatrical tones, stopping dead outside the stylish looking department store on Støgnet that we’d passed umpteen times in the last couple of days. I knew for a fact he and Avril had visited before because they’d come back to the hotel with the store’s distinctive carrier bags.
All of us had previously commented on the fabulous window display, a perfect outdoor garden picnic scene themed in tasteful lemon and grey. Forget wooden benches, Tupperware and plastic plates, this was garden furniture Danish style, a lemon canvas hammock full of grey pillows, ladder back shelves full of yellow and white pansies in silver conch shell pots, a glass table balanced on the top of six beech legs which curved out from the centre, lemon and grey chairs and a table setting with matching napkins and runners with chunky white pottery plates rimmed with grey lines.
‘We have to go inside,’ said Avril. ‘Look how gorgeous it is.’
‘Of course, we do,’ agreed Sophie, the two of them exchanging a look I wasn’t party to.
‘We have a minute,’ said Mads. ‘It’s not a problem.’
Josh glared at him. ‘It will be if we stop every five minutes on the way.’
He stepped in front of the entrance which was a bit ridiculous as it was two double doors wide up a small flight of stairs and of course to Avril tantamount to throwing down the gauntlet.
‘But Illums is famous throughout Scandinavia,’ said Conrad, his moustache quivering. ‘It would be criminal for us to pass and not take a peek. Fiona, get your camera ready.’
As Josh watched, they all skipped past, even Ben, who I’m pretty sure had absolutely no interest whatsoever.
‘This is your fault,’ hissed Josh hurrying after them.
‘Mine?’
‘Yes, you shouldn’t have let them stop to look in the window.’
‘Josh, there’s plenty of time and don’t forget what the trip is about. This place is a Danish institution.’
He rolled his eyes and tutted, trotting in after everyone.
I had to admit Illums Bolighus was one of the most beautiful shops I’d ever been inside. Not just the impressive atrium and balconies but also the merchandise and the way it was displayed. Scented candles, expensive scarves, unique and interesting jewellery, coloured ceramics. Designer names, Alessi, Lucie Kaas, Royal Copenhagen.
If Hjem was half as nice as this, it was going to be a roaring success. Suddenly as I looked up to the light slanting in from the third storey roof, across the planes of the wood clad walls into the muted halls of the store, I understood exactly what Eva had been talking about, the very first time I met her. It was somehow soothing to be surrounded by nice things. I didn’t hanker after owning them all. I didn’t want to buy many things (OK a few) but it was somehow balm to the soul to be surrounded by things of beauty, of style, of taste.
It was the Danish equivalent of stopping to smell the roses.
Even Josh who’d been in such a hurry all morning seemed to calm down and I saw him stroking the arm of a wooden chair on a display by the escalator, although not for long. Soon he was back in sheepdog mode chivvying everyone along. Just as we were about to leave I went back to a display of china that had caught my eye. It was my third circuit but I adored the quirky pattern on the mugs and plates.
‘Aren’t they gorgeous?’ said Sophie over my shoulder.
‘Yes and a gorgeous price. I don’t need a mug that costs 160 Krone.’
‘But that pattern is so cute.’
‘I know.’ I looked back at the china. ‘Bugger it. I’m going to buy the egg cup. It’s about the only thing in my price bracket.’
Clutching the tiny piece of pottery, I almost skipped to the till which was ridiculous. It was a thing. I didn’t normally buy things. Not for myself, but I just had to own one little piece of the china.
‘A little bit of hygge,’ said Sophie.
‘Exactly, I love the mugs but I can’t justify them at that price but one little egg cup will remind me of this trip.’
Despite the side-trip to the shop, we arrived at the museum well before it opened.
‘I’ll just pop and get a coffee, if you don’t mind,’ said David almost apologetically indicating a coffee shop down the road, not quite out of sight.
‘I’d rather you didn’t,’ Josh barked, almost jumping in his path.
I saw Fiona bristle on David’s behalf. They’d all become rather protective of him since his shy confession of loneliness.
‘Well, I’m not standing here for twenty minutes with nothing to do,’ said Avril, pushing the handles of another new handbag further up her wrist. ‘There was an interesting looking vintage boutique near the coffee place.’
‘Yes,’ piped up Sophie. ‘I liked the look of that.’
Josh’s face was a picture. They were all being very naughty, even on a bad day they’d never been quite this wilful.
‘I tell you what,’ I suggested quickly, giving Sophie a quick reproving glance to which she responded with a cheeky grin. ‘We’ll all walk to the coffee shop. The boutique won’t be open yet anyway. We can get a coffee and by the time we walk back here the museum will be open.’ Honestly, I sounded like a flipping kindergarten teacher refereeing over a fight about a toy.
The way they all immediately straightened and fell into line, with the promise of coffee, you’d never have thought they had been knocking back double Cappuccinos less than an hour before.
‘Excellent idea, Kate,’ said Ben, the slight twitch to the left of his mouth hinting at a secret smile. I gave him a brief business-like nod and ignored the pang when he shot me a confused look.
‘You are such a brilliant host, Kate,’ sighed Fiona.
That was it. They were up to something.
This time I led the way, Josh bringing up the rear, sporting a very disgruntled scowl.
I had a horrible feeling that today was going to be very interesting.
On first glance, the outside of the Design Museum didn’t shout contemporary or uber cool. Don’t get me wrong, it was a lovely building. Seventeenth-century rococo, according to Mads, and a former hospital which probably explained why it didn’t look the least bit designer. Of course, I was in Denmark, inside didn’t disappoint. The interior had been transformed into a series of beautiful rooms with interesting displays and Mads wasn’t kidding, lots of chairs. Conrad was in his element.
I could hear him telling Fiona about the different designers, dates and the names of the designs and the elements of the chairs to look out for. Everyone knew Conrad by reputation but I didn’t realise how much of an expert he was.
‘You should do a coffee table book,’ said David as Conrad stopped at one particular display his eyeballs almost rolling in ecstasy as he pointed out the design features.
‘Or you could be a teacher,’ said Sophie, ‘you make it sound so interesting.’
‘I know someone on the faculty at the University of the Arts in London, they have a furniture design course,’ said Avril. ‘That would solve your financial problems. You could teach and still freelance.’
I wandered off leaving them to an enthusiastic discussion about branching out Conrad’s career, deliberately taking the opposite direction to Ben.
There was an interesting chair lined tunnel and I looked at each chair in turn. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many variations on a theme, simple, elegant bentwood designs with sinuous contours and flowing lines. Brandon would have been intrigued by the craftsmanship and the construction. I got out my phone and snapped a couple of shots which I sent him with a quick caption.
Wish you were here? Danish design.
‘It’s fascinating, isn’t it?’ At the sound of Ben’s voice, my heartbeat kicked up a notch. ‘A chair is such a practical thing and yet all these designs use the same basic precept.’
Damn, I’d been so absorbed, I’d let down my guard and now Ben had found me on my own.
I nodded suddenly tongue-tied, watching warily as he made his way along the brightly lit tunnel, stopping at each chair, to give each a quick appraisal. I should have moved. Walked away but my legs didn’t seem to want to play. They were listening to my heart which was misbehaving, leaping about in my chest like a wayward gazelle.
I needed to play it cool, friendly and brush last night aside. Make him see it had been a mistake, for both of us. Post ride adrenaline and the romantic surroundings of Tivoli, which had been too generous with its fairy dust.
‘Who knew chairs could be so interesting?’
Damn, his voice had lowered and as he got closer, prickles of awareness danced across the skin on my arms. I ought to move away. It suddenly felt rather intimate, like a secret tryst.
I drew in a ragged breath. ‘Perhaps you could write a whole article on the joys of Danish chairs,’ I suggested, trying to keep things light and flippant but not flirty. Definitely not flirty.
He smiled. ‘I think I’ll leave the chairs to Conrad. He’s quite an expert. Although,’ he nodded and looked into my eyes, ‘I could persuade my editor to perhaps give Conrad some freelance work.’ He’d taken a step closer and every nerve ending was suddenly conscious of his proximity.
Damn, why did he have to go and be so nice?
‘Yes,’ I said my voice stupidly breathy, ‘he knows his stuff.’
‘He also knows his wine.’ Ben’s gentle conspiratorial teasing made my heart lurch.
‘Thanks for reminding me,’ I said briskly. ‘Not the best moment of this trip.’
‘It’s been an adventure that’s for sure.’ An amused smile hovered around his lips as he waited for me to agree, not picking up on my body language or words, both of which were screaming stay away.
‘Yes, it has been rather eventful.’ I screwed up my courage, sneaking one last look at his face. ‘But with only one full day left, we need to be a lot more business-like. We are here on business.’ I tried to sound firm, friendly and encouraging even though each word hurt to say especially when I saw the initial confusion in Ben’s eyes sharpen into understanding as they narrowed and he processed the subtext behind my words.
He had stepped closer and I could see the tiny darker flecks of blue in his eyes. I bit my lip, my eyes pleading with his to understand. ‘I mean…’
‘Ah, Kate.’
I whirled round startled by Josh’s voice.
‘And Ben.’
Somehow, he managed to convey disapproval in those few brief words as if he’d caught us in the middle of something.
I took a deliberate step back away from Ben as Josh strode towards us, his nose twitching as if he were on the scent of something inappropriate. I immediately flushed feeling guilty.
‘B-ben and I were discussing a p-possible feature on chairs.’ I would be rubbish under interrogation. I hadn’t even done anything and I was tripping over my words.
‘We were?’ Ben raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes.
‘Yes,’ I gave him a desperate look. ‘We were. We need to talk about what angles you’re looking at and the sort of follow up coverage we’ll get in the Inquisitor. What sort of article do you think you’ll write?’
Ben raised a disdainful eyebrow.
‘Glad to hear you’re making progress at last, Kate,’ said Josh. He turned to Ben. ‘We had a discussion about this last night. Kate filled me in on the press coverage that’s been promised by everyone else in the group. She said she’s been working on you.’
I flushed turning bright red. I’d said no such thing.
‘Has she?’ drawled Ben, a hard edge to his words.
‘Yes,’ Josh beamed oblivious to the undercurrent. ‘Perhaps we can have a more detailed discussion over coffee later. I’d be interested to hear your ideas.’
Ben stiffened, and I heard him take a sharp indrawn breath.
He shot me a look of pure dislike. ‘I’m not sure I’ve had enough of the right attention, yet?’ Luckily, he had his back to Josh as he insolently looked at my lips.
‘I think perhaps you need to do a bit more. Go a bit further.’
I felt slightly sick at his intimation.
‘Well if you need any ideas, I’m sure we can have a bit of a brain storming session,’ said Josh. ‘Kate can be quite creative.’
‘I’m sure she’s extremely creative in the right circumstances,’ drawled Ben. ‘But I’m OK thanks, I don’t need PRs to do my job for me. I’m quite capable of finding a story when there’s one to tell.’ He bit the clipped words out as if he were trying to keep his mouth closed and looking as if there was an extremely nasty smell under his nose that he couldn’t wait to get away from.
‘Excellent. Excellent,’ said Josh ignoring the undercurrent of tension simmering between Ben and me.
Ben’s eyes shuttered and his face reverted to the cool impassive expression I was more used to.
‘We’ve only got one more day,’ reminded Josh. ‘The last chance for you to get anything more concrete to work on before we leave tomorrow.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ve had everything I need from Kate, thank you,’ snapped Ben and walked off down the corridor to the next room. ‘In fact, I don’t think I’m going to need her personal services again.’
Ouch.
The weather had turned while we were inside and we emerged to solid rain and a grey gloom which felt as if the thick dark clouds pressed in on us. Suddenly the streets seemed deserted as if everyone had decided to stay indoors. We huddled in the entrance.
‘How long will it take to walk to the market?’ asked Josh looking up at the sky.
‘Ten minutes,’ said Mads studying the clouds with decided unconcern.
‘I vote we go to Varme instead,’ said Avril. ‘If we go there we can dry out and it’ll be cosy.’
‘I’m afraid not,’ said Josh. ‘Torvallherne Market,’ he’d been practising saying it, ‘is part of the itinerary.’
‘And we’ve already done it,’ snapped Sophie, ‘and it’s miles away and in the opposite direction.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Josh, suspiciously.
‘We were ahead of schedule the other day,’ I explained gently, ‘and we were nearby so we popped in then. Fi got some fabulous shots and is going to do a whole feature on the amazing spread of stalls there.’
Fi nodded in agreement, which seemed to mollify Josh. He reluctantly agreed and this time decided he’d bring up the rear leaving me to guide the group to Eva’s. After several days in the city, we were all getting our bearings and I walked along with Sophie, our heads ducked down against the horizontal rain carried by the wind.
It seeped in everywhere, fine drizzle that left everything damp and chilly, working its way into the seams of your clothes leaving a clammy touch on skin. It was difficult to see where you were going, so we hurried along following Mads who was hunched down into his quilted brown coat like a busy turtle.
‘Where’s David?’ asked Conrad stopping suddenly and looking around ponderously as if he’d made the discovery of the century.
‘David?’ echoed Fiona, water running down her nose, looking authentically wide-eyed. ‘Oh, my goodness have we lost him?’
‘Joseph dear, we need to stop,’ said Avril catching Josh’s arm, her face signalling alarm.
God, Conrad and Fi were dreadful actors, while Avril could win an Oscar hands down. What the hell were they playing at?
‘Oh, for the love of God,’ snorted Josh, his hair tufted into wet peaks. ‘Where did he go?’ He looked around, his face tight with worry.
I honestly started to feel a little sorry for Josh.
‘Wait here everybody.’ He hurried over to my side. ‘Where do you think he is?’
I thought he was probably hiding around a corner quivering with amusement.
‘Would you like me to go and look for him?’ I asked. ‘I’m sure he won’t be far away.’ In fact, I could guarantee it. ‘You go on with the others to Varme and I’ll find him.’
‘Are you sure?’ asked Josh, looking slightly less panicky. ‘What if you don’t find him?’
‘Oh, I’ll find him,’ I said grimly, throwing a quelling look at Conrad and Avril who glowed with innocence like a pair of bright-eyed naughty pixies.
I’d bet my last pound they’d put David up to this. Happiest in the herd, he was absolutely the last person to wander off on his own. I waited in the street until the others were out of sight and then looked around. Sure enough less than an eighth of a second later, David emerged from a shop doorway.
I shook my head as I went over to him, to shelter in the doorway. ‘Lost?’
‘I … er, saw something. In the shop.’ He pointed over his shoulder towards the window behind him.
I raised a sceptical eyebrow and looked at the shop window. ‘What – in Denmark’s answer to Victoria’s Secret?’
‘What?’ he whipped round.
‘Ha! Got you.’ The shop sold various kitchen items.
‘I must have been distracted.’
‘Yeah, right David. And Copenhagen doesn’t have a cycle path to its name. What are you guys up to? All that dallying on the way to the museum. You going walkabout? It doesn’t stack up at all.’
‘Busted.’ He grinned at me. ‘We’re just showing Josh how well you cope with whatever’s thrown at you.’
‘Please,’ I sighed, feeling the rain running down my neck and shivering a little, ‘tell me there are no more stunts planned.’
‘Hmm,’ he stroked his chin, his blue eyes twinkling with sheer mischief. ‘You wouldn’t want me to rat on the others, now would you?’
‘David! What have you got planned?’ I covered my wet face with my hands.
‘Not me,’ he said all innocence.
I stopped him before he could say anything else, shaking my head. ‘Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.’
I arrived to a chorus of Kates from everyone as if I’d returned triumphant from an epic voyage and completed some incredible challenge. Everyone except Ben who glowered at me before ducking his head down back to his mobile phone.
‘You found him,’ said Conrad, his voice full of wonderment.
‘Funny that,’ I said patting him on the shoulder with an extra nudge and giving them all a stern stare. At least here they couldn’t get up to any more mischief.
‘Kate, hot chocolate?’ Eva, was already at my side with a steaming mug. ‘With extra cream, just how you like it. And would you like some soup?’
I took the chocolate gratefully, my hands clasping the hot cup.
Everyone had ordered Eva’s soup of the day, a fish chowder bursting with prawns and mussels in their shells in a pale yellow fragrant broth. It was exactly what was needed on a grey day.
I should have smelt a rat when Avril uncharacteristically ordered a tomato juice. The girl ran on coffee fumes. And also when she’d managed to inveigle her way into sitting next to Josh, a lot closer than even the cramped conditions necessitated.
Somehow to a great scream and lots of fuss the glass ended up in her lap, soaking her jeans.
‘Oh, no.’ She wailed flinging her arms in the air, jumping to her feet. ‘What am I going to do?’
‘Oh God, I’m sorry,’ said Josh also jumping to his feet. Luckily only a few spatters of tomato juice had hit him.
‘It was an accident,’ said Avril, who’d clearly engineered the whole thing. And it was an Oscar worthy performance far outdoing Fiona or David’s little turns.
The tomato juice had done its job as well as only tomato juice can, turning more orangey as it soaked into the pale denim. Part of me had to give her credit for sacrificing, what knowing her, were a pricey pair of jeans.
‘Take them off and I’ll soak them now before they can stain,’ said Eva bustling over. I gave her a sharp look but she was intent on helping. No, the Machiavellian tricks had only one author; they had Avril written all over them. And just a little bit of me fell in love with her, not because I approved of what she was doing, but because she cared enough to try to help me. I’d done her a disservice, dismissing her as the spoilt princess.
‘Oh God, I’ll pay for them,’ said Josh, still believing that he’d caused the spillage rather than being Avril’s unknowing patsy. Avril pursed her mouth as if she were considering his offer.
It took me a second to realise that Avril had gaily stripped off the trousers, there and then in the café, revealing a pair of silk lavender micro-briefs. Mind you if I had tanned and toned thighs like hers and a bottom that pert and perfectly sculpted, I might have been tempted to do the same.
I put my hand over my mouth to hold in the giggles that were threatening to erupt. They were all mad but so lovely and sweet, going to these lengths to make me look good.
I thought Josh’s eyes were going to fall out of his head, although David and Conrad did take a second look too. Even Ben cracked his face to let a grin break through.
Eva whisked them out of her hands and Avril stood there. ‘How am I going to get back to the hotel?’ She looked at me, her eyes pantomime wide.
‘Gosh. What. A. Terrible. Disaster,’ I said robotically, clamping my jaw tight so I wouldn’t break into laughter. I saw her bite back a smile, swallowing hard as I added, ‘I can’t begin to imagine what on earth to do.’
Josh was frowning as if trying to come up with a solution. And I did feel sorry for him, he was absolutely clueless.
‘I could walk back to the hotel and go to your room and get you a pair,’ I suggested even as Avril was shaking her head vehemently. ‘Or maybe Josh could.’
He looked suitably horrified. ‘I don’t think I’d be comfortable with that. It’s going to have to be you.’
Avril was flashing messages at me with her eyes, raising her eyebrows.
‘But I can’t sit here in my knickers all that time,’ she put her hand on her chest in mock horror.
Suddenly she was feeling modest?
The atmosphere held all the tension of a tennis match with everyone anxiously waiting for the next volley. They all looked at me and then Avril, and then back again and Sophie was kicking me under the table.
Ben rolled his eyes and I heard his impatient sigh. ‘You wouldn’t happen to still have those jeans that … were bought for you, when you ruined yours. The ones you were going to take back to H&M today.’
The carefully placed words and avoidance of that I bought for you stung. No, they hurt. A lot. Buying the jeans had been a gesture full of innate kindness but also showed a thoughtfulness that I’d underestimated. Regret pinched at the loss of that brief bright connection between us.
I’d done the right thing putting him off but it didn’t help. He was the sort of man you might be tempted to hang on to. Who might distract you from your purpose. I’d known the first time I’d met him that he might be more than I wanted. That gut instinct had been right.
‘Silly me. I’d forgotten all about those.’ I pulled the H&M bag out, which had magically worked its way to a spot under my chair and pulled out the three pairs of jeans with a hey presto flourish. ‘Kate saves the day.’
‘That’s amazing,’ said Avril grinning all over her face.
Josh looked utterly bewildered. ‘You had those with you?’
‘Just call me Mary Poppins,’ I said gamely, after they’d been to all this trouble, I might as well capitalise on their ploys. ‘It’s always handy to carry a spare pair of jeans. You never know what might happen.’
‘What else have you got with you?’ asked Josh, looking genuinely impressed.
‘Plasters, painkillers, tweezers, Swiss army knife, spare pair of tights, matches, torch and emergency chocolate bars,’ I lied smoothly focusing on Josh, so I wouldn’t start giggling at Sophie hiding behind her napkin trying to hold in her laughter.
Avril took all three pairs of jeans and disappeared with Eva to try them on.
‘Well done, Kate,’ said Josh. ‘Well done, indeed.’
I sneaked a look over at Ben; he was stony faced looking at a point below my chin.