Anna, still in her jeans, stared at the fire defiantly. ‘No, Dee, I can’t go. Not now. I’ve been humiliated in front of the whole village and school. If you want to go so much, go. Take Larry. Take Mum.’ She jutted out her chin. ‘Just leave me alone.’
‘How have you been humiliated? You won alongside Lucinda!’
‘Yeah…’ Anna was quietly pleased at this aspect. ‘But everyone still knows I didn’t bake my own cake.’
‘Do you really care what everyone thinks? Anyway, they’re probably singing your praises!’ Diane threw her arms in the air, slipping into reporter mode. ‘Hallelujah, woman finally shows us it’s all right to buy a cake and spend your time having fun instead of inhaling bicarb of soda and crying into your flour!’
Diane, dressed in a tight corseted dress, her bosom threatening to spill from the top like a new tube of toothpaste, frowned and continued. ‘I have never known you to be such a party-pooper. So, there are some women in the village and school who now know you bought your cakes from Waitrose instead of baking them.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘So, whoopy-doo. I mean, are you telling me that all those women who can bake aren’t secretly cheering you on for being frigging normal?’
Anna turned her head slowly. ‘It’s embarrassing.’ She touched her heart with her hand. ‘It hurts.’
‘Really? Did you see people’s faces when she took to the stage and started giving forth like Gwyneth Paltrow? I mean, at least Gwyneth Paltrow looked sch-amazing in her pink bouffant dress and the woman can act.’ Diane was pacing now. ‘Moose-inda baked two sodding cakes. So what? Yay her.’ She stopped and sat down next to Anna, putting her arms around her shoulders. ‘Anyway, are you missing the point? You both won! How awesome is that? How much did that put missy’s nose out of joint?’
‘Look, Diane, I know. It was lovely of Miss Peters to be so charitable, but I realised then that I can’t be like these people.’
‘No,’ she agreed, ‘you can be better.’ She paused. ‘Anyway, if you don’t go, what are you going to send Barry? I thought he wanted a write-up of the party.’
‘Barry!’ She shrieked. ‘How did that man manage to follow me here?’
‘He’s paying for our food, remember?’
Anna knew Diane was right and, dragging herself from the sofa, she gave Diane a faint smile. ‘Thank you.’
‘For what?’
‘For being the greatest friend a woman could have.’
Diane drew Anna into her bosom, smothering her. ‘Aw, shucks. Don’t get me crying before we go out, you silly sausage. I’ve got about ten tons of black eyeliner on tonight. It could get very messy.’ She let go. ‘Now, get changed.’
‘What to wear, though?’ She knew that her wardrobe, sadly, would still hold the same outfits. She guessed people had seen enough of her in the black cocktail dress and a ski suit was out of the question. ‘Why can’t someone magic me up a new dress?’
‘God,’ her mother said, entering from the kitchen, ‘I was wondering how long it would take Diane to convince you to go. I wasn’t imagining it would take that long. I’ve done the entire Daily Mail crossword.’ She smiled. ‘Anyway, I went out and bought you this today. Had a feeling, darling, the cake extravaganza wasn’t going to go too well and thought you might need a bit of cheering up.’ She thrust a paper bag in her direction. ‘Go on then, take a look.’
Anna smiled tentatively, slightly nervous about its contents because she would have to wear it – whatever it was – in order not to insult her mother, and opened it. She saw pink tissue paper and her mind prepared itself for the prospect of a tartan jumpsuit or a Laura Ashley white frilly dress with a purple bow.
‘Darling, you look like you’re about to vomit. Just take it out.’
Anna plunged her hand in and ripped off the paper and there, in her hand, sat one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. It was a black fitted dress with mesh sleeves.
‘I asked Diane for your size as I’m so out of touch with stuff like that.’ Her mother, for once, looked almost unsure of herself. ‘Apparently, you’re two sizes smaller than I imagined.’
Anna hugged her tightly, her eyes wet with tears. ‘Thank you.’
‘Well, I told the shop assistant about the tartan dress and she thought it sounded very chic. But, quite rightly, she also said that maybe your complexion was too pallid, unlike mine, to pull off pattern so we settled on this one instead.’
Diane pushed Anna gently. ‘You shall go to the ball. Now sod off and get changed before we go from being fashionably late to just fucking late.’
Forty-five minutes later, they stood on the doorstep to Ridley Manor. They could hear the rise and fall of conversation and laughter, and Anna tried to push down the butterflies in her stomach.
‘I’m nervous. I don’t know why,’ she whispered to Diane.
‘Oh, don’t be.’ Diane flicked her head forward and started to ruffle up her hair. ‘Imagine that…’
She was still upside down and talking as the door opened and a butler smiled at Anna and the back of Diane’s head. Anna stepped on Diane’s foot.
‘Get up.’
Diane stood up, her hair framing her face like a lion’s mane. ‘Oh God, sorry, mate,’ she said.
The butler smiled and invited them in, taking Anna’s coat and Diane’s velvet cape with a silver skull emblazoned on the back.
‘Ladies, if you would like to follow me.’
Anna looked around her in awe. The hall alone was the size of Primrose Cottage and a sweeping staircase spiralled upwards, oak panelling along all the walls.
Diane let out a low wolf-whistle. ‘I bet they know the Queen.’
‘Why?’ Anna said, her eyes drinking in the splendour of the manor as they walked.
‘Because the Queen knows everybody who’s wealthy. Fact.’
‘Not sure that’s true,’ Anna whispered. ‘But you never know.’
‘Oh, yeah, it is.’ Diane was adamant. ‘She would have been here and used their toilets and everything.’
They were led into a room brimming with men dressed in suits and women in black dresses. Chandeliers twinkled from elaborate ceiling roses, an open log fire gave off welcome heat, and serving staff walked efficiently from one cluster of guests to another with champagne and canapés. Anna thought they must have mistakenly walked on to the set of a Downton Abbey Christmas special.
‘Hello, ladies.’ Horatio appeared at their side. ‘You both look wonderful.’ He looked at them and his eyes came to rest on Anna. ‘Have you got a drink yet?’
A waiter came up, on cue, and Anna gratefully took a glass off the tray.
‘Your house is very bling,’ Diane said, nodding. ‘I’m well impressed.’
‘Thank you,’ Horatio said. ‘Though it’s not mine. It’s my family’s.’
‘Same thing, isn’t it?’ Diane said.
‘No, because I don’t feel I’ve done anything to earn it.’
Diane swigged at her champagne. ‘Don’t you live here, then?’
‘No, but I’m not far away when I need to help about the house, organising events or sorting out paperwork. I actually live in a barn conversion on the estate.’ He pulled a face. ‘Dreaded bills and so on. Mother is less able than she used to be and father used to do most of it.’ He looked at Anna, who was trying to eat a prawn dipped in a chili sauce, without spraying it across the room. ‘In fact, I know people think I just say this, but Ridley Manor can be a burden.’
‘Well, I’m sure your wife helps out. She must be well chuffed living here, marrying someone like you.’
Anna saw that Horatio had grown uncomfortable and, as much as she found his affair with the young woman she had seen outside the Rose and Crown infuriating, she had enough manners to not address the issue in Horatio’s own home, surrounded by his guests.
‘Leave it, Dee.’
‘Oh,’ Diane said and then looked at Anna. ‘Oh, because he’s having an aff—’
‘Leave it,’ Anna warned again. ‘Not now.’
‘Ladies, I’m not seeing anyone. In fact, I’m not actually married,’ he started to explain, when Lucinda rushed over and positioned herself in front of him, blocking out Anna and Diane.
Horatio looked apologetically over Lucinda’s shoulder at Anna.
‘Horatio, you always do throw the greatest parties. Rupert couldn’t make it tonight so I’m here on my lonesome and you wouldn’t want me to sit in the corner by myself, would you?’
Diane stuffed her fingers down her throat and pretended to throw up and then tapped Lucinda on the shoulder. ‘Um, Lucinda, we are here. You’ve just very rudely interrupted our conversation.’
Lucinda looked disdainfully over her shoulder at Diane. ‘I don’t imagine you know how to hold a conversation. This is a drinks party, not a rave.’ She turned back to Horatio and Diane poked her in the back.
‘Um, hello, Moose-inda? You’re still in the way.’
Lucinda turned now. ‘What did you just call me?’
‘Moose-inda,’ Diane said, matter-of-factly.
Lucinda moved closer to Diane. ‘You are a vile piece of work.’
‘Ladies, please.’ Horatio put his hand up, desperation in his voice.
‘Yeah, come on, Dee. She’s not worth it,’ Anna said.
‘Yeah,’ Diane said, her eyes not leaving Lucinda’s, ‘you’re right. I only like to talk to people who have a brain and don’t think money can buy them friends.’
Lucinda snorted loudly. ‘Well, good luck talking with anyone at this party, then.’
Diane laughed. ‘Did you hear that, Anna? She just agreed with me.’
Horatio took Lucinda gently by the arm. ‘Why don’t I introduce you to that banker I was talking about?’
Anna had Diane’s arm and said, ‘Why don’t we get some fresh air for a second?’
Horatio and Anna exchanged grateful looks, moving off in opposite directions. Moments later, Anna and Diane re-entered the entrance hall and Diane sat heavily on the bottom stair, causing the butler at the door to shift uneasily.
‘Ladies,’ he said kindly, ‘can I help you?’
‘No, thanks,’ said Anna. ‘Don’t worry, we’re going anyway.’
‘She’s a cow,’ Diane was muttering.
‘Look…’ Anna returned her attention to Diane. ‘She’s just got her priorities the wrong way round. She’s probably OK underneath.’
Diane looked at her, from under her spider-like eyelashes. ‘Why are you always so bloody decent, Anna Compton? She’s been as rude to you as she has me, but you keep smiling.’
Anna shrugged and leant against the mirror-like walnut banister, her eyes wandering to a door that was open a few inches. ‘When you have kids, they take over your world. It really doesn’t matter about all that other stuff.’
Diane was looking over Anna’s shoulder. ‘You know he hasn’t stopped staring at you?’
‘Who?’ Anna turned towards the open door to the hall and her gaze met Horatio’s. He smiled and she felt her heart flutter, but, feeling out of her depth, she decided it was time to leave.
‘Come on,’ Anna said quickly, holding her hand out to Diane. ‘I’m not sure I belong here.’
As they began to walk off, Horatio called out, ‘Anna, Diane, wait!’
They turned in unison and Anna met Horatio’s gaze.
He faltered, ‘Um, it’s just that, well… I’d really like you to stay.’ He nodded at Diane. ‘Both of you, please.’
Anna stood resolute but Diane shifted next to her and started to make her way back towards the party. ‘Anna, I’m going to mingle. I’ll come and find you in a bit.’
As she disappeared through the door, Anna grew irritated at Diane’s sudden disappearance, which meant she was left alone with Horatio.
‘Do you fancy getting some fresh air,’ he eventually asked. ‘I’d do anything to get out of there for a bit.’ He moved past her and towards the coats, plucking hers from the stand and draping it around her shoulders. She had no idea how he knew which one was hers.
The butler opened the door for them and as Horatio walked ahead, his figure slipping away into the darkness, she found herself following, not questioning.
He waited for her and, when she caught up, they walked at an even pace, Anna all too aware of Horatio’s breath near hers. Why was her heart beating in her ears? What was she doing following Horatio into the dark without knowing where he was taking her? These questions circled in her mind, and yet she didn’t stop, didn’t resist.
Eventually, having walked for five minutes or so, they came to a lake and Horatio sat on a stone bench and turned to her, smiling.
‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’
She nodded and then whispered, ‘Yes.’
Because it truly was beautiful. The moon, almost full, glinted off the oily slick of inky water and tall willow trees surrounded them as if they were in their own paradise, their branches like fingers brushing gently at the water.
She sat and sighed happily, looking out at the water. ‘My goodness, this is just amazing.’
He nodded and she felt his eyes on her.
‘Why did you want to bring me here?’ She paused. ‘I mean, thank you, because it’s breathtaking, I just… Oh, never mind.’
She felt as if she were sitting dangerously close to the edge of a cliff and that she might fall; the strange thing was, a part of her wanted to fall, to drift downward towards the unknown.
Eventually, she turned her face to his and took a sharp intake of breath. He was looking at her with such intent and her eyes travelled to his lips and back to his eyes. Her ears buzzed with an awakened passion and she was starting to move her lips towards his when her phone went off.
She shook herself out of this crazy, dreamlike state and looked quickly at her phone. A message from Mum. She was having trouble controlling the twins.
‘I best get back.’
He nodded and smiled. ‘Of course.’ As he stood, he rested his hand, warm and solid, on her shoulder. ‘I brought you here because I’ve never brought anyone here. I wanted to show you that you do belong.’
She felt an overwhelming torrent of emotion and, fearing she might cry, that her guard might slip, she started off quickly towards the house. He followed silently, and when they reached the steps, he drew a deep breath and said, ‘Thank you.’
Just as Anna was about to ask what he meant, the butler opened the door and Horatio smiled at her and disappeared into the hall. When she didn’t move, the butler offered to escort her back into the hall or to seek out her friend.
Anna nodded and smiled wearily, ‘Yes, please. Could you find Diane? Thank you.’
She was ready to go home, her mind and heart tossing with confusion over what had just happened. In some ways, she knew nothing had actually happened. She had gone for a walk with the host, that was all. Yet it felt like a lot more, or had she been imagining that?
Anna thought of her aunt’s diary. Maybe her aunt could reveal why she felt so confused about the Spencervilles or, more specifically, Horatio. She felt a sudden need to read it and, inadvertently, her hand went to her neck as she grasped the heart-shaped locket her aunt had given her between her fingers.