it had time to blossom.’
‘You are being silly. I’m not cut off. Just because I’m married, doesn’t mean I don’t live life to the full.’
Justin, realising the conversation was becoming personal, drifted away. Simon took her arm and guided her to a sofa which had been pushed into the corner of the spacious apartment, now so crammed with people it seemed box-like. ‘Come and sit down and tell me all about it.’
‘About what?’
‘About this full life of yours. Do you realise we haven’t seen each other for…how long is it?’
‘You came to my wedding.’
‘So I did, but only to take a look at the man who had the power to make you abandon everything you had set your heart on. I’m afraid I took an instant dislike to him.’
‘Why?’ she asked in surprise.
‘He had you. The little green god got the better of me.’ He laughed but she detected a hollowness in it which startled her. ‘And now you are here, looking stunning. That colour suits you.’
She looked down at the hyacinth-blue dress. ‘Why, thank you, kind sir.’
‘Your glass is empty. Shall I fetch you another?’
‘Yes, please.’
While he was gone, she sat looking about her, seeing the bright clothes of the young people about her, the flash of their legs and upraised arms as they twinkled to a waltz tune on the little patch of clear floor, hearing their raised voices as they struggled to be heard over the sound of the music. She tried to imagine what George would have made of them and gave up when the vision she created was one of disharmony. He didn’t fit. But did she? It was gratifying to be paid compliments, to be lightly flirted with, to feel glamorous for once, but half of her was wondering if Elizabeth had managed to get Alison to sleep and if George had found the dinner she had left for him to heat through.
Simon returned with brimming glasses. He handed her one and sat down beside her, casually putting his free arm along the back of the sofa behind her. ‘Now, tell me all about your life in the country.’
‘It’s very little different from life in the city, these days,’ she said, sipping her drink, conscious of his arm behind her. ‘We do have the motor car, you know, and electricity and some of us even have a telephone.’
‘My, that was a little sharp, wasn’t it? Why so defensive?’
‘I’m sorry. Perhaps I don’t like being taken for a country bumpkin.’
‘Is that how you feel?’
‘No, of course not,’ she lied. ‘You made it sound like that.’
‘Did I? Then I am sorry. You’re every bit as gorgeous as anyone else here. More, in fact.’ He paused and his arm left the back of the sofa and found its way across her shoulders. She knew she ought to remove it, but she didn’t like to make a scene. Besides, it was a long time since she had enjoyed a little harmless flirting. ‘Let’s start again, shall we?’
She turned towards him, wondering for a moment exactly what he meant. They could not start again, not from when they first met, she a student and he a soldier; they were both different people, had moved on, grown more mature, and in so doing had moved apart. He was smiling at her, almost as if he understood her thoughts and she felt herself colouring. ‘My life in the country is uneventful…’
‘But you have recently had a daughter. Surely that was not uneventful.’
‘No, of course not. She is beautiful and good and fills my days.’
‘I bet you haven’t picked up a paintbrush since she was born.’
She laughed. ‘And there you would be wrong.’
‘I’m very glad to hear it. What have you done?’
‘Lots of things. A few watercolours…’
‘Have you exhibited them?’
‘Of course not. I’m not that good…’
‘Whose fault is that?’ he asked softly. ‘You could have been. You cut yourself off from all your old friends, deserted us for another way of life altogether.’ He paused, while she remained silent and contemplated the bubbles in her glass. ‘I do hope it was worth it.’
She ignored his last comment. ‘I didn’t desert anyone. Penny is still my friend.’
‘And me? What about me?’
‘What about you?’ she asked.
‘Do you need to ask?’ His voice was soft. ‘You shook me, you know, getting married like that. I thought we had something going, something special…’
She stared at him in surprise. Why had he not said anything to her at the time? Would it have made any difference? ‘I