expected her to take up my offer. I gambled on Jack being man enough to stop her.’
Enlightenment. ‘Ah.’
‘But, as you know, sometimes your gambles don’t work out.’
‘You of all people should know never to say never,’ said Luke, looking towards the door.
* * *
In the toilet, Mary stood in front of the mirror, ready to retouch her make-up. A stupid flurry of tears had caught her unawares. She was annoyed with herself. Annoyed that her stupid idiot heart had been expecting to see Jack today. He should have come to pay his respects to Charlie; she obviously didn’t know him as well as she thought she did. Of course she would have been lying to herself had she not wanted him to be here for another reason: to see the Mary that Bridge had helped to build, to style, her gorgeous new hair, to show him how she had started to bloom and grow in an environment where she was valued as a woman armed with the momentum to reach her full potential.
She opened the flap of her Chanel bag and then realised she was opening up the flap of a Chanel bag And it was hers. Given to her by someone who thought she deserved it, who had exacted a promise from her that she should carry it with bold self-assurance; it would, after all, be an insult to the bag, to Madame Chanel herself, and more importantly to Charlie, to carry it any other way.
She repaired her face, fluffed up her hair, straightened her back and walked back into the reception room where Bridge and Luke were standing with Robin. And Jack.
Chapter 40
‘Oh, my darling Mary,’ said Robin, his arms wide open to receive her in a bone-crushing hug. ‘What a joyous joy of joys it is to see you.’ He whispered into her ear, ‘And Chanel of course. You’re a perfect pairing.’ He pushed her to his arm’s length and then hugged her once more. ‘You look beautiful, the same but not the same. Whatever you are doing, keep doing it because it’s working.’
‘Hello Mary,’ said Jack. For a moment she thought he was going to hold out his hand for her to shake, but he bent, kissed her cheek and she was enveloped by his intoxicating, familiar, masculine cologne. Her brain sighed; she could have slapped it.
‘Jack went with Robin up to the crematorium,’ Bridge explained to Mary.
‘Against Charlie’s express orders. He wrote in his will that he didn’t want anyone travelling with him,’ said Robin. ‘But I couldn’t let him go there alone. So he’ll be cross but I’m sure he’ll understand.’
‘I got held up in traffic,’ Jack added. ‘I just made it to the church, but I had to squeeze in at the back, so I was last in and first out.’
‘Bridge,’ said Robin, ‘I really must introduce you to Charlie’s nephew Reuben at some point. I’ve told him all about you and he’s just desperate to say hello. He’s tall, blond, extremely good-looking, he’s wearing an Armani suit and handmade shoes. He’s also rich, clever, lovely, witty and very single. Am I selling him to you?’
‘God, Charlie, you’re selling him to me, never mind Bridge,’ said Luke. ‘Let’s go and look for this man immediately.’ He crooked his arm for Bridge to take.
‘We’ll be back shortly,’ said Bridge. She and Luke were on the same page – for once. Give Jack and Mary some time and just hope that absence had made the posh twit’s heart grow fonder.
* * *
Jack smiled nervously. This was Mary whom he’d known for years standing in front of him, but he felt as awkward as if they had only just been introduced. She looked the same, but not the same, as Robin put it. She looked beautiful, she smelled beautiful, like a garden of flowers.
‘So… how is everything?’ he asked her. His tongue felt too big for his mouth.
‘Wonderful,’ she replied. But it’s not Butterly’s. ‘How… how is everything at Butterly’s?’
‘Normal,’ said Jack, with a head-shake that said otherwise. It’s not the same. ‘How’s it working out with Bridge?’
‘She’s great.’ She’s not you and I miss you. ‘I’m really settling in.’
‘Nice bag.’
‘A present,’ she said, stroking it fondly. She would never get tired of knowing it was hers. ‘From Charlie.’
‘Oh. Nice.’
‘Yes, it’s gorgeous.’ And so are you. His suit oozed style and class. He oozed style and class.
‘Charlie sent me something as well,’ said Jack.
‘Oh, what?’
‘A scarf. With knights in shining armour all over it.’
‘That sounds smart.’
‘And