saying he made a terrible mistake and not to let it ruin our lives, and so on and so forth. He even asked Daddy for his blessing.”
“When you’re engaged to someone else?”
“My parents don’t think much of Kim. Daddy told Johnnie it was up to me, which put Mother in an awful bind, since she naturally wants to support whichever man Daddy likes least.”
Will stared. Phoebe gave him a little joyless smile. “My parents don’t get on. I have thought of becoming one of those women who goes to Africa to shoot buffalo in trousers—me in the trousers, obviously—but I’m their only child since my brother died, so...”
“I didn’t know. I’m sorry. War?”
“Goodness, no, darling, he was only seven. Diphtheria, the poor heart. It was a dreadful blow to my parents but by then they weren’t speaking at all so there was no prospect of a replacement. Anyway, here we are. Daddy won’t make me decide between my suitors but he won’t call Johnnie off. Mother loathes them both. And Johnnie won’t stop proposing.”
“What does Kim say?”
“He’s always said, if I want to end the engagement and marry someone else I should do precisely as I please.” Phoebe turned her wineglass in her slim fingers. “But he doesn’t like Johnnie.”
“I know you’ve thought about this,” Will said. “But there are men in the world who aren’t queer or arseholes. Have you considered marrying one of them instead?”
There was a strangled noise from behind him, and he realised a waiter had come to top up their wine glasses. He said, “Uh.” Phoebe clamped her lips together, shoulders shaking, and let out a splutter of laughter once the scandalised man had retreated. “Will, darling, really! Shocking the staff.”
“Sorry. Point stands, though.”
“Johnnie isn’t that bad.”
“He sounds awful,” Will said, not mincing words.
“He was very...oh, war-weary for a long time. And I didn’t behave well, and mostly, he was entitled not to be in love with me. Loving someone doesn’t oblige them in the slightest. It’s not like ‘good morning’, when you have to say it back.”
Will couldn’t imagine not loving Phoebe, but she had a point. “Er, are you still—”
“Oh, not in the slightest, darling. Not at all. I know so many people who are in love with people who treat them appallingly, and I used to think that was such a glamorous way to go on. And then Johnnie was truly unkind to me and whatever I felt for him positively evaporated. Like salt on a slug, withering it up.”
“Kim can be pretty unkind.”
“Not to me,” Phoebe said, with breathtaking simplicity. “And I love him but I’m not in love with him, and maybe that makes a difference.”
Their main courses arrived. Will waited impatiently for the waiter to go; Phoebe, as ever, gave the man a charming smile. She picked up her knife and fork. Will ignored his. “So this chap’s changed his mind. You don’t have to listen to him, though, do you?”
“Well, this is the problem. I suppose Maisie told you about our plans? She’s been dying to. She is so extraordinarily talented, and I know the people she needs to know, and she has a vision, and I really think I can help her make it happen. It’s desperately exciting. I’m going to introduce her to everyone. I want us to go to Paris, for her to work with people—I want Teddy Molyneux more than anything—and to be someone. She’s far too talented to waste her time in that dreary unimaginative hat shop which is a positive what-do-you-call-it for someone of her potential. You know. Awfully depressing place. In Gloucestershire?”
“You don’t mean the Slough of Despond?”
“I should take you everywhere,” Phoebe said. “Of course it’s a risk for her, but I truly believe she can do it if she just had the chance, and I can get her the chance, so we really only need the money to start, and Daddy has that. So I asked him to lend me what I needed for us to go, and Maisie to have her start, and if it works, for us to set up in business. We could do it. She could do it. She’s so good, Will.”
Phoebe’s blue-grey eyes were alight, her face transformed. Will found a rather hard sensation in his chest when he breathed in. “And he’ll lend you the money?”
“Darling, he said he’d give it to us! He told me yesterday. He wants to meet Maisie, which is quite reasonable, but he’s very happy to fund me.