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possibly
understand. I haven’t had such a marvellous day for years!’
    And it really had been a marvellous
day, she told herself dreamily as she sipped a second glass of the rich, warm Beaujolais and gazed at the two of them, now deep in con versation together. Roz, with her
striking dark looks, was simply too glamorous for words and Loulou, with her waist- length rippling blonde hair and
innocent eyes, looked like an angel. Between them they were capable of
intimidating even
the most self-possessed person and Camilla experienced a flush of pride, unselfishly
admiring them. She wasn’t in their league – she knew that – but at least she was here, with them.
    And she, at
least, had a husband.
    That was it, she realized with excitement. All through
their schooldays together, Roz and Loulou had
collected and care lessly discarded
members of the opposite sex and the only experience more embarrassing
than being excluded had been the times when they had offered her their
cast-offs. Now at least she was the one with a man of her very own, a handsome
one at that, and she longed quite suddenly
and fiercely to show him off to her two old school friends.
    ‘My husband and I are having a dinner party next week,’
she said, reaching over and touching Roz’s
arm. ‘Will you come? Both of you? We can’t simply lose touch again after
meeting up like this.’
    Please, please say ‘yes’ she begged
silently, as Roz frowned. It would show Jack too, that she hadn’t made a fool of herself by writing to Roz. He would be
impressed, both with his wife and her
glamorous school friends, and she would regain some of the self-respect which
had been eroding steadily away for years.
    ‘When?’ asked Roz, stalling for time, and Camilla thought
quickly.
    ‘ Monday.’ She guessed
it to be the night when they were most likely
to be free, and Roz nodded slowly, glancing across at Loulou to gauge her own response. Loulou
shrugged, indicating that she was easy.
    ‘We’d be able to meet your family,’ said Roz, her
expression thoughtful. ‘What does your husband do, by the way?’
    Camilla smiled happily. ‘He’s a broker, working in the
City. Yes, of course he’ll be there. You’ll like him, I’m sure.’
    Incredible,
thought Roz. It had to be the same Jack Stewart.
    ‘ I’m sure I will,’ she replied, sipping her wine. To
herself she added: It rather seems as if I already do.
     
    Jack had
phoned thirteen times so far, but Roz had left her answerphone running even
when she was at home, only picking up calls
once she had established that they weren’t from him. She was still
intrigued, but also a little angry with Jack. Always priding herself upon
her honesty, it irritated her to realize that he must have known that she and his wife had been to
school together. Why else would he have
never even mentioned Camilla’s name? And why did he feel he had to keep it a secret . . . surely he knew Roz well enough to
realize that it would hardly make any difference to her? Yes, Jack’s
motives were definitely questionable, Roz decided. She might be amoral, but she
was never purposely deceitful and she was determined now to find out why Jack
had chosen to be so.
     
    At six o’clock Camilla slumped down at the kitchen table. She was
exhausted and Jack wasn’t being any help. All day she had been working in the
kitchen, preparing an elaborate four-course meal for ten guests, and half an
hour ago he had arrived home from work in a
foul temper and had promptly disappeared into his study.
    So much for thinking that he would be
proud of her for arranging tonight’s dinner party and for inviting two such illustrious guests, she thought sadly.
Instead he had reacted almost
angrily when she had told him and all her happiness had seeped away, leaving
her wishing she had never even suggested the
bloody party in the first place. If Jack was going to spend the entire evening in a sulk he was hardly likely
to impress either Roz or Loulou.
    But the