A Touch of Silk by Caro Fraser

Author:Caro Fraser
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2020-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Natalie and Sian were sitting on the balcony of the flat in St Katharine Docks, cradling glasses of wine. The evening sky was faintly streaked with traces of sunset coral, and out in the marina a sheaf of small yachts bobbed sleepily. Smoky music drifted from Sian’s Bluetooth speakers. But the mood was far from being as relaxed and tranquil as the picture suggested.

‘It was entirely inappropriate for you to behave that way around him,’ Natalie said angrily. The low-level argument had developed in the wake of the recent departure of a handful of people whom Natalie had invited over for lunch.

‘Since when do you tell me how to behave? Anyway’ – Sian drank some more red wine – ‘I think it’s nice that you get jealous.’

‘Oh, so you admit you were doing it just to provoke me?’

Sian gave a sigh. As usual, her attempts to defuse yet another disagreement prompted by Natalie’s insecurity were going to be turned against her. She couldn’t win. ‘Whatever you choose to think.’

‘Well, it’s either that, or you fancied him and you didn’t mind letting him and everyone else know all about it.’

Sian turned to look at Natalie. ‘You really hate it that I can actually find a man attractive, don’t you? You simply hate it that I might want to sleep with one now and then.’

‘Don’t you think that just wanting to is a betrayal of me? Of us?’

‘What, so if I came on to one of your female friends, that would be all right?’

‘You’re deliberately twisting what I’m saying.’

Sian set her empty glass down on the deck. She let a few minutes’ silence elapse, then said, ‘I think maybe we need a break from one another.’

Natalie turned to her in alarm. ‘What does that mean?’

Sian clasped her hands and stretched them above her head. ‘I need a holiday. Writing this paper has exhausted me. My aunt and uncle have taken a villa in the South of France for a couple of months, and they’ve invited me to spend a couple of weeks down there. I half suspect they want me to help out with their grandchildren, but I’m cool with that.’ She relaxed her clasped hands into her lap. ‘I love the Med. And it will give you a nice break from me.’

‘What if I don’t want a break from you?’ Natalie’s voice sounded bleak.

Sian turned her eyes to Natalie’s and gave her a reassuring smile. ‘As I said, I think we both need one.’ She laid her hand on Natalie’s. ‘And it’ll make it all the nicer when I come back.’

Natalie tugged her fingers from beneath Sian’s. ‘Don’t assume I’ll be here.’

‘Oh, and where might you be?’

‘I might take a holiday myself.’

‘Well, then – that will be perfect for both of us, won’t it?’ She picked up her empty glass from the deck and got up. ‘I’m off to bed. You want me to take your glass?’

‘No. I might have another drink,’ said Natalie sulkily.

‘OK. Night.’ Sian went to the kitchen, cleared up the last of the lunch debris, and set off the dishwasher.

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