Spies and Stars by Charlotte Bingham

Author:Charlotte Bingham
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781526608796
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2019-01-24T15:03:46+00:00

THE RETURN

I knew something was up when Arabella asked me to lunch at Fenwick’s. We hadn’t lunched there for a while on account of trying to save up for holidays in faraway places that I always pretended I yearned to go to, when I would far rather be having spaghetti Bolognese in a coffee bar with Harry.

‘It’s not about Commander Steerforth’s flowers and Monty, is it?’ I asked, determined on getting down to the nitty and the gritty before I ordered, because being left in ignorance during lunch gives me indigestion.

‘Oh, no, we’ve solved that,’ Arabella said, airily. ‘Monty takes them all round to the nurses at the local hospital and they put loving notes on them.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘Some people never get a card or a flower or a visit, so the nurses put “Thinking of you at this time, from a loving friend” on Commander Steerforth’s flowers, and the lonely patients are delighted. Also it gives them something to think about – you know, who the loving friend might be, and so on – takes their minds off everything.’

I frowned.

‘But supposing they don’t have any friends?’

‘That’s the whole point, Lottie. Really, I don’t know how Harry stands you.’

‘Nor do I,’ I agreed, settling on an egg salad with double mayonnaise.

‘No, the Commander and my beautiful mother are very well suited. He gives her flowers, takes her to a play, and brings her home. Monty insists on waiting up for her, so of course the Commander dare not keep her out late. It is a very happy arrangement. Nowadays my mother likes to be admired but does not want anyone what she calls “hanging around”. She says if she needs that she will get a cat.’

I frowned again. I didn’t think that Commander Steerforth would like to be compared to a cat.

‘Do you want to get to the point or shall I?’ I asked, feeling hungry and impatient at the same time. Arabella instantly assumed her best Gandhi-like expression.

‘This is not to be repeated to anyone, but something has happened to Zuzu.’

‘Does Zuzu know?’

Arabella closed her eyes very, very slowly and then opened them again – something at which she was very accomplished.

‘When things happen to people, Lottie, they are usually the first to know.’

I thought about it for a minute.

‘Not everyone,’ I said, thinking of myself. ‘Sometimes things happen to people and they don’t really realise.’

‘As soon as you start eating I will tell you.’

Arabella knew me too well. Eating was one of the best times to get me listening.

Arabella on the other hand could eat and talk at the same time because she was very elegant like that.

‘Zuzu is in grave trouble with Head of Section because of something. But no one knows quite what.’

‘Is she back then?’

‘Yes, she’s been sent home from Singapore or wherever she was, but no one must tell Monty. He will get too excited.’

I thought Monty was not the only one. I felt very excited at the thought of seeing Zuzu again.

‘Is

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