Summer at the Cornish Cafe by Phillipa Ashley

Author:Phillipa Ashley
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780008191856
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2016-03-23T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

Isla didn’t stay long after Demi left us. I walked with her to the stables because she said she wanted to see Dexter. I pretended I believed her. It’s warm in the loose box and the earthy scent of hay and horse is soothing.

Dexter snickers in pleasure as we walk into his stall.

‘He recognises you,’ I say.

She pats his mane. ‘He should do. I rode him often enough while you were away.’

‘Did you?’

‘Every time I was at home or at Bosinney, I took him for a hack, either with Robyn or on my own. He needed riding, Cal, and it gave me some comfort to be on his back. Argh. Did I really say that?’

‘I’m afraid so.’

She lifts her face to me. With her cheeks tinged with the pink of embarrassment, she looks more beautiful than ever but there’s a brittle edge to her too. She’s lost more weight; and she’s made-up more heavily than I’ve seen her. Or is that wishful thinking? Do I want Isla to be unhappy with Luke? If I’m honest, yes. Does that mean I’m a bastard or that I can’t truly love her? Yet love isn’t benign and altruistic, not my kind of love.

‘Is everything OK? Did you really come to ask Demi to work at the party? I should have replied to the invite sooner but I’ve had things to sort out.’

I can tell she doesn’t believe me. ‘I’m happy for Demi to come,’ she says. ‘And I wondered about inviting you at all. I didn’t want to hurt you but Luke wants you to come. I want you to come. Is that selfish of me?’

I let this remark pass without an answer. ‘How’s Luke? I haven’t seen him much since I got back. I’ve been busy and Robyn tells me Luke’s not been around much.’

‘No, he’s been away on business and, to be honest, I’ve hardly seen him. What with me being up in London and the business for him. And other stuff.’

‘What other stuff could possibly keep him away from you?’

She laughs bitterly. ‘You’d be surprised. There are the Cades, for a start. He spends a lot of time with Mawgan and Clive.’

‘Why would he do that?’

‘They’re big clients of the firm. Luke and his father want to keep them sweet. I’m probably overreacting. Hell, I have to spend weeks away when I’m in the middle of a shoot. Now,’ – she smiles and takes my arm – ‘never mind me, how are things with you? Luke told me your planning application was turned down. You must appeal.’

‘Of course I will! How long are you down here for?’

‘The engagement party, obviously, then we’re having a few days on Scilly before I have to go back to London. But I’ll be up and down while we’re preparing for the shoot and during it.’

‘So you haven’t run off with an actor? When I was away, I always thought that might happen.’

‘Did you?’

‘Not really. I imagined all kinds of things.’ But none of them involved you marrying my best mate.

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