Out of the Blue

‘And what was it, then?’ she enquired.

‘Well, you said,’ I said, ‘you said … You said that you thought I was “marvellous” to “trust” Peter.’ Lily’s arched eyebrows lifted an inch up her high, domed brow.

‘Well I do, darling!’

‘Why?’

‘Because I think any woman who trusts any man is a complete and utter marvel, given that the species are such beasts. I mean, why do you think I dump them at such a rate?’

‘Oh, I see. So it was just a general observation, was it?’

‘Yes!’ she said gaily. ‘Of course it was! You are silly to let that worry you, Faith. I thought you always prided yourself on never believing anything I say.’

‘Oh, I do!’ I exclaimed. ‘I mean, I know that you’re usually being funny. You like to pull my leg. I don’t mind – I never have done – and I know it’s still easy to do.’

‘Faith Value,’ she said with an indulgent shake of her head.

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘I suppose I am. And you’re still Lily White.’

‘I know,’ said Lily with a smile. ‘I’m sorry if I worried you,’ she went on as she chewed delicately on her seaweed roll. ‘It’s just my sense of humour, darling. You know that.’

‘I know,’ I agreed. ‘But last night I couldn’t help wondering, if what you said was a joke or not.’

‘Of course it was,’ she said, ‘don’t give it a second thought.’

‘Oh, good,’ I said, vastly relieved, and I allowed myself to smile.

‘I was just joking, Faith.’

‘Oh, great.’

‘Because I’m good at badinage.’

‘Oh yes.’

‘I was just pulling your leg … ’ She was flicking through a copy of Moi!

‘I know … ’

‘I was just winding you up, like I do.’

‘Yup. Got that,’ I said as I stood up to go. ‘Great to get it sorted out.’

‘Although … ’ Lily added softly, without looking up.

‘Although what?’ I said.

‘Well … ’ She sighed as she lifted her gaze to mine. ‘Now we’re on the subject, I must say that Peter didn’t exactly seem relaxed. In fact I thought he was decidedly sharp. Mind you,’ she continued judiciously, ‘Peter’s often sharp with me. I know he doesn’t really like me,’ she went on philosophically. ‘I’m his bete noire,’ she added with a throaty laugh.

‘It’s a personality thing,’ I said diplomatically. ‘It’s just one of those little clashes one sometimes gets. But he has huge professional respect for you,’ I said.

‘Does he?’ she said with a sceptical smile.

‘In any case,’ I went on quickly, ‘between you and me, Peter’s got a lot of hassle at work so he’s a little bit anxious at the moment.’

‘Anxious? Darling,’ she added, ‘he was jumpier than the Royal Ballet.’

‘Well … ’

‘And I couldn’t help noticing how trim he looked. And did you see he was wearing a Hermès tie?’

‘Was he? I wouldn’t know. I don’t really notice labels.’

‘Yes, Hermès. They’re seventy pounds a throw. Now, I knew you hadn’t bought it for him,’ she went on. ‘So I couldn’t help wondering who had?’ I stared at her.

‘He bought it himself.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes. As an investment. He said his headhunter has advised him to smarten up a bit. Peter’s looking for a new job, you see – I didn’t tell you this, but we think he’s about to be kicked out.’

‘Really?’ said Lily. ‘Oh! How awful.’

‘Well, yes, because he’s been happy at Fenton & Friend.’

‘I’ll say he has,’ she said.

‘Sorry?’

‘All I mean is that any man would be happy working at Fenton & Friend.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well,’ she said as she adjusted Jennifer’s butterfly barrette, ‘it’s stuffed with gorgeous girls.’

‘Oh. Is it?’

‘And I thought I heard someone say, the other day, that they’d seen Peter having lunch with an attractive blonde. But I could have been wrong,’ she added softly.

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘you were. Or rather you were mistaken. Because Peter has to take authors and agents out to dinner sometimes. It’s all part of his job.’

‘Of course it is, Faith, I know. But … ’

‘But what?’

‘Well, he is a publisher, and so … ’

‘Yes?’