‘Perhaps I’ll see you in Chilcot some time,’ she replied.
‘That would be great,’ grinned Rob.
Cassandra turned to Emma and gave a small triumphant smile.
‘Come on. We’re going,’ said Emma, grabbing Rob’s arm and pulling him away.
‘Hey! What’s got into you?’ he hissed as she dragged him across the lawn, leaving Cassandra and Larson behind.
Emma tutted, shaking her head vigorously.
‘You! Simpering in front of Cassandra, flirting like a schoolboy, thinking with your sex rather than your brain as usual.’
‘My sex?’ he laughed. ‘You can say the word “cock” in front of me,’ he whispered dramatically.
Emma flushed slightly but she was angry and wanted to lash out.
‘Cassandra is a complete bitch,’ she ranted. ‘She uses people, manipulates them, treats people like dirt just because they don’t throw out last season’s designer wardrobe when it’s not in fashion. Which, incidentally, is what will happen to you if you even think about getting involved with her.’
‘What are you going on about?’ asked Rob, completely taken aback by Emma’s outburst.
‘Cassandra. She’s spiteful, hurtful and evil. I knew I should have gone back to Chilcot when you told me who the bride was. But no, I listened to you.’
A tear slipped down her cheek but Rob didn’t seem to notice it.
‘I don’t want to accuse you of overreacting, but that’s awfully what it sounds like from where I’m standing,’ said Rob, as he walked towards the bar. ‘Everyone I’ve spoken to who knows her says she’s really charming. In fact she seemed perfectly OK just then.’
‘Who’s everyone?’ snapped Emma unable to stop herself. ‘Your media crowd? I’m sure they are great judges of character.’
Rob spun round towards her, flapped his arms helplessly.
‘You can be really dismissive, you know that?’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ she replied getting increasingly upset.
‘You are so fast to judge people who are not as quick as you, as sharp as you or as moral as you. Cassandra is a bitch, Trudy is a bimbo. My friends are shallow. You can’t go through life having such contempt for other people just because they don’t match up to what you think and believe.’
Emma felt bewildered and off-balance. She had expected Rob to be supportive, to notice she was upset at the very least, but instead he was attacking her.
‘Forgive me if I think Cassandra is trouble,’ she said trying to keep her voice measured. ‘Forgive me if I think you sell yourself short with women. I’m sure Trudy is a very nice girl but I just wonder what a successful, intelligent guy like you has in common with a topless model?’
‘Well, we didn’t stay in doing the crossword, did we?’ he said sarcastically.
‘Didn’t?’ asked Emma quickly. ‘Oh, it’s past tense now. So Trudy’s past her sell-by date already? Roll on the next simpering beauty who’ll massage your ego. Cassandra’s single but I dare say she bites.’
‘Well, remind me not to come knocking on your door.’
‘If you thought I found you remotely attractive, I’m sure you would.’
Rob glared at her.
‘I think the pressure is getting to you. Look, the rifle range is over there. I suggest you go and shoot some ducks and get whatever this is out of your system before you say something we both might regret.’
Rob thumped his cider tankard down on a table and stalked off into the dark.
‘So what do you make of your cousin’s revamp of Milford?’ asked Larson Quinn casually sipping his champagne, determined to make his few minutes’ audience with Cassandra Grand count. ‘I hear the reaction after the press shows was fantastic’
‘Was it really?’ said Cassandra with a small laugh. ‘I don’t know who you’ve been talking to.’