Her World of Submission (House of Submission 3)

Once dressed and breakfasted, I went to sit in the morning room to do some work on an article I wanted to submit to a history journal. I could see Jasper at the back of the house, trudging across the yard with his new groundsman. The pair of them wore Barbour jackets and tweed caps and their breath steamed out ahead of them as they walked.

I thought for a moment of Will, the old groundsman, and wondered what he was up to these days. Hopefully not blackmail. His last attempt must have shown him it wasn’t really his speciality.

Jasper and the groundsman disappeared from view and I turned my attention back to the heyday of Spode.

When the bell jangled, I assumed it was the Ocado man, and I sauntered to the door without urgency. I was not prepared for the three people I saw on the doorstep, looking nothing like delivery persons.

‘Oh,’ I said, caught out. Then I squealed, ‘Rosie!’ and we leaped upon each other.

‘Sorry,’ I said, flustered, remembering myself. ‘Do come in. You must be …’

The man introducing himself as Dimitri was an interesting-looking dude. Not at all what I would have picked out for Rosie, who had always gone for rugby types at university. He was more the sort I’d have been into – boho. Almost too boho.

I had an overwhelming sensory impression of height and exuberance and lots of rattly bangly stuff and a fascinating moustache. He crushed me into an unexpectedly tight embrace and I had a moment of mild panic that I wouldn’t be able to get out of it. But he let me go and I caught my breath and laughed and said, ‘Aha, yeah, pleased to meet you.’

‘You are Rosie’s friend, yes?’

‘Yes, gosh, sorry, I’m Sarah.’

I was quite discombobulated. Rosie looked rather amused by the effect her new squeeze had had on me.

‘Don’t mind Dimitri,’ drawled the blonde standing a little way behind him. ‘He makes quite a first impression, doesn’t he? I’m Tina, but everyone calls me Trixietots.’

Tina, that was it. My body double. I found myself giving her a covert once-over as we shook hands, especially around the hips and thighs.

Yes, a good match.

‘I hope you’re not hungry,’ I said, looking out over the driveway for signs of Mr Ocado. ‘We haven’t had our grocery delivery yet. Expecting it any minute. But I can do you teas and coffees.’

There was a general murmuring of ‘coffee/tea would be great’ and we drifted towards the kitchen, Dimitri jingling as he moved.

‘You live here?’ said Rosie, gazing around her at the lobby, with its precious treasures.

‘Well, I still think of it as Jasper’s place. I moved in a few weeks ago but I’m not used to calling it my home yet, to be honest.’

‘One day we live in a place like this, Rosie, what do you think?’ said Dimitri.

She squealed a little, and I think he had pinched her bum, though I didn’t see for certain.

‘Yeah, once you get the call from Hollywood,’ she said.

‘Well, you almost have,’ I said, grinning. ‘You’re going to be in a Jasper Jay film.’

‘He’s such a wonderful film-maker,’ enthused Trixietots. ‘Oh, my God, what a fabulous kitchen. I have kitchen envy. Mine is twenty years old and the cupboard doors are hanging off the hinges. I tell you what, why don’t we all move in permanently?’

She laughed and we all joined in, but my hackles rose a little. Probably just in mourning for our lovely secluded lifestyle. It really seemed odd to be inviting other people into our sanctuary.

I busied myself with tea and coffee to cover my moment of hostility, turning my back while they cooed and exclaimed over various marvellous gadgets and finishes.

‘Is Jasper in?’ asked Rosie. ‘I’m dying to meet him.’

‘He’s just out in the ground

s at the moment. He won’t be long.’

She came to stand beside me and put her fingers on my collar.

‘This is nice,’ she said quietly, underneath the exuberant chatter of Dimitri and Trixietots. ‘I’d like one of those.’