Close Harmony (Food Of Love 3)

“Obviously not.” Lydia bristled, feeling instinctively that she was right to give Sarah a wide berth.

“You should ask him, then. Or Milan. But it doesn’t reflect very well on him, so I bet he won’t say anything.”

/> “Funny that Karl-Heinz hasn’t mentioned it, then. As his rival.”

“Ah, but Karl-Heinz has this sense of honour, doesn’t he? He’s like a Prussian officer from the nineteenth century, all straight-spined and firm-chinned. I keep expecting him to click his heels. He doesn’t tittle-tattle.”

“That’s true.” Lydia thought about this. Karl-Heinz was such a good man, through and through. If only she could say the same of Milan.

“So, will you come to dinner then? Friday night?”

“I’ll have to check my diary.”

“Of course. Let me know at Monday’s rehearsal.”

As Sarah turned to go, Lydia succumbed to an impulse to call her back.

“Sarah.”

“Yes?” She turned around, eyebrows raised.

“Do you like being submissive all the time? How does it even work?”

“You’re curious?” Sarah smiled archly.

“A bit. What if you don’t agree with Julius? What happens then?”

“I always agree with Julius. That’s how it works.”

“I can’t even imagine…”

“No, and you don’t have to. If you come to dinner on Friday, you’ll see exactly how our relationship dynamic operates. Come on. Say you will.”

Lydia didn’t think she could resist the chance to be a fly on such a fascinating wall.

“I’ll talk to Karl-Heinz,” she said, and she set off across the room to do just that.

Dafydd ap Hughes gave her a quizzical, slightly lecherous look which she did her best to ignore.

“Karl-Heinz, can I talk to you for a moment?” She flicked a hostile glance at Dafydd, making it clear that his presence was not required.

“I’ll leave you two lovebirds in peace,” he drawled, moving away towards Meredith and Katja’s corner of the room.

“Ugh, he’s vile,” commented Lydia, watching him.

“That’ll do.” Karl-Heinz’s tone was firm.

She let it thrill her for a brief minute, then looked coyly up at him.

“I’m allowed to take a personal dislike to whomever I choose,” she said.

“Yes, but you can keep it to yourself, please.” Karl-Heinz lifted a glass of champagne off a passing tray and handed it to her with a little nod.

“Speaking of people I can’t warm to…”

“Lydia.” The warning note in Karl-Heinz’s voice thrilled her all over again.

“Sarah Latimer just invited us for dinner.”