‘You’re right, it’s not funny,’ he said, pushing his coffee cup angrily to one side. ‘A family torn apart isn’t funny. But here’s the truth: Georgia hates us. She doesn’t want anything to do with us. And if you really were a good friend of hers, then you’d step back and respect that.’
Amy shook her head, disappointed and disgusted.
‘Well, I’d better go and return the dress – and check up on your family while I’m at it.’
‘So now I’m the bad guy,’ he said, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
‘That’s for your conscience to decide,’ she snapped back, reaching into her purse, taking out two pound coins and putting them on the table. ‘For the latte,’ she said as she picked up her things and stood up and brushed past him.
‘Amy, wait.’ He touched her arm and caught the bare strip of wrist. She flinched and felt her cheeks burn hot.
‘Happy new year, Will,’ she said, pulling away from him, and left the café without even looking back.
Something bad happened, repeated Amy to herself as she walked towards Georgia’s building. Typical British understatement, she thought as she mulled over what Will Hamilton had said. Something that was difficult to discuss, so they made light of it, swept it under the carpet. And what happened then? A kind old lady ended up locked up in her flat with only gowns and memories for company. What kind of way was that to live out your life? Something bad happened? What on earth could it be? What could split a family for over fifty years?
She pressed the intercom and ran up the stairs. Georgia had left the apartment door ajar and she could hear the sound of the kettle boiling in the kitchen.
‘Oh, flowers, there was no need,’ said Georgia, appearing from the living room.
‘Yes there was, it was so kind of you to lend me such a beautiful gown.’
‘Well, they’re lovely,’ said Georgia, busying herself with a pair of secateurs, snipping the ends from the stems and arranging them in a cream enamel jug.
‘So how was it? How was Claridge’s?’
Amy blushed slightly as her mind leapt back to the moment they had stumbled into the hotel suite and the wonderful dress had finally come off. You’re not with Nathan now, she reminded herself. If she had been, Amy was sure she would have told her friend every detail – they had that sort of relationship – but Georgia was from a class and era that didn’t believe in sex before marriage. Amy was coming to believe that being a lady involved mastering the art of holding back.
‘Well, Daniel wants us to spend New Year together,’ she said finally.
‘That’s got to be a good sign if it happens,’ said Georgia.
If it happens? thought Amy with mild irritation, even though she knew Georgia was only looking out for her.
‘How did the dress go down?’
‘It worked like magic,’ she grinned.
‘It’s not the dress, Amy. It’s you. You are a beautiful young woman and men can’t help falling in love with you. The dress just gave you the confidence to believe that you can be that woman.’
Georgia gave a wry smile.
‘Shall we have tea?’
Amy nodded dumbly as Georgia moved into the kitchen. She looked over at the garment bag, wondering if the older woman was right. The dress had certainly seemed to have some sort of special qualities.
‘I just saw Will,’ she said, remembering that she wasn’t just here to return the dress.
‘Ah, now there is someone we need to find a lovely girlfriend for,’ said Georgia. ‘He’s very serious. Too serious. I’ve read some of his work. He’s a very talented young man but he has a tendency to be a little ponderous. I think he needs to get out of that flat of his. Have fun.’
Amy paused for a moment, not sure if she should say any more. Come on, don’t be a wuss, she scolded herself.
‘I asked him why you don’t talk to your family,’ she said, and bit her lip, steeling herself.
Georgia was silent for a few moments, then stepped into the living room. Amy had expected her to be annoyed, but she was unprepared for the look of fury on Georgia’s face.
‘I would have thought you might try to respect my privacy a little more than that,’ she said evenly, cold anger in every word. For a moment Amy could see her for the powerful CEO she once was.
‘That’s what Will said,’ she replied quietly.