September

'Okay, love.'

She gathered up her shopping and bundled out, climbed the steps and pressed the bell. She heard Larry barking, Alexa's voice telling him to be quiet. She dumped her parcels on the doorstep and, opening her bag, went back to pay off the taxi.

Alexa was in her kitchen, dealing bravely with the detritus of her day's work, all of which she had brought back from Chiswick in the back of her van. Saucepans, plastic containers, wooden salad bowls, knives, egg-whisk, and a cardboard wine crate filled with dirty glasses. When all was clean, dried, and put away, she planned to go upstairs, strip off her crumpled cotton skirt and shirt, take a shower, and then put on an entirely fresh set of clothes. After that, she would make a cup of tea… Lapsang souchong with a slice of lemon… and then she would take Larry for a little stroll, and later start thinking about dinner. On the way back from Chiswick, she had stopped off at the fishmonger and bought rainbow trout, Noel's favourite. Grilled, with almonds. And perhaps…

She heard the taxi approaching slowly down the street. Standing at the sink, visibility was limited. The taxi stopped. A woman's voice. High-heeled footsteps tapped across the pavement. Alexa, rinsing a wineglass under the tap, waited, listening. Then her doorbell rang.

Larry hated the doorbell and burst into an aria of barking. And Alexa, so occupied and busy, resented the interruption and was equally unenthusiastic. Who on earth could this be? 'Oh, be quiet, you stupid creature.' She set down the glass, untied her apron and went upstairs to find out. Hopefully, it would be no one of importance. She opened the door to a pile of expensive-looking parcels. The taxi made a U-turn and trundled away. And…

She gaped. Her stepmother. Dressed for London but still instantly recognizable. She wore a black dress and a scarlet jacket and patent pumps, and her hair, fresh from the hands of some exclusive expert, had been dressed in a new style, drawn back from her face and clasped in a huge black velvet bow.

Her stepmother. Looking fantastic but unannounced and entirely unexpected. The implications of this caused every thought but one to fly from Alexa's head.

Noel.

'Virginia.'

'Don't die of shock. I kept the taxi waiting because I thought you might be out.' She kissed Alexa. 'I've been shopping,' she explained unnecessarily, and stooped to gather up the parcels. Alexa, with an effort, pulled herself together and helped.

'But I didn't even know you were in London.'

'Just for a day or two.' They dumped it all on the hall table. 'And don't say why didn't you ring me up, because I've been calling non-stop. I thought you must be away.'

'No.' Alexa shut the door. 'We… I went out for dinner last night, though, and I've been out on a job all day. I was just washing up. That's why I'm looking such a mess…'

'You look great.' Virginia eyed her. 'Have you lost weight?'

'I don't know. I never weigh myself.'

'What was the job?'

'Oh, a lunch for an old man's ninetieth birthday. In Chiswick. A lovely house, right on the river. Twenty guests, and all relations. Two great-grandchildren.'

'What did you give them?'

'Cold salmon and champagne. That's what he wanted. And a birthday cake. But why didn't you tell me you were coming…?'

'Oh, I don't know. It was all done on the spur of the moment. I just felt I wanted to get away for a day or two. I've been shopping all day.'

'It looks like it. And I love your hair. You must be exhausted. Go on in and take the weight off your feet…'

'That's all I want…' Pulling off her jacket, Virginia went through the open door, tossed her jacket aside, headed for the largest armchair, collapsed into it, kicked off her shoes and placed her feet on a stool. 'Heaven.'

Alexa stood and looked at her. How long did she plan to stay? Why…? 'Why aren't you staying here with me?' Thank heavens she wasn't, but it was the obvious question to ask.

'I would have invited myself, of course, but I promised Felicity Crowe next time I came to London I'd stay with her. You know, she's my childhood friend. She'd have been my bridesmaid if I'd had bridesmaids. And we never see much of each other, and when we do we talk and giggle non-stop.'

So that was all right. 'Where does she live?'

'A dear little house in Cadgewith Mews. But I must say, it's not as pretty as this.'

'Would you… would you like a cup of tea?'

'No, don't bother. A cold drink would do.'

'I've got a can of Coke in the fridge.'

'Perfect.'

'I… Pit just get it.'

She left Virginia and went down to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and took out the can of cola. Virginia was here and it was necessary to be cool and objective. Being cool and objective was not Alexa's strong point. Downstairs, evidences of Noel were scarce. His Barbour jacket and a tweed cap hung in the downstairs loo. A Financial Times lay in the drawing-room. That was all. But upstairs was different. His personal belongings were everywhere, and the bed, very obviously, made up for the occupancy of two people. There could be no question of trying to hide it all away. If Virginia went upstairs…

She found herself overwhelmed with indecision. On the one hand, perhaps this was the best way to do it. She hadn't planned anything but it had happened; and Virginia was here. As well, Virginia was young and not even, strictly speaking, family. She would hopefully understand, and perhaps even approve. She, after all, had had strings of men in her life before she married Fa. Virginia could be Alexa's advocate, the best person of all to break the news gently that the shy and puddingy Alexa had not only found a man of her own at last but had taken him into her heart and her home, and was openly living with him.

On the other hand, if she did this, then the secret was out and Alexa would be expected to share Noel. Speak about him and allow them all to meet him. She imagined her father coming to London, ringing up. 'I'll take you both to Claridges for dinner.' The prospect caused her knees to shake, but in the end, she knew that she would be able to cope with such a situation. The unanswered question was how Noel would react. Would he, perhaps, feel that he was being pressurized in some way? Which would be disastrous because, after three months of living with him and learning all the capricious twists of another person's character, Alexa knew that this was the one thing in life that Noel could not stand.

At a loss, totally out of her depth, she made a huge effort to be rational. There is nothing you can do about it, she told herself in Edie's voice. You'll just need to take things the way they come. Thinking of Edie made her feel a bit stronger. She closed the door of the fridge, found a glass, and went back upstairs.

'Sorry I've been so long.' Virginia was smoking. 'I thought you'd given up cigarettes.'

'I did but I started again. Don't tell your father.'

Alexa opened the Coke and poured it, and handed Virginia the glass.

'Oh, marvellous. Delicious. I thought I was going to die of thirst. Why are all the shops so hot? Why are there so many people everywhere?'

Alexa curled up in the corner of the sofa.

'Visitors. It took me hours to get back from Chiswick. And you've got on the wrong sort of shoes for shopping. You should be wearing trainers.'

'I know. It's crazy, isn't it? Dressing up to come to London. Habit, I suppose.'

'What have you been buying?'

'Clothes. Basically something for the Steyntons' party. I see you've got your invitation.' ' 'I haven't answered it yet.'

'You're coming, of course.'

'I… I don't know… I'm pretty busy round then.'

'But of course you must come. We're counting on you…'

Alexa diverted her. 'What sort of a dress did you get?'

'It's dreamy. Sort of voile, white, in layers, with black spots everywhere. Tiny shoe-string straps. I'll have to try to step up my suntan.'

'Where did you find it?'