Daisy giggled, ‘And having witnessed the rejection of every slip-on shoe in Rutminster, I know exactly how Prince Charming must have despaired at the thought of finding the owner of the glass slipper.’
She broke off the thread and picked up a pair of rugger shorts.
‘I’ll take him to London tomorrow,’ said Ricky, cutting himself a piece of fruitcake. ‘I’ve got to pick up the England shirts from Harrods. I’ll get him some trousers and some shoes.’
‘Oh no, it’d be such a bore for you,’ said Daisy.
‘I’d like his company. You know how I loathe London.’ Lucky Eddie, thought Daisy.
‘Perdita’s not the only one who’s lost too much weight around here,’ said Ricky, handing Daisy the last crumpet.
Daisy shook her head.
‘A handsome husband and a thousand a year,’ said a voice. ‘Ay’ll have it,’ and Ricky and Daisy were enveloped in a cloud of Chanel Number 5 as Sharon stretched out a braceleted hand to help herself, pressing her splendid breasts against Ricky’s shoulders as she did so.
‘You’d certainly make the handsomest husband in the world, Ricky. Do drop in on us sometime.’
‘She’s definitely having an affair with David Waterlane,’ said Ricky after she’d gone. ‘He always buys Chanel Number 5 for all his mistresses.’
‘She says she’s going to marry him,’ said Daisy.
In the darkening trees the pigeons were fluttering and cooing. Iceberg roses and white phlox grew more luminous, night-scented stock replaced Chanel Number 5.
‘It’s so beautiful here,’ said Daisy, who was getting cold, but didn’t want to break the magic of the moment. ‘How’s Perdita getting on with Rupert?’
‘Not brilliantly,’ said Ricky carefully, not wanting to hurt Daisy. ‘Rupert’s so desperately protective of Taggie, he can’t really bring himself to forgive her, even though Taggie has. But he’s getting results. He’s sharpened up her game two hundred per cent.
‘That’s mine,’ he added quickly, as one of Ethel’s puppies tottered out, speckled as a seal, eyes frowsty with sleep, patrician except for one ear pointing up and an irredeemably curly tail. He picked the puppy up. ‘He’s just like Little Chef.’
Watching him gently stroking the pink-and-speckled belly, Daisy was appalled to find herself longing to swap places with the puppy. She must get a grip on herself.
‘How’s the Westchester going?’
Ricky sighed. ‘I feel as though the entire contents of your septic tank has been tipped over my head. The BPA and the APA have both written me threatening letters and ring constantly. The American sponsors are collectively threatening to sue. The Prince rang up and said Hughie had actually had the cheek to ring him and advise him not to fly over to present the cup, as it would be so embarrassing for him to witness a bloodbath. Fortunately the Prince told Hughie to get stuffed, and that if he’s said he’ll go to something he always goes. Cartier, Asprey, Tiffany and Dunhill have all written complaining. I wrote back saying I would not be dictated to by a bunch of watchmakers in Mayfair.’
‘Quite right,’ said Daisy indignantly. ‘Oh ye of little faith.’ She also noticed that he hardly stammered at all now when he talked to her. The moon was rising huge and pink, bats and swallows dived, owls hooted, the sky had darkened to lilac in the west. What Ricky hadn’t told Daisy about was the brief bitter note Chessie had sent him: ‘I thought you wanted me back. If you insist on playing with schoolboys, I was obviously wrong.’
Realizing Daisy was shivering, he had just taken his coat off and put it round her shoulders when Eddie appeared in the doorway, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead. ‘We’ve tidied the whole house, Mum. We’ve even made Ethel’s basket.’
‘Good boy,’ said Ricky.
‘Can I have a beer?’
‘Later,’ said Ricky. ‘If you come into Rutminster with me, we’ll get an Indian.’
It was the eve of the team’s departure. Having finally got Eddie off to school and finished Sharon’s portrait, Daisy sent Perdita up to London with money to buy some clothes for America.
Perdita – whose self-confidence seemed to have been finally smashed by Rupert – was in turmoil because she might have to play and would certainly be seeing Red again. Having made heroic attempts to cheer Perdita up, Daisy was overwhelmed with despair. Tomorrow Ricky was off to America, and inevitably out of her life. I must not hate Chessie, she told herself sternly, I am very lucky my children and I are not dying of hunger in Ethiopia, my entire family haven’t been wiped out in an earthquake or a volcano and this is the first time I’ve had access to my own bathroom in nine weeks. God, I look awful.
The only answer, in case Ricky dropped in that evening, was to wash her hair and have a bath. She had just emerged pink and Je Reviens-scented, with legs and armpits shaved and was combing out her wet hair when she heard Ethel barking and a hammering on the front door. Wrapping herself in a big dark-green towel, she ran downstairs and her heart failed. For there, beachboy-blond and absolutely black-brown, stood Drew.
‘Darling Daisy!’ He put the inevitable bottle of Moet on the kitchen table. ‘You’ve no idea how I’ve missed you.’
Daisy just stared at him. She’d dreamt of this moment for so long, and she’d planned to be distant and icily disapproving because he’d forced Ricky’s hand over the Westchester, but it was hard to be cool when you were hot and lobster-pink from the bath. And Drew looked so handsome and was in such high spirits. Inevitably the conversation turned in moments to polo.
‘Boy, am I glad to be out of the Westchester,’ he said, tearing the gold paper off the cork. ‘It is going to be a ghastly embarrassment to the English. They’re having great trouble selling tickets. Americans love American victories, but they like a decent tussle first.’
‘Ricky’s playing,’ said Daisy defensively.
‘Maybe, but it’ll be like Canute trying to stop the tide and not even bothering to put on gumboots. The twins are wildly erratic and hopeless in defence, which is all they’ll have to do. Mike’s a dolt.’ He paused. ‘D’you think Ricky’ll ever speak to me again?’
As he went automatically to the right cupboard to get down two glasses, Daisy noticed he had US Open printed on the back of his bomber jacket.
‘If he wins, he might,’ said Daisy reprovingly. ‘He’s had so much flak recently.’
‘Just because he’s got this
Daisy didn’t laugh. ‘How’s Sukey?’
‘Really well. I’ve got a new American patron for Palm Beach next year, which means mega-bucks.’
‘Is he nice?’
‘Better than Victor. Christ, I’m relieved to be shot of him.’
At the pop of the champagne cork, Ethel started barking and all the puppies woke up and started wandering round the kitchen.
‘Are any of the children at home?’ asked Drew casually, as he filled the glasses. Then, glancing through into the sitting room, gave a start as he caught sight of Sharon’s finished portrait still on Daisy’s easel.
‘Christ – that’s good. I thought it was the old bat for a second. You really are getting better and better.’
Reluctant to be won over, Daisy followed Drew into the sitting room for a better look and had great difficulty stopping him drawing a moustache on Sharon.
‘Well, at least let me draw a tiara on her bush. She’s going hammer and hot tongs for David Waterlane at the moment.’
‘He kept ringing for her,’ said Daisy. ‘At first I thought it was you using a false name.’
She shivered and shut the window. ‘I must go and get dressed.’
‘Why bother?’ Drew refilled her glass. ‘I’d forgotten how beautiful you are.’
‘Evidently,’ said Daisy, unable to keep the acid out of her voice. ‘Was Sharon amazing in bed?’
Drew shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t know. You know my heart belongs to you.’
‘My true love hath my heart, and I have about one twentieth of his,’ said Daisy, and buoyed up by champagne, told him about Sukey’s visit.
‘That’s a pack of lies,’ said Drew, gazing into her eyes with that unshiftingly honest look that convinced Daisy he wasn’t telling the truth. ‘I promise you. I can only assume she got wind of us and decided to spin a story like that
