CHAPTER ELEVEN
BELLE began, quite irrationally, to hate the doorbell. Not because of who it might be-network people, her agent, who didn’t seem to understand the word ‘no’-but because of who it wasn’t.
Just how stupid could one woman be?
First she’d left Ivo and then, when he’d bared his soul, admitted that he’d been prepared to compromise his own desperate decision, overcome his own fears to give her what she wanted, she’d sent him away. Rejected him, put her sister first. Made it clear that he came second.
No man was going to stand for that, come back for more. Especially not a man like Ivo Grenville.
She picked up the entry phone. ‘Yes?’
‘It’s Miranda, Belle. Can I come up?’
She buzzed her in. His sister was no substitute, but she’d breathed the same air, talked to him, could tell her how he was…
‘Great sofa,’ Manda said, sweeping into the room in a dramatic swirl of the season’s most cutting-edge style, a whisper of some rare scent, picking out the one thing that she hadn’t chosen. ‘Very eye-catching.’
Oh, right. She was being sarcastic.
‘Ivo said your flat had a certain appeal.’
‘Really?’ What else had he said…?
‘I have to confess, I thought his view was coloured by lust but actually he’s right. Of course what you really need is to completely restore the house, turn it back into a family home. Maybe convert the lower ground floor into a garden flat for Daisy. So much more suitable for a pram,’ she said.
‘What can I do for you, Miranda?’ Belle enquired sharply, refusing to be drawn into whatever game she thought she was playing.
‘Nothing. It’s your sister I’ve come to see. I understand she’s in the market for a job.’ She didn’t wait for an answer but, turning to Daisy, said, ‘I saw you on television last month. You’ve got your sister’s smile.’ Before Daisy had time to demonstrate it, she continued, ‘I have no doubt that the rest of you will catch up in time. Motherhood can do wonders, I understand.’ She extended her hand. ‘I’m Manda Grenville, Ivo’s sister.’
‘Ivan the Terrible
Manda’s eyes widened slightly and then, even as Belle held her breath, she threw back her head and laughed. ‘The buxom Belle but with an edge. Brilliant. We’re going to get along just fine.’
Infuriating though it was, it seemed that they did, perhaps recognising something in one another. And Belle had to admit that the job offer was good news. She hadn’t expected Ivo to remember. She should have given him more credit; he might be hurt, but he wouldn’t take his feelings out on Daisy.
She had tried to talk to her sister about the future; she was quick, clever, could easily get a place at college. She’d refused to even discuss it with her.
‘Is there any hope of a cup of coffee, Belle?’ Miranda asked.
About to remind her that if she wanted coffee she knew where the nearest deli was, she held her tongue, glad to have her as an ally on her sister’s behalf, even if she’d never been a friend to her.
‘Of course. Daisy? Can I get you anything?’
‘Is there any of that honey and camomile tea left?’
She boiled the kettle, took the coffee from the fridge and spooned some into the cafetiere; wrinkling up her nose at the smell, she decided to join Daisy in a cup of herb tea.
Daisy and Manda were, unlikely as that seemed, deep in conversation when she carried through the tray. She turned down the heating, then opened the French windows.
‘Good grief, Bella, do you want us to freeze in here?’
‘It’s so stuffy in here,’ she said. Then, realising that they were both staring at her, ‘Maybe I’m coming down with something.’
‘It must be something going around,’ Manda said pointedly. ‘Ivo has matching symptoms.’
‘He’s not well?’
‘Nothing that a decent night’s sleep wouldn’t fix. Why don’t you go and have a lie down?’
‘I’m fine, really,’ she began. Then, as Manda poured out the coffee and the smell reached her, she realised that was not the case and had to make a run for the bathroom, only just making it before she threw up.
She refused to let Daisy or Manda make a fuss, waving them away. ‘It’s just some bug. I’ll lie down for a minute.’
Manda was still there when she emerged an hour later, slightly fuzzy from a nap and starving hungry.
‘Is that pizza…?’
‘We sent out for it. Daisy’s choice.’
‘Bliss. Did she leave any anchovies?’
‘What is it with the pair of you and anchovies?’ Manda demanded as Belle, spotting one that had been overlooked, picked it off and ate it.
‘Belle!’ Daisy protested. ‘You hate anchovies.’
‘I just fancied something salty.’ She licked the tip of her thumb. ‘What?’
They shook their heads as one and Manda quickly said, ‘I’m glad you’re back with us. Daisy and I are all sorted. All we need now is you.’
‘Me?’
‘It’s this kids’ charity thing I’ve got involved with. It seems to have been provoked by the huge response to your coverage of the charity bike ride. There’s been a bit of a popular outcry and politicians are feeling bruised by the criticism. Things need to be done. The question is what things.’
‘You’d like me to give you a list?’
‘I was hoping for rather more than that, to be honest. A picture being, as we both know, worth a thousand words, what I need is someone to take a camera crew and show the world just how bad things are. An ambassador for the street kids, if you like. With your credentials, you appear to be the obvious choice.’
Daisy’s face was glowing with excitement. ‘Manda wants me to go with her on a pre-filming recce. As her assistant.’
‘You’re pregnant, Daisy.’
‘Well, duh! This is the twenty-first century; I don’t have to stay at home in purdah. It’ll be during the middle three months.’ Her voice was pleading. ‘We’re going to South America, the Far East…’
‘I’ll take care of her, Belle.’
‘Will you?’ Then, because she had to ask, ‘Was this your idea?’
‘You think Ivo is behind it? I promise you, he expressively forbade me from asking for your help.’
‘Oh.’ Belle felt like a tyre with the air let out. It was like the doorbell, she thought. She understood that it couldn’t possibly be him, but she would keep hoping…
‘Please, Belle!’ Daisy begged. ‘Please say you’ll do it.’
She weighed up the options. Daisy, sulking and miserable under her feet day and night. Or with an exciting job, a future.
And not just Daisy. This was a new chance for her to do something important. Something that would make a difference.
‘I guess you’d better go to the Post Office and pick up a passport application form,’ she said.
‘You saw her? How is she?’
Ivo might have tried to discourage his sister from whatever scheme she was hatching, but he’d been pacing the library, waiting for her to come home.
‘Feeling a little under the weather, if you really want to know.’ Manda settled on the sofa and put her feet up. ‘Some tedious little bug, no doubt. It’s that time of year.’ Then, ‘You’re right about her flat, by the way. It’s charming. Shame about the sofa.’ She tilted her head to look at him. ‘Did you know that there’s one just like it for sale on the next floor?’
‘The sofa?’
‘Her flat.’
‘Not any more.’
She swivelled round. ‘You’ve bought it? When did you organise that?’
