‘Sam, look at the table. I have plenty of money.’
Sam surveys the ordered stacks of thousands. ‘You don’t have to give up your apartment now. You can stay in New York if you want to. You won’t have to join Florie’s commune.’
Sophie nods. ‘Sam, I wanted to talk to you about that.’
He sits back in the chair. ‘Uh-huh.’
‘I’ve had an email from one of Richard’s partners. Baxter T. Randall. He’s not as stuffy as his name makes him sound. He’s a real visionary. He has a great sense of humour, too. He’s jumping ship and opening up his own practice. He’s invited me to join him as a founding partner. Randall and Parry Architects.’
‘Has a nice ring to it.’
‘He wants me to head up the London office.’
Sam nods. ‘London, eh? Just your cup of tea, Princess Grace. You’d be great.’
‘I would, I know. It’s a fantastic opportunity.’
‘It sure is.’
‘For someone else.’
Sam shakes his head. ‘What do you mean?’
‘The thing is, I’ve taken another job.’
‘Right. Listen, I understand—’
‘Smaller company, but big ideas. I insisted on a partnership, of course. I want a place where I can grow. If I partner up with Baxter, it’ll be all about his vision. I’ve been through all that with Richard.’
‘I get that.’
She holds out her hand across the table.
Sam stares at her hand. ‘What?’
‘Shake my hand.’
‘What?’
‘Just shake my hand.’
Sam reaches across the table and gives Sophie a firm handshake.
She smiles. ‘Hello, partner.’
THE END
If you enjoyed The English Wife, be sure to follow Adrienne Chinn on Twitter @adriennechinn and on Facebook @AdrienneChinnAuthor for all the updates on their latest work.
Did you miss Adrienne Chinn’s last book The Lost Letter from Morocco, a beautifully rich historical novel. Get your copy here if you’re in the UK and here if you’re in the US.
You can also find us at @0neMoreChapter_, where we’ll be shouting about all our new releases.
Acknowledgements
One day, back in 1940, my Aunt Stephanie, then still a teenager, met my uncle Gus Edwards, a Newfoundlander stationed with the 57th Newfoundland Heavy Regiment (later renamed the 166th Newfoundland Field Regiment), at Sunday lunch at her grandparents’ house in Filby, Norfolk, England. Stephanie’s grandfather was the local vicar, and he’d thought it only right and proper to invite one of the new soldiers, so far away from their home, to Sunday lunch each week. So, I must thank my Aunt Stephanie’s grandfather for his generosity of spirit, without which this story may never have been written.
The stories of Ellie and Thomas, and Sophie and Sam, were born during a city break in Seville with my sister Carolyn Chinn. Between visits to the Alcazar, the Cathedral, and flamenco shows, we’d drink sherry over tapas and I’d throw out my ideas for the novel. After five days (and a lot of excellent sherry and tapas), I had the shape of the novel, and an idea of the main characters. Thank you, Carolyn, for listening to my jumbled thoughts and helping me put them into some kind of order.
Shortly after that, my friend, Mandy Sinclair, kindly lent me the use of her flat in Marrakech while she was back in Canada, and I spent a productive week drafting out the outline and character biographies, fortified by supportive outings around my favourite city with another friend, Aine Marsland. Many thanks to you both!
A few months later I visited Norwich, where novelist Melvyn Fickling, a Norfolk boy through and through, and another great friend, walked with me through the twisting medieval streets, seeking out the landmarks and old bomb sites that helped me recreate Norwich during the years of World War II. Thank you, Melvyn.
I spent a month during iceberg season (May), writing in St John’s and Eastport, Newfoundland, as the guest of my cousin, Jennifer Edwards Gill (Aunt Stephanie’s daughter), and her husband, Rob Gill. I benefited enormously from Jennifer’s insight into her mother’s experiences as a war bride, as well as evenings playing killer games of Settlers of Catan. Jennifer and Rob, I am indebted to you. Thank you!
In Newfoundland, I also spent writing time at my cousin, Glen Edwards’s, in my home town of Grand Falls-Windsor, where I enjoyed the company and stories of my uncles, John and Reg Edwards. I rented a car and explored Fogo Island and the Kittiwake Peninsula, with a stop in lovely Trinity, all of which provided inspiration for the locations in The English Wife.
After Newfoundland, I availed myself of the hospitality and writing tables of my brother, Geoff Chinn, and his partner, Wendy Buckingham, and many people in Quebec and Ontario whom I’m fortunate to call my friends: Claire Delisle, Cate Creede, Craig Ryan and J-P Talb, Vicky Seton and Pierre Cardinale, Lori Legault Lorenzo and Danny Lorenzo, Krista Fidler and Greg Sayer. Thank you all.
Thank you, too, to Laurence Daren King, for being one of the guides on my writing road; to my wonderful editors, Hannah Todd, Bethan Morgan, Helena Newton, and Lydia Mason at One More Chapter; and to my agent, Jo Swainson, for keeping the faith.
About the Author
Adrienne Chinn was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, grew up in Quebec, and eventually made her way to London, England after a career as a journalist. In England she worked as a TV and film researcher before embarking on a career as an interior designer, lecturer, and writer. When not up a ladder or at the computer, she can usually be found rummaging through flea markets or haggling in the Marrakech souk.
@adriennechinn
@AdrienneChinnAuthor
Also by Adrienne Chinn
The Lost Letter from Morocco
UK readers click here
US and CAN readers click here
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada
www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201 301, India
www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63
