‘I’ve been to the University of Life, and how,’ Jonathan drawled with a theatrical sigh.
‘And what do you do?’ Jacintha had turned to Hilary who had been about to say that she worked in her dad’s business when Jonathan cut in.
‘Can you believe it, Jacintha? Hilary is the MD of her own lighting and electrical business, as well as a mother of two! This lady is a DY NA MO!’
‘Oh! Right,’ Jacintha said, casting a supercilious glance over Hilary who was wearing black trousers, black espadrilles and a white broderie anglaise top. Jacintha was dressed in a sharp, tailored grey trouser suit, worn with a red-silk cami that was stretched tightly across her bountiful bosom. She tottered on her skyscraper heels and carried a YSL briefcase.
‘I suppose you have to keep up to date?’ she observed, glancing around the room to see who else she might be interested in talking to.
‘Indeed,’ murmured Hilary, who was finding it hard to keep her face straight as Jonathan was standing slightly behind Jacintha and flaring his nostrils and arching his eyebrows.
‘Are you into er . . . interior design too?’ Jacintha sounded bored and was clearly making polite conversation.
‘Of course,’ Hilary shrugged. ‘It’s intrinsic to my business; good lighting can only complement and add an extra dimension to any room.’
‘But with interior design you either have it or you don’t, it’s innate, unlike architecture which can be learned. Don’t you agree?’ Jonathan interjected smoothly, turning to Hilary.
‘Absolutely.’ She nodded emphatically. ‘You have to have a flair for sure.’ Hilary only said that because she thought the other girl was so smug and dismissive. She had never given the matter much thought.
‘I don’t actually agree with you on that point. Enjoy your coffee,’ Moon Face had retorted before drifting off to try her luck with Mr Brown Cords.
‘I’m devastated!’ Jonathan murmured and Hilary giggled. Her companion was great fun and really adding to her enjoyment of the course. ‘Very patronizing, wasn’t she? She nearly fell off her high heels when I said you were an MD.’ Jonathan grinned.
‘You weren’t letting her get away with anything. She’s so up her own posterior.’ Hilary eyed the last biscuit on the plate longingly.
‘Some people bring out the worst in me,’ Jonathan confessed, taking a gulp of coffee. ‘I must warn you, if we are going to be buddies, that I have a terrific inner bitch.’
‘Oh me too,’ Hilary grinned. ‘And she could probably out-bitch yours.’
‘Excellent!’ Jonathan approved. ‘I think we are going to get on like a house on fire. Now eat that last biscuit, you look as if you are in need of vittles, and then I really must go to Louisiana before we start back.’
‘Me too, I shouldn’t have drunk that second cup of coffee,’ Hilary said as they made their way to the restrooms.
She touched up her make-up and brushed her hair. She was glad she’d come to the course. It was vital to keep up to date with developments and new lighting designs, but today didn’t seem like work with Jonathan sitting beside her, whispering witty asides.
She felt she’d known Jonathan Harpur all her life. She felt completely comfortable with him and he seemed very relaxed with her. Easy! That’s what they were . . . easy together. A most unexpected bonus on this lovely sunny Friday, away from the business, and home, and all their demands.
‘Do you know what would be great?’ Jonathan said as he wolfed down a steaming bowl of Irish stew, while Hilary made short work of a succulent lamb shank. They were having lunch in a pub on the quays not far from the hotel.
‘What would be great?’ she asked, mopping up some gravy with a piece of bread.
‘We could go to some of those lighting fairs together. Did you see the timetable of fairs Mr Personality gave us? Frankfurt, Belgrade, Moscow, Stockholm. Helsinki. The world is our oyster, missus.’
‘I have a husband and two children,’ she reminded him.
‘A minor detail, my dear!’ Jonathan said airily, giving a discreet burp. ‘Sorry,’ he apologized. ‘I just feel so comfortable with you. I forgot we’ve only just been introduced.’
‘Weird, isn’t it? I feel as if I’ve known you forever.’ Hilary replenished their water from the jug with the mint and lemon floating prettily in the middle, thinking that the colours would be a good match.
‘Funny, I think that too. We’re going to be great friends, you and me.’ He smiled at her. ‘And now I have somewhere new to source my lighting requirements, with the discount of course,’ he teased. ‘Seriously though, I can’t wait to see your showrooms.’
‘If you’ve nothing on this evening, you could come and have a look,’ Hilary said impulsively. ‘My children are having a sleepover at my sister’s and my husband is abroad working for a few days. I had planned to catch up on housework. I’ve nothing else on. I could rustle us up something for dinner.’
‘Forget about rustling up, we can order in, Chinese, Indian, I’m all for the easy life. What do you want to go cooking for when you don’t have to?’ Jonathan remarked. ‘And we could polish off a bottle of vino if you cared to.’
‘I’m liking you even better!’ Hilary grinned. ‘But if you shift Mr Brown Cords in the meantime, I’ll understand,’ she joked.
‘Now that is what I call a true gurlfriend,’ Jonathan laughed. ‘I just need to ring my other gurlfriend, Orla, and make sure she’s OK. She lives in the flat above me and
