‘We were dropped like hot potatoes,’ Niall murmured into her ear later as they smooched to ‘It Started With A Kiss’. They could see Colette and Des chatting animatedly to Barbara and Ronan Dolan, a high-profile couple who owned several hotels, including a very luxurious spa hotel in Sandy Lane. ‘I bet they’re angling for an invite to Barbados,’ Niall speculated, watching Des nodding in agreement with something Ronan said. The dance floor was heaving and the heat was overpowering. A girl weaving around boisterously to the music bumped into Hilary, her stiletto heel stabbing into her foot. She apologized carelessly before being swallowed up in the swaying crowd.
‘Will we head off? My feet are killing me. These shoes are torture,’ Hilary suggested, grimacing in pain.
‘I thought you’d never say it.’ Niall couldn’t hide his relief that the ordeal was coming to an end.
‘Right, let’s say goodnight to Rowena and Pete and make a move.’ The bride and groom were chatting to Pete’s mother and sister and Rowena hugged Hilary when she saw her. ‘Listen, Pete and I have decided that when we move into the house we’re going to dress up in our wedding clothes and have a party with all our real friends. Niall, will you bring the bodhrán and we’ll have a proper hooley with people we know and love?’
‘Sure,’ he said easily. ‘Great idea.’
‘This is mad, we don’t know half the people here.’ Rowena glanced around the room and made a face.
‘Oh listen; talking about the house, I have just the chap for you to help you decorate. You’ll love him,’ Hilary said. ‘I’ll get him to meet us in Illuminations when we’re planning the lighting system and see what he has to say. His name is Jonathan Harpur, he’s fun,’ Hilary said enthusiastically.
‘Brilliant, I’d love that. The parents-in-law want us to go with Coburn and Taylor, they decorated their house, but it’s like a luxury hotel and it’s not the look I want for our house. I want a home! I’d love to meet this Jonathan chap,’ Rowena agreed eagerly.
‘Right, I’ll sort it when you’re back from your honeymoon. We’re going to head off now and we just wanted to say thanks for a lovely day.’
‘No, thank you for coming, Hilary. I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend any time with you.’
‘Don’t worry your head about it, I’ll see you soon.’ They hugged again and then someone else arrived to claim the bride’s attention and Hilary and Niall made their way along the side of the dance floor.
‘I presume they aren’t going to collect Jasmine tonight?’ Niall nodded in Colette’s direction.
‘I wouldn’t imagine so, but I’d better tell them we’re going,’ Hilary said, pushing through the throng.
‘We’re slipping away, Colette.’ She tapped her friend on the shoulder.
‘Ooohhh, sweetie,’ gushed the other woman, ‘you can’t leave yet, we’ve hardly had a drink together. Niall, we have to dance.’
‘No, we’re going.’ Hilary was firm. ‘You won’t be collecting Jasmine tonight, I take it?’
‘Do you mind if we don’t, lovie? It’s a bit late and we’ll be here for another while. I’ll pick her up in the morning and we’ll have coffee and a chat. Bye, sweetie, bye.’ She kissed Hilary, waved at Niall and turned back to Barbara and Ronan.
‘Sweetie my ass,’ Niall said caustically as they stepped out into the refreshingly balmy breeze to hail a taxi. ‘You’re supposed to be one of her closest friends and she made no effort, apart from sitting at the meal with us, to spend time with you, and she wants you to go to London in case she’s in a “tizzy” when she’s leaving. She has some nerve. Don’t you dare put yourself out for that one any more. She uses you, Hilary, always has, and you deserve far better than that.’
‘We’ll see how I’m fixed,’ Hilary murmured, relieved when a taxi pulled in, putting an end to the conversation. She hated it when her sister and husband implied that she was some sort of doormat in regard to Colette. They had been friends for many years. She was used to her and her ways, although there were times, such as today, when Colette did behave badly and make her feel used. She was pushing it . . . hard.
All of the O’Mahonys were social climbers who had forgotten their roots, she thought crossly, thinking of how Jacqueline never invited Hilary’s mother to her really posh soirées. Sally had been a very kind friend down the years, minding Colette for Jacqueline when she was young, but the more successful Jacqueline grew the looser the tie of friendship became. Now it was only the annual party at Christmas for the ‘second tier’, as Hilary privately called the gathering, which included Niall and herself, who were invited out of duty and faux largesse. Was that the way her friendship with Colette would end, she wondered as they drove through the thronged city streets, crowded with weekend revellers.
She would go to London, she decided impulsively. She would use Colette to have a few days away. It would be nice to lunch in one of the chic restaurants in Kensington and then go for a stroll in the park, up to that beautiful palace that she saw so often in news reports of Princess Diana. And she could treat herself to some beauty treatments and a shopping spree. It had been ages since she’d been on one and she could do with updating her wardrobe. A mini break would do her all the good in the world, Hilary decided, cheering up somewhat. And it would give her an opportunity to tell Colette that she was behaving like a selfish little princess and it wasn’t acceptable. Hilary cut her a lot of slack, but not any more. It
