must be dreadfully weary after such a long journey.’
It was over peppermint tea that we discovered Pippa Dennison was a senior figure in the Liberty fashion empire. She was around forty years old but looked much younger. She clearly thought the world of Laura.
‘Pippa,’ I said, ‘this is a wonderful house. It’s kind of you to let us stay.’
‘Not a problem, Jack,’ she said. ‘It’s actually Daddy’s place and I can use it when I wish. But it was Laura’s idea, so you should thank her.’
‘I just thought you would enjoy the break, Beth,’ added Laura a little hurriedly.
‘And so we shall,’ said Beth with a relaxed smile.
Conversation ebbed and flowed as Beth and Laura caught up with the latest news. ‘And is there a man in your life?’ asked Beth. Laura looked into her tea cup and shook her head.
‘Well, it’s not for the want of offers,’ said Pippa with a whimsical smile.
‘I’ve given up on men for the time being,’ said Laura.
There was an awkward silence, broken eventually by Pippa saying, ‘Come on, I’ll show you to your rooms.’ We walked into the huge carpeted hallway and collected our luggage.
‘Hope you don’t mind,’ said Pippa, ‘but I booked a table for the four of us in one of my favourite French restaurants by the river … absolutely super food and Daddy has an account there. So,’ she glanced at the ancient grandfather clock, ‘say, back down here at seven?’ Rhetorical questions and swift organization seemed to be a natural part of Pippa’s world and we nodded and went upstairs. It also occurred to me that, on a primary headteacher’s pay, there would never come a time when I would have a restaurant account.
When we met again in the hall I immediately noticed that I was the only one who didn’t appear to have changed to suit the occasion. After a welcome shower and a shave, I had dug out a clean casual polo shirt from my sports bag and put on my old herringbone sports jacket with the leather elbow patches that I had worn on the drive down. I looked down at my baggy grey trousers and old Kicker shoes and felt distinctly under-dressed for a night out with the three beautiful women who stood before me. Beth had unpacked four different outfits from her large suitcase and finally decided on a cream blouse and chocolate brown skirt, plus a neat matching waistcoat. Her beige
Cagney & Lacey
raincoat with padded shoulders and loosely tied belt was the height of fashion and emphasized her slim figure. She looked terrific.
Meanwhile Pippa, once again, had somehow managed to look both casual yet simply perfect in a DAKS country classic suit in herringbone tweed with patch pockets and leather buttons. Next to her stood Laura in a pair of skin-tight Burberry jeans, calf-length leather boots, blue denim shirt, green denim jacket and a red neckscarf tied in a knot. She had let down her long brown hair and the look was that of a confident and dynamic woman … except for her eyes. It was as if she had a weighty problem on her mind and her thoughts were elsewhere.
Pippa locked the door behind us and we strolled out into a cool but perfect evening and walked along Argyle Street, across Pulteney Bridge and towards the nightlife of the city. Laura led the way, deep in conversation with Beth, while I walked beside Pippa.
‘You all look amazing,’ I said.
Pippa grinned. ‘It’s nothing really. Laura and I are busy at the moment promoting the Ralph Lauren Western Collection. It’s the latest casual gear.’ She looked me up and down. ‘And Jack, if you don’t mind me saying, you
could
look really good if you put your mind to it.’ She considered me as if deciding how to dress a mannequin. ‘To start with, you’re tall and slim, which is an advantage, and you’ve got naturally wavy brown hair that, if you let it grow a little longer, could look quite fashionable.’
‘I haven’t given it much thought,’ I said, feeling as though I had been undressed and dressed
It was over peppermint tea that we discovered Pippa Dennison was a senior figure in the Liberty fashion empire. She was around forty years old but looked much younger. She clearly thought the world of Laura.
‘Pippa,’ I said, ‘this is a wonderful house. It’s kind of you to let us stay.’
‘Not a problem, Jack,’ she said. ‘It’s actually Daddy’s place and I can use it when I wish. But it was Laura’s idea, so you should thank her.’
‘I just thought you would enjoy the break, Beth,’ added Laura a little hurriedly.
‘And so we shall,’ said Beth with a relaxed smile.
Conversation ebbed and flowed as Beth and Laura caught up with the latest news. ‘And is there a man in your life?’ asked Beth. Laura looked into her tea cup and shook her head.
‘Well, it’s not for the want of offers,’ said Pippa with a whimsical smile.
‘I’ve given up on men for the time being,’ said Laura.
There was an awkward silence, broken eventually by Pippa saying, ‘Come on, I’ll show you to your rooms.’ We walked into the huge carpeted hallway and collected our luggage.
‘Hope you don’t mind,’ said Pippa, ‘but I booked a table for the four of us in one of my favourite French restaurants by the river … absolutely super food and Daddy has an account there. So,’ she glanced at the ancient grandfather clock, ‘say, back down here at seven?’ Rhetorical questions and swift organization seemed to be a natural part of Pippa’s world and we nodded and went upstairs. It also occurred to me that, on a primary headteacher’s pay, there would never come a time when I would have a restaurant account.
When we met again in the hall I immediately noticed that I was the only one who didn’t appear to have changed to suit the occasion. After a welcome shower and a shave, I had dug out a clean casual polo shirt from my sports bag and put on my old herringbone sports jacket with the leather elbow patches that I had worn on the drive down. I looked down at my baggy grey trousers and old Kicker shoes and felt distinctly under-dressed for a night out with the three beautiful women who stood before me. Beth had unpacked four different outfits from her large suitcase and finally decided on a cream blouse and chocolate brown skirt, plus a neat matching waistcoat. Her beige
Cagney & Lacey
raincoat with padded shoulders and loosely tied belt was the height of fashion and emphasized her slim figure. She looked terrific.
Meanwhile Pippa, once again, had somehow managed to look both casual yet simply perfect in a DAKS country classic suit in herringbone tweed with patch pockets and leather buttons. Next to her stood Laura in a pair of skin-tight Burberry jeans, calf-length leather boots, blue denim shirt, green denim jacket and a red neckscarf tied in a knot. She had let down her long brown hair and the look was that of a confident and dynamic woman … except for her eyes. It was as if she had a weighty problem on her mind and her thoughts were elsewhere.
Pippa locked the door behind us and we strolled out into a cool but perfect evening and walked along Argyle Street, across Pulteney Bridge and towards the nightlife of the city. Laura led the way, deep in conversation with Beth, while I walked beside Pippa.
‘You all look amazing,’ I said.
Pippa grinned. ‘It’s nothing really. Laura and I are busy at the moment promoting the Ralph Lauren Western Collection. It’s the latest casual gear.’ She looked me up and down. ‘And Jack, if you don’t mind me saying, you
could
look really good if you put your mind to it.’ She considered me as if deciding how to dress a mannequin. ‘To start with, you’re tall and slim, which is an advantage, and you’ve got naturally wavy brown hair that, if you let it grow a little longer, could look quite fashionable.’
‘I haven’t given it much thought,’ I said, feeling as though I had been undressed and dressed
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