leafâhad drifted on into shots of single malt by the fire. Harry dimly remembered getting to bed around four a.m.
The best thing about trips like this, he thought, is telling Kimabout them afterwards. Sheâs so appalled by the decadence, extravagance, and overindulgence that she goes pale with fury and splutters. Itâs always entertaining to see her lost for words.
Giles prodded Harry in the ribs. âI think you might be in there.â
In where? Harry followed Gilesâs gaze. Emily, the only female analyst on the trip, was being helped by a very attentive coach to position the shotgun into the hollow of her shoulder. She gave a little toss of her red hair, as if she knew she was being watched.
âShe keeps giving you the eye,â said Giles in his Etonian drawl.
âI think youâre imagining it.â
âWish I were. Wouldnât mind getting in there myself.â
Harry smiled. âIâm spoken for.â
âOh, yes, I forgot. The terrifying Titania. The Iron Lady. No one ever calls her Titty, I notice.â
âI think they might regret it if they did.â
Giles roared with laughter. âI tell you, Harry, if you ever get tired of her, you let me know. Iâll be over like a shot.â
âPull!â shouted Emily in a loud, clear voice. The target arched out of the skeet into the murky gray sky, and she fired.
âScore!â shouted Giles, an explosion of excitement.
â¢Â  â¢Â  â¢
âKim? Can you hear me? Iâm by the pool. At Jean-Marcâs house. Such a beautiful old villa. Up in the hills. Lemons, figs, oleander. But I donât know how good the reception is.â
âI can hear you perfectly.â
âIâve booked my flights. Three weeksâ time. Nice to Paris, Paris to London. I get in at two in the afternoon, September sixth. But of course, I donât expect you to meet me at the airport. I can easily carry my own bags.â
âNo, I can be there.â
âSuch a shame you donât drive. But I donât think the Heathrow Express will be that exhausting, will it?â
âI could book a cab. Although itâs quiteââ
âOnly if youâre sure. Itâs probably not that much more expensive if thereâs two of us. Or three, if Eva comes.â
âShe might be teaching.â
âTeaching?â
âGuitar.â
âHow extraordinary.â
âSheâs been taking on more pupils because itâs going to be harder to get around from now on. She canât really travel round Europe as she used to.â
âAnd thatâs exactly why Iâm coming. To give Eva some moral support. Of course, sheâs not going to be the only single parent in the world. But this canât be easy for her. So I donât want to put either of you to any trouble.â
âItâs fine. Really. You can have my room. I would offer you the box room, but itâs full of junk. A lot of itâs yoursââ
âI was thinking of booking into a hotel. But then of course I wouldnât be able to spend so much time with my daughters.â
âReally, Mum, itâs no problem. I can share with Eva for a few days.â
âIn the big room? My old room?â
âThe one at the front.â
âSuch a lovely bright room. So important to make the most of whatever sunshine there is in England. Because you know I do suffer from SAD. Seasonal affective disorder. Thatâs why I went to the South of France, really. For the sunshine.â
âAre you saying you want Eva to move out of her room?â
âOh, good heavens, no! Sheâs pregnant. I wouldnât want to inconvenience her in any way. Howâs she feeling at the moment?â
âShe gets heartburn.â
âOh, I remember that. With both of you. Although of course itâs the birth itself that causes the long-term problems. Especially if the
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