Jill Mansell - Mixed doubles

‘You’re allergic to Arthur?’

Pru blew her nose and nodded. Looking regretful, she said, ‘It doesn’t last long. Every year I get this, just for a few days. By next week I’ll be fine, I promise.’

Without a word, Eddie opened the door again and shooed Arthur out. It wasn’t as if the dog minded; Arthur was a great favourite around Brunton Manor, not least with Lolita, the gardener’s flirtatious black and white spaniel.

Eddie, though, was hurt. He knew Pru wasn’t the world’s greatest dog lover but did she really hate Arthur that much? Because those sneezes definitely weren’t real.

It was late September but Oxford still teemed with tourists, particularly the American kind who appeared to love the place almost as much as they loved Bath. Pru, window-shopping to pass the time and take her mind off what she had planned for later, overheard a couple of undergraduates in a coffee shop discussing a mutual friend.

‘She slept with eight men last week,’ complained one. ‘I mean, is that fair? At this rate she’s going to work her way through everyone in college. There won’t be any left for the rest of us.’

‘What we’ll do,’ said the other, ‘is put the word around that she’s HIV’

Heavens, eight men in one week. Pru, who had only slept with one man in her life, almost choked on’ her coffee.

One man, and that had only been Phil. Not much of a conquest quotient.

Still, these days you couldn’t be too careful. Sliding out ofher chair and plucking up every last molecule of courage, Pru went into Boots and bought a packet of condoms. She felt incredibly slutty doing so but — as she longed to inform the disapproving-looking old woman next to her in the queue — at least she was a safe slut.

‘Good meeting?’ said Pru when Eddie emerged from the Randolph Hotel at four thirty. The meeting had been held to discuss the setting-up of conference facilities at Brunton Manor.

Eddie nodded, yawned and chucked his heavy briefcase on to the back seat. One lousy cup of tea three hours earlier was all he’d been offered by way of refreshment. He could kill for a large whisky and soda, followed by steak and chips. After that, hot apple crumble and custard would fit the bill, finished off with a couple of Irish coffees and a decent cigar. Eddie had tried to appreciate the finer points of nouvelle cuisine but he was a Berni man at heart.

He was about to suggest this before they headed home when he remembered Pru was anxious to get back to Bath — and no prizes for guessing why. Closing his mouth again, willing himself not to imagine Pru and Liam together, Eddie fastened his seat belt, casting a surreptitious glance in the direction of Pru’s slim bare legs as he did so. He’d promised she’d be home by six. Food —

and his own happiness — would just have to wait.

Chapter 45

Ready. Steady. Go.

Nothing happened. Pru felt the adrenalin buzzing around her body like a million fireworks poised to go off, but every time she reached Go — and this was the seventh time she’d reached it

— her courage failed her.

If she didn’t act soon, she’d miss her chance completely. The M4 was already behind them. They were racing along the A46 and in less than fifteen minutes they’d be back at Brunton Manor.

Okay, this is it, Pru told herself, slowly breathing out. This time I’m really going to do it. The next side road we reach, I indicate, brake, turn off .. .

Here comes one now.

Ready. Steeeeady .. .

Her foot wouldn’t do it. It stayed glued to the accelerator and the side road zipped past them.

Turning her head helplessly, watching it go, Pru felt the back of her neck prickle with perspiration. Maybe a bit of casual conversation would help.

‘Look, that lorry’s from Andover. I don’t even know where Andover is.’

Eddie, who was wondering how long this Liam thing was likely to last, grunted and said,

‘Hampshire.’

Pru tried to think of something else to say about Andover but the more she thought of it, the smuttier the name sounded. She glanced, instead, at her reflection in the wing mirror. The earrings Liam had given her looked amazing; they really glittered in the sunlight.

Admiring her earrings and chattering on about nothing in particular, Pru decided, was a lot less fraught than all that Ready Steady Go business. Her heart was practically back to normal.

‘Will you renew Liam’s contract at the end of the season?’ she asked idly.

The effect on Eddie was astonishing.

‘For God’s sake!’ he exploded. ‘Pru, I’m sorry, I know this is none of my business but you really are making the biggest mistake OF YOUR LIFE!’

Amazed, Pru said, ‘What?’

‘Did Liam ask you to find out?’

‘No, no ...’

‘Does Dulcie know what you’re up to?’

‘Eddie,’ she shook her head, utterly bewildered by the outburst, ‘what exactly am I supposed to be up to?’

‘Oh come on,’ he seethed, the words hissing out through clenched teeth. It sounded like a radiator being bled.

‘Tell me,’ said Pru, ‘because I don’t know.’

He couldn’t look at her.

‘You and Liam.’

‘Me and Liam what?’

This was not good grammar, but she was by this time too intrigued to notice.

‘You, having an affair with him.’

‘Oops.’ Pru almost drove into the back of the lorry from Andover. She braked in the nick of time. ‘Eddie, that isn’t true!’

‘I know you are,’ Eddie said wearily.

‘Well I know I’m not. If I was,’ Pru added steadily, ‘I think I’d have noticed.’

Eddie sat up. He gave her an odd look.

‘Liam gave you those earrings, didn’t he?’

Pru said, ‘Okay, yes, he did. But I didn’t have to earn them.’

Still suspicious — though more of Liam than of Pru — Eddie said, ‘Why, then? Why would he give you a pair of diamond earrings?’

She shrugged.

‘He doesn’t know anyone else whose name begins with a P.’

The relief was phenomenal. When he rubbed his stubbly jaw, Eddie realised he was shaking.

Pru, glancing sideways at him, saw it too.

She smiled, understanding why. As if by magic, her own fears melted away. Moments later she flicked the indicator, braked and turned left, completely forgetting to go through her Ready Steady Go ritual first.

‘Where are we going?’

Pru drove on, pretending not to have heard.

‘Pru, this isn’t a short cut.’

It was a narrow country lane bordered by hedgerows eight feet high. Pru swerved to avoid a squirrel darting across the road and drove on.

‘Pm? Are you okay?’

She pulled into a gateway overlooking an empty field and switched off the ignition.

Eddie looked worried.

‘Are you going to be sick?’

‘No,’ said Pru, ‘I’m going to seduce yon.’

I can’t have heard right, thought Eddie. I must be hallucinating.

Pru turned to look at him.

‘If you’d like me to, that is.’

Eddie felt as if he’d forgotten how to breathe. He took a huge gulp of air.

‘I’m sorry, could you say that again?’

‘Which bit?’

‘The whole bit.’

‘I’m not sure I can. Anyway, I think you heard.’ Pru’s courage began to fail her. What if she’d just made the most humiliating mistake of her life? ‘Look, if you don’t want to, just shake your head and we’ll go.’

Her fingers were creeping towards the key, still swinging merrily in the ignition. Eddie launched himself across the car, grabbing her hand before she could reach it.

‘Pru, are you serious?’

The look on his face told her all she needed to know.

‘I’ve never been more serious in my life,’ said Pru, touching the side of his face with trembling fingers. She leaned over and kissed him.