Page 43 of Fire Must Burn

‘Sounds good,’ she said.

He signalled a barmaid and placed their order.

‘How goes the moving?’ she asked.

‘Didn’t have a lot to move,’ he said. ‘I’ve got in all the basics: bed, bookcases, clothing. I’m living out of my steamer trunk for the moment. The hired furniture’s coming in tomorrow, so tonight will just be me and my book of Asiatic languages.’

‘You make that sound as if it’s an ideal evening,’ she said. ‘This is why you need The Right Sort in your life.’

‘I see that,’ he said. ‘What is this Miss Lowle like?’

‘No, that’s not how it works,’ she said. ‘I am not going to predispose you to her, nor give you an unfair advantage of knowledge before first impression. The playing fields at The Right Sort are even.’

‘I hate even playing fields,’ he said with a sigh. ‘So all I have is her office number and home address. I guess showing up at her doorstep tomorrow first thing in the morning is out.’

‘You try that, we will refund your fee and ban you from our services for life.’

‘Duly noted. I won’t call her until Monday. Should I ask her out for lunch then? Dinner Monday evening?’

‘You really have fallen off your game,’ she said. ‘Do you think any woman will want to go out with someone with no time for preparation? Presentation is all, you said the other day. That goes double for us poor ladies. You need to give her a chance to agonise over what frock to wear, what hat to go with it, and which shade of lipstick will match them all.’

‘Are hats so very critical?’

‘Given that the styles of ladies’ hats far outnumber those for men, I should think you would have known that. How much they conceal, how much they reveal, how much they distract, how much they draw attention to – why, it’s taken me as long as half an hour to choose the right one for a first date.’

‘Then I should be ready to insert “I like your hat” as soon as I possibly can in the conversation.’

‘I wouldn’t bring it up as the very first thing,’ said Sparks. ‘But mention it somewhere from third to fifth, and she shall be putty in your hands.’

‘If I had known that women were this easy, I could have saved myself your five-pound fee,’ he said. ‘Very well. I’ll call her Monday, but I’ll suggest Tuesday evening. Will that be enough time?’

‘If she doesn’t decide to get her hair done, yes.’

‘She could always wear a bigger hat if she doesn’t.’

‘Now, you’re getting it.’

The pints arrived. They each ordered a light supper, then picked up their glasses and clinked them together.

‘What else do I need to know about dating in this modern era?’ he asked.

‘Be yourself,’ she said. ‘Like Gwen said, that’s who you are in the long run, so let her know who you are now.’

Easy, Sparks, she admonished herself. Don’t push him too hard.

‘I’ve never truly been able to do that on a first date,’ he said wistfully. ‘The closest I’ve ever got was that long lunch with you at the Whim. You were so open about everything that I couldn’t help wanting to be the same. Are you still like that?’

‘I’ve become much more reticent in my old age,’ she said. ‘I sometimes wish I could be like that bold young girl again. I’ve been burned a few times too many since then. But be open, Tony. Secrets cause damage. I’ve learned that the hard way.’

‘You know I can’t tell all my secrets,’ he said quietly.

‘Not on the first date, certainly,’ she said. ‘But if it goes well, sooner or later the walls must topple. For both of you.’

‘Did your fiancé know everything about you?’ he asked, glancing down at her ring.

‘He knew a great deal,’ said Sparks. ‘I would have told him the rest, given time. We didn’t have enough, unfortunately.’

‘I’m sorry again, Sparks,’ he said. ‘Sorry I never got a chance to meet him and give you my blessing.’