Page 146 of Guilty Pleasures

‘In so much as I can’t commit to anything right now.’

Her eyes didn’t leave his face. Was he totally clueless or completely insensitive? Either way, she was angry. Angry with him for bringing her out for a romantic ride only to let her down. Angry at him for spoiling her special spot on the Winterfold estate. Angry at herself for learning that Rob couldn’t commit to any woman and for allowing herself to think that it would be different between them. Emma was not a naturally gifted actor; even as a young child she had found lying awkward, not just because of her integrity but because she knew she would always get found out. But this time, needs must.

‘You and me both,’ she smiled with as much brightness as she could muster. ‘It’s such a relief you said it.’

‘Right,’ he smiled slowly.

He kissed her on the cheek. It felt like a brief goodbye. There certainly felt like no reason to stay by the lake.

Untying their horses he shouted over to her.

‘Race you back to the Stables.’

As she galloped along, her horse edging in front of Rob’s, the cold, fresh air slapping against her face, two small tears raced down her face and she convinced herself it was just the wind.

49

Cassandra set about finding Giles’s replacement immediately, even though she knew the task would be a difficult one. After all, it was hardly the sort of job she could advertise in the Media Guardian. Rive’s editor-at-large needed incredible natural flair and an enormous Rolodex of contacts. More importantly they needed to understand what made Cassandra Grand tick.

Well, let’s see what this one is made of, she thought as she strode through San Lorenzo towards one of the best tables in the house. Jessica West was already waiting for her. Cassandra’s eyes darted over her, inspecting the cut of her shirt, the brand of her bag, noting her manicured nails, freshly blow-dried hair and discreet make-up. Cassandra smiled inwardly. Jessica West had passed the first test. The stylist had only recently come to Cassandra’s attention. She had already met her of course – at the Versace party during Milan Fashion Week – and Cassandra remembered thinking that Jessica was bright and confident. She had been making a name for herself dressing celebrities; so much so that several big names had been requesting that she style them when they were being shot for Rive magazine. She was very beautiful, extremely thin – even slimmer than Cassandra – which she both admired and resented. It was a fine line.

‘As you know there is the possibility of an editor-at-large position at Rive,’ said Cassandra, cutting straight to the chase. ‘I’m looking for someone with excellent social contacts and an unparalleled knowledge of fashion. It is a job traditionally held by a talented writer, editor and features visionary, shall we say. But I am willing to change the job description for the right person.’

‘Would it involve any styling?’ asked Jessica. She had deliberately sought out Cassandra at the Versace party and was glad her hard work was paying dividends. And to think she almost hadn’t gone.

Cassandra arched an eyebrow. Jessica was no Giles. She doubted whether the girl could string a s

entence together but it wouldn’t do any harm to have an additional member of staff on board who had a knack of charming celebrities; after all, Deborah Kane was hardly coming up with the goods these days.

‘We could be flexible. Tell me about yourself.’

‘I’ve dressed loads of stars for all the big red carpet events this year. I’ve been in New York a lot since the summer so I have great contacts with the East Coast publicists. Plus I have excellent music contacts – I went out with Rob Holland the CEO of Hollander for a long time.’

‘Rob Holland?’ asked Cassandra, suddenly curious. ‘Rob rents our family home Winterfold.’

‘What a coincidence,’ smiled Jessica. ‘I adore Winterfold.’

‘Funny I never saw you in the village. When did you split up?’

‘Oh, it petered off a couple of months ago,’ said Jessica vaguely. ‘We’re still friends though,’ she added quickly.

This was the other reason Cassandra had wanted to meet Jessica apart from her growing reputation as a celebrity stylist. When she had met Jessica at the Versace party she knew she had seen the striking red-head somewhere before. It eventually dawned on her that it had been at Laura Hildon’s wedding; she had been sitting next to Rob in church and had danced cheek-to-cheek with him at the black tie dinner.

‘Rob is quite close to my cousin, Emma,’ said Cassandra with a small smile. ‘I never could work out what was going on between them.’

‘Emma?’ She searched Cassandra’s face, and seeing she had found an ally began to talk more openly.

‘She’s just his landlady. I’m sure she fancied Rob, probably still does but he wasn’t interested.’

‘And how do you know that?’ asked Cassandra.

She saw a split second look of distaste cross Jessica’s face.

‘Aside from the fact that she’s hardly his type,’ she said, her mouth turned downwards, ‘I don’t think anyone will ever get a look in with Rob’s ex-girlfriend Madeline and child hovering in the background. I mean, Rob even spent Thanksgiving with them. Plus I saw him and Madeline together in New York at Sant Ambroeus and they looked very cosy. I’d say they were definitely back together.’

‘That is interesting,’ purred Cassandra. ‘I hope you’re not too disappointed.’

‘Disappointed? Of course not,’ said Jessica quickly. ‘We’re just good friends.’