Page 95 of Mercury Rising

“He’s not,” Jeannie said. “He plays music and gets supermarket deliveries.”

Mercury frowned. “You’re never here. How do you know?”

“Mrs Wimpole,” Jeannie replied.

They all burst into laughter. Of course, Mrs W would have Josh under close watch.

“She was so lovely with Nick, you know. The only person on this street that truly was.”

Lotty squeezed his hand as a tear escaped his eye.

“Shit,” he said, wiping it away with his cuff.

They sat in silence for a second. Those moments of loss when he least expected it hurt the most.

“Talking of me not being here,” Jeannie said. “I’ve landed the South Tel contract.”

“No way,” Mercury exclaimed. “That’s bloody amazing.”

“I know. There’s three campaigns and I have to go to every Formula One race.”

Lotty jumped up and down. “Jeannie. That is huge. It’s so romantic, to shut up your house and set off around the world. Imagine all the fun times you’re going to have.”

Jeanne grinned. “I’m not quite shutting the house up. A friend of mine is housesitting for me. A very gorgeous friend.”

“Oh yes?” Lotty said. “Single?”

“Single and gay, darling. Sorry.”

Jeannie cast a glance at Mercury, who held his hands up in mock surrender.

“Don’t look at me. I am most firmly off the market until further notice. You must be bloody joking.”

Lotty sat back against the cushions. “The way gay men are getting snapped up round here lately, he won’t stand a chance.”

Jeannie shrugged. “Good luck to him.”

“Hey,” Lotty said to Mercury. “Did you mean what you said about going outside London?”

Mercury nodded. “It has been done before.”

“I was thinking. Maybe I could join you on some. I’ll bag a few freebies then you can stay in luxury whilst wearing your sackcloth and ashes.”

“Do you mind? I’m not pretending to be anything. I can still bag a luxury hotel freebie, thank you. I’m running a broad channel. You know what I’d love? To get a campaign like I did at Bodhi House.”

The mention of the place sent a chill through him. It was already starting to feel like a dream.

“How is that campaign doing?” Jeannie asked.

Mercury hugged a pillow. “I haven’t looked,” he said quietly. “I couldn’t face it.”

“Fair enough,” Jeannie replied. “I just thought…”

“Do you think that’s bad?” he asked. “Should I have been commenting?”

“No!” Lotty cut in. “He wanted a clean break. That’s what he’s got.”

Was a break ever really clean?