Page 5 of The Best of Times

“No plus one accompanying you to the wedding, then?”

He shifted in his seat. “No one special at the moment.”

Madeline frowned. “A handsome gay man in New York? What’s the matter with you? Even Mercury has bagged himself a man.”

And here it came. That awkward moment when two people have exhausted their common ground.

Nervously, Aron took another sip of his champagne.

“So,” he said. “I expect lots of people who lived on Queens Crescent will come for the wedding.”

Madeline pulled a face. “I hope not. They were a snotty lot when I first moved in. It’s better nowadays. The old guard are probably all dead now anyway.”

Aron took a breath. “I suppose the Professor’s son is coming.”

“Paul? Oh he’s already there. Flew in from Kathmandu or somewhere last week. Mercury said the Professor was beside himself with excitement.”

Tingles reverberated around Aron’s system. He tried to push them away.

Down, boy. Paul Higgs is a bastard. Remember?

“That’s a relief,” he said. “Someone has to keep the Professor under control.”

“I think we both know who takes that role on.”

They both laughed. It was hollow for Aron. In possibly a matter of hours he would be coming face to face with Paul.

Then it’s game on.

CHAPTER TWO

The limo drew up on Queens Crescent. It was grey and wet outside. Aron hoped that wasn’t an omen as he peered through the car window. Even so, to see the Georgian houses he knew so well looming over him gave him joy.

Granny’s house lay in the distance. Her Christmas tree already lighting the way from the dining room window.

I’m home.

“It was really very kind of you to give me a lift, Madeline,” he said.

“You’re very welcome, Aron. Make sure your grandmother knows.”

Aron chuckled. “Don’t worry, I will.”

Madeline drained the champagne flute in her hand.

“As if she won’t already have clocked it,” she replied. “Nothing gets past her. I bet she’s watching right this minute.”

He could quite believe it. Beatrice Wimpole had the uncanny knack of being able to smell a secret at fifty paces. She also seemed to have a blind spot where Aron was concerned. Something he remained eternally grateful for.

The driver walked around the outside of the car.

“How long since you’ve been home?” Madeline asked.

“More than two years.”

“Wow. You must be very excited.”

Aron nodded. “It feels like I’ve never been away, to tell you the truth.”