Page 99 of The Honeymoon Affair

Iseult

Fiction is the truth inside the lie.

Stephen King

The next time I visit Riverside Lodge, Charles and I FaceTime my parents. It was his idea, after I told him that they’d shortly be going on their Asian cruise. We do it early one morning after a cosy night spent eating pizza in front of the TV.

Charles is charming towards Mum while being relaxed and friendly with Dad. He jokes that it’s important for him to get on the right side of the prospective in-laws and hopes that they’ll appreciate how much he loves me and how well he’s going to look after me. He takes them on a virtual tour of the house, and they’re impressed by the beautiful living room and library, the stunning entrance hall and enormous kitchen.

‘What I wouldn’t give for a kitchen like that,’ says Mum, and Charles tells her – as he told Celeste – that she can use it any time. It deserves the love of someone who knows how to cook, he says, and I see Mum fall for him a little more.

He then assures them both that his divorce is his main priority. I know Mum wishes it was done and dusted already, but Charles tells her that he hopes it’ll all be sorted very soon, and is so amiable and charismatic that both my parents hang on his every word.

‘I know I might not have been your first choice for Izzy,’ he says. ‘But I assure you that nobody could love her more than I do.’

‘There won’t be any nonsense about changing your mind so?’ Dad’s face fills the screen.

‘Not a chance.’ Charles holds the phone away from him, as though doing that will make Dad back off.

‘Are you planning a big wedding?’ It’s Mum who takes over the screen now.

‘We haven’t decided on that yet,’ I say.

‘Whatever Iseult wants she gets,’ says Charles.

‘Ah here.’ Dad laughs. ‘Don’t make yourself a hostage to fortune.’

We end the conversation with promises to meet up as soon as they’re home.

‘You could sweet-talk for Ireland,’ I tell Charles when they’ve gone.

‘As a rule, only on paper.’ He grins. ‘But nothing I said to them is untrue. Especially that part about loving and protecting you for ever.’

I kiss him.

‘To that end,’ he says as he makes coffee, ‘what d’you think about moving in with me now?’

‘I’d love to, but not yet.’

‘Why?’

‘Partly because I don’t want to leave the house in Marino empty while Mum and Dad are away, and partly because . . . because I think we should make some changes to Riverside Lodge before I move in.’

‘What sort of changes?’ He frowns.

‘I want to redecorate. I love this house, I really do, but the style is yours and Ariel’s, and I’d like to make it a bit more mine. Nothing drastic,’ I add quickly. ‘Just a bit of refreshing. I won’t go near your study or the library.’

‘If that’s all you want, it’s fine.’ He sounds relieved. ‘I’m happy to let you loose on it. I remember having never-ending discussions on shades of green when we were first renovating, and it did my head in.’

‘I promise not to have colour conversations with you,’ I assure him.

‘Does it all have to be finished before you’ll even consider moving in?’

‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘As long as you agree to do it, I’ll move once Mum and Dad are back.’

‘I can’t wait,’ he says as he pulls me close to him.

I glance over his shoulder towards the mews. I suppose Ariel is there already, doing whatever it is literary agents do.