Page 39 of The Impossible Fortune

‘One of those things,’ says Paul. ‘Just hasn’t worked out that way.’

Joanna downs her Champagne and reaches for another bottle.

‘Is she beautiful, and very much in love with you?’

‘No,’ says Paul.

Joanna pops the Champagne cork.

‘No, she’s not beautiful or, no, she’s not very much in love with you?’

‘Neither,’ says Paul. ‘She’s perfectly acceptable-looking as women go, and, impressive though she is, you’d have to be an entirely different magnitude of woman to consider falling in love with me. You’d have to be a maniac of some sort. Or a monster. That sort of a woman.’

Joanna will spend a couple of hours online this evening being the judge ofthat.

She smiles. ‘Sorry to tease you. I’m looking forward to meeting her.’

‘Don’t hold your breath,’ says Paul.

‘I’ll curtsy when we meet,’ says Joanna. ‘And say how delighted I am to meet my husband’s most perfectly reasonable-looking friend.’

She fills Paul’s Champagne glass.

‘When did Nick ask you about Elizabeth?’

‘Morning of the wedding,’ says Paul. ‘I’ve told him stories about your mum, about the gang. He wanted to know if they were true.’

‘I’m afraid they are,’ says Joanna. ‘They’ll help if they can, I know that.’

They slide a little further under the bubbles.

‘This is the stuff,’ says Paul.

‘You know hot tubs are an absolute soup of bacteria,’ says Joanna.

‘Happy honeymoon, darling,’ says Paul, and they clink glasses.

Paul’s phone buzzes on the side of the hot tub. Paul and Joanna look at each other. Paul reaches over, dries his hand on a towel and picks up his phone. He gives a broad grin.

‘I told you,’ says Paul. ‘Didn’t I tell you? It’s Nick.’

‘Thank God for that,’ says Joanna. ‘What does he say? Why didn’t he ring instead?’

Paul it’s me. I have to lay low for a while but don’t worry, I’m safe.

‘Jesus,’ says Joanna. ‘Where is he? Message him back.’

Paul types.

Can we help? Anything at all?

‘I’ll tell Mum he’s got in touch,’ says Joanna.

Another message comes through.

No need mate, just wanted you to know I’m alive.

‘Ask him to ring,’ says Joanna. ‘Elizabeth will want details.’