Page 86 of The Last Kiss Goodbye

‘Tony’s frightfully jealous of Dominic. Always has been.’

Ros didn’t ask her to be more specific. She didn’t want to know the answer. She supposed that many men would be envious of Dominic’s easy charm and good looks. After all, Tony wasn’t a particular looker. She wasn’t surprised that he had reservations about his wife’s obviously close relationship with the Capital editor.

‘So how’s it going with Dominic?’ Victoria asked, more playfully.

‘Rather well,’ said Ros guardedly.

A smile played on Victoria’s lips. ‘I have to admit, I have never seen him like this with anyone else before.’

‘How do you mean?’ Suddenly Ros wanted to know everything.

‘He’s brought girls to meet us before. Mainly to parties at Batcombe

. But you’re different. He’s different with you. He’s in love with you.’

Ros smiled. She was desperate to tell her new friend about their night in Paris. How they had spent half the night kissing and making love and telling each other how much they loved one another. But at the same time, she wanted to keep those details a secret between herself and Dominic.

‘No, I’ve seen Dominic Blake with dozens of women, hundreds. And he’s never been like this with anyone else, not even close,’ mused Victoria. ‘But . . . Dom’s life is complicated. You have to be sure you’re prepared to take that on.’

‘The jungle, you mean? The adventuring?’

‘That’s part of it, yes, but . . .’ She paused, seeming to search for the words. ‘Look, life is not a fairy tale and neither are relationships. You have to work at them, set boundaries.’

‘Boundaries?’

‘Ros, you’re an intelligent woman and I am not going to insult that intelligence by saying that Dominic isn’t extremely popular with the opposite sex. No matter what his feelings for you are, men are men; if some strumpet opens her legs right in front of them, what do you think they’re going to do?’

She leant forward.

‘You’ve seen their faces when they’re about to pop. It’s a primordial urge; they’re not in control of themselves.’

‘You think I can’t trust him?’ she asked defensively.

‘I thought I could trust Tony. At the beginning. Although I love him, although I fell in love with him, he’s not an obviously attractive man,’ she said, choosing her words carefully. ‘Not like Dominic. And yet there were at least two affairs in our first three years of marriage. What he lacks in matinee idol looks, his wallet makes up for. If you have something to offer – sex, excitement, money – people will always be interested in you.’

‘So what did you do?’

‘I laid down the law. I told him what he had to lose. And I made some rules. I vet his secretaries, limit his time abroad . . .’

‘And you think that helps?’ said Ros, imagining Tony like a panting dog on a tight leash.

‘I do what I can.’

A bird was circling overhead, and Victoria tipped back her head to listen to its song.

‘You didn’t answer my question,’ said Ros softly.

‘Whether I think you can trust Dominic?’

Ros nodded.

‘Dominic Blake is a remarkable man. He’s climbed unclimbable mountains, mapped unmappable rivers, he’s brave and resourceful and on top of that he’s a very good writer. And one of the reasons he’s done all that is because he is a free spirit. He’s unfettered, curious.’

‘So if a girl falls in love with the dashing pilot, she shouldn’t be surprised when he flies off into the sunset the week after the honeymoon. Is that what you’re saying?’ Ros could feel tears building in her eyes.

‘Left to his own devices, he isn’t going to change. Why should he? But he has to know that he can’t have his cake and eat it,’ said Victoria decisively.

Ros admitted she had a point. Of course she had been apprehensive about Dominic’s popularity with women. Every time he went out was a reason to get suspicious. London, Paris, Monaco – they were stuffed with beautiful women. There was temptation at every corner, every bar, restaurant and party, and Ros knew that many of those temptations were far more attractive than she was.