Page 107 of The Love Letter

‘It’s okay. You’re right, I don’t want to be doing it forever.’

‘Well.’ Zoe raised her glass. ‘To both of us finding our true paths.’

‘To us.’ Simon raised his glass of water.

At that moment, Zoe’s mobile rang.

‘Excuse me.’ She left the kitchen to take the call.

Simon duly cleared the plates away and made coffee. Ten minutes later, Zoe was back in the kitchen, a smile lighting up her face. ‘Oh Simon! It’s all going to be okay.’

‘Is it? Good.’

‘That was Art. He’s arranged for us to go abroad. An industrialist friend of his has offered us his private jet and his summer house in Spain. Apparently it has the most sophisticated security, so we can relax and talk about the future in complete peace, without a prying eye in sight.’

‘Right, er, great. When do you leave?’

‘Tomorrow morning. Art said they will be calling you, but I have to be at Heathrow for nine o’clock. We’re meeting in the VIP suite at Terminal Four. And then, you’ll be glad to hear, you’ll be free of me. Art’s taking his own people to look after us while we’re there.’

‘Okay. Coffee?’

‘I’d love some. Let’s drink it by the fire,’ she said as she led him into the sitting room with the coffee. ‘It’ll be so fabulous not to have anyone spying on us. We so desperately need time to talk.’ Zoe settled herself down cross-legged by the fire, and cradled the mug between her hands.

Simon sat down on the sofa and took a sip of his coffee. ‘So, if he asks, will you marry him?’

‘Do you think he’ll ask? Could he, with this situation?’

‘Okay, let me put it another way: do youwantto spend the rest of your life with him?’

Zoe’s eyes shone. ‘Oh God, yes! I’ve wanted it every single day for more than ten years.’

‘Tenyears? Blimey, then I was wrong. The story did take a long time to leak,’ he teased her gently.

‘No.’ She paused, picking at a loose thread on the rug. ‘I first met him over ten years ago. I was so young . . . just eighteen. I’m not so naive as to think it’ll all be plain sailing this time. His family may veto me, just like they did back then. I may be flying to Spain for Art to tell me as nicely as he can that it’s a no-go.’

Simon did not mention the discussion he’d heard on Radio Five Live as to whether the royal family was ready for an unmarried mother to join the clan. The opinion polls rather suggested not.

‘There is one thing I was going to ask you.’ She glanced up at him.

‘Fire away.’

‘Well, I’m not sure how long I’ll be away. I was wondering . . . well . . .’

‘Spit it out, Zoe.’

‘If you’d go and visit Jamie for me at school this weekend? I promised to go down, and obviously I’m not going to make it. He seemed so fond of you and—’

‘Of course I will. Consider it done.’

‘I’ll let the school know where I’ll be. Maybe I’ll tell them to tell Jamie I’m shooting a . . . a commercial or something in Spain. I don’t want to lie to him, but I also think it’s vital that Art and I have time together to talk.’

‘Yes,’ Simon agreed absently, thinking how exquisite she looked in the firelight. He stood up, not wishing to prolong the agony any further. ‘I’m going to turn in, Zoe. We have an early start and I may have to do some extravagant driving to lose those rats outside.’

‘Of course.’ Zoe stood up and walked towards him, stood on tiptoe and planted a kiss on his cheek. ‘Thank you, Simon. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me in the past two days. You’ve kept me sane.’

‘Thanks.’ His heart contracted. ‘Night then,’ he muttered and left the room.

‘Art!’ Zoe left Simon’s side and ran into the Prince’s arms at Heathrow the next morning.