Page 50 of Wife After Wife

“Honestly,” said Ana when the waiter finally tore himself away. “Why do you feel the need—every time?”

“Oh dear, who rattled your cage?”

Ana sighed. “Sorry. It’s just... I’m so tired of the whole male-femalepolitics thing, you know? I had some brilliant news today, and I was on cloud nine until my boss insinuated it was for reasons that might have nothing to do with my talent for the job.”

“Welcome to my world. Take no notice. They’ll just be madly jealous, you’re so beautiful. And pray what is this brilliant news? Have you been promoted?”

“Yes, to art director ofHooray!” She loved saying the words out loud. A thought occurred to her. “Did you know?”

“No, why would I have known? But gosh, Ana, that’s incredible—congratulations!” She waved the waiter back again.

“What are you doing? Leave the poor guy alone!”

“Sorry, darling,” Merry said to the waiter, who snapped back to her side as if she’d yanked his lead. “Can I change our wine order—what champagne do you have?”

She ordered a bottle of Laurent-Perrier. (“It’ll have to do.”)

“So, you were saying. Art director!”

“Yes. More responsibility, more money—Percy and I will be able to look for a house in a better area now. We haven’t found anything we like so far. Anyway, I nearly died of shock when Harry told me.”

A shadow passed over Merry’s face. “He personally told you? You must be doing well.”

Ana explained about the redundancies, describing the strange day, such a mixture of awful and good.

The waiter popped the champagne cork and poured them each a glass.

“Here’s to you, then, my super-successful sister!” said Merry, raising hers.

“Cheers,” said Ana, and took a small sip.

She placed her glass carefully down on the table, wondering how to phrase her question. “Merry? Can I ask you something personal? I know it’ll be difficult for you to answer, given where I work, but I feel I need to know because of things people have been saying, especially about my promotion.”

Merry looked wary. “I may not be able to answer, for the same reason.”

Ana took that to mean she was on the right track. “How well do you know Harry?”

“We’ve met a few times. He was at school with Will.”

“Did you say anything to him that would’ve helped me get the job at Rose?”

“I might have mentioned you were back from France and looking for a job and were artistically talented. I was trying to do you a favor. Why the sourpuss face?”

“Forewarned is forearmed. Apparently the editor ofHooray!will make my life hell if she thinks I’ve had preferential treatment from Harry.”

“Well, if you have, it was only that initial foot in the door. Honestly, I’ve hardly seen him.”

They’d reached an impasse, but Ana was sure from Merry’s manner that there was more to it.

“I’d stay away from Harry, actually,” Merry said, finally looking her in the eye. “I don’t think he’s faithful to his wife. You don’t want to be next on his TBB list.”

“TBB?”

“To Be Bonked.”

“Merry! I don’t think he’d fool around with anyone at the office, he’s too professional.”

Their food arrived, and talk turned to their parents down in Kent, and their younger brother Georgie, who would soon finish at Harrow. Then Merry said, “Will’s been... he’s not well.”