‘You are,’ said Harry. ‘Well, I think Clare and I might leave you to it. And, Rob – if you want to stop over, that’s fine with us.’ He went to collect up the tennis balls.
‘How about we take a walk?’ said Rob. ‘We could revisit our crime scenes – the lake, the field where we stalked deer?’
Richmond Park was all but deserted, the sun kissing the horizon beyond the trees, its slanted beams turning the long grass of the deer meadows fiery orange.
‘I can almost see us,’ said Eliza. ‘Just there.’ She pointed to a spot near a group of trees, where she remembered lying on her stomach watching Rob creeping up on the deer.
‘Stalking deer,’ he said.
‘You were rubbish at it.’
‘You always put me off.’
‘Did you fancy me even then?’
‘Ew, no. I meant with your talking. You never stopped. Is that the tree you fell out of?’ He pointed to an enormous oak on the far side of the meadow.
‘Yes. How did I even get up into those branches?’
‘I lifted you. I think I just wanted to see up your skirt.’
‘So you did fancy me?’
‘Nah. Curiosity.’
They walked over to the oak, and the sun slipped away. The heat of the day radiated from the ground; the air was soft and smelled of warm hay. It was as if their old playground was embracing them, welcoming them back.
Rob leaned against the trunk and she put her arms around him, looking up into the branches, remembering.
‘Isn’t time strange?’ she said. ‘Right here, all those years ago. Me and you, running wild, not a care in the world. And now we’re here again, all grown up.’
She remembered Kit’s words: Time runs in circles, in loops.
‘Maybe the tree remembers us – there’s something about old oaks,’ said Rob, pulling her close.
That other ancient oak, bathed in moonlight, flashed into her mind.
A tremor ran through her; her skin was tingling with desire. ‘Yes, there is.’ She traced Rob’s lips with her finger. ‘I’m so happy, Rob.’
‘Likewise. But I’ve got to say, if you don’t let me take advantage of this apology for a dress very soon, I’m going to cry.’
He kissed her, and the tingling ignited.
‘Oh god,’ she whispered, as his mouth moved down to her neck.
His hand slipped up her skirt and she gasped as ripples of intense pleasure gripped her, growing stronger, then stronger still, obliterating everything in the world but him, his lips, his fingers.
He paused.
‘No, don’t stop, please don’t stop,’ she whispered, her eyes still closed. If he stopped now, she’d die.
‘Do we need to talk about this?’ he said. ‘And . . . maybe we should go back to the house?’
She opened her eyes. ‘No. Here. I want my first time to be here, on a bed of long grass, beneath an ancient oak. I want it to be . . . magical. It’s nearly dark, there’s no one around.’
‘But – your problem?’
‘I have strategies – I’m ready to try again. Unless . . . I guess . . . protection?’
He smiled, and began stroking her again. ‘I brought something, just in case.’
‘Oh, thank god!’ Her knees were threatening to give way. ‘But what made you think . . . ’
‘Only the way you’ve been looking at me all day.’
She acknowledged the truth. The excitement had been building for hours. She was ready to explode with it.
Eliza lay down with her arms above her head, and looked up at the sky. A crescent moon peeped through the branches of the old oak.
Rob stretched out beside her, propping himself up on one elbow. Twilight was fading to night, but she could see his eyes, burning. She closed hers again as he kissed her, picking up where he’d left off.
He was gentle and slow, and she lost herself in one exquisite sensation after another, until there was only one thing left for them to do.
‘What should I do?’ he said, softly. ‘To help you.’
‘Keep your eyes on mine. Just keep looking at me, all the time.’
Stroking her hair back from her face, he moved on top of her, between her legs, and she kept her gaze fixed on his. She held her breath, waiting, but there was no anxiety, no panic. All she felt was an intense longing, a need for this to happen.
And then it did. Slowly and cautiously, until she began moving with him, her eyes locked on his.
‘Put your legs around me, Lizzie.’
She gasped as the sensation intensified, and a fierce heat flooded her limbs.
All the time his eyes never left hers, as he took her to greater heights, on and on, up and up, until she touched the sky, finally closing her eyes as a burst of ecstasy swept aside everything else.
He collapsed, burying his face in her neck.
Neither said a word for a while as they returned to earth, their breathing slowing. Finally he rolled off her and onto his back, reaching for her hand, and they lay side by side beneath the tree, its branches now silhouetted against the velvety dark blue.
‘Well?’ he said, turning to look at her.
‘That was so nice.’
‘Nice?’
‘I’m just a beginner.’
‘Seriously. It was all good?’
‘It was incredible. Beautiful. God, Rob, I do love you.’
It was just hitting her . . . she’d done it. She’d overcome her fear. Her virginity was no more. Sent packing, in spectacular fashion. She could finally have a proper relationship with this adorable man. The future stretched ahead, rosy and bright, full of promise. Full of love and fun and – sex! Life was wonderful.
‘Same, best girl.’
She sighed happily. ‘Will you stay the night? It’s time you saw my room – Elizabeth the First slept there, you know.’
‘She got around – she slept at our place in Kenilworth too.’
‘Coolest monarch ever. No way was she a virgin all her life, though.’
Rob shifted, resting his head on her stomach. ‘What makes you say that?’
Eliza played with his hair. ‘Why would she have been? She was the queen; she could have any man who took her fancy. She just didn’t want to marry any of them – an admirable sentiment, given the attitudes of the times. And the fact that her dad chopped her mum’s head off. Not the greatest ad for the conjugal state.’
Rob broke off a blade of grass and started chewing it. The gesture took her straight back.
‘But they didn’t have contraception,’ he said. ‘She wouldn’t have taken the risk. Imagine, a pregnant unmarried queen.’
‘Magic was more powerful in those days.’
‘You don’t believe in magic.’
‘I do. Magic is real.’
They said goodnight to Harry and Clare, then went up to Eliza’s room.
Her second time was even better than her first, and by the third there was no need to keep her eyes open.
As the hours passed on this hot and beautiful midsummer night, Eliza and Rob dozed, limbs entangled; woke, kissed, made love, talked, made plans. Out of the old leadlight windows the crescent moon tracked across the sky, then disappeared as dawn crept up on them, calling time.
Chapter 35
Eliza
Eliza slipped out of bed at six-thirty, put on her robe and went downstairs to make coffee. Harry was already up, sitting at the kitchen table, flicking through last night’s Evening Standard. The radio was on quietly, and beyond the windows the sun was peeping over the trees in Richmond Park.
‘Morning, Sweet Pea,’ said Harry. ‘You’re on the front page – want to see?’
There was a close-up shot of her sitting between Rob and Harry on the Centre Court. Rob’s arm was along the back of her seat, and she was laughing at something he’d said.
LOVE MATCH FOR HARRY’S ELIZA! said the headline.
‘I was close,’ said Harry.
‘Honestly, can’t they find something more in
teresting to write about?’
‘Better get used to it.’
‘Help,’ said Eliza. ‘How do I work this machine? If I don’t make him a proper espresso it’ll be curtains for me already.’
‘Grounds for dismissal.’
‘No puns, please, Dad. Too early.’
He came over. ‘Come on, Lizzie,’ he said, scooping coffee into the filter, pressing buttons. ‘It’s not complicated. Here you go – one espresso. Give Sleeping Beauty my regards.’
The name was spot on, thought Eliza, as she put the coffee down on the bedside table. She stood staring, drinking him in; his dark curls on her pillow, his long black eyelashes, a shapely leg poking out of the duvet.
His eyelids fluttered open, and his smile knotted her insides.
‘I made you a coffee.’
He sat up, brushing his hair back and stretching. ‘Oh no.’
‘OK, Dad made you a coffee.’
‘Now you’re talking. What time is it?’
‘Time for me to come back to bed.’
As she snuggled into him, he picked up his phone.
‘Put it down, Roberto. Let’s stay offline a while longer.’ She trailed a finger down his chest.
He flicked through his messages, and sat up straighter as he read one of them, angling the phone away from Eliza.
‘What is it?’
‘Work.’ He put the phone down and picked up his coffee, sipping it distractedly, staring out of the window.
‘Rob?’
‘It’s fine. But I’m going to have to go in early. There’s a situation.’
‘What situation?’
‘Lizzie – let’s make a rule, now we’re a full-on couple with sex and all the other things.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘No work talk in bed.’
‘Sounds good to me,’ she said. ‘So . . . how early are we talking? You wanna drink that coffee up fast?’ Her hand crept further south.
‘Early early, I’m afraid.’ He kissed her forehead, then threw back the duvet and slid out of bed.
‘Not fair,’ she said, pouting, as he disappeared into the bathroom.
But her jokey tone was forced. He was hiding something. What was going on?
Ten minutes later he was showered and dressed. He sat on the edge of the bed, putting on his shoes, then checked his phone again. He kissed her, but it was quick.
‘Thanks for yesterday,’ he said. ‘It was crazy-perfect.’
‘I think it was my favourite day ever.’
‘Not forgetting the night.’
‘I’ll never forget the night.’
‘Sorry I’m late, Pippa!’ Eliza stopped by her PA’s desk, a wide smile on her face. ‘Something came up.’ She laughed at her own joke.
Pippa smiled. ‘So I heard. Office grapevine is about to combust. You’re official now?’
‘Rob’s divorce came through, so – yes.’
‘That’s great. You make a lovely couple. And everyone up here will be happy to be seeing more of Rob.’ She winked.
‘Isn’t he adorable? Sorry, Pippa. Not very CEO of me. Any important messages?’
‘Mackenzie James called. Wonders if she can have a meeting, today if possible.’
‘Oh.’ Eliza had been expecting this. ‘Am I free for lunch?’
Pippa looked at her computer. ‘Nothing between eleven and two-thirty.’
‘Suggest twelve and I’ll give her the tour.’
Eliza tried to concentrate on her work, answering emails, reading reports. But her efforts were sabotaged by the images flooding her mind. Lying beneath the great oak, touching the stars. Their limbs entwined in bed, not knowing where her body ended and his began.
She’d put aside her misgivings over the text. Perhaps he’d made a mistake, and hadn’t wanted her to know. This boss-as-partner situation was going to need some careful navigating.
ELIZA: How’s your day? My productivity is shot to hell. Love you xxxxx
No reply. He was probably in a meeting.
By twelve, things hadn’t improved, and she was glad of the distraction when Pippa showed Mac into her office.
‘Mac! Great to see you again. I thought we could have a coffee, and then I’ll give you the tour.’
‘Sounds good.’
Eliza went to indicate the office chair opposite her own, but Mac headed to the sofa. ‘Hey, I saw you in the paper. Wimbledon looked fun. Wish I’d been there.’
Oops.
‘Oh gosh. I should have invited you – sorry.’ She sat down beside her.
‘It’s no’ a problem.’ Her Scottish accent was so gentle on the ear. ‘Mum certainly wouldn’t have come down for an afternoon of tennis. But I’d like to be more involved at Rose than she was. Could we talk about that, do you think?’
Must we?
‘Of course. Do you have any thoughts on how it could work?’
‘Maybe something like Chess did – she told me she got some cross-departmental experience before deciding to work on the production side of things. My background is politics; my skills are best suited to marketing and PR, probably.’
‘I can certainly look into that. Let me speak to our human resources department – embarrassingly called @people, I’m afraid.’
‘So . . . the papers are saying you and Rob are together,’ Mac said, crossing one leg over the other and sitting back. ‘Is that true?’
Bit personal. Back off.
‘I’ve known Rob all my life. He’s the son of Dad’s friend John Studley. John’s on the board so you’ll probably meet him.’
‘I see. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone. And I’ve been having fun hanging out with your half-brother.’
‘You’ve seen Stu?’
‘It’s so great, hooking up with my family after all these years. Stu and I get on well, we have a lot in common.’
Something about this was making Eliza horribly uncomfortable. It felt like . . . an alliance.
There was a tap on the door, and they looked up to see Chess’s face poking round it.
‘Chess! Come on in – look who’s here!’
Then she registered Chess’s expression. Something was wrong.
‘Eliza, can I have a private word, please?’
‘Och, don’t mind me.’
‘Sorry, Mac. I need to speak to Eliza alone.’
What’s going on?
Mac looked like a schoolgirl excluded by the cool kids. ‘OK. I’ll wait outside.’
‘Sorry, Mac,’ said Eliza. ‘I’ll be right with you.’
Mac left the room and Chess shut the door behind her. She sat down next to Eliza.
‘Chess, what on earth?’ Then she registered – her cousin was white as a sheet. She grabbed Eliza’s hand; her own was shaking.
‘Eliza. Oh god, I don’t know how to tell you. It’s Amy. Rob found her this morning, in their house at Kingston. She’d fallen down the stairs. She was . . . oh god. Eliza – Amy’s dead.’
Everything seemed to recede, and there was a hissing in her ears. She stared at Chess.
‘I can’t take it in. I can’t . . . ’ Chess began to cry.
‘Are you sure?’ was all Eliza could manage.
‘It looks like her neck was broken.’
A chill was creeping through Eliza’s veins, turning her hands and feet to ice, and a darkness was entering her soul, extinguishing the light that had filled it since yesterday.
Chess took a tissue from the box on Eliza’s desk and blew her nose. ‘Poor, poor Amy. I just . . . I hope she wasn’t lying there, all alone. Probably would’ve been quick, right? Broken neck?’
‘She fell?’
‘I don’t have any more information. Rob called Gil as soon as he found her. He’s in bits.’
Rob. Oh god, Rob.
What was he doing at Amy’s house?
The text. She must have sent him a text.
Eliza stood up quickly, and the room reeled. ‘I should be with him.’
‘N
o. Gil’s there. Rob’s going to stay at ours. He’s with the police at the moment.’
‘Can I come home with you? Wait for him there?’ Now she was feeling faint.
‘Why don’t we wait; see what Rob wants? Come here, sit down. You’ve gone horribly pale.’
‘He’ll need me!’ Eliza sat down heavily, breathing quickly. This can’t be real.
‘Gil said . . . Rob’s obviously distraught. I think it’s best to wait until all the formalities are out of the way. The police have to check for . . . that there’s nothing suspicious. Standard procedure.’
‘Suspicious? He was with me! He came home with Dad and me, we played tennis and he stayed the night.’
‘I know. He told Gil. I expect they’ll establish a time of death and then it’ll all be cut and dried – an accident, or . . . but no one else there.’‘I’ll phone him.’ Eliza reached for her mobile.
‘No! Leave him alone. Wait until he contacts you.’
‘But—’
‘Look, I’m sorry.’ Chess took her hand. ‘Gil asked Rob if we should come get you, but . . . he said no.’
‘Why?’
‘I don’t know. He’s a mess, it’ll be some time before he can think straight again.’
Only now was it properly hitting Eliza.
Amy’s dead.
‘He got a text, Chess. This morning. Or maybe last night – his phone was switched off. He didn’t say it was from her, but I think it must have been.’
Then Chess’s words hit home.
‘What do you mean, “an accident, or . . . ”?’
‘Well, Rob’s immediate thought was . . . she’s been depressed again – really bad. I went to see her; she’d just got the decree absolute. She knew it was coming, but it really set her back. She was devastated.’
‘Oh god. Poor Amy.’
Until now, Eliza hadn’t spared her a thought. She remembered Katie, with her depression, and Caitlyn . . .
Fragile people break, Eliza.
All at once, she felt like she was losing her mind.
‘But there was no note,’ said Chess. ‘They checked. And honestly – if you were going to – well, do that – I don’t think that’s how you’d do it. So maybe it was an accident.’
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