About the Author
Penny Vincenzi is one of the UK’s best-loved and most popular authors. Since her first novel, Old Sins, was published in 1989, she has written fifteen bestselling novels, most recently The Decision and the number one bestseller The Best of Times.
Her first ‘proper’ job was at the Harrods Library, aged sixteen, after which she went to secretarial college. She joined the Mirror and later became a journalist, writing for The Times, the Daily Mail and Cosmopolitan amongst many others, before turning to fiction. Several years later, over seven millions copies of Penny’s books have been sold worldwide and she is universally held to be the ‘doyenne of the modern blockbuster’ (Glamour).
Penny Vincenzi is married, with four daughters, and divides her time between London and Gower, South Wales.
For more information visit www.pennyvincenzi.com
By Penny Vincenzi
Old Sins
Wicked Pleasures
An Outrageous Affair
Another Woman
Forbidden Places
The Dilemma
The Glimpses (short stories)
Windfall
Almost a Crime
No Angel
Something Dangerous
Into Temptation
Sheer Abandon
An Absolute Scandal
The Best of Times
The Decision
Copyright © 2011 Penny Vincenzi
The right of Penny Vincenzi to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
First published as an Ebook by Headline Publishing Group in 2011
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library
eISBN : 9780755383849
HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP
An Hachette UK Company
338 Euston Road
London NW1 3BH
www.headline.co.uk
www.hachette.co.uk
Contents
About the Author
Also by Penny Vincenzi
Copyright Page
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Character List
Prologue
Part One: The Engagement
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Part Two: The Marriage
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Part Three: The Divorce
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Epilogue
For Paul, who was always there. And for Polly, Sophie,
Emily and Claudia, for getting me through.
Acknowledgements
As always, the list of couldn’t-have-done-without-the-help-of is long, possibly longer even than usual, and huge thanks to so many people.
Michael Drake, legal superbrain, took me painstakingly, patiently and above all inventively through all the complexities of divorce and custody in the 1960s and ’70s, escorted me round and indeed into the Royal Courts of Justice and Lincolns Inn Fields, responded to my interminable and often crass emails always within hours and usually minutes, suggested sub-plots, improved upon scenarios and never for an instant even implied that his hugely valuable time might be better sent. A complete star, you are, Michael, and thank you.
James Marshall not only arranged access to some of the great names in advertising in sixties London, he was just the best fun and the most informative guide on a whistle-stop tour of Milan, which took in an evening at La Scala, a trawl of the very best restaurants and shops and an introduction to some truly wonderful characters. Including the lovely Phyllis Achilli, who created for me a whole world in which to set that part of my story, Tai and Rosita Missoni, who hosted us in their box at La Scala and Peter and Mariella Van Shalwick, who cast a further bright light on the lifestyle of the city then.
I would also like to thank Jackie Hollows for so tirelessly and generously sifting through her past as a very glamorous air hostess in the sixties for wonderful funny, intriguing and colourful stories and detail; the book would have been the poorer without her.
The fashion element in the book is crucial; I spent my own early professional life in fashion but I still drew heavily on the recollections and stories of many of the leading stars in journalism. Felicity Green, Fleet Street legend herself, and my mentor indeed, opened up her wonderful memory store for me, especially relating to the Paris collections; Shirley Lowe, starry journlist, who inspired a whole strand of the story by reliving her own fashion editor past; John Bates, one of the leading fashion designers of the day (I was lucky enough to own not just one, but two, of his dresses) and John Siggins, his director and partner; and Liz Smith iconic fashion editor and also, like my heroine Eliza, fashion consultant to a famous advertising agency.
David Smith, husband to Liz, a dear friend, and a star of both journalism and advertising, provided wonderful anecdotes about both those worlds, but also some brilliantly funny recollections of his own National Service days. Very sadly he died just as this book went to press; his stylish, slightly old-fashioned sense of humour and turn of phrase were truly life enhancing for everyone lucky enough to know him.
Edward Harris provided further legal background, and some particularly brilliant ingenuity over the creation and workings of the Summercourt Trust and I would like to thank Ros Harris too, who provided a most valuable overview, steeped as she is in such matters. Sue Stapely was a fount of knowledge on all manner of things and as always provided me with pa
thways to all kinds of helpful people; the wedding in the book would not have been the same without the sparkly musical input of John Young of Country Church Wedding Music; Steve Gunnis provided a marvelously expert overview of the cars of the decade, and Lisa Lindsay Gale was a wonderful and witty consultant on gymkhanas and pony etiquette generally. And I am truly indebted to Nicholas Coleridge for generously giving me the run of the Tatler archives. Two dizzy afternoons indeed!
At Headline, I have been particularly well cared for by Jane Morpeth and Leah Woodburn, my editors, who between them have worked an incredible magic with an even-later-than-usual manuscript, remaining calm, patient and appreciative against every odd. It meant so much to me. Susan Opie is the most wonderfully thoughtful and perceptive copyeditor; and as always immense thanks to Kati Nicholl who works some kind of magic on a manuscript and cuts it so brilliantly that even I can’t spot what has gone! Jo Liddiard has not only put together the usual gorgeous marketing campaign, she was kind enough to sit with me through a long morning in my study and guide me through the technological intricacies (as I saw them!) of returning to my neglected blog. Louise Page has returned to handling my publicity with all the imaginative determination I remember so fondly; and the sales team, under Aslan Byrne, has been quite simply magnificent. And a special thank to Justinia Baird-Murray for designing the most gorgeous cover I have seen for a very long time.
Finally I would like to once again thank my family; the sons-in-law as well as the daughters, have been completely wonderful. And to welcome two new members, Grace and Niamh to the ever-growing clan.
In retrospect, as always, it looks like just the best fun.
Penny Vincenzi
August 2011
Character List
Eliza Fullerton-Clark, a debutante and subsequently a fashion editor
Sarah Fullerton-Clark, her mother
Adrian Fullerton-Clark, her father
Charles Fullerton-Clark, her brother, a stockbroker
Anna Marchant, her godmother
Piers Marchant, Anna’s husband
Sir Charles and Lady Cunninghame, Eliza’s grandparents
Matt Shaw, a property developer
Sandra Shaw, his mother
Pete Shaw, his father
Scarlett Shaw, his sister, an airhostess
Diana Forbes, Scarlett’s air hostess friend
Mr Barlow and Mr Stein, Matt’s first employers
Emmeline, Eliza and Matt’s daughter
Margaret Grant, her nanny
Jeremy Northcott, Eliza’s millionaire boyfriend and advertising supremo
Emma Northcott, his sister
Louise Mullan, secretary to Matt and subsequently a property tycoon in her own right
Jenny Cox, receptionist and secretary at Simmonds and Shaw
Jimbo Simmonds, Matt’s partner
Valerie Hill, a hugely successful businesswoman
Georgina Barker, Matt’s girlfriend
Barry Floyd, a successful builder
Roderick Brownlow, a property developer
Juliet Judd, Charles’s girlfriend
Geoffrey Judd, her father
Carol Judd, her mother
Lily Berenson, a rich widow from Charleston
David Berenson, her son
Gaby Berenson, her daughter-in-law
Lindy Freeman, Eliza’s boss at Woolfe’s department store
Maddy Brown, a knitwear designer and friend of Eliza’s
Esmond, her boyfriend and a hatter
Jerome Blake, a photographer
Rex Ingham, another photographer
Rob Brigstocke, Creative Director of KPD, advertising agency
Hugh Wallace, account director at KPD
Jack Beckham, editor of Charisma and later of the Daily News
Fiona Marks, the fashion editor
Annunciata Woburn, the features editor
Johnny Barrett, Louise’s journalist friend on the Daily News
Giovanni Crespi, wealthy businessman
Mariella Crespi, his wife and socialite
Anna-Maria, a maid
Bruno, Giovanni’s valet
Sebastiano, the Crespi’s butler
Timothy Fordyce, a friend of Mariella’s in Milan
Janey, his wife
Mark Frost, a distinguished travel writer
Persephone Frost, his mother
Heather Connell, a young mother and friend to Eliza
Coral, her daughter
Alan Connell, her husband
Mrs Munroe, Eliza’s gynaecologist
Mary Miller, her psychotherapist
Philip Gordon, Eliza’s solicitor
Toby Gilmour, Eliza’s barrister
Ivor Lewis, Matt’s solicitor
Sir Bruce Hayward QC, Matt’s barrister
Sir Tristram Selbourne, another QC
Mr Justice Rogers, a judge
Demetrios and Larissa, taverna owners on the Greek island of Trisos
Prologue
1971
It was nearly over then. By this time tomorrow it would be settled. By this time tomorrow she would know. Whether she would still be a mother, a proper mother, the sort that did the ordinary things, got her child up every morning and tucked her up in bed every night, took her to school and picked her up again, knew when she’d had a tummy ache or a bad dream, got cross with her, argued with her, decided when to get her hair cut, or that she needed new shoes, told her off for skimping on her homework or her ballet practice, insisted she made her bed and tidied her room and wrote thank-you letters and cleaned out the hamster’s cage … Or the other sort, the once-a-week sort, the provider of a perfect room and whatever-you-fancy food, who waited impatiently outside school, aware of the mild curiosity of the other mothers, the purveyor of treats and outings, and ultra-generosity to friends, surprised by a new dress, a fringe, a fad, always with time to give, over-indulgent, never cross, never critical, desperate to know about a school concert, a friend’s party, plans for a holiday, watchful for new loyalties, jealous of new traditions …
Which would she be?
The mother with custody? Or the mother without?
Part One
The Engagement
Chapter 1
1958
Eliza was in the middle of curtseying to the Queen when she decided it was time she lost her virginity.
She was rather shocked at herself; not for the nature of the decision, but for managing to make it at such a moment. She had had a lot of trouble getting her curtsey absolutely right (one foot lined up perfectly behind the other, both knees bent, head erect, arms at side), it was hardly comfortable and she was inclined to wobble. Concentration was essential. And it was a terribly important moment in her life; both her mother and her godmother (who was actually presenting her) had instilled into her endlessly how lucky she was, that had she been one year younger it would not have been possible, because this was positively the last year of court presentation, it had been declared an anachronism, not in keeping with the new Elizabethan age. And here she was, in her blue silk Belinda Belville cocktail dress, in the presence of the Queen – so much younger and prettier in the flesh than her photographs, and the Duke – so amazingly handsome, and she was thinking not about being part of a deeply important tradition that had lasted for generations, but about who of all the young men she was dancing and flirting with that wonderful summer she might achieve this new ambition with. It really was rather bad of her.
Concentrate, Eliza! What would her mother and godmother say if they knew that after all their organising and lunching and juggling with dates and guest lists and budgets for her Season, that her mind was fixed not on what to them was the almost sacred part of the whole thing, but on something very unsuitable indeed.
She straightened slowly (without a hint of wobble), and moved towards the side of the throne room, making way for the next wave of girls.
Eliza was attracting a lot of attention that summer. Indeed she had become a bi
t of a favourite with the popular press, had so far appeared in the Express three times and the Mirror four. Her mother had felt it rather lowered the tone of Eliza’s Season, but Eliza thought it was wonderful and a lot of the other girls had been really jealous. She wasn’t pretty; she could see it for herself: her features were too large, and her colouring too strong, with slightly olive skin, very dark hair combined with very dark blue eyes, and she had more than once heard her mother saying worriedly to her grandmother that she did hope no one would think there was foreign blood in the family. But she also knew that she was extremely attractive.
Boys had made passes at her from when she had been only fifteen, and she had always had an endless queue of would-be partners at pony-club dances. Indeed, she had first made the pages of Tatler the year before her Season, watching her brother Charles play cricket for the Old Etonians on Founders’ Day.
But this year was truly hers, and she was proving a star; she had already been granted the Big One, a full-page solo spot at the front of Tatler, taken by Tom Hustler, himself once a Debs’ Delight and now a society photographer.
The Decision Page 1
