She stopped, clearly worried that she’d said too much.
‘Never mind all that,’ Jamie burst out. ‘How do you feel about a holiday?’
‘Fat chance now,’ Izzy replied. ‘Dad will say––’
‘Not with them, with me,’ Jamie went on. ‘You and me are off to Italy.’
‘Italy? You and me? What do you mean?’ Izzy gave the impression of being a cerebrally-challenged four-year-old as her eyes widened and she clamped a hand to her mouth. ‘I don’t understand.’
Caitlin appreciated why Izzy had been awarded a drama scholarship.
‘Summer’s invited us. All we have to do is pay for our air fare.’
‘Summer? We’re going with Summer?’ Izzy’s face fell.
‘That’s OK, isn’t it?’ Jamie suddenly looked anxious. ‘I mean, we’ll do lots of stuff on our own. You can have all the privacy you want.’
Izzy recovered herself.
‘It’s like a dream come true,’ she cried. ‘Oh, I can’t believe it – you’ve saved my life!’
She looked at Jamie with the sort of expression most people reserve for new-born babies or small spaniels with floppy ears.
‘And your parents, dear?’ Mrs Morland queried. ‘They won’t mind you going off with Jamie and Caitlin?’
‘Course not,’ Izzy assured her. ‘They’re really laid-back and open-minded – they let me do more or less what I like.’
‘What a surprise,’ Mrs Morland muttered.
Izzy jumped up and grabbed Jamie’s arm.
‘Come on – let’s go into Brighton and celebrate! Ice creams on the pier and then I’ve got some serious holiday shopping to attend to!’
‘Me too,’ Caitlin added quickly. ‘I’ll just go and get my purse.’
‘Can I take your car, Mum?’ Jamie asked. ‘If all three of us are going . . .’
‘I suppose,’ his mother said, tossing him the car keys.
‘Do you have to tag along?’ Izzy hissed at Caitlin, as Jamie went to fetch the car. ‘I wanted Jamie to myself and––’
‘Hey, hang on!’ Caitlin argued. ‘I’ll have you know that you wouldn’t be going if it wasn’t for me – Jamie got me to set it up with Summer. And don’t let my parents know, but he’s intending to take you off somewhere else most of the time. Summer’s just the alibi.’
Izzy flung her arms round her friend’s neck and hugged her.
‘So you were right – he really does love me! Oh, I’m so happy!’
‘Won’t you . . . well, be worried about what’s going on at home?’ Caitlin asked. ‘You know, with your dad and . . .’
‘Oh for pity’s sake, don’t keep going on about it!’ Izzy snapped. ‘My father can wriggle out of anything, trust me. Of all the people in the universe you need to worry about, he’s not one of them.’
‘So come on, Izzy, tell me about Summer’s mother!’ Caitlin insisted, after Jamie had escaped to buy a car magazine and they were slumped outside Café Nero with cappucinos and chocolate brownies, waiting for Summer to arrive. ‘You’ve been hinting at stuff for ages. What’s with all the secrecy?’
‘Well, I don’t know all the details but my dad used to play golf with a guy who worked with Summer’s dad, right? Apparently, she was out walking in the middle of a thunderstorm and she fell, hit her head and that was it.’
‘How awful!’
‘And,’ Izzy went on, dipping her tongue into the froth on her coffee, ‘she lay there for two days before anyone found the body. What do you make of that?’
‘My God!’ Caitlin gasped.
‘Of course, Summer said it was a tragic accident, but she would, wouldn’t she? I mean, would you want the world to know that your mother drank herself into an early grave?’
‘You never said – you mean, she was an alcoholic?’
‘I guess. I mean, I don’t actually know for sure,’ Izzy confessed, ‘but this guy told Dad that she used to party like mad and get really off her face.’
‘Poor Summer,’ sighed Caitlin. ‘That must be why she hates parties – you know, bad memories and all that.’
‘I never thought of that,’ Izzy remarked pensively. ‘You’re quite clued up sometimes, aren’t you?’
Caitlin suddenly remembered that Summer had asked for a white wine at Mango Monkey’s and mentioned all the drinks she enjoyed in Italy. Could that mean, just possibly, that poor Summer had inherited her mother’s genetic profile? Maybe she was heading the same way. Maybe that’s why she was a loner – all the magazines said that people with issues often hid themselves away for ages at a time to try to disguise their problems . . .
‘I’ll have a chat with her when we’re on holiday,’ Caitlin said. ‘Find out . . .’
‘Not if you value your life, you won’t!’ Izzy exclaimed. ‘I told you – it’s a total no-go area with her. You’re much better to keep quiet about it.’
‘She’ll tell me things,’ Caitlin assured her. ‘We’re on the same wavelength.’
‘Really?’ Izzy’s tone changed. ‘That’s not something I’d be bragging about.’
Caitlin was unloading her shopping on to her bed when her mobile rang. Private call.
She frowned, flipping open the lid. All her mates were programmed in with their names.
‘Hello?’
‘Pretty cool picture in the paper, wasn’t it?’ Her heart sank. It was Tom.
‘Not from where I’m standing,’ she replied. ‘My parents went ballistic.’
‘Well, I think you looked really sexy,’ he said, laughing. ‘I’ve cut you out and stuck you on the wall above my bed.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Look, I was thinking. How do you fancy a trip to Southampton next weekend? That mate I told you about – he’s sailing his boat down there this week and having a party on Saturday night.’
‘Sorry, I’ll be in Italy,’ she said, enjoying the way it tripped off her tongue.
‘Italy? How come?’ Tom sounded as if it was incomprehensible that she would go anywhere without first consulting him.
Caitlin gave him a few sparse details.
‘And that Ludo guy? I suppose he’ll be there.’
‘Sure he will,’ replied Caitlin.
‘So what about me and you?’
‘There is no me and you,’ Caitlin pointed out. ‘Not yet, anyway.’
‘So you mean – there could be? When you get back?’
‘Well, I . . .’
‘I do like you, you know.’ With each day that passed, it seemed he was less up himself.
‘I like you too,’ Caitlin replied, because she was going away soon and because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. ‘I’ll see you when I get back.’
And hopefully by then, she thought, the entire universe will know that Ludo and me are an item and no one else stands a chance.
‘Bye Tom, take care.’
She could afford to be magnanimous with a fortnight in the company of Ludo Tilney stretching ahead of her.
Caitlin’s mother calmed down a bit after Sir Magnus telephoned her from Heathrow Airport.
‘Such a charming man,’ she enthused. ‘He was so sorry not to be able to meet us, but they’re flying out today to prepare the house for all you young people. I told him you could be a bit headstrong . . .’
‘Mum, you didn’t!’ Caitlin gasped.
‘. . . and he said that he would keep an eye on you all and ring if there was anything at all to worry about. So that’s nice, isn’t it?’
‘Compared to what?’ Caitlin asked. ‘A playgroup outing? Mum, you are so embarrassing, it’s unreal.’
‘I just care, that’s all,’ her mother said.
‘I know.’ Caitlin smiled, hugging her. ‘But just care quietly for the next couple of weeks, yeah?’
CHAPTER 5
‘A good-looking girl with an affectionate heart cannot fail of attracting a clever young man.’
(Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey)
‘YOU’RE NOT SCARED, ARE YOU?’ LUDO TOUCHED CAITLIN’S hand as
she gripped the armrest of her aircraft seat.
‘It’s the going up and coming down bits I hate – once we’re up there, I’ll be fine,’ she murmured.
She flinched and closed her eyes as the jet engines revved and the aircraft gathered speed down the runway. So much for looking cool and sophisticated; she could feel the sweat breaking out on her forehead and all she could do was hold her breath and pray that the aeroplane would actually get off the ground before it careered into the perimeter fence.
‘Lift off!’ Ludo said, nudging her elbow. She opened one eye and saw him grinning at her in amusement. ‘If this holds such terrors for you, how on earth will you cope with Luigi and his Lamborghini? Or me and Gina?’
‘Who?’
It had never occurred to her that Ludo might have a girlfriend waiting in Italy. Her stomach, already behaving in a very unpredictable manner as the aircraft banked and headed southwards, lurched even more at the thought of losing him before she’d even got him.
‘Well, Luigi’s been with our family for as long as I can remember – he must be seventy if he’s a day. He’ll be meeting us at the airport. Drives like a maniac – just wait till you’re speeding along round hairpin bends with him. This plane will seem as safe as a rocking horse.’
‘And Gina?’ Caitlin swallowed hard and tried to look as if she couldn’t give a hoot about this woman.
‘Now, Gina you have to see,’ he told her seriously. ‘She is exquisite. And such fun to take out. Last month I took her down to Portofino and I swear to you, even there, everyone was staring at her, she’s so gorgeous.’
He smiled and touched Caitlin’s hand.
‘Tell you what,’ he said, ‘we’ll go and take her out first thing tomorrow, OK? You’ll love her.’
I doubt it very much, thought Caitlin miserably.
‘So,’ he asked later, as the steward stopped with a trolley of drinks, ‘are you feeling better now? What will you have to drink?’
‘Orange juice, please,’ she mumbled, grabbing the latest copy of Prego from the pile of celebrity magazines she’d bought at the airport and pretending to be absorbed in the fate of the stars of the latest TV reality show. She couldn’t believe it: all her dreams of romance under a Mediterranean sun, of kisses stolen under the light of the moon, of declarations of future intent pledged with a kiss in an orange grove – all gone. He’d got a girlfriend and she was gorgeous. If only she’d known . . .
‘Oh my goodness!’ Ludo stabbed a finger at the magazine, his mouth dropping open. ‘Look at that – Pop star in love triangle with ex-nun and supermodel!’
‘I know,’ Caitlin said. ‘It’s unbelievable – he actually got engaged to Tanya Christy while he was living with this woman who got thrown out of a convent. What do you think of that?’
‘Oh my God! That is so amazing! It can’t be true,’ Ludo gasped.
‘No, honestly, it must be, because it was in the Sun too, only I didn’t get it because there was this big bit on the front page about Izzy’s dad and I thought it might upset her.’
She flicked the page. ‘And look, they’re doing this whole series. Next week it’s about that girl who was in Cry Wolf – did you know she had a sex change eight years ago? They’re going to do a total exposé of the whole thing . . .’
‘How am I going to last until you get the next issue?’ Ludo laughed, wiping his forehead dramatically. ‘Oh, the suspense, the angst . . .’
Caitlin felt a total fool. He had been sending her up the whole time and she’d fallen for it.
‘I suppose you think I’m an idiot, enjoying stuff like this,’ she mumbled. ‘It’s mainly because of the photographs – you know, from an artistic point of view.’
She could see he didn’t believe a word of it, which was hardly surprising.
‘I do read serious stuff too.’
‘Of course you do,’ Ludo teased. ‘What could be more serious than footballers’ wives with breast implants!’
He picked up his book and began reading, an amused grin spreading across his face. Caitlin noticed that the book was one of those complicated political espionage thrillers that always had her lost by the third chapter.
For the next ten minutes Caitlin stared out of the window. No way was he going to be interested in her, other than as a rather silly friend of his sister. She’d been to Summer’s house twice in the last few days, gossing about holiday plans and stuff, and he’d hardly glanced in her direction. Now, she knew why; this Gina was probably some stunning Italian girl who read intellectual novels and never, ever watched TV because she was too busy discussing politics. Caitlin knew she’d messed up before they’d even landed; so much for her dreams of romance. She wanted to cry, but unlike Izzy, she couldn’t do that halfway attractively so she just stared at the clouds and wished that she could wind the clock back.
Ten minutes later, when Ludo had got up to wander down the aisle and talk to Jamie and Izzy, she decided to challenge Summer.
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Caitlin hissed, leaning across the aisle. ‘About Gina?’
Summer looked up from her book and frowned.
‘I didn’t give it a thought – why would you be interested?’
‘Oh, come off it – you must have guessed I . . . well, I quite like Ludo and . . .’
Summer burst out laughing.
‘I thought you did! And you’re bothered about Gina? Because you think Ludo’s in love with her?’
‘He didn’t stop going on about her – he says she’s gorgeous,’ Caitlin insisted.
‘Well, she is,’ Summer agreed. ‘And I suppose you could say Ludo’s besotted with her.’
‘Great,’ Caitlin muttered. ‘He even had the nerve to suggest we all went out together.’
Summer laughed again.
‘So? I think that’s rather sweet.’
‘I’m so glad you find it funny.’
Summer shook her head. ‘Oh, Caitlin, don’t look so miserable – Gina’s a boat!’
‘A boat?’ Caitlin stared at her in disbelief.
‘A speedboat,’ Summer confirmed. ‘Dead classy, if you’re into that sort of thing. Ludo’s godfather died last year and left his boat to Ludo. Freddie was dead cheesed off, I can tell you.’
She picked up her book again.
‘You’re into boats, aren’t you?’ she remarked. ‘You said how you go sailing with your family.’
‘Mmm,’ murmured Caitlin. ‘Love them.’
She thought perhaps at this point it was best to gloss over the fact that she had embellished, just a little, the story of the family’s preoccupation with sailing. She wasn’t sure that the annual half-day round the Isle of Wight on The Wight Princess was in quite the same league.
‘That’s good.’ Summer winked at her. ‘Because with Ludo, it’s a case of love me, love my boat!’
‘Oh no! Why did she have to come?’
Summer stopped dead, shielding her eyes from the bright Italian sun glinting on the windows of the arrival hall at Genoa Airport.
She gestured to a tall, slender woman in white Capri pants and a gold silk baby-doll top, waving to them enthusiastically from behind the crush barrier.
‘I guess she had to, didn’t she?’ Ludo reasoned. ‘We can’t all fit in one car with Luigi.’
‘Well, no way am I driving all the way home with her and that’s final,’ Summer declared.
‘I guess that’s the new woman,’ Caitlin whispered to Izzy, eyeing the chestnut hair and designer suntan. ‘She’s dead glamorous.’
‘She may look good,’ muttered Summer, overhearing them, ‘but don’t let that fool you. Underneath, she’s a right conniving, manipulative cow.’
‘Summer, don’t start!’ Ludo hissed at her as they got within earshot of Gabriella. ‘This is a holiday, for heaven’s sake – loosen up, can’t you? Please? For the sake of the rest of us?’
Summer sighed.
‘OK,’ she agreed. ‘I’m sorry – I’ll do my best.’
‘Darling
s! You’re here – isn’t this lovely?’ Gabriella threw her arms open expansively and beamed at them all. ‘Now come along, introductions can wait. The cars are outside and I’ve got drinks on ice in the cool bags!’
Outside, Luigi, a small, gnome-like man with greying hair and skin like a wrinkled satsuma was waiting beside a bright yellow Lamborghini, a car that in an instant had Jamie away from Izzy’s side and positively drooling over the hubcaps. Ludo began piling the luggage into the boot.
‘Caitlin, what have you got in here?’ he demanded as he attempted to lift her suitcase.
‘It’s my paints and extra camera lenses and stuff,’ she explained apologetically.
‘Paints?’ Ludo repeated.
‘You paint?’ Gabriella exclaimed at the same moment. ‘Summer didn’t say.’
‘Why should I?’ Summer demanded. ‘I don’t have to provide a CV of all my friends.’
‘No need to be prickly, darling,’ Gabriella replied calmly. ‘I just – well, you know what your father’s like about the smell of oil paint and . . .’
‘I do watercolours,’ Caitlin said hastily, wondering why Summer’s dad should have a problem with oil paint. ‘And pastels sometimes. I’ll be going out and about to paint – I won’t be any trouble, I promise.’
‘I’m sure you won’t, sweetie,’ Gabriella replied. ‘Just best if you paint away from the villa, OK? Now then, let’s get going. Mags is barbecuing this evening and I’m on salad duty!’
Ludo shoved Summer into the back of the Lamborghini with Izzy and Jamie and gestured to Caitlin to join him in Gabriella’s sleek little open-top Alfa Romeo.
‘We’ll break you in gently,’ he said, grinning. ‘I don’t think you’ll cope with one of Luigi’s high-speed car chases right now!’
Gabriella climbed into the driving seat.
‘I’ve got to make a little detour, so I’ll see you back at the house,’ Gabriella called to Luigi. ‘Arrivederci!’
With every mile, Caitlin’s happiness doubled. She couldn’t believe that she was sitting, thigh touching thigh, with the fittest guy in the universe, sipping a chilled Prosecco and feeling the warm Mediterranean sun on her cheeks. Not even the knowledge that those same cheeks would, in all probability, be covered in a mass of freckles by the time they reached their destination, could dampen her excitement.
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