‘Go? To London? Oh, no, Grandmama,’ cried Lily. ‘I can’t leave Ronan here by himself.’
The Comtesse raised her eyebrows, stared directly at Ronan’s tattoo, and said crisply, ‘You most certainly can – indeed, you will leave him here. You will come with me now and we will forget all about this unfortunate . . . mistake.’
‘It’s you who’s made the mistake, señora,’ said Ronan evenly. ‘I was simply taking Lily on a picnic to Dover. Nothing more. But for a minor accident, we would have been in Dover by now, enjoying the view. I –’
‘It wasn’t Ronan’s fault, Grandmama,’ interrupted Lily. ‘He wasn’t going fast, but there was a cow across the lane and so he had to go through the hedge. I’m sure that anyone else would have hit the cow, but Ronan is a brilliant driver and we would’ve been fine, except that when the bike landed I almost fell off and that made him wobble and so the motorcycle went into the duck pond –’
‘– and so did we,’ finished Ronan. ‘Luckily it was a soft landing, but we got soaked, so I brought Lily to the White Hart to get out of her wet things and put on some dry clothes. I never –’
‘Motorcycle?’ interjected the Comtesse, her voice even deadlier than before. ‘You took my granddaughter on a motorcycle?’
‘He’s a very safe driver, Grandmama,’ protested Lily.
‘I don’t care if he’s Valentino Rossi!’ retorted the Comtesse. ‘He had no business doing anything so dangerous.’
‘I can assure you that I am a very experienced driver, señora,’ said Ronan firmly.
‘I’m fine, Grandmama. I promise. There’s not a scratch on me.’
‘I am delighted to hear it, Lily, but that is no thanks to this irresponsible, brazen young man! And if this is the sort of person with whom you are choosing to be friends at the Academy, then –’
‘Ronan’s not at the Academy, Grandmama, he’s –’
‘Some random stranger you met on the street, I suppose?’ snapped her grandmother. ‘No,’ she held up her hand as Lily opened her mouth to explain. ‘I have heard enough, Lily! We are leaving.’ She looked daggers at Ronan. ‘I am sure that Mr – Carver, was it? – can see to his motorbike and get himself back to whichever part of London he came from. Indeed, I am convinced he will travel faster alone.’
‘But we came together,’ cried Lily. She pushed a hand through her damp hair and stammered, ‘I – I’m sorry, Grandmama, but – but I’m n–not leaving without Ronan. I don’t even know if – if his bike is okay and if it’s not, how will he get back to London?’
‘Don’t worry about me, Lily,’ said Ronan softly. ‘I can take care of myself.’
‘I’m sure you can, young man,’ said the Comtesse with a thin smile. She turned to Lily. ‘If it will allay your fears, I will have Henri ascertain the state of Mr Carver’s motorcycle.’
‘Thank you, señora,’ said Ronan coolly, ‘but that won’t be necessary. I can handle my own affairs.’ He swept her a mocking bow.
But Lily had found another morsel of courage. ‘I can’t go with you, Grandmama. I came here with Ronan and I’m going back with Ronan. Even if it means catching a bus.’
‘In that case, Lily,’ said the Comtesse with an icy calm, ‘the choice is yours. You can come with me now in the Bentley and leave your – er – friend to make his own way home. Or, I can report this rather regrettable motorcycle accident to the local police.’ She fingered the triple strand of pearls around her neck. ‘While I will be the first to admit that no serious damage has been done, I am sure they will be most interested to learn of Mr Carver’s illegal behaviour.’
Lily stared at her in dismay. The last time she’d heard her grandmother sound so pompous it had marked the end of the career of an (admittedly unpleasant and decidedly lecherous) Russian diplomat.
‘Illegal behaviour, Grandmama? What do you mean?’
‘Why don’t you ask Mr Carver, Lily?’ said the Comtesse. ‘I feel sure he knows exactly what I am talking about.’
‘Ronan?’ Lily turned to him and was stunned to see an anxious crease between his brows. ‘What is she talking about?’
He held out his hands to her. ‘I’m sorry, Lily. It was wrong of me to assume – but we were wearing full helmets and leathers so I figured no one would know. Still, I shouldn’t have taken you out on the bike without telling you –’
‘Telling me what?’ she interjected, looking from Ronan to her grandmother. ‘What? What has Ronan done wrong? Tell me!’
‘I think, you will find, Lily,’ said the Comtesse, ‘that, as my godson Nicky recently informed me, in Britain one needs a full licence in order to carry a pillion passenger. I sincerely doubt that Mr Carver has yet reached the minimum age of nineteen!’
Ronan paled but said nothing.
‘I thought so,’ said the Comtesse. She held out her hand to Lily. ‘Shall we go?’ She moved towards the door and, with a last forlorn look at Ronan, Lily reluctantly followed.
But Ronan was not done.
‘Of course, you’re right, señora,’ he said, raising his voice just enough to ensure that she heard him. ‘And my mam would skin me if she knew I’d taken Lily on the bike.’ They turned to find him staring at them defiantly. ‘My dad, though – my dad would be proud.’
‘Would he?’ said the Comtesse grimly.
‘My dad made mistakes, but he still taught me plenty. And he was definitely right about one thing.’
‘Oh?’ said the Comtesse.
Ronan lifted his chin, looked her straight in the eye and said firmly, ‘Yeah, he taught me to never kowtow to the toffs.’
CHAPTER 34
Lily was in disgrace.
She knew it and she fully expected to feel her grandmother’s wrath all the way back to London.
Except that she’d forgotten Henri. When they got outside the White Hart, the chauffeur was waiting by the silver Bentley.
‘Bonjour, Mademoiselle Lily,’ he said, touching his cap.
‘Bonjour, Henri,’ replied Lily, a wave of relief washing over her as she realised there was no way her grandmama would discuss her escapade with Ronan in front of Henri. Ronan! Lily’s sense of relief vanished and she felt sick at the thought of how she’d left him standing in the hotel foyer, with that awful look on his face . . .
It made her feel hollow inside. She’d let him down – at the very first test! Faced with her grandmother’s wrath, she’d faltered and, instead of standing firm and refusing point blank to go back to London without him, she’d proved herself to be the worst kind of coward. She’d given in like a brainless puppet and let her grandmother pull the strings.
And the way the Comtesse had spoken to him! Lily cringed at the memory.
If Ronan had wanted proof that he and Lily were from different worlds, then her grandmother had just given it to him in spades. She’d acted like an arrogant snob and now Lily would probably never be with him again.
She thought of their evenings in the tower room and their conversations and the way he’d helped her. Ronan had got her out of the Academy, shown her his incredible art, introduced her to Father Doyle and Credo and Bolt (who all clearly loved and admired him); he’d confided in her – told her things – tragic things – about his life.
She remembered how they’d kissed and how he’d trusted her . . .
He’d trusted her!
And Lily had betrayed him.
She felt the tears well and furiously blinked them back. The last thing she needed was to cry in front of her grandmother. Instead, what she needed was a plan. A plan to change her grandmother’s mind about Ronan.
The Comtesse’s voice broke in on her thoughts. She said stiffly, ‘It is good to see you again, Lily, though you are looking a little thinner than I like. Are you eating properly? I don’t imagine the food at the Academy is of the first quality.’
Lily felt a flame of anger lick her insides. ‘Actually, Grandmama, the food is excellent, like everything else at the Academy.’
‘I am relieved to hear it,’ said t
he Comtesse dryly. ‘Though I confess I am less than impressed with any institution that allows its students to go out gallivanting with virtual strangers.’
‘Ronan’s not a stranger, Grandmama. He’s a friend, a good friend. I told you that.’
‘And did your “friend” ask the London Drama Academy for permission to take you out on his motorcycle?’
Lily was silent.
‘I thought not,’ said the Comtesse. ‘They have, however, given permission for you to accompany me to a number of functions this week.’
‘I don’t want to –’ began Lily.
‘Despite your dislike of formal occasions, Lily,’ interrupted the Comtesse firmly, ‘I think you will enjoy the program I have arranged for you.’
Lily hunched her shoulders and stared out the car window.
‘Don’t look so despondent, child,’ said her grandmother, taking her hand. ‘I know you have resisted the scheme, but I am certain you will be pleasantly surprised by the Debutante Club.’
‘No!’ Lily pulled her hand away and looked at her grandmother in horror. ‘I don’t want to join the Debutante Club, Grandmama. I told you –’
The Comtesse interrupted. ‘The circumstances have changed. After today’s escapade I am more convinced than ever that you need to acquire some polish. You have so much potential, Lily, but you lack experience. The Debutante Club will help you with that.’
‘I don’t have time for socialising,’ declared Lily. ‘I’ve got too many classes and lines to learn and soon there’ll be play rehearsals and –’
‘None of which stopped you going on Mr Carver’s motorbike,’ said the Comtesse. ‘At least the Debutante Club will ensure your leisure time is spent in more suitable ways.’
‘I won’t go,’ said Lily mulishly. ‘You can’t make me.’
‘Indeed?’ said the Comtesse, her blue eyes glittering. ‘Very well, then, Lily. If that is your decision, you leave me no option but to inform Marshall Drake of your exploits with Mr Carver. I do not know, but perhaps the Director will take a more lenient view than I –’
‘He won’t!’ declared Lily, a note of panic in her voice. If Grandmama told the Drake that Lily had used her weekend pass to go down to Dover with Ronan Carver on his motorbike, the Director would kick her out of the Academy for sure. He’d warned her at the start of term about breaking the rules and she’d broken most of them the minute she’d climbed out of the south tower window.
She couldn’t leave the Academy. She couldn’t! And not just because it meant giving up her dream of becoming a great actor. If she left the Academy, she’d probably never see Ronan again! She’d be sent straight back to Paris or New York with no chance of fixing things.
Lily gave in. ‘All right, Grandmama, I’ll join the Debutante Club. Only, please don’t tell the Director about – about me and Ronan.’
The Comtesse smiled. ‘As you won’t be seeing him again, there is nothing to tell.’
Lily opened her mouth and closed it again.
If she told her grandmother that she’d be seeing Ronan at the Academy that very evening, the Comtesse would probably do whatever it took to get one or both of them expelled. Lily couldn’t let that happen – especially as Grandmama’s perception of Ronan as some kind of evil tattooed street thug was totally wrong.
Lily pressed her lips together firmly. Whatever happened, she had to figure out a way to show Grandmama the real Ronan Carver.
She stared out the window and was relieved to see that they were almost back in central London. The minute she was back at the Academy, she’d go up to the tower and wait for Ronan. Once she’d explained –
‘Perhaps we could think of tonight as a new beginning,’ said the Comtesse suddenly. ‘I should like this dinner to be –’
‘Dinner?’ cried Lily in alarm. ‘Tonight?’
‘Certainly,’ nodded Grandmama. ‘The Earl and Countess of Hunterton have invited the Debutante Club to dinner. We are going home to change.’
‘But I – I –’ Lily couldn’t think of what to say. She could hardly tell her grandmother that she couldn’t go out to dinner because she was meeting Ronan in the out-of-bounds South Tower of the London Drama Academy!
Her grandmother patted her hand and said kindly, ‘Tonight is an informal dinner, but I am hoping it will prove the perfect entrée to the Debutante Club. The Countess is especially keen for you to meet her children – she hopes you will become great friends.’
‘Maybe,’ replied Lily, trying not to think of how Ronan would feel if he knew she’d deserted him in order to spend the weekend with the children of an earl. When she thought of the way she’d left him at the White Hart, humiliated and angry, she could hardly bear it.
The shadows were beginning to lengthen when Henri turned into a square somewhere south of Piccadilly and stopped the car outside a tall white building.
‘Where are we?’ asked Lily.
‘St James’s Square,’ replied her grandmother. ‘And my London apartment.’
Henri opened the car door and helped her to alight.
‘Bring the bags please, Henri,’ said the Comtesse.
‘Oui, Madame.’
Lily scrambled from the car, earning yet another reproof from her grandmother. ‘Do try for a little decorum, please, Lily,’ she said, leading the way inside.
‘Yes, Grandmama,’ replied Lily meekly, following her into the elevator.
The apartment was on the first floor and, though considerably smaller, was every bit as luxurious as the Comtesse’s Paris villa.
‘I have ordered afternoon tea to be served in the sitting room in half an hour. That will give you time to change your clothes,’ said the Comtesse, casting a critical eye over Lily’s jeans and denim jacket.
She led the way to a pretty bedroom decorated in soft shades of green and pink. ‘You will find a selection of new clothes in the wardrobe,’ she said. ‘And, in case you are thinking that my providing your wardrobe is yet another instance of my tyranny, you will be comforted to know that I had Angel choose your clothes.’ She smiled grimly. ‘So if you are indeed unhappy with the selection, then I suggest you discuss it with her.’
And before Lily could answer, the Comtesse had gone.
The moment the door closed, Lily grabbed her phone and entered Ronan’s name. Only when the screen remained blank did she realise that her habit of leaving her phone in her room during the day and spending her evenings in the tower with him meant that, in all their time together, she had never once thought to ask him for his number.
Lily dropped onto the bed in a daze. She’d been so sure she’d be able to call him and check that he’d made it safely back to London. Now she’d just have to wait until tomorrow when she saw him in the dining hall. It made her feel sick not knowing if he was okay. She tried to tell herself that he’d be fine – that when she didn’t turn up in the tower he’d realise she’d been hijacked by her grandmother.
She stared blindly at the open closet thinking of Ronan until the tinkling of a bell reminded her that the Comtesse was expecting her for afternoon tea.
She forced herself to focus on the clothes that Angel had chosen for her and, as she examined the dresses, shirts and pants (all of them gorgeous), it occurred to Lily that she must be the most spoilt and ungrateful granddaughter in the world if the Comtesse honestly felt the need to defend herself for providing such lovely things.
As she changed into a pretty blue-and-white silk Elie Saab dress, Lily decided that maybe she needed to give her grandmother a chance. After all, the Comtesse had come to London to spend the weekend with her because Angel had been forced to cancel. And it wasn’t as if being made to join the Debutante Club could truly be considered a hardship.
Lily thought shamefacedly of the homeless people she and Ronan had served at the soup kitchen and wondered how she could have ever given her grandmother even a moment’s grief over so many trivial things.
All the Comtesse wanted was for Lily to gain experience and become a lit
tle more sophisticated. What had she said? ‘You need to acquire some polish.’ Well, she wasn’t wrong – especially when Lily thought of everything she’d done since the Dane’s critique!
If Grandmama knew the half of it, she’d probably make her go to the Debutante Club every night for the rest of her life.
But when she sat down to tea in the sitting room it quickly became clear that Grandmama had nothing like that in mind.
‘We have the dinner tonight,’ she explained, ‘and then tomorrow afternoon we are going to visit Kew Gardens by boat. The trip down the Thames is delightful and I believe the Vanda orchids will be in bloom.’ She handed Lily a cup of tea. ‘I know you have classes during the day, but on Monday evening I have arranged for the two of us to see Dame Judi in her new play –’
‘Judi Dench?’ said Lily, almost spilling her tea in excitement. ‘But her show’s been sold out for months.’
‘Indeed?’ said her grandmother. ‘Nevertheless, I have managed to acquire tickets. In the front row, I believe.’
Lily gazed at her in awe.
‘I trust that is acceptable?’ said the Comtesse. Lily nodded eagerly and she added, ‘On Tuesday evening the Debutante Club will attend the recital at the Royal Albert Hall and on Friday I am holding a reception here.’ The Comtesse looked at Lily thoughtfully. ‘Among the guests will be several theatrical luminaries who will, I trust, ensure your presence here that evening.’
Lily thought quickly. If she went to Grandmama’s reception on Friday then she could probably get out of whatever the Debutante Club was doing on Saturday night and go to Ronan’s art exhibition instead. She smiled brightly and said, ‘I’ll look forward to it Grandmama. What time is the reception?’
‘Eight o’clock but Henri will collect you at seven so that you can be here in plenty of time to receive our guests,’ replied the Comtesse. ‘Which reminds me . . .’ She looked at Lily uncertainly. ‘I know you are not fond of dressing up but, given that I have invited several rather important people, it occurred to me that you might like . . . that you might not object to . . .’ The Comtesse paused and then said in a rush, ‘I asked Antoine to design an evening dress for you.’
The Rapunzel Dilemma Page 24