‘Now this is the business,’ Theo declared, whipping out his digital camera and fiddling with the setting. ‘Better than a picture of some old bloke!’
‘Where’s this Freddie guy, then?’ George demanded as Theo began clicking away.
‘So Emma, what can I get you to drink?’ Emma retorted, pushing her way closer to the bar. ‘Thank you, George. Since you’re driving, I’ll have a Sassy Surfer please.’
‘OK, OK.’ George sighed, pulling out his wallet. ‘Lily, what about you?’
‘Oh, wow,’ Lily exclaimed. ‘Um, well, maybe an orange juice – no, no, this is a special night, isn’t it, so perhaps a Bacardi and Coke? I haven’t had one of those since Christmas. But, then again, it made me go all silly . . .’
‘Sillier than usual?’ Emma muttered to Theo under her breath.
‘. . . so perhaps a vodka tonic? I mean, with your dad looking after Mum, I could I guess have a drink and . . . well, I’ve never had vodka but Melanie – she’s on my catering course – she drinks it all the time and she’s really sophisticated, so —’
‘LILY!’ Emma snapped. ‘Bacardi or vodka? Which?’
‘Um – vodka. Please. Thanks.’
‘And Harriet?’ George eyed his wallet cautiously.
‘I’ll get the rest!’ Theo butted in, turning to Harriet. ‘Just make sure you choose some flash-looking cocktail then I can capture you on film for the website!’
As they reached the bar, Emma saw that Adam was on his mobile and he didn’t look happy.
‘It’s Freddie,’ Lucy hissed at her. ‘He’s still not here and the band are due to start in ten minutes. And his phone’s switched off.’
‘You don’t think he’s with this Judy girl?’ Emma asked, anxiously.
‘So what if he is? He can bring a whole bloody harem as long as he gets here. Adam’s been psyching himself all day.’
He’s not the only one, thought Emma.
‘He’s not coming.’ Adam’s face was scarlet as he shoved his mobile phone into Lucy’s hand. ‘Go on read it – see if you can make sense of it.’
Lucy peered at the screen.
Major crisis. Can’t make it 2nite. Be sure u get band sorted 4 me. C u l8r. F
‘What does he mean, “crisis”?’ Adam demanded. ‘It was his idea to come here. So much for all his “don’t worry about the cost, I’ll pay”.’
‘So this is your “ever so nice guy”, is it?’ George muttered in Emma’s ear, as cheers broke out around the club at the appearance on stage of Split Bamboo. ‘I bet the next thing will be that he bottles out of the party booking.’
‘He won’t,’ Emma snapped, cross that all her plans had to go on hold. ‘The poor guy’s in the middle of a crisis and all you can do is slag him off!’
‘I didn’t . . .’
Emma didn’t stay to listen to George’s feeble attempts at self-justification, but followed Adam and Lucy who were pushing their way through the throng to the edge of the stage where the band was already into the opening bars of their signature hit, ‘Lift off Love’.
‘Is Adam really gutted?’ she whispered to Lucy. ‘Because if it’s the money, I’ll pay for the next lot of drinks and —’
‘That’s so sweet of you,’ Lucy said, giving her a hug. ‘But it’s fine; we’ll hear the band and then go on to Mango’s or some place where the drinks aren’t the price of an all-over body massage!’
‘Come on, babes, come and dance,’ Adam said, slipping an arm round Lucy’s shoulder and kissing her. ‘To hell with Freddie – let’s party!’
‘What is Theo doing with that wretched camera?’
George had finally got over his bad mood and was moving – Emma didn’t think his gyrations warranted being called dancing – to the final Split Bamboo hit when they were almost blinded by the camera flash.
‘Taking pictures of Harriet,’ Emma said, gesturing behind her to where Harriet was leaning on the bar talking to Lily. ‘He’s clearly falling in love with her.’
‘Falling in – Emma, what are you on?’ George asked as the band struck their final chord and announced a break. ‘Theo and Harriet? Get real!’
‘And what’s so odd about that?’ Emma demanded. ‘They’re made for one another. He’s on the rebound.’
‘Oh right, and that’s a real basis for a new relationship,’ George replied, taking Emma’s arm and heading for the bar. ‘Besides, when he does get it together with someone else, it won’t be a Harriet, that’s for sure.’
‘What’s wrong with her?’
‘Nothing – she’s a nice girl, in a ditsy kind of way,’ George said, shrugging. ‘But no way is Harriet going to tick any of Theo’s boxes.’
‘Oh and Verity the Tart did?’
‘Absolutely. He only went for Verity because her father’s a senior consultant at the Royal Free. Theo’s a friend, but I know him and he’s a snob and he’s very ambitious.’
‘And you are such a bad judge of character,’ Emma declared.
‘Emma, if Theo’s keen on anyone, it’s you, not Harriet,’ George muttered.
‘Me? Oh please – he hangs round Harriet all time. Just you wait – I give it another few days and those two will be lip-to-lip twenty-four seven. I know the chemistry.’
‘Really?’ George laughed. ‘So how come you haven’t used all these amazing skills to find yourself a guy? Or have you?’
‘My skills have been employed in fighting them off,’ Emma retorted. ‘When I do meet a guy who’s got what it takes, I’ll give it all I’ve got.’
‘And you haven’t come across him yet?’
‘Not even on the distant horizon. Now, are you going to get me another drink, or do I have to die of dehydration?’
* * *
‘Aren’t they amazing?’ Lily gripped Emma’s arm as the band drifted off to a quiet corner. ‘I love them all. Of course, Jake’s the best – isn’t his voice great? The drummer with dark hair, that’s Ravi; and Nick’s on bass and the guy with the saxophone, he’s . . .’
‘Dylan,’ Emma finished for her.
‘You know them?’
‘Lily, their names are on their T-shirts,’ Emma pointed out.
‘Oh yes. Silly me. Wow, that drink’s gone straight to my knees. Anyway, this girl came up to me and she said she thought the band would be real chart-toppers and I said I was Jake’s cousin and she asked me for my autograph!’
‘My goodness, someone on the planet sillier than you,’ Emma murmured.
‘Sorry, what did you say? It’s so noisy in here.’
‘I said, why don’t you come with me and persuade Jake to play for the party?’ Emma said, smiling brightly.
‘Sure, yes, oh right – oh, hang on!’
Emma turned to see a tall girl wearing an electric blue sundress and far too much lip gloss waving a postcard in Lily’s face. ‘I didn’t want your autograph, dimbo – I wanted you to get the guys’ autographs. Didn’t you hear me? Are you deaf as well as dumb?’
‘Oh, silly me. He’s over there – why don’t you . . .?’
‘We’ll get it for you,’ Emma cut in, grabbing the postcard in one hand and Lily’s arm with the other and dragging her over to the band.
‘Hi, Jake! You were stunning. I mean, out of this world amazing,’ Emma began.
‘Thanks.’
‘Freddie’s in pieces not to be here,’ Emma rattled on. ‘Work crisis – that’s what comes of being a mega star.’
‘Really.’ Jake didn’t seem impressed.
‘But he wanted me to sort the arrangements for the party. I mean, I know you said you didn’t do parties but . . .’
‘But you will, won’t you?’ Lily burst in. ‘I mean, Emma’s my best friend and her dad has been so good to Mum – he’s with her right now, they’re going to watch a programme about the Lake District because she went before she got ill and . . .’
‘So what time do you want us there?’ Jake asked with a wry smile.
Emma gasped. ‘So you’ll do it?’
‘Yeah, the guys are up for it,’ he said. ‘But I’ll need to talk to Freddie face to face to get the low-down on what he’s looking for. No offence, but that’s the way we operate.’
‘Sure.’ Emma shrugged. ‘He’ll be around all week, I guess.’
‘Good,’ said Jake. ‘When you see him, tell him to give me a call. Pronto.’ He scribbled on a card and tossed it at Emma.
‘Oh, and some girl wanted your autographs,’ Emma said hastily, shoving the postcard under his nose.
Jake laughed. ‘Some girl, eh? I wouldn’t have thought you were the shy and bashful type.’
‘It’s not me!’ Emma exclaimed. ‘As if . . .’
But Jake had already turned away to talk to another wide-eyed fan.
‘Hey, do you think he fancies you?’ Lily gushed. ‘Hey, wouldn’t that be —’
‘Lily?’
‘Yes?’
‘Shut up.’
‘I can’t believe it’s not even a week since I was sitting here and you told me about the job,’ Harriet said an hour later when everyone had moved on to Mango Monkey’s. ‘I was telling Rob about —’
‘Rob? You’ve seen Rob?’
Harriet shook her head. ‘He sent me a text,’ she explained. ‘Look!’
She pulled her mobile from the clutch bag that Emma had been on the point of giving to the charity shop before Harriet had taken a liking to it. ‘Read it. It’s sweet.’
Reluctantly, Emma took the phone and began scrolling through the message.
Hi! Gr8 news. They’ve put me on C Turtles! And upped the £. Cool, eh? When r u coming over? Xx
Emma didn’t deign to make a comment. She simply looked at Harriet and raised an eyebrow.
‘He wants to see me,’ Harriet enthused. ‘And he put two kisses and guys don’t do that if they’re not keen and I put two as well when I texted him back.’
‘Harriet, guys who are keen don’t talk about turtles,’ she said, in a knowing voice. ‘And as for asking you over . . .’ She paused as Harriet’s phone beeped in her hand. ‘Don’t tell me this is him again,’ she muttered, chucking the phone at Harriet. ‘What is it this time? A run-down of the life cycle of the stingray?’
Harriet didn’t reply. She was staring at the phone open-mouthed. Emma peered over her shoulder.
I’m outside, you’re inside. Not a good plan. Come and meet me by the fountain. Theo xxx
‘Yes, yes, yes!’ Emma punched the air and hugged Harriet. ‘Now that’s a romantic message. Go on, then!’
‘But – I didn’t realise he was – I mean, you think he really likes me?’
‘What have I been telling you all week?’ Emma remarked smugly. ‘Now go on – go and find out just how much he likes you.’
She watched as Harriet hurried through the press of dancers towards the door. Then she picked up her drink and went to share her moment of triumph with George.
‘So come on, tell me everything! Did he kiss you?’ Emma urged the instant that George had dropped them off at the front door of her house.
‘No,’ Harriet replied, ‘but he was really sweet. At first he seemed surprised that I’d gone out there. I guess he thought I’d go all precious on him . . .’
‘And?’
‘Well, he kept looking over his shoulder like he was scared someone would see us, but then he took my hand . . .’
‘Promising,’ murmured Emma, slipping her key into the lock. ‘Go on.’
‘And he showed me all the stars and told me their names. And then he asked me to go and dance and we did. Well, for a moment or two. He asked how my mum was getting on, and then he said he’d better go and chat to you because you were all on your own. That was kind, wasn’t it? Oh, and before he went, he said he’d drive me over to see Mum some time this week.’
This, thought Emma with satisfaction, is definitely love.
Harriet let out a dreamy sigh. ‘Rob never . . .’ She hesitated.
‘Never had a romantic bone in his body? Never noticed the stars?’ Emma urged.
Harriet bit her lip and said nothing, and Emma wondered for a second if she was being a bit too harsh.
‘Rob’s busy, of course,’ Harriet finally said, ‘and really hard working and stuff, which is why he can’t . . . but yes, Theo’s lovely, but so’s Rob and . . . oh, I don’t know.’
‘Well, look at it this way,’ Emma said cheerfully. ‘If you hang out with Theo for a bit, and make Rob jealous, he might be more attentive. You’ve nothing to lose.’
Harriet sighed again. ‘You’re right. And you know, Theo is terribly sweet. And I do like him a lot.’ She smiled at Emma. ‘In fact, it was just the best evening ever.’
CHAPTER 7
Secret scheme: Somehow find a way out of this one
FOR THE NEXT WEEK, EMMA WAS IN HER ELEMENT. EVERY day provided yet another opportunity to put her people-sorting skills to good use.
On Friday the problem was Freddie’s continued absence.
‘His mobile’s off all the time,’ Lucy said on the phone to Emma that morning. ‘Adam called in at the gallery in case his grandmother knew anything.’
‘And?’
Lucy sighed. ‘All she would say is that Freddie had left a note to say he’d be away for a bit. No reason why. Adam was really miffed, especially when his gran said that Freddie was a grown man and could take care of himself. She’s totally off this planet.’
‘She does have a point, I guess,’ Emma acknowledged.
‘Yeah, but you know what Adam thinks? He reckons that Freddie’s father’s calling the shots again, and Freddie’s gone home, which means no party here, which means —’
‘Lucy, get a grip!’ Emma ordered. ‘Leave it with me, OK? I’ll sort it.’
‘Oh, like you’re really going to make him switch his phone back on? How? By telepathic communication?’
‘No, Luce, by using my brain. I’ll call you later. Bye!’
‘Country Matters photographic department, Bianca Richards speaking. How may I help you?’
‘I’m so sorry to bother you,’ Emma replied. ‘I’m trying to find Freddie Churchill. I understand he’s doing photo shoots for you about now.’
‘I’m afraid I am not allowed to release details of —’
‘Of course not. It’s just that I’m the functions manager of Donwell Abbey and he asked me to be sure to call him today but the number he gave me isn’t being recognised. I wonder if you can tell me where I might find him?’
‘Hold the line a moment please.’
Emma tapped her foot impatiently and sent up a silent prayer.
‘We can’t give out his details, but I could contact him for you at the hospital and —’
‘Hospital? Is he ill?’ Emma’s heart missed a beat.
‘No, he’s fine, and forget I said that, OK?’ There was a note of panic in the girl’s voice. ‘I’m only here on work experience, and they’d kill me . . .’
‘I’ve already forgotten,’ Emma said with as much charm as she could muster. ‘If you can get him to phone me, I very much doubt that I will remember.’
‘And your name?’
‘Emma Woodhouse. Tell him that it’s about the band. Oh, and his brother.’
No harm in setting a few hares running in a good cause, she thought.
‘Will do. And thanks.’
It was, thought Emma, chucking her phone to one side, very satisfying to have people eating out of your hand.
‘Emma? Freddie here. ‘Look, I’m calling from the hospital.’
‘What’s happened?’
‘Er, oh, well this mate of mine messed up big time in a pub the other night,’ he said. ‘Took E – landed up in hospital and —’
‘That’s awful! Was it, I mean, it wasn’t this Judy person, was it? The one who phoned you?’
‘Ju— well, yes, actually it was,’ Freddie said. ‘I’m sure someone spiked the drink or something. I mean, no matter what, no one would take that stuff out of choice, surely?’
&
nbsp; For a moment, he sounded like he was about to burst into tears.
‘Look, I can’t talk here – hospital rules,’ he went on hastily. ‘The girl at the office said something about Adam? Is he OK?’
‘Worried sick about you. But all right, if that’s what you mean,’ Emma replied briskly.
‘Right, thank God for that. Can’t do with any more crises. And actually, I’d rather you didn’t say too much about what I’ve just told you – it’s hardly the kind of thing you want the world to know about.’
‘I guess not. What shall I tell Adam?’
‘Oh, just say something about work overload – I’ll be down in a few days anyway.’
‘Great. And about the party – what shall I . . .?’
‘The band’s the main thing – and as you’ve got them —’
‘You knew? Who told you?’
Freddie laughed. ‘You said you would sort it and, according to Adam, you always get your own way, so I just assumed,’ he explained hastily. ‘Don’t tell me they said no?’
‘Of course not,’ Emma replied. ‘As if they’d dare. What’s more, I wangled it so that they’re staying at our place. Cool or what?’
‘That’s brilliant. Oh look, I’ve got to go,’ Freddie said hurriedly. ‘Oh, and Emma?’
‘Yes?’
‘Thanks. You’re a star. I owe you one.’
Great, thought Emma. That’s one debt I’ll be collecting very soon.
‘Ecstasy?’ Lucy gasped after Emma had rushed over to the Frontier Adventure Centre in her car. ‘The girl must be a raving lunatic to mess with that stuff.’
‘I get the feeling Freddie was pretty disgusted with her,’ Emma replied. ‘It’s odd though.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘Well, I’ve been thinking. Judy phoned Freddie in the middle of the day when he was with me and she must have been fine then.’
Secret Schemes and Daring Dreams Page 9