Read Online Up Close and Personal by Leonie Fox - Free Book Online Page B

certainly did,’ Juliet agreed. As she spoke, Nicole thought she heard a catch in her voice.
    ‘Poor Gus,’ said Eleanor, hanging her head. ‘He had so much to live for.’
    For a few moments, the only sound in the room was the scrape of cutlery on fine china as each of the guests was lost in their own private thoughts. Yasmin’s gaze fell on Dante, who had stopped eating and was staring fixedly at his plate. She supposed it must be rather awkward for him … sitting there, listening to the others talking about his predecessor’s exploits with a mix of affection and awe, especially when the whole point of the dinner party had been to celebrate his own arrival in Loxwood. Suddenly, Dante pushed his chair away from the table.
    ‘Excuse me,’ he said, tossing down his napkin. ‘I need to use the john.’
    As he got up from the table, Yasmin caught Eleanor’s barely concealed look of disgust. Whether it had been provoked by Dante’s use of slang, or his breach of etiquette by leaving the table mid-course, was anyone’s guess.
    It was with a certain degree of relief that Nicole and Connor set off on the short drive home, just after midnight.
    ‘I’m glad that’s over,’ Connor said as their car passed through the entrance gates. ‘You could have cut the atmosphere in that dining room with a knife.’
    ‘Gus’s parents are vile,’ Nicole said. ‘I know it must be hard for them, seeing Juliet with another man – especially in the house where Gus grew up – but they didn’t have togive Dante such a hard time.’ She turned to her husband. ‘Will you give him a call in the next few days and offer to take him out? We don’t want him thinking everyone in Loxwood’s obsessed with blood sports and the finer points of table etiquette.’
    Connor groaned. ‘Look, Nic, I’ve got an awful lot on my plate at the surgery just now.’
    ‘You’re always busy,’ Nicole snapped. ‘I’m beginning to wonder just what goes on at that surgery of yours.’
    ‘I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it,’ Connor said quickly. ‘I just need to check my diary first.’
    Nicole stared out of the window as the hedgerows flashed by. Although the lane was unlit, the moon was full and it cast an ethereal glow over everything that, for some inexplicable reason, Nicole found arousing.
    ‘You know what,’ she said, turning to Connor. ‘We should take advantage of the fact Tilly’s staying the night with Mum.’ She laid a hand on his upper thigh. ‘How about it? You could even bend me over the kitchen table, just like old times.’
    Connor’s eyes remained fixed on the road. ‘Do you mind if we give it a miss? I’m absolutely knackered and I’ve got to get up early to play golf.’
    Nicole made a resigned face. ‘Of course not,’ she said tersely.
    Back at Ashwicke, Juliet and Dante had retired for the night.
    ‘Did you have a nice evening, darling?’ Juliet said as she sat at her dressing table, brushing her long hair.
    ‘Yeah, it was interesting,’ Dante replied, quickly pulling his shirt over his head so his wife wouldn’t see his face and know that he was lying.
    ‘I didn’t know you were opposed to hunting,’ Juliet said lightly.
    ‘I guess there’s a lot we don’t know about each other.’ Dante sat down on the hand-carved Jacobean four-poster that had accommodated three generations of Ingrams and started taking off his socks. ‘Like I didn’t know you were planning to make me Customer Liaison Manager.’
    Juliet turned to face him and smiled. ‘Isn’t it a great idea?’
    Dante shrugged. ‘I don’t even know what a Customer Liaison Manager is.’
    ‘It’s quite straightforward really. You’ll be responsible for looking after the guests and dealing with any problems or enquiries they might have. I’ll get Nathan to show you the ropes. I’m sure you’ll pick it up in no time.’
    Dante held up his hand. ‘Hold your horses, missy. Did it even cross your mind to discuss your grand plan with me first