When Wishes Come True (21 page)

‘It matches your beauty, my dear, and my aim in life is to please you.’ He waved to the maître d’hôtel who was hovering in the background. ‘A bottle of your finest champagne, Alfonso, my companion and I wish to celebrate. We will order our meal later, but first I wish to make a toast.’

Alfonso bowed. ‘I will choose the wine myself, Mr Astbury, and it will be the best.’

‘What are we toasting, Philip?’ Evelyn asked, feeling relaxed now, and very much at home in a room where the women were richly dressed and you could almost smell the wealth. ‘Is it your birthday or a special event?’

‘A very special event, my dear Evelyn. Our first evening out together socially, which I’m hoping will be the first of many.’

She lowered her eyes and her dark lashes fanned her cheeks. Now was the time to put her plan into action. And because what she was tasting this evening was something she wanted very much for her future life, she had to be word perfect. No more scraping along each week with not enough money to live on, no more living in a poky two-up-two-down house with common people for neighbours. To get what she wanted more than anything in her life, her acting had to be faultless.

‘I’m afraid it would have to be the odd occasion for me, Philip, even though I wish it were otherwise. You see, while I am not penniless, I really don’t have enough money to buy the sort of clothes I would need for many social outings such as tonight’s.’ When Philip would have spoken, she silenced him with a raised hand. ‘I manage quite well, and am not complaining or looking for sympathy. And I really don’t want to have to explain my position, or any part of my past life. That would benefit no one. I would love to see you again, but, as I said, it would only be on the odd occasion, and not often as you suggest. I do not want to lie to you, I prefer to tell you the truth. And the truth is, I have to be very careful with what money I have. I can’t afford expensive clothes, nor can I afford taxis every time I go out. My life was very different years ago, but now I must live within my means.’

Much to the irritation of Philip, Alfonso arrived at that moment with a silver bucket half-filled with ice on which rested the bottle of champagne. With an exaggerated flourish, the waiter popped the cork and poured a little into Philip’s glass. ‘Would you care to taste, Mr Astbury?’

‘If it is your choice, Alfonso, then I’m sure it is splendid. Please pour then leave the bottle in the ice. I will attend to it myself and indicate when we are ready to see the menu.’

The only thing that was spoiling the evening for Evelyn was the thought that she might meet up with someone who knew her from the early days, and remembered her connection with the Lister-Sinclair family. ‘You appear to be well known here, Philip, is it a favourite haunt of yours?’

‘One of them,’ he answered briefly, wanting to turn the topic back to Evelyn’s situation. ‘Let us drink to our friendship, and then I want to know more about you. You see, you intrigue me.’

She sipped the wine, then gave an appreciative nod and giggled as the bubbles tickled her nose. ‘I always did like champagne, and I would say this was a very good year.’

‘You are a woman of mystery, Evelyn Sinclair,’ he said. ‘And I very much want to unravel that mystery.’

Again Evelyn’s lashes fanned her cheeks. ‘There is no mystery, I am what you see.’ She raised her eyes to gaze into his. ‘My husband idolised me, put me on a pedestal and gave me everything my heart desired. Then came the war, he was killed, and suddenly I found I had to fend for myself. I had little money, and although for the first year after he died I tried to keep in contact with friends, I had to come to my senses eventually, and settle for a comfortable unexciting life.’

Philip reached across the table and covered each of her hands. ‘Oh, you poor darling! I can well understand your husband idolising you, it would be very easy to do so. But we can’t allow you to hide yourself away, it would be a sin! I want you to let me help you be happy and bring you pleasure. Someone as beautiful as you should not be hidden away.’

Her brain was scheming, but the large brown eyes that stared into his were as innocent as a baby’s. ‘That is very good of you, Philip. You really are a kind man. And I would like to meet you socially now and again, but that is as far as our relationship can go. I have my pride, and unless I could afford to be fashionably dressed, with my hair waved by a specialist, and able to take a taxi to our meeting place, I would feel most uncomfortable.’

He topped up their glasses. ‘Come along, my love, there’s nothing quite like champers to cheer one up.’ While he drank, his eyes were glued to the face he thought so perfect. Eyes you could swim in, sculpted cheek bones, excellent complexion and a set of perfect white teeth. As well, of course, as a figure any woman would envy. ‘I am more than comfortably off, Evelyn, and so are my parents. I don’t need to work, I only do so because I would get incredibly bored playing tennis all day and every day like some of my friends. So I am in a position to help you enjoy a pleasurable life.’

Pretending to be naive, she asked, ‘What do you mean, Philip? You’re not suggesting I should become your mistress, are you?’

He chuckled. ‘You say that as though you couldn’t bear to be near me! Surely I am not so ugly?’

‘You are not a bit ugly, Philip, you are a very attractive man. And I’m sure if I let myself I could fall head over heels for you.’

‘After that compliment, my dear, I am determined to help you. And you needn’t feel under any obligation to me, as I will explain if you will give me the chance.’

‘May we order our meal first? I do feel a little peckish.’

When Evelyn smiled shyly, Philip wasn’t to know it was contrived. He felt his heart would surely burst. ‘Your wish is my command, my love.’ He raised a hand and within a couple of seconds Alfonso arrived with large menu cards. ‘Give my companion and me ten minutes to make our choice, my good man, then we will order.’

Evelyn’s eyes ran down the menu. She could almost hear her tummy’s reaction. It was over eight years since she’d set eyes on such a fine selection of food. But she didn’t want to appear too eager as she passed her menu across to Philip. ‘I’ll have the consommé, and then the fillet of salmon.’

Philip decided he’d have the same, plus another bottle of champagne, and chuckled when Evelyn asked him if he was trying to get her drunk. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it, my love, but if by some unforeseen circumstance you did become slightly merry, my bachelor flat is just two minutes’ walk away.’

‘Oh, that’s interesting.’ Things seemed to be going her way, and Evelyn was prepared to help them along. ‘Do you use it often to entertain your lady friends?’

‘Not an awful lot, I prefer the comfort of my parents’ house. Plus the fact they have a wonderful cook whose pastry melts in the mouth.’ Philip sat back in his chair, glass in hand. ‘Why do you ask? Do you think that’s where I keep my harem?’ He was teasing her and also trying to find out more about her. ‘Do you object to a man having a mistress?’

‘I have never really thought about it,’ she told him. ‘I imagine there are situations where it would suit a wife for her husband to have a mistress, and in those circumstances I imagine I too would have no objection.’

Philip was digging for her opinion on such subjects, and as he swirled the wine around in his glass, asked, ‘What about a young bachelor with no ties? And a young widow who also has no ties? What are your views in these circumstances?

‘Really, Philip, I do believe you are teasing me! You are making me blush, and that’s something I haven’t done publicly for a long time.’

‘It suits you, my dear, you look quite enchanting. And it is so refreshing.’ Philip saw two waiters approaching with their first course. ‘Ah, we will have to continue our very interesting discussion later.’

‘Perhaps, when we resume our conversation, we can keep it less personal? Don’t you agree, Philip?’

‘I disagree, I’m afraid,’ he said with a charming smile. ‘Things were just getting interesting. I told you I was intrigued by you, and I am determined to get to know the real you, not the small part of yourself you allow strangers to see.’

It was impossible to talk while the waiters were there, dedicated to seeing the thick, white linen napkins were covering their laps at just the right angle before the consommé was served. And having been told by Alfonso that Mr Astbury and his companion must be given the very closest attention, they would have stayed by if Philip hadn’t dismissed them, saying he would signal when they were ready for the next course.

‘Do they always make such a fuss of you, Philip?’ Evelyn had taken a spoonful of the delicious soup and was finding it hard to keep a look of bliss from her face. Oh, what she wouldn’t give for a life like this again. ‘I think you are spoilt.’

‘Alfonso knows he will be handsomely tipped, my dear, and also knows I like the best service in return.’ Philip laid down his spoon and patted his lips with the napkin. ‘I’ll let you into a secret which of course you must not relate to my good friend Alfonso, who would be deeply wounded. I would much prefer being spoilt by you than by him.’

Two glasses of champagne and her plan seemingly on course had the effect of loosening Evelyn’s tongue. ‘Ah, but I cannot make such delicious consommé, or pastry that melts in the mouth, nor do I have the money to tip you handsomely.’

‘All things I could live without, my dear Evelyn.’ Philip hadn’t failed to notice how relaxed she had become, and wondered if he was making headway. There were so many things he would like to know, but if he rushed her he could scare her off. For instance, she must have parents of her own somewhere, and what about the family of the man she’d married? Why was she so alone in the world? Was there a simple explanation? ‘Another glass of bubbly, while we are waiting for the next course?’

Evelyn nodded. Why not make the most of tonight and enjoy herself? ‘Thank you, Philip, I think I’m safe with one more glass.’

But an hour later, after the most delicious meal she’d had in years, Evelyn threw caution to the wind when he refilled her glass. ‘If I start to giggle or lisp, Philip, then please don’t offer me any more drink. I am not used to it these days, and wouldn’t like you to see me tipsy and making a fool of myself. Not that I ever have, but I’m relying on you to see I remain sober enough to make my way home.’

‘I would not allow you to go home on your own in an inebriated state, my lovely Evelyn, especially in the dark. Have no fear, I will take care of you.’

‘I don’t want this evening to end, Philip, I’m really enjoying myself. You are very good company. But I want you to promise that you will see me into a taxi when the evening draws to a close?’

‘I have another suggestion to make but I don’t want to offend you. So listen carefully before you answer. First, would you like to do something to please me?’

Evelyn’s brain wasn’t too fuddled to know that this could be make or break time. She didn’t know what Philip was going to ask, but she had to be prepared. Did she want to stay in her two-up-two-down house for the rest of her days, or would she take whatever terms he offered if it got her out of the rut? ‘Why would I not want to please you when you have been so kind to me? Anything within reason, Philip, I will happily agree to.’

‘Then let us leave here after our coffee. Come back with me to my bachelor flat. I promise I have no ulterior motive, I will be the perfect gentleman.’ He leaned across the table and caught her hand. ‘I would like you to see it, and then if you are agreeable, and as eager to see me as I am to see you, we can use it to meet whenever we like. On Monday I take over my uncle’s office and you will be my full-time secretary. It will be difficult for us to talk privately there for I would not like there to be a whiff of gossip that would embarrass you. So please come with me now to my flat where we can finish our discussion on how I can help you improve your life. But always remember you are a free agent and can do as you wish. So it’s for you to decide, my dear, do you come back to my flat or shall I call you a taxi from here to take you home?’

‘I would love to see your flat, Philip. As long as you promise to call a taxi for me when it’s time for me to go home.’ Evelyn lowered her eyes to hide her look of triumph. ‘Even if it’s the middle of the night when we finish talking and getting to know each other, you must call a taxi to take me home.’

Philip also felt a sensation of triumph, but warned himself to tread carefully for the time being, he didn’t want to frighten her off. ‘You have my solemn promise, my dear. I intend to take good care of you.’

‘Well, yer did us proud, girl, I’ll give yer that.’ Aggie Gordon ran the back of one chubby hand over her mouth as she looked across the table to where Bessie sat next to Amelie. ‘A feast fit for a king, that was.’

‘Aggie’s right,’ Rita Wells said, her head nodding in agreement. ‘And yer made those pies yerself, did yer say?’

‘Yeah, I made them last night and put them between plates in the larder,’ Bessie said, looking pleased with herself and the world in general. ‘I knew it would be too late to make them when I got home from work today, what with shopping and all, so I thought I’d get stuck in last night and get them off me mind.’ She chuckled, ‘I knew Aggie would have something to say if there wasn’t a good spread and she went home hungry, I’d never have heard the last of it.’

Amelia, sitting next to Bessie, couldn’t keep still for excitement. This had been the best day of her life and she’d never forget it. ‘The pies were lovely, Auntie Bessie, and so were the sandwiches and cakes. I’ve never had a birthday party before, but I bet this was the bestest anyone ever had.’

‘But yer must have been to a party sometime, sunshine, surely a friend’s or a relative’s?’ Rita asked. ‘Even if yer’ve never had one yerself.’

‘No, I haven’t, Auntie Rita.’ It wasn’t just the food and the fact it was her birthday that was making Amelia feel so happy. It was being spoken to by adults, and being able to answer them without having to think before speaking. And she had never laughed so much in her life, for Mrs Wells and Mrs Gordon were so funny the way they pretended to be mad with each other and then ended up laughing so much the tears rolled down their cheeks. ‘No, I haven’t, honest! I haven’t got any relatives, you see.’ A cheeky grin came to her face as she added, ‘Well, I never used to have, but I have now, I’ve got an Auntie Bessie, Auntie Rita and an Auntie Aggie.’ She rocked on her chair with laughter that brought smiles to the faces of the three women. ‘There’s not many girls get presents like that for their birthday.’