Authors: Madeleine Wickham
There was a slight pause and he was aware of eyes darting towards the head of the table. Then Harry raised his glass.
`To Anne,' he said gravely.
`To Anne,' echoed James and Milly.
`Was that her name?' said Olivia, looking up with flushed cheeks. Ì always thought it was Louise.'
`No,' said Simon. Ànne.'
Òh well,' said Olivia, ìf you say so.' She raised her glass. `To Anne. Anne Pinnacle.' She drank from her glass, then looked at Milly, as though struck by a sudden thought. `You're not planning to keep your own name, are you, darling?'
Ì don't think so,' said Milly. Àlthough I might stay as Havill for work.'
Òh no!' exclaimed Olivia. `Too confusing. Just be Pinnacle through and through!'
Ì think it's a good idea,' said James. `Keep your independence. What do you think, Simon? Would you mind if Milly stayed Havill?,
`To be honest,' said Simon, Ì'd prefer it if we shared a name. We'll be sharing everything else.' He turned towards Milly and smiled. `But I'll be sad to lose Milly Havill, too. After all, it was Milly Havill I fell in love with.'
'Very touching,' said James.
`Would you consider changing your name to Havill?' said Harry, from the end of the table. Simon looked at him steadily.
`Yes I would,' he said. Ìf Milly really wanted it.'
`No!' exclaimed Olivia. `You don't, do you, darling?'
Ì don't suppose you would have changed your name for Mum, would you, Dad?' said Simon.
`No,' said Harry. Ì wouldn't.'
`Yes well,' said Simon tautly, `the difference is that I'm prepared to put my marriage before everything else.'
`The difference is,' Harry said, `that your mother's maiden name was Parry.' Olivia laughed and Simon shot her a furious look.
`The point is,' he said loudly, `names are irrelevant. It's people that make a marriage work. Not names.'
Ànd you, of course, are an expert on marriage,' said Harry.
Ì'm more of an expert than you! At least I haven't screwed mine up yet!' There was a short silence. The Havills all looked at their plates. Simon gazed at his father, breathing hard. Then Harry shrugged.
Ì'm sure you and Milly will be very happy,' he said. `We can't all be so lucky.'
Ìt's not a matter of luck,' retorted Simon angrily. `Luck doesn't come into it!' He looked at James and Olivia. `What would you say makes a successful marriage?'
`Money,' said Olivia, then laughed brightly. Ònly joking!'
Ìt's communication, isn't it?' said Simon. He leaned forward earnestly. `Sharing, talking; knowing each other inside out. Wouldn't you agree, James?'
Ì'll take your word for it,' said James, and took a swig of wine.
`You're absolutely right, Simon,' said Olivia. Ì was actually going to say communication.'
Ì'd put sex above communication,' said Harry. `Good sex, and plenty of it.'
`Well, I wouldn't know much about that, either,' said James drily.
`James!' exclaimed Olivia, and gave a tinkling laugh. Simon gave James a curious look, then glanced at Milly. But she didn't seem to be listening to the conversation at all.
`What about you, Harry?' Olivia was saying, gazing up at him through her lashes.
`What about me?)
Àren't you ever tempted to marry again?'
Ì'm too old to marry,' said Harry shortly.
`Nonsense!' exclaimed Olivia gaily. `You could easily find yourself a lovely wife.'
'If you say so.'
Òf course you could.' Olivia took another sip of wine. Ì'd marry you myself!' She gave a little laugh.
`Very kind of you,' said Harry.
Òh no,' said Olivia, waving her glass in the air. Ìt would be a pleasure. Really.'
There was a choice of puddings.
Òh!' said Olivia, looking from lemon mousse to chocolate torte and back again. Òh dear, I can't decide.'
`Then have both,' said Harry.
`Really? Would that be all right? Is anyone else going to have both?' Olivia looked around the table.
Ì'm not going to have any,' said Milly, pleating her napkin nervously between her fingers.
`You're not slimming, are you?' said Harry.
`No,' said Milly. Ì'm just not very hungry.' She managed a smile at Harry and he nodded pleasantly back. He was basically a kind man, thought Milly. She could see it, even if Simon couldn't.
`You're as bad as Isobel!' said Olivia. Ìsobel eats like a little bird.'
`She's too busy to eat,' said James.
`How is she?' asked Harry politely.
`She's great!' said James with sudden animation. `Forging ahead with her career, travelling the world ...'
`Does she have a boyfriend?'
Òh no,' James laughed. `She's too busy doing her own thing. Isobel's always been an independent spirit. She's not going to get tied down in a hurry.'
`She might,' objected Olivia. `She might meet someone tomorrow! Some nice businessman.'
`God help us,' said James. `Can you really see Isobel settling down with some dreary businessman? Anyway, she's far too young still.'
`She's older than me,' said Milly.
`Yes,' said James, `but the two of you are very different.'
`How?' said Milly. She looked at her father. The tensions of the day were throbbing unbearably inside her head; she felt suddenly on edge. `How are we different? Are you saying I'm too stupid to do anything but get married?'
`No!' said James. He looked shocked. Òf course not! All I mean is that Isobel's a bit more adventurous than you. She likes taking risks.'
Ì've taken risks in my time!' cried Milly. Ì've taken risks you know nothing about!' She broke off, and stared at her father, breathing hard.
`Milly, don't get upset,' said James. Àll I'm saying is that you and Isobel are different.'
Ànd I prefer you,' whispered Simon to Milly. She gave him a grateful smile.
Ànyway, James, what's wrong with businessmen?' said Olivia. `You're a businessman, aren't you, and I married you.'
Ì know, my love,' said James tonelessly. `But I'm hoping Isobel might do a little better than someone like me.'
Later on, as the pudding plates were being removed, Harry cleared his throat for attention.
Ì don't want to make a big thing of this,' he said. `But I've got a bit of a present for the happy couple.'
Simon looked up defensively. He'd bought a present of his own to give Milly this evening and had planned to spring it on her while they were all drinking coffee. But whatever Harry had bought, it would undoubtedly be more expensive than the ear-rings he'd chosen. Surreptitiously he felt for the small leather box, safely in his pocket, and wondered whether to leave it for another day a day without competition from his father. But then a small wave of indignation rose through him. Why should he be ashamed? Perhaps his father could afford to spend a bit more than him but then, what did everyone expect?
Ì've got a present too,' he said, trying to sound casual. `For Milly.,
'For me?' said Milly confusedly. `But I haven't got anything for you. At least, not anything to give you tonight.'
`This is something extra,' said Simon.
He leaned over and gently pushed Milly's blond hair back behind her shoulders, exposing her little pink ears. As he did so, the gesture seemed suddenly erotic; and as he stared at her flawless skin, breathing in her sweet, musky scent, a proud desire surged through him. Sod the rest of them, he thought Olivia with her unbearable smugness, Harry with all his cash. He had Milly's divine body all to himself, and that was all that counted.
`What is it?' said Milly.
`Dad first,' said Simon, feeling magnanimous. `What have you got us, Dad?'
Harry felt in his pocket, and for a mad moment, Simon thought he was going to produce an identical pair of ear-rings. But instead, Harry dropped a key on the table.
À key?' said Milly. `What's it for?'
À car?' said Olivia in incredulous tones.
`Not a car,' said Harry. À flat.'
There was a unanimous gasp. Olivia opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again.
`You're joking,' said Simon. `You've bought us a flat?'
Harry pushed the key across the table.
Àll yours.'
Simon stared at his father, feeling all the wrong emotions rise to the surface. He tried to locate a feeling of gratitude, but all he could feel was shock and the beginnings of a defensive, smarting anger. He glanced at Milly. She was gazing at Harry with shining eyes. Simon felt a sudden despair.
`How . . .' he began, trying to summon the correct, grateful tones, but only managing to sound peevish.
`How do you know we'll like it?'
Ìt's the one you wanted to rent.'
`The one in Marlborough Mansions?'
Harry shook his head.
`The one you wanted to rent. The one you couldn't afford.'
`The flat in Parham Place?' whispered Milly. `You bought it for us?'
Simon stared at his father, and felt like punching him. Fuck him for being so thoughtful.
`This is very good of you, Harry,' said James. Ìncredibly generous.' Harry shrugged.
Òne less thing for them to worry about.'
Òh darling!' said Olivia, clasping Milly's hand. `Won't it be lovely? And you'll be so near us.'
`Well now, there's a plus,' said Simon, before he could stop himself. James glanced at him, and cleared his throat tactfully.
Ànd now,' he said, `what about Simon's present?'
`Yes,' said Milly. She turned to Simon and touched his hand gently. `What is it?'
Simon reached into his pocket and silently presented her with the little box. Everyone watched as she opened it to reveal two tiny, twinkling diamond studs.
Òh Simon,' said Milly. She looked at him, her eyes suddenly glittering with unshed tears. `They're beautiful.'
`Pretty,' said Olivia dismissively. Òh Milly! Parham Place!'
Ì'll put them on,' said Milly.
`You don't have to,' said Simon, trying to control himself. His heart pounded with a raw, hurt anger; it seemed to him that everyone was laughing at him. Even Milly. `They're nothing very special.'
Òf course they are,' said Harry gravely.
`No they're not!' Simon found himself shouting. `Not compared with a piece of fucking real estate!'
`Simon,' said Harry calmly, `no one is making that comparison.'
`Simon, they're lovely!' said Milly. `Look.' She smoothed her hair back and the little diamonds sparkled in the candlelight.
`Great,' said Simon without looking up. He was making things worse, he knew, but he could not help himself. He felt like a small, humiliated schoolboy.
Harry caught James's eye, then rose to his feet.
`Let's have coffee,' he said. `Nicki will have put it in the drawing room.
Àbsolutely,' said James, taking his cue. `Come on, Olivia.'
The three parents moved out of the dining room, leaving Milly and Simon together in silence. After a few moments Simon looked up, to see Milly gazing at him. She wasn't laughing, she wasn't pitying.
Suddenly he felt ashamed.
Ì'm sorry,' he muttered. Ì'm being a complete prick.'
Ì haven't said thank you for my present yet,' said Milly.
She leaned forward and kissed him with warm, soft lips. Simon closed his eyes and cupped her face, feeling nothing but sweet sensation. Gradually, his father receded from his thoughts; his soreness began to lessen. Milly was all his and nothing else really mattered.
`Let's elope,' he said suddenly. `Sod the wedding. Let's just go and do it on our own in a registry office.'
Milly pulled away.
`Do you really want to?' she said. Simon stared back at her. He had been only half-serious, but she was staring at him intently. `Shall we, Simon?' she said, and there was a slight edge to her voice.
`Tomorrow?'
`Well,' he said, feeling a little taken aback. `We could do. But wouldn't everyone get a bit pissed off?
Your mother would never forgive me.' Milly stared at him for a moment, then bit her lip.
`You're right,' she said. Ìt's a stupid idea.' She pushed her chair back and stood up. `Come on. Are you ready to be grateful to your father yet? He's very kind, you know.'
`Wait,' said Simon. He reached out and grasped her hand tightly. `Would you really elope with me?'
`Yes,' said Milly simply. Ì would.'
Ì thought you were looking forward to the wedding. The dress, and the reception, and all your friends ...'
Ì was,' said Milly. `But ...' She looked away and shrugged slightly.
`But you'd give it all up and elope,' said Simon in a shaking voice. `You'd give it all up.' He gazed at Milly and thought he'd never known such love, such generosity of spirit. `No other girl would do that,'
he said, his voice thick with emotion. `God, I love you. I don't know what I've done to deserve you.
Come here.'
He pulled her down onto his knee and began kissing her neck; feeling for her bra strap; tugging urgently at the zip of her skirt.
`Simon . . .' began Milly.
`We'll close the door,' he whispered. `Put a chair under the door handle.'
`But your father ...'
`He made us wait for him,' said Simon, against Milly's warm, scented skin. Ànd now he's going to wait for us.'
CHAPTER FOUR
THE NEXT MORNING, Milly woke feeling refreshed. The rich food, wine and conversation from the night before seemed to have disappeared from her system; she felt light and energetic.
As she went into the kitchen for breakfast, a couple of guests from Yorkshire, Mr and Mrs Able, looked up from their coffee and nodded pleasantly.
`Morning, Milly!' said her mother, looking up from the phone. `There's another special delivery for you.' She pointed to a large cardboard box on the floor. Ànd someone's sent you a bottle of champagne. I've put it in the fridge.'
`Champagne!' said Milly in delight. Ànd what's this?' She poured herself a cup of coffee, sat down on the floor and began to rip open the cardboard.
Ìt looks exciting,' said Mrs Able encouragingly.
Ànd Alexander says he'll meet you at ten-thirty,' said Olivia. `To take some shots and have a little chat.'
Òh,' said Milly, suddenly feeling sick. `Good.'
`You'd better put on some make-up first,' said Olivia. She looked critically at Milly. `Darling, is something wrong?'