“Oh, that! Well, she kept asking questions, so I thought I’d better make some stuff up. I said you could fold napkins into a scene from Swan Lake … and make ice sculptures … and David Linley once asked for your cheese-straw recipe.”
“Bella …” I close my eyes.
“I made quite a lot up, actually. She lapped it up! I have to go, babe. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
The phone goes dead and I stand motionless for a moment, the bathroom suddenly very silent without Bella’s husky voice in my ear.
I look at my watch. It’s still early. I’ve got time to have a look.
Three minutes later I’m sitting at Eddie’s desk, tapping my fingers as I wait for the Internet connection to work. I asked Tanya if I could possibly send an e-mail of thanks to Lady Edgerly, and she was only too eager to open up the stud
