would have suggested something more common for having lunch with him. The place is very small and the tables are very close to each other. I don’t really like that for the kind of conversations I’m planning to have with my lawyer.
“The food is fantastic! Matthew Accarrino is the best Italian chef in town! The pasta is superb and the exquisite wines come from Italy—not only Nappa Valley!” Anthony laughs. Today is a Saturday and the restaurant is fully booked.
“Anthony, I’ll marry Edwina.” Anthony isn’t enthusiastic about it.
“I don’t believe you! You, Edward, you had more wives than Henry VIII! You found another one saying ‘yes’ to your proposal? How did you do that?” He isn’t joking at all. I know that. Since he rescued me from my marriage with Mary Grace he can’t stand the idea of me being married ever again.
“Edward, you know what another divorce could mean to you. You are wealthy enough for having a mistress in every single country of the world. Come on, why does it have to be a marriage again?”
We both keep silent.
“Have you chosen a starter?’
We stick our noses in the menu.
“She is the right one, Anthony!” I try to rise the subject again.
“They all were, Edward, including Mary Grace. Don’t forget how much it cost you to take your son Eddie away from her. Beware: Edwina might be a fabulous stepmother but he’ll grow up and will be older. Soon he’ll be at boarding school. It’ll be much easier for you. You don’t need a wife, Edward, you need a nanny for him. Or a few nannies. Forget about the marriage—you had more wives by now than you should have had.”
EDWINA
“Leave the dogs outside.”
The boys don’t listen. Biscuit and Jolly, Theodore’s Labrador, run into the house. Both completely wet and dirty they decide to shake the mud off their fury coats. Eddie’s dog Biscuit just doesn’t listen same as Eddie himself. No one obeys in Edward IV’s family. Nobody is educated—not even house trained. This will definitely change, I promise.
I just picked up Miranda and Daisy from the train station in Perth. The phone is ringing. It is Aelita and her son Felix with her new found love Matthew.
“Where are you? Yes, take the big gateway. On your right you will have the river.” I describe the driveway to the manor house.
“I think we arrived. Can you see us?”
“No, you must be at the cottage. We are further up the hill. You will have to go another half a mile. Drive along the river, you will se the fisherman’s house and from there you can see the manor house on the hill.”
For a moment I can only hear Aelita breathing, then she shouts excitedly: “Here we are! I found it!” Aelita, Felix and Matthew arrived.
“This is Miranda, my close friend.” I introduce everyone upon their arrival.
“We’ve met at Eddie’s birthday party, Miranda. And there is Daisy! How are you?” Aelita remembers them all.
“Of course, you were so kind giving me a lift home after Eddie’s party. Do you remember? You dropped us off at my house in Holland Park, Daisy and myself?”
“That’s right. That’s already two years ago, is that possible? Time flies by so quickly. We went for a shopping spree! Where can we bring all the food?” Aelita is asking.
In the meantime Matthew carries wine boxes and baskets full of delicatessen shopping into the house.
“This is fantastic! Would you please bring it over there in the second kitchen. That’s where the cold rooms are. Brilliant! Oh God, what did you bring!” I am totally overwhelmed as I don’t have Maria Clara helping me every day. I must remember to think of saving costs.
The estate has been sold when we went through the divorce. Victor is renting it now and I am allowed to use it when I come up here with the boys while he isn’t around. The kids love it as it used to be their permanent home.
Victor still takes them here and goes with them for fishing and hunting. He is a real Scotsman with a touch of snootiness. He became well known as a lobbyist of the Liberals and he surely made a good living from it. The first man of the country’s Liberals used to work for him many years ago. Today things have changed: they walk together hand in hand along the Houses of Parliament. Victor as a lobbyist of the Liberals made sure Mick Freedom became the number one of his party. Before elections he convinced the members of parliament to sweep off certain subjects. The pharmaceutical industry, the tobacco lobby—they all paid Victor lavish amounts for vanishing delicate issues. So now all our assets have been sold and what remained has been divided between Victor and me. Now I am free for Edward. What was left for me after the divorce wouldn’t pay for my Chelsea and Knightsbridge lifestyle. I just wouldn’t be able to afford the Queen’s Club, the first class travel and no Maria Clara every single day. Moments like these remind me of my parents and the housekeeper I cannot even have for this huge manor house each day.
My parents brought me up by teaching me the magic of thrift. That’s why I am happy flying Easy Jet while Eddie gets his ticket booked in Business Class and Edward would be using a private jet. Each year my mum sends me a Christmas card using a yellow post-it sticker on the inside of the card wishing me a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Straight after the festive holidays at a family meeting in the club she would remind me to hand the Christmas card back to her. “So I can give you the card next year again for Christmas, dear Edwina.” Every year she would whisper these magic words in my ear. Yes, I’ve been brought up in stinginess even though I knew how to appreciate a great lifestyle.
“Oh, Miranda, it’s so good that you are here. Edward and I will get married this summer!” I tell my two girlfriends full of joy.
“Wow, that’s fantastic! Will you get married in England or in San Francisco? May I be your bridesmaid?” Aelita is completely happy about achievement.
“I’m so happy for you, Edwina.” Aelita says. “On what place of the Forbes list of the richest men of the United States is Edward currently?” I can feel Miranda’s envy.
“I’m not sure and it actually doesn’t really matter as long as he still is on that list!” We laugh about me and my ultra rich super millionaire, about my luck in life and that he will marry me—he—Edward D. IV.
“Look, this is the engagement ring he gave me!” I pull the sleeve of my blouse up and show my hand almost holding it like expecting a hand kiss.
“Where is the diamond? I can’t see it.” Aelita is asking.
“Look there, three gemstones!” Miranda says with a vibrating voice trying to defend my engagement ring. “You need glasses, my dear.” So she adds sharply in order to punish Aelita who throughs a patronizing look at her.
“Contact lenses, Miranda. Short sighted minus eight diopter plus astigmatism. Very small these gemstones, miniature, yes—indeed.” Aelita replies quick-witted. Her blue eyes transform immediately into two challenging slits almost like sapphires in the shape of cat eyes. Her seductive lips are slightly opened. She is sitting straight up—her breasts bulging like the boobies of a twenty year old.
“Didn’t
