against unwanted sympathy, he guessed—and she did it so well that he knew most people would grab at the opportunity to smile with her and move on.
Having seen what she could really do with a smile when she meant it, he wanted to know what had really happened—what she really felt.
‘How long?’ he asked.
‘Three years.’ And for a moment he glimpsed something the smile was supposed to hide. Not the three years that had passed, but the lifetime to come. Then, filling the silence while he thought about that, she said, ‘Don’t look so tragic. It could have been a lot worse.’
Forcing himself to match her matter-of-factness, he replied, ‘Of course it could. You could be dead.’ And then, remembering that momentary glimpse of something darker between the smiles, he wondered.
But Matty laughed, provoked out from behind the lurking shadows. ‘Cheery soul, aren’t you? Actually, I was being rather more down-to-earth about my condition.’ Seeing his confusion, she grinned. ‘It’s an incomplete lower spine injury, which means I can at least use the bathroom just like anyone else.’
‘Oh, well, I can see how that’s a bonus. Although you’d have been in trouble if you’d been a man.’
She laughed out loud. ‘I like you, big-shot banker. Most of the people here would have taken to their heels by now.’
‘Is that why you do it?’
‘Do what?’ she enquired innocently.
‘Test people?’
‘I only test the patronising ones who talk over my head. The ones who ask Fran if it’s okay for me to have a drink—as if, because I can’t stand up, I’m incapable of carrying on a normal conversation. The ones who speak to me as if I’m hard of hearing.’
He glanced around at the empty terrace and then back at her. ‘You seem to have got it down to a fine art.’
‘Lots of practice. But once we get this far I do like to get the bathroom thing out of the way, since sooner or later people start to worry about it. I find being open and direct makes for a more relaxing conversation.’
‘Liar. You just want to make them squirm.’
‘Are you squirming?’
‘What do you think?’ Then, ‘How about sex?’
‘Now?’ she asked, as if he’d just propositioned her. ‘I thought you were a man who liked to get to know a woman first.’
‘I’m open to persuasion. So, is it a problem?’
‘Nothing is a problem if you want it badly enough, Sebastian. For instance, I’m assured that, if I was prepared to strap myself into braces and put myself through several circles of hell, I could get up off my backside and stand on my own two feet. Even walk, after a fashion, although no one is promising it would be much fun, or even a remotely practical way to get about. Nothing as simple, or graceful, as my chair.’ Again there was that wry little smile. ‘And if you can’t tango, what’s the point?’
He didn’t buy that, not for a minute, but she’d changed the subject and he didn’t press it. Instead, picking up the lead she’d trailed to draw him away from the dark side of her life and back into the light, he asked, ‘What would you have done if I’d been up for the foxtrot?’
‘Oh, please! Most men’s eyes glaze over at the first mention of a simple waltz.’
‘You didn’t give me a chance to glaze,’ he objected.
‘No, but then I was certain a man like you would know that you can smooch to a waltz. No one under sixty has the first idea how to foxtrot,’ she went on, ‘so I knew I was safe with that one.’
‘So, we delay the dance until you’ve decided that I’m worth the effort. I’ll just call a cab and we’ll go somewhere quiet for dinner.’
Even as he took out his cellphone it occurred to him that he had no idea if she could manage a cab. Or whether any of the restaurants he knew were wheelchair accessible. And while he hesitated, confronted by a reality that was quite new to him, Guy came to his rescue.
‘Matty, Fran wants you in the marquee. Apparently she’s got some journalist slavering to look at that alphabet book you made for Toby.’
‘She’s what? It’s her wedding reception, for heaven’s sake!’
‘Hey, don’t blame me. I’m just the messenger. Since she’s discovered how good she is at business I get the feeling that nothing is going to stop her from taking over the world.’
‘I know,’ she said, backing away from the table. ‘To be honest I find it just a little bit scary.’
As Sebastian moved to accompany her, Guy, hand on his shoulder, detained him. ‘Oh, no. My lovely wife has plans for you, too.’ Then, as if suddenly aware that he’d interrupted something, ‘You don’t mind if I borrow him for a moment, do you, Matty?’
‘You can keep him, darling. I’ve been neglecting my duties for long enough.’ She extended her hand in a gesture that clearly said goodbye. ‘Lovely to meet you, Sebastian.’
He held it rather than shook it. ‘I thought we were going to have dinner?’
‘Thanks, but it’s been a long day. Next time you’re in London, perhaps.’ As if to emphasise her dismissal, she disentangled her fingers and, with a little wave, said, ‘Try and be kinder to your sisters; I’m sure you needed bossing. And give my love to New York.’
She didn’t wait for a response, but executed a neat ninety-degree turn and moved swiftly along the path. He watched her until she had been swallowed up in the crowd of people milling around the entrance, then he turned back to Guy.
‘She’s some woman.’
‘Yes, she is. I’m sorry if I broke up something…’
‘No. You heard her. We’ll have dinner next time I’m in London.’
Guy grinned. ‘She doesn’t know you’re staying?’
‘I don’t believe I mentioned it.’
Most people had deserted the gathering dusk of the garden for the flower-scented warmth of the marquee, and Matty paused for a moment in the entrance, assailed by a sudden ache in her throat as she watched couples wrapped in each other’s arms swaying to the music.
She had so loved to dance. Loved the intimacy of being close to a man, her arms about his neck, while he whispered hot desire in her ear.
She shivered a little, looked back to where she’d been sitting. But as the crowd shifted she could see that the terrace was empty and, as she remembered the whispered exchange between Guy and Francesca, it took all her will-power to resist the feeling that Sebastian had sent out some kind of ‘rescue me’ signal.
She’d liked him. Wanted to believe he was better than that. And dinner, once, would have been special. But then he’d have gone away. And even if he hadn’t—
‘There
