‘That’s ridiculous,’ Harriet objected but found she had to laugh a little. ‘You know, the art world takes itself very seriously sometimes, so one may get into the habit of being very serious-minded without quite realising it.’
He laughed then glanced at his watch. ‘OK. I’ve got things to do.’
He got up and untied his horse but Harriet stayed where she was, quite unaware that she looked disappointed.
‘Harriet?’
She looked up to see him frowning down at her.
‘This is how you want it, isn’t it?’ he queried.
She froze then a heartbeat later she scrambled up. ‘Sure! Let’s go!’
But upstairs in the flat after she’d showered and was eating breakfast alone, it wasn’t how she wanted it at all, she had to confess to herself.
* * *
She worked furiously for the next couple of days then Charlie came home for a long weekend and it was his birthday and he’d decided to have a party.
If she hadn’t been so engrossed in her work, she’d have noticed the preparations going on in the big house, but she hadn’t. Therefore it took her by surprise when Isabel asked her what she’d be wearing.
‘Wearing?’
‘To Charlie’s birthday party.’
‘When?’
Isabel clicked her tongue. ‘Tomorrow. You’re invited.’
‘No I’m not.’ Harriet put down the ivory figurine of a dolphin she was holding.
‘But I put an invitation—’ Isabel broke off, looked around and stepped over to the table beside the door where she picked up several items of mail, one of which she then brandished at Harriet, looking exasperated. ‘Even if you didn’t see this, surely you noticed that something was going on?’
Harriet coloured. ‘No. I’m sorry. And thank you very much for inviting me—’
‘Charlie did,’ Isabel corrected.
‘Charlie then, but I couldn’t possibly come.’
‘Why on earth not?’ Isabel stared at her with the light of battle clearly lit in her dark Wyatt eyes.
Harriet heaved a sigh. ‘I’m—I’m an employee, Isabel,’ she said but tartly despite the sigh, ‘and don’t forget it! Look, I’m sorry if I sound snippy or rude but sometimes it’s the only way to deal with you Wyatts.’ To her horror, tears stood out in her eyes but she carried on relentlessly. ‘I’m not coming and that’s that.’
‘Not coming where?’
Both Harriet and Isabel swung around to see Damien standing in the doorway.
‘Charlie’s party,’ Isabel said bitterly.
Harriet turned away. There had been no more dawn rides on the beach; in fact she’d hardly seen Damien since that magical morning.
‘That’s OK,’ Damien said easily. ‘It’s her choice.’