‘You’re a good salesgirl,’ he said, taking the frame from her. ‘If a man gave this to you, would you like it?’
‘Of course. If anyone gave it to me, I’d like it.’
‘Good, wrap it up then. That was easy.’
She began to wrap it up with an unsteady hand for his eyes watched her every move with undisguised fascination. ‘Would you like to take it now or shall I have it delivered?’
‘I’ll take it now,’ he replied, disarming her with another wide smile.
‘Is there anything else you want?’
‘I’m not in the mood any more. I’ll come back another time, that will also give me an opportunity to see you again,’ he said in a low voice. Federica frantically searched for something to say, but nothing came. She stood mutely staring back at him. When he left the department a large vacuum remained into which Federica stared as if she were seeing something that no one else could see. Then she breathed again and realized that she had hardly dared breathe at all while Torquil had been beside her.
The rest of the day passed in an exquisitely somnambulant haze. When she returned to the flat she couldn’t recall a single thing that had happened after Torquil Jensen had left, but she remembered every word of their conversation
as if she had learnt it all by heart. As she sat enjoying a glass of wine with Hester and Molly, the doorbell rang. Hester answered it to find a delivery boy with two packages for Federica. When Federica saw the size of the second package she began to tremble. It was a large plant in a blue and white china pot, like the one she had recommended to Torquil that morning.
‘Who’s this all from?’ Hester gasped in amazement.
‘This will look divine in the flat,’ said Molly, taking it from Federica and placing it in the sitting room where she proceeded to unwrap it. ‘What’s in the other package?’
‘I imagine it’s a silver photograph frame,’ said Federica in amazement.
‘How do you know?’ Hester asked.
‘I just do.’
‘Well, come on,’ said Molly impatiently, flicking ash into the gas fire. ‘It won’t open by you staring at it.’
Federica carefully peeled off the paper and pulled out the delicate frame imported from China. ‘It’s stunning,’ Hester gasped in admiration. ‘Look, it’s got birds carved into it,’ she added, running her hand over it in wonder.
‘That would look good in the sitting room too,’ said Molly, dragging on her
cigarette.
But Federica held it tightly. Til put the photograph of Papa in there.' she said firmly. ‘It’s going beside my bed.’
‘Goodie.' Hester exclaimed. ‘I can enjoy it too.'
Federica hurried along the corridor to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. She could hear the whisperings of Molly and Hester who were curious to know who had bought her such expensive gifts. But she ignored them and sat on the bed to carefully exchange her father’s frame for the new one. She ran a fond finger over his handsome face and noticed how Torquil’s dark looks resembled Ramon’s. The same raven hair, the same olive skin and the same generous mouth. But their eyes were very different. Ramon’s were black and mysterious like the universe, whereas Torquil’s were light and shimmering like a shallow green pool. She set the photograph into the frame and placed it on the side table, then sat back and admired it. That was how Hester found her, gazing transfixed into her father’s hidden world.
‘I don’t want to disturb you,’ she said, waking her friend from her trance.
‘No, no, that’s fine.’ Federica pulled her eyes away.
‘Who is he?’ she asked. ‘I imagine he’s a “he”,’ she giggled.
‘My God, Hester. You should see him. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on,’ she said emphatically, lying back against the pillows. ‘He’s tall and dark with the palest green eyes. When he smiles my stomach turns over. I feel I’ve been hit by a lorry.’
‘More like one of Cupid’s arrows.’ She chuckled, settling onto her own bed. ‘Where did you meet him?’
‘He’s the nephew of the man who owns St John and Smithe. Thankfully, he’s not short and bald like his uncle.’
‘So, he just came into the shop?’
‘Yes, I thought he was a shoplifter because he wore a biker helmet, so I called Nigel Dalby down to check him out, it was really embarrassing.’
‘Well, he obviously didn’t take offence.’
‘No, he was amused.’ She smiled, recalling the moment.
‘Very amused, I can see,’ said Hester, admiring the frame. ‘He’s smitten too.’