The Perfect Happiness(41)
“Pete and I are thinking about renewing our marriage vows,” said Kate, who knew just how to grab everyone’s attention.
“Don’t you think you should wait nine months?” Candace replied. “In case the baby looks like someone else.”
“It won’t,” Kate retorted swiftly. “It’s Pete’s, I just know it. Mothers know these things,” she added, as if she were the only one among them to have experienced motherhood.
“That’s so romantic,” Letizia sighed. “I love weddings.” “I thought it would be a good excuse for a beautiful new frock. Vera Wang sprang to mind, and I’d love all your children to be bridesmaids.”
“So the credit crunch hasn’t reached Thurloe Square,” said Candace.
“If we’re going to proclaim our love to each other, I want it to be monumental to reflect the size of our hearts.”
“So are we talking St. Paul’s?” said Candace.
“No, that place is jinxed. I thought something less royal and more glamorous. After all, our first wedding was in Cornwall—hardly the height of glamour.”
“So where’s this one going to be?”
“Mauritius!” She clapped her hands with excitement. “And I want all the children in floaty white dresses and breeches. Can you imagine how cute they’re all going to look? And me in my Vera Wang dress.”
“Sounds like an Estée Lauder advert,” hissed Candace to Angelica, who rejoined the conversation after having drifted off into the park with Jack.
“It’s just what we all need,” she said. “A holiday in the sun.”
“I thought June, just after the baby is born, then we return to London with suntans, ready for the summer.”
“Has Pete agreed?” Scarlet asked.
“He’ll do anything for me at the moment. He’s feeling very macho and protective.”
“It’s a great idea. Not often that a girl gets married for the second time to the same man,” said Angelica brightly.
“You know what I really, really want?” said Kate, biting her thumbnail. “You won’t laugh?”
“We wouldn’t dare!”
“To come up the aisle on a beautiful white horse.”
They stared at her in disbelief. Even Candace was silenced. Kate looked from one to the other, waiting for someone to say something. Letizia made to speak but faltered.
“You’re not serious,” said Candace at last.
“I’m very serious.”
Letizia recovered her enthusiasm. “I think it’s a fabulous idea. Only you could get away with it, darling.”
“And what? The kids come up behind in a cart?”
“No, they skip up in bare feet, scattering shells and flowers on the sand.”
“You’re joking,” said Scarlet.
“No, I’m not.” Kate looked hurt. “I thought it would be so romantic.”
Candace dropped her shoulders and smiled. “You know what, honey? I’m with you all the way. If that’s what you want, you go for it. It’s your dream. Just don’t put us in floaty white dresses with shells in our hair, please.”
“Well, I had hoped . . .” Kate began, then giggled. “What do you take me for? You think I’d give you all the opportunity to outshine me at my own wedding?”
Isabel and Joe rushed out of the big doors, throwing themselves at their mother. Angelica wrapped her arms around both of them at once. “Good day at school?” she asked, as they competed to tell her about their day.
“You forgot my gym bag!” Isabel accused.
“Did I?”
“Silly Mummy. I had to sit out and read a book!”
“I’m so sorry, darling. But if I had the choice, I’d much prefer a book than the gym!”
She waved to the girls, then made her way up the street laden with the children’s book bags and backpacks. They ran on ahead, hanging on lampposts and skipping over the lines in the pavement. Angelica strolled behind in a daze, reliving lunch with Jack and deliberating how to respond to his text.
She would love to go for a walk in the park, but the chances of bumping into someone she knew were high. She had got away with lunch, in spite of having been accosted by Jenna; she didn’t dare risk it again. Her mind ached as she tried to devise ways of unpicking the Gordian knot: how to engineer a meeting without risking her marriage and reputation? How to see him without leading him on? How to enjoy the flirt while maintaining her distance? How to restrain herself? She couldn’t deny that she was very attracted to him and was reminded of her teenage years and the crushes she had suffered at school. This was different; it was reciprocated. The feeling of being desired was intoxicating. She wanted to feel like that again. She couldn’t fool herself; she was sliding down the slippery slope into adultery, and she knew it.