“Well, she won’t have to dress up. She already looks like a witch with those poor animal tails hanging off her cape,” said Angelica, linking her arm through Scarlet’s.
“The perfect target for Charlie and Jessica! Perhaps we’d better pop into Louis Vuitton for some target practice before we hit the streets. Let’s go and find your owl.”
“But where?”
“The Disney Store.” She waved at an approaching cab. “If we don’t get lucky there, you can always buy her a pretty brown cape from Marie Chantal.”
At the beginning of November Barack Obama became the first black president of the United States, and Kate hired a healer to cleanse her house of all the negative energy emitted during the acrimonious years of her marriage. Candace rolled her eyes at Kate’s latest fad and ordered another Birkin for Christmas. Having worked for seven years before her marriage in the Ralph Lauren press office in New York, she was well plugged into all the stores and was immediately placed at the very top of the waiting list. Scarlet bribed Ben to move in over Christmas as her children’s official coach and tutor, in spite of Letizia’s pleas to loan him to her for her skiing holiday over New Year’s. And just when Angelica was resigned to never seeing Jack again, her agent made an unexpected proposal over lunch at Sotheby’s Café on Bond Street.
Claudia ordered champagne and raised her glass to Angelica. “This is to you,” she said, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “And to the successful optioning of The Caves of Cold Konard.”
Angelica was stunned. “You’re not serious?”
“Totally serious.”
“Who?”
“The Cohen-Rosh brothers—Stephen and Marcus. They’re the hot new producers in Hollywood. Very now, very happening, very cool.” She liked to emphasize the important words in a breathy whisper. “Toby will be calling you to discuss the details. I think he wants to tell you himself, so act ignorant. We have not had this conversation.”
“Fine by me.” Angelica’s head swam, already visualizing the red carpet at the Oscars and panicking about what to wear.
“On another note, I know you won’t go to Australia, but what about South Africa? They really want you, and the book is doing so well out there. It’ll give The Silk Serpent such a boost.” Angelica blanched, which Claudia mistook for refusal. “Before you say no, it would be a week, not a minute more—a few days in Jo’burg and a few in Cape Town. Back-to-back interviews, radio, and a few talks to literary groups. They love you out there. They’re a big market for you. Think about it.”
“I’ll go,” Angelica replied steadily.
Claudia nearly choked on her champagne. She dabbed her mouth, leaving red lipstick on the napkin. “You what?”
“I’ll go.”
“Right, okay, great.”
“I didn’t want to go to Australia because it’s too far. I can’t be two days away from my children. But South Africa is nearer and the same time zone, almost.”
“You’ll love it. The South Africans are so friendly and warm. They’ll put you up in the nicest hotels and treat you like a queen.”
“I’d like a couple of days at the end to visit a friend.” She could barely control the tremor in her voice.
“Sure.” Claudia was surprised. “I mean, if that’s not too long for you to be away. We can arrange anything you want.”
“Research.”
“For the next book?”
“Yes. I’m feeling inspired.”
“Good.”
“I’m going to do something different, Claudia.”
“Not too different, I hope. Your readers will expect more of the same, and you don’t want to disappoint them.”
“I’m writing this one for me.”
“Okay.” Claudia looked a little anxious, but she couldn’t complain: she’d got Angelica to agree to South Africa. “Can’t wait to read it.”
After lunch, Angelica kissed her agent good-bye and walked down Bond Street towards Piccadilly. Her legs felt unsteady, as if she were walking on jelly, and her head spun. She had agreed to go on a book tour to South Africa. What would Olivier say? How would she manage to tell him without giving herself away? She wasn’t a very good actress. This was going to be the lie of her life. Anticipation rising with each step, she found a bench in Green Park and sat down.
The gardens were littered with crispy brown leaves, the sky was a dull pigeon-gray, but she felt as happy as if her heart were flooded with sunshine. She pulled out her telephone and pressed Jack’s number. It rang a few times before he answered.