When he dropped his gaze and began to tuck into his eggs, Ruby realised she’d been dismissed again.
One day, she thought frustratedly as she made her way back to the kitchen, I’ll tear strips off that man.
What Ruby didn’t realise was that that day had already arrived.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SEBASTIAN RETURNED TO the house shortly after four-thirty, disappearing straight upstairs without even bothering to say hi. Ruby faintly heard the sound of his shower running. And running. And running.
Truly, she thought as she shook her head from side to side. Just as well he was rich. His water and electricity bill must be enormous!
She herself had already showered and dressed some time ago, choosing to wear her black shirtdress. Again. Still, it did look good on her. Her make-up was subtle and her hair imprisoned in a knot at the nape of her neck. The house was spotless, the dining-room table set with pretty new place mats, and all the food prepared, including that infernal lemon meringue pie, which had turned out to be a real pain in the neck. She’d tried three recipes during the week, only the third one meeting with her approval. Even then, she’d had Tom and Janice do a taste test yesterday on a trial pie. Thankfully, it had met with their approval, so she’d given the rest of that pie to them to take home and made a fresh one this morning; Ruby had read that meringue was better consumed on the day it was made.
She was a little nervous about the evening ahead, but excited as well, glad that she could make the day memorable for Sebastian’s mother.
He hurried downstairs shortly after five, cleanly shaven and dressed in stylish navy-blue trousers, teamed with a blue striped shirt, open at the neck. He looked refreshed and utterly gorgeous, but with a grim set to his mouth, which suggested he wasn’t looking forward to the evening ahead.
‘I hope your mother doesn’t live too far away,’ she said, glancing at the clock on the wall.
‘Don’t fret. She’s less than ten minutes away at Clifton Gardens. In a very exclusive retirement village, I might add. It costs me heaps. I should be back by five-thirty, as long as she’s ready and doesn’t keep me waiting. See you.’
And he was gone again, leaving behind the faint whiff of a very expensive cologne. Or possibly it was aftershave. Either way, it smelled wonderful.
Ruby took another deep breath through her nose, wallowing in the fragrance. There was nothing she liked better than a man who smelled good.
Some extra butterflies started gathering in her stomach when five-thirty came and went, with no sign of Sebastian. She hoped nothing had gone wrong. Ruby was just beginning to panic when she heard his car enter the driveway. She was busying herself with plates in the kitchen when the door from the stairwell opened and Sebastian ushered his mother inside.
Frieda looked nothing like her son. She was short and plump with a kind face, topped by a cap of wavy silver-grey hair. Her dress was very flowery and didn’t flatter her plump figure, but her white shoes and handbag looked expensive, especially her handbag. Ruby had a thing for handbags and could always recognise quality.
‘Happy birthday,’ Ruby said by way of a greeting, coming forward to give the woman a hug, then a kiss on her cheek.
Frieda flushed with pleasure before throwing her son an exasperated glance. ‘You didn’t tell me Ruby was so pretty. And so young!’
Sebastian rolled his eyes. ‘She’s not as young as she looks,’ he said.
‘Well, she’s a darned sight younger than Georgia.’
‘True. Come on, Mum, come and open your presents.’
The dining room was just off the kitchen, a large conservatory-style room with a lovely view of the pool, the backyard and the skyline beyond. The table wasn’t overly huge though it did extend, if needed. Ruby had set only one end of the table with two place settings, the presents piled up on the other end and a vase of fresh flowers in the middle.
‘Goodness!’ Frieda exclaimed. ‘That’s a lot of gifts.’
‘They’re from Gloria as well,’ Sebastian told her. ‘And your grandsons.’
Frieda opened the cards first, then the presents. She was quite overcome at one stage.
The range of gifts was extensive, including an expensive tablet, jewellery, a lovely scarf, books and chocolates. The tablet was from Sebastian, though Ruby suspected he hadn’t done the buying. Clearly, he’d delegated that job to his sister.
Still, his mother didn’t know that. Or maybe she did, because she said she would have to ring Gloria straight away and thank her.
Whilst she was on the phone, Ruby asked Sebastian what he would like to drink before dinner.
‘I think I’ll have a whisky. But don’t you worry. I’ll get it myself.’ And he took off down the hall towards his study where Ruby knew he kept a wide range of spirits on top of a walnut sideboard.
‘Ready for a sherry now?’ she asked a teary-eyed Frieda once she got off the phone.
‘Oh, yes, I could do with one. Where’s Sebastian?’
‘Getting himself a whisky.’
‘Let’s hope it improves his mood,’ Frieda said with a sigh.
‘Yes, let’s,’ Ruby returned, and both women exchanged a small smile.
‘I shouldn’t criticise him,’ his mother said, taking her glass of sherry. ‘He’s really a good son. Do you know about his wife dying of cancer?’ she whispered, all the while watching for Sebastian’s return.
‘I do,’ Ruby said, nodding.
‘It broke his heart.’
‘Yes, I can see that.’ And she could.
‘I hoped he would meet someone else and get married again. But he doesn’t want to.’
Ruby could see that too. It shouldn’t have bothered her, but it did. Which was crazy. It wasn’t as though she wanted to marry him. Heavens no. She just wanted to...
Her X-rated thoughts weren’t entirely banished when Sebastian strode back into the room, a glass of whisky in his hand. When he lifted it to his lips, her eyes followed, her heart quickening. What she wouldn’t give to be that glass of whisky...
‘Excuse me, I need to go and cook now,’ she said quickly. ‘Why don’t you two go outside with your drinks? It’s lovely out there at the moment. The rain has chased away the heat and the insects. I put some nibbles on the table earlier. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.’
They did as instructed but when Ruby finally called them inside, Frieda took one look at the two place settings and insisted Ruby eat with them.
‘Maybe she doesn’t want to, Mum,’ Sebastian said when Ruby hesitated.