Chapter 31: Louise - The Golden Hours

Neville had turned up at Fakenham for Christmas, seeming chastened, and polite. As far as she could tell he and Juliet seemed hardly to speak to each other, and when they did it was mild and civil. He treated Juliet like one of the children; she was cool with him. She seemed relaxed. Only once, before leaving, did Louise speak to her about it. ‘How’s it been, being around Neville?’ And Juliet had just smiled and said, ‘Actually, do you know, it’s all fine. I kind of don’t know what got into me!’

She had done her best to watch them – but how could you watch people, in a house with a hundred rooms, and the whole of Norfolk outside? Impossible.

In the New Year, she received a bread-and-butter letter from Juliet:

Dear Louise,

Thank you so much for the Arpège. It was so generous of you and I love it. It’s so glamorous and I want to wear it every day but I’m trying not to because I don’t want to use it up. You’ve spoiled me now for cheap scent! So thank you.

I really do appreciate it, specially since I know I’ve been a bit of a COW all last year and I don’t really deserve it. On which note, I know you’ll be pleased to hear that what we talked about, that Sunday, and a bit at Christmas, really is all over. So you don’t need to worry about it or about me! I’m feeling much better. Thank you for helping me see sense, and for not telling anybody – at least I don’t think you did, because nobody has shouted at me . . . Anyway, a conversation has been had and basically I was being an idiot, which I see now, and you were of course right about everything. So it’s my mission now to find somewhere proper to live, and a proper job so I’m not so irresponsible, and grow up! I know you’ll be glad to have the flat back to yourself, and I’m really looking for somewhere. I have some leads.

I really just wanted to say thank you for everything you’ve done for me. And I’m still up for acting jobs! But you’re right, I’ll never be Sybil Thorndike or even Gina Lollobrigida.

All my love,

from Juliet

So thank God for that.