Читать книгу The Essence of the Thing - Madeleine John St. - Страница 20

‘Leaving aside the question of how you can love a rotten little creep like Jonathan in his present mode,’ said Lizzie, ‘not that women aren’t absolutely famous for loving rotten little creeps—’

‘Susannah says he’s a prat,’ said Nicola. ‘So does Geoffrey. Do you think he’s a prat?’

Lizzie considered. ‘Prat,’ she repeated. ‘Yes, yes, he is also a prat. Quite certainly. How are Susannah and Geoffrey? Nice people.’

‘They’re well.’

‘Bloody Jonathan. Your friends are wasted on him too. He doesn’t begin to appreciate you. But look, the point is, Nicola sweetie, what exactly are you thinking of doing, apart from ironing Jonathan’s shirts, which I absolutely order you not to do, my God, I can’t believe it, bloody shirts, of all things, Jermyn Street too I’ll bet, really hard work—’

‘Yes, well …’ said Nicola sadly. ‘The point is,’ said Lizzie, abandoning Jonathan’s shirts as a bad job, ‘what were you thinking of doing next, exactly? Now that the master has spoken.’

‘Well,’ said Nicola wanly, ‘I was just – I was more or less expecting, or hoping, to see him tonight. I thought we might be able to talk, then. After he’s been away from me for two days. And then, maybe, maybe we can sort it out. Maybe. I mean, I have to hope that. I have to hope.’ She looked as if she might begin to cry again. ‘Of course you do, my sweet,’ said Lizzie quickly. ‘Of course you do. But just in case you don’t. Just in case Jonathan’s decided to become a full-time complete professional dedicated creep and stick to his last, what then?’

‘Well then,’ said Nicola, ‘I’ll just have to clear off, won’t I?’

‘Not so fast,’ said Lizzie. ‘I mean, where will you go?’

‘Oh,’ said Nicola, ‘Susannah says I can go there until I get sorted out.’

‘That might take a while,’ said Lizzie.

‘Yes,’ said Nicola hopelessly.

‘You haven’t really thought this through, have you?’

‘No. I thought there wasn’t really any point until I knew for certain that I had to.’

‘It’ll mean buying another flat, won’t it?’

‘Yes. Something really cheap, at that.’

‘Quite.’

‘Well …’

‘The whole thing is a disgrace. You seem to have forgotten, you of all people, that this flat is actually your territory, morally speaking.’

Nicola pondered. ‘Well, I suppose you’re right,’ she said uncertainly. ‘You bloody bet I am,’ said Lizzie. And as a matter of fact, she did have a point.