say that the bit when she split up with her fiancé so reminded me of how I felt when I left Johann. I mean, the pain was indescribable for him, but also for me. The guilt, the heartache. But like the heroine of this book, sorry I forget her name, I know I am pursuing the right cause.’
The others exchanged glances. Clearly such comments were par for the course.
‘She was trying to aid the Civil Rights movement,’ said Elise. ‘My issue with this book was that it was trash. Trash dressed up as serious stuff, but trash.’
‘I quite liked it,’ Rosie said softly, and Elise shot her a fierce look.
‘Too heavy going for me,’ said Minette, fingering her earrings. ‘I have an idea for next month.
Fifty Shades of Grey
.’
‘Everyone’s read that already,’ Patrizia objected.
‘God, if I had been married to Christian Grey instead of Johann, my life would have been so very different,’ Caroline chuckled.
‘I think
The Help
explored some really interesting themes, relating to friendship,’ said Rosie, glancing at her notes.
‘Can I make a confession?’ Bella said. ‘I didn’t actually have time to read the book. But I did watch the DVD!’
Elise harrumphed. ‘Personally I think we may need to introduce a new rule. Anyone who hasn’t read the book is not allowed to attend.’
‘I’ve been re-reading
Harry Potter
,’ continued Bella. ‘Maybe we should think of that? Then we could help our kids as well.’
Elise sighed. ‘So. I was very interested in the role of the narrator. Is she entirely reliable?’
‘Um, excuse me!’ Caroline called to one of the
servants, tapping her glass meaningfully. Everyone’s glass was topped up. Rosie glanced at her watch, wondering if she could invent an excuse about one of the boys being sick just as Elise’s phone rang.
‘Oh shit, excuse me,’ she said. ‘Office. Better take this outside. Hello, Brian. Yes, I’m actually on my way to a work dinner with one of the clients …’
The other women looked at each other significantly.
‘No wonder poor Charles is so mixed up,’ Patrizia said softly. ‘His mother is never there. Always talking to the office.’
‘She says she has to work, to pay the school fees,’ Caroline said. ‘Her husband’s a painter, but she has her heart set on Gadney’s. Rosie, what are your thoughts on schools for your little boys?’
The air rustled, as the women all turned to Rosie, twitching with eagerness to get stuck into what was clearly their favourite topic.
‘Well, I thought about Jacqueline France but they’ve no places.’
‘That’s as well.’ Minette shook her head. ‘The children from the
estate
go there.’
‘But it seems like a lovely school.’
‘I did consider a state school for Ben,’ said Bella contemplatively, as Elise re-entered, apologizing. ‘No need to say you’re sorry, Elise, what you do is amazing. I know I couldn’t.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Elise replied. ‘
You’re
amazing. There’s no job harder than being a stay-at-home mum. I could
never cut it. I’d be bored; it’s not where my analytical talents lie.’
‘
I’d
be exhausted going to work. It’s so important to have someone keeping the home ticking along.’
Compliments batted back and forward like a ping-pong ball, then Bella cleared her throat and said, ‘Anyway, Elise, we were talking about schools. I was saying I considered state for Ben as I thought it could be very good for his development to mix with ordinary people. But in the end I decided he needed to be prepared to go to Eton, or maybe Winchester. Chinese contacts, you see. That’s where they’re all sending their children and they’re the future.’
‘Glad you think so,’ Minette laughed. ‘I do sometimes get tired of speaking Mandarin to Nicholas, but it will pay off in the end.’
‘You’re going to send your son to boarding school?’ Rosie tried not to sound incredulous.
‘Not until he’s seven, eight perhaps,’ Bella replied
The others exchanged glances. Clearly such comments were par for the course.
‘She was trying to aid the Civil Rights movement,’ said Elise. ‘My issue with this book was that it was trash. Trash dressed up as serious stuff, but trash.’
‘I quite liked it,’ Rosie said softly, and Elise shot her a fierce look.
‘Too heavy going for me,’ said Minette, fingering her earrings. ‘I have an idea for next month.
Fifty Shades of Grey
.’
‘Everyone’s read that already,’ Patrizia objected.
‘God, if I had been married to Christian Grey instead of Johann, my life would have been so very different,’ Caroline chuckled.
‘I think
The Help
explored some really interesting themes, relating to friendship,’ said Rosie, glancing at her notes.
‘Can I make a confession?’ Bella said. ‘I didn’t actually have time to read the book. But I did watch the DVD!’
Elise harrumphed. ‘Personally I think we may need to introduce a new rule. Anyone who hasn’t read the book is not allowed to attend.’
‘I’ve been re-reading
Harry Potter
,’ continued Bella. ‘Maybe we should think of that? Then we could help our kids as well.’
Elise sighed. ‘So. I was very interested in the role of the narrator. Is she entirely reliable?’
‘Um, excuse me!’ Caroline called to one of the
servants, tapping her glass meaningfully. Everyone’s glass was topped up. Rosie glanced at her watch, wondering if she could invent an excuse about one of the boys being sick just as Elise’s phone rang.
‘Oh shit, excuse me,’ she said. ‘Office. Better take this outside. Hello, Brian. Yes, I’m actually on my way to a work dinner with one of the clients …’
The other women looked at each other significantly.
‘No wonder poor Charles is so mixed up,’ Patrizia said softly. ‘His mother is never there. Always talking to the office.’
‘She says she has to work, to pay the school fees,’ Caroline said. ‘Her husband’s a painter, but she has her heart set on Gadney’s. Rosie, what are your thoughts on schools for your little boys?’
The air rustled, as the women all turned to Rosie, twitching with eagerness to get stuck into what was clearly their favourite topic.
‘Well, I thought about Jacqueline France but they’ve no places.’
‘That’s as well.’ Minette shook her head. ‘The children from the
estate
go there.’
‘But it seems like a lovely school.’
‘I did consider a state school for Ben,’ said Bella contemplatively, as Elise re-entered, apologizing. ‘No need to say you’re sorry, Elise, what you do is amazing. I know I couldn’t.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Elise replied. ‘
You’re
amazing. There’s no job harder than being a stay-at-home mum. I could
never cut it. I’d be bored; it’s not where my analytical talents lie.’
‘
I’d
be exhausted going to work. It’s so important to have someone keeping the home ticking along.’
Compliments batted back and forward like a ping-pong ball, then Bella cleared her throat and said, ‘Anyway, Elise, we were talking about schools. I was saying I considered state for Ben as I thought it could be very good for his development to mix with ordinary people. But in the end I decided he needed to be prepared to go to Eton, or maybe Winchester. Chinese contacts, you see. That’s where they’re all sending their children and they’re the future.’
‘Glad you think so,’ Minette laughed. ‘I do sometimes get tired of speaking Mandarin to Nicholas, but it will pay off in the end.’
‘You’re going to send your son to boarding school?’ Rosie tried not to sound incredulous.
‘Not until he’s seven, eight perhaps,’ Bella replied
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