Persuade Me by Juliet Archer

morning, you could always track him down and ask him if one’s a spare.’
    Yeah, right.
    But she smiled her thanks and handed over the money for the colouring book Ollie had found. Much nicer than yesterday’s, thank you, he informed her gleefully when they’d left the shop; not one single fairy from cover to cover.
    When they reached the lane leading to the Great House, she paused. There was more activity than usual on the high street. Cars parked nose to tail, men chatting to each other – some with those cumbersome cameras that looked like weapons. Just then, the Crofts came out of their cottage and the men clustered round them like flies, shouted questions, fired their gun-cameras.
    The media had arrived in Uppercross. Poor Rick. Poor Sophie and Ed.
    She continued up the lane, chilled – despite the unseasonable warmth – by a sudden thought. Rick might have to take refuge somewhere until the fuss died down. Somewhere that stood in extensive grounds, to prevent prying eyes – and cameras – from tracking his every move. Somewhere like the Great House, where she was taking the boys.
    She wasn’t sure she could face another meeting; at least, not yet. But how could she get out of lunch? Impossible without letting people down, or having them wonder … Like a rabbit trapped in car headlights, she couldn’t think which way to run; then Harry tugged on her hand and pointed. On a nearby nettle was a Red Admiral, experimentally flexing its wings as if surprised by this resurgence of summer, and instantly her mood brightened. She had to meet Rick again some time, she reasoned. And at least now she’d made an effort with her appearance. Washed and blow-dried her hair; used make-up to disguise the dark circles under her eyes and add a little colour to her face; found that jumper, and decided she looked OK in it.
    Footsteps behind her, where one of the paths from the lake joined the lane. But it was only Charles.
    ‘Hi there – great idea to come in the stroller, Ollie, I thought Aunty Anna would have to drive you. What’s that, Harry? Yes, I’ll take you to see Belle and Bracken, I just need to speak to Grandma first.’ An appraising look at Anna. ‘Feeling better?’
    ‘Fine, thanks.’ She gave him a reassuring smile. ‘Catch anything?’
    ‘No, too much going on. Half the bloody family turned up – Lou, Henrietta, even Mona.’ A pause. ‘You’ve heard about Rick and his girlfriend splitting up?’
    ‘Yes.’ She forced herself to imagine Rick as a passing acquaintance, to put on a convincing act, to ask after him with just the right amount of concern. ‘Such a shame. How is he?’
    ‘Seems to be taking it all in his stride, actually, and it doesn’t seem to have put him off female company. Which is amazing when you think he’s got Lou and Henrietta giggling at everything he says, funny or not, and Mona badgering him to pour out his troubles.’
    They were nearing the house; she could hear the dogs barking. ‘So … what about the Non-Appreciation Society?’
    ‘The what?’ He looked at her blankly.
    She didn’t want to elaborate too much in front of the children. ‘We talked about it yesterday, remember? The inaugural meeting was going to be last night, but you didn’t think there’d be much support.’ And even less now, by the sound of it.
    ‘Oh, that . Maybe we should give it a miss, I feel rather sorry for him. Seems like a nice bloke, underneath.’
    Male solidarity. You couldn’t beat it, so you may as well give in gracefully.
    ‘By the way,’ Charles went on, ‘the press are here in force. Sophie Croft phoned Rick and warned him to stay away from her place. So he’ll be joining us for lunch – and probably longer. My sisters are in ecstasies. As far as Henrietta’s concerned it’s nothing serious, you know, she just can’t resist a bit of sibling rivalry. I mean, she’s almost engaged, for God’s sake. In fact, I may see if Kyle wants to have lunch with us. Nip anything