The boys don’t listen. Biscuit and Jolly, Theodore’s Labrador, run into the house. Both completely wet and dirty they decide to shake the mud off their fury coats. Eddie’s dog Biscuit just doesn’t listen same as Eddie himself. No one obeys in Edward IV’s family. Nobody is educated—not even house trained. This will definitely change, I promise.
I just picked up Miranda and Daisy from the train station in Perth. The phone is ringing. It is Aelita and her son Felix with her new found love Matthew.
“Where are you? Yes, take the big gateway. On your right you will have the river.” I describe the driveway to the manor house.
“I think we arrived. Can you see us?”
“No, you must be at the cottage. We are further up the hill. You will have to go another half a mile. Drive along the river, you will se the fisherman’s house and from there you can see the manor house on the hill.”
For a moment I can only hear Aelita breathing, then she shouts excitedly: “Here we are! I found it!” Aelita, Felix and Matthew arrived.
“This is Miranda, my close friend.” I introduce everyone upon their arrival.
“We’ve met at Eddie’s birthday party, Miranda. And there is Daisy! How are you?” Aelita remembers them all.
“Of course, you were so kind giving me a lift home after Eddie’s party. Do you remember? You dropped us off at my house in Holland Park, Daisy and myself?”
“That’s right. That’s already two years ago, is that possible? Time flies by so quickly. We went for a shopping spree! Where can we bring all the food?” Aelita is asking.
In the meantime Matthew carries wine boxes and baskets full of delicatessen shopping into the house.
“This is fantastic! Would you please bring it over there in the second kitchen. That’s where the cold rooms are. Brilliant! Oh God, what did you bring!” I am totally overwhelmed as I don’t have Maria Clara helping me every day. I must remember to think of saving costs.
The estate has been sold when we went through the divorce. Victor is renting it now and I am allowed to use it when I come up here with the boys while he isn’t around. The kids love it as it used to be their permanent home.
Victor still takes them here and goes with them for fishing and hunting. He is a real Scotsman with a touch of snootiness. He became well known as a lobbyist of the Liberals and he surely made a good living from it. The first man of the country’s Liberals used to work for him many years ago. Today things have changed: they walk together hand in hand along the Houses of Parliament. Victor as a lobbyist of the Liberals made sure Mick Freedom became the number one of his party. Before elections he convinced the members of parliament to sweep off certain subjects. The pharmaceutical industry, the tobacco lobby—they all paid Victor lavish amounts for vanishing delicate issues. So now all our assets have been sold and what remained has been divided between Victor and me. Now I am free for Edward. What was left for me after the divorce wouldn’t pay for my Chelsea and Knightsbridge lifestyle. I just wouldn’t be able to afford the Queen’s Club, the first class travel and no Maria Clara every single day. Moments like these remind me of my parents and the housekeeper I cannot even have for this huge manor house each day.
My parents brought me up by teaching me the magic of thrift. That’s why I am happy flying Easy Jet while Eddie gets his ticket booked in Business Class and Edward would be using a private jet. Each year my mum sends me a Christmas card using a yellow post-it sticker on the inside of the card wishing me a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Straight after the festive holidays at a family meeting in the club she would remind me to hand the Christmas card back to her. “So I can give you the card next year again for Christmas, dear Edwina.” Every year she would whisper these magic words in my ear. Yes, I’ve been brought up in stinginess even though I knew how to appreciate a great lifestyle.
“Oh, Miranda, it’s so good that you are here. Edward and I will get married this summer!” I tell my two girlfriends full of joy.
“Wow, that’s fantastic! Will you get married in England or in San Francisco? May I be your bridesmaid?” Aelita is completely happy about achievement.
“I’m so happy for you, Edwina.” Aelita says. “On what place of the Forbes list of the richest men of the United States is Edward currently?” I can feel Miranda’s envy.
“I’m not sure and it actually doesn’t really matter as long as he still is on that list!” We laugh about me and my ultra rich super millionaire, about my luck in life and that he will marry me—he—Edward D. IV.
“Look, this is the engagement ring he gave me!” I pull the sleeve of my blouse up and show my hand almost holding it like expecting a hand kiss.
“Where is the diamond? I can’t see it.” Aelita is asking.
“Look there, three gemstones!” Miranda says with a vibrating voice trying to defend my engagement ring. “You need glasses, my dear.” So she adds sharply in order to punish Aelita who throughs a patronizing look at her.
“Contact lenses, Miranda. Short sighted minus eight diopter plus astigmatism. Very small these gemstones, miniature, yes—indeed.” Aelita replies quick-witted. Her blue eyes transform immediately into two challenging slits almost like sapphires in the shape of cat eyes. Her seductive lips are slightly opened. She is sitting straight up—her breasts bulging like the boobies of a twenty year old.
“Didn’t one of Edward’s older sons just got engaged recently, Edwina?” Aelita sparkles like a ruby capturing everyone in this room.
“Please show us the photo Edward sent you! You know which one I mean, Edwina, the one of the engagement ring his son gave to his fiancé!”
“I would love to see that one as well, Edwina!” Miranda joins in.
I play with my iPhone. Actually I don’t want to show this picture to anyone specially after Aelita’s comment about the miniature gems.
“There it is!” Aelita spots the photo. Her eye sight seems to be better than we thought. Apparently I didn’t flick through the pictures fast enough ...
“Show me ... yes, that’s the ring on her finger.” Miranda takes a deep breath. “A fantastic diamond. On the picture it looks really white not yellowish at all. What size would you guess it is? I think it’s got minimum five carat! I’m sure you are aware that the engagement ring has to be worth four times of the mans monthly income. That’s how American women measure the value of their marriage and the to be expected future lifestyle.” Aelita’s honesty is outrageous.
“The ring doesn’t have such an importance to me, you know.” I try to save the situation.
I can’t see the boys. The day is about to come to an end and we go and sit again in one of the lounges enjoying the open fire.
“Chablis or would you prefer Champagne?” I ask my guests. Matthew is helpful opening both bottles with nonchalance. We enjoy the daily news paper, the wine and the end of the day warming up the cold atmosphere with the heat of the fire.
“I shall cook tonight. What about spaghetti carbonara? That’s a quick one and everybody likes it,” so I suggest.
“Great! I can help you if you like!” Aelita offers herself by suggesting she could be the chef de cuisine all week. We go to the kitchen and I take a the creme fraiche for the carbonara out of the fridge.
“What do you need this for?” Aeltita is asking me giving me an accusing look.
“That’s obviously for the sauce, isn’t it?” I reply expecting an “I—know—it—better—explanation”.
Aelita spent a few years in Italy and she takes the carbonara over for me. We all sip our wine while stirring in pots and cutting vegetable.
“The salad is delicious. Here, you can bring the smoked salmon on the dining table.” In the meantime