Page 47 of A Sky Painted Gold

“Bye, Lou.” His voice is firm, blithely ignoring my dig, and he turns and walks down the causeway. “See you tomorrow,” he calls over his shoulder.

“Goodbye, Robert,” I shout after him, and I stand for a moment on the beach, watching him disappear towards the big house, before I turn to make my own way home.

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

When I arrive the next day it is pretty much as expected.

Caitlin is already waiting for me by the front door when I turn up. The light in her eyes is militant. “Lou, you absolute wretch!” she exclaims, grabbing my arm and shaking me a little. “I cannot believe that you didn’t tell me … ME, your dearest, most devoted friend, about your birthday.”

“It’s not a big deal,” I say, rubbing my arm. “I didn’t want to make a fuss.”

“Is it or is it not your eighteenth birthday?” Caitlin asks crisply, turning on her heel.

“It is,” I sigh, following her into the house.

“Aha! So you admit it!” Caitlin whirls around to face me, her long cigarette holder pointed at me accusingly as if she is Hercule Poirot himself.

“I never denied it is my birthday next week,” I say patiently. “You didn’t ask. I just didn’t … make you aware of it.”

Caitlin looks at me through narrowed eyes. “And why not?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “I didn’t want you to think I expected anything…” I trail off.

Caitlin snorts. “Louise,” she drawls in a low, slow voice as though explaining things to a simpleton, “you are our dear friend. It is your birthday … and your eighteenth birthday, at that. Of course we’re going to make a fuss.”

We enter the drawing room where Robert is sitting, smoking a cigarette and reading a book.

“I told you so,” he says, getting to his feet, as he does whenever I enter the room.

Caitlin inhales on her cigarette and makes her way over to the bar, where she tops up her glass with a generous splash of something clear. I very much doubt it is water, and she knocks it back in one quick mouthful.

“Of course, you haven’t given me a lot of time…” she says, staring into the middle distance. “However.” Her eyes snap on to me and a smile begins to spread across her face, one that makes me feel decidedly nervous. “I think I may have an idea for something truly spectacular.”

“As opposed to all the other parties you’ve been having?” I ask, tucking my feet underneath me.

“Oh.” Caitlin waves one hand in the air. “Those things? No, those are more like gatherings, really. This, this will absolutely be the event of the summer.”

“Caitlin,” I say warily.

“Yes, Caitlin,” Robert echoes, and his voice is a warning. “Please don’t go wild.”

“Oh, hush.” Caitlin pouts. “You know perfectly well that we always host the biggest party at the end of the summer in London. It’s tradition, and everyone looks forward to it. Everything about it has to be completely, utterly perfect.” I don’t like the reminder that we are approaching the end of the summer, that this will all be gone too soon. My birthday is starting to feel like the beginning of the end rather than something to be celebrated.

Robert sighs, but looking at Caitlin’s animated face, his expression visibly softens.

“But—” I begin, determined I’m going to have my say.

“Yes, yes, darling,” Caitlin says sweetly, dismissing me with a wave of her hand. “Robert already told me. You don’t want all eyes on you, and I’ve found a way around that.” She shivers then, as though possessed by some intoxicating secret, and her eyes have taken on a lustrous shine. “And a truly delicious one at that.”

“Well, are you going to keep us in suspense, or are you going to tell us?” Robert asks, stubbing out his cigarette in the heavy glass ashtray beside him.

“I don’t know,” Caitlin says petulantly. “I don’t think either of you are being very enthusiastic about my brilliant idea.”

“Yes, we are,” I say, and my eyes meet Robert’s.

“So enthusiastic,” he says obediently, with all the enthusiasm of a rock.