Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [115]
`He could have got tickets, just like that.' Miranda couldn't resist bragging. `But we didn't, we queued up overnight. Slept in a tent on the pavement.' She gave him a knowing smirk. `It's more fun that way.'
`I see.' Danny nodded thoughtfully. `And did Daisy Schofield sleep in the tent with you?'
`She's been away in Australia. Coming back tonight, actually. He's finishing with her.' Miranda began to feel lightheaded. It was such a relief, being able to tell someone at last. Like magic, all her doubts were swept away on a tide of utter certainty. Now that she'd confided in Danny it had to happen, it just had to.
Danny picked up his pint glass, stalling for time. He wanted a drink but knew the lager was lukewarm. Miranda, her eyes bright and a triumphant smile on her face, was watching him, waiting for some form of reaction. How much of this story had she made up, for heaven's sake? Ten per cent fact and ninety per cent fantasy at a rough guess. She couldn't, surely, have fabricated the whole thing.
`You still don't believe me, do you?' Miranda demanded. Danny wondered uncomfortably if she believed it herself. He looked down, watching the condensation from his glass drip on to the knee of his jeans.
`I'm just surprised Florence didn't mention it on the phone.'
`Florence doesn't know. I haven't told her.' Miranda shrugged. `I haven't told anyone.'
Highly likely. But something to be grateful for, Danny decided. At least she had the sense to keep her mad delusions to herself.
He sighed, still struggling to figure out which part of this bizarre story might conceivably be true. At a guess, she had had a one-night stand with Miles Harper and conjured up the rest of the fantasy to assuage her guilt.
He looked at Miranda.
`Have you slept with him?'
`What do you think?' There was no hesitation; her smile was smug. `Be honest, Danny. Given the chance, wouldn't you?'
So that was it, she had slept with Miles Harper. Danny looked away, wishing with all his heart she hadn't.
`And he's telling Daisy Schofield tonight that it's all over between them? He's giving her up for you?' Danny wondered if Miranda actually believed this would happen. When she nodded he said, `So we can expect a red-hot press release to be put out sometime tomorrow?'
In it up to her neck by now, Miranda shrugged and nodded again.
`Maybe. I don't know much about press releases.' `You'd better learn,' Danny drawled, `if you're planning
on being Miles Harper's new girlfriend.' His tone was pitying. `Are you sure he's going to be faithful to you?'
`Why are you being so horrible?' Miranda accused him.
Humouring her hadn't worked. Danny decided to be blunt.
`I'm not being horrible. I just don't believe it's going to happen.'
If it didn't happen, Miranda thought, she was definitely going to have to leave the country. Oh well, in for a penny, in for an awful lot of pounds.
`You know what? I think you might be a tiny bit jealous.' Leaning forward, she patted the back of Danny's hand, mimicking the patronising concern he had shown earlier. `Never mind, chin up, I know it isn't easy finding a girlfriend but these things take time. One day it'll happen to you too.'
Three rubbish skips were lined up in the road outside Fenn's new flat, much to the horror of his well-to-do neighbours.
`You know you've thrown out a truly terrible bunch of carpets,' he told Chloe, `when you dump them in a skip and two days later they're still there.'
`It feels like such a waste.' Chloe joined him at the window. `Couldn't you donate them to some deserving cause?'
The skip looked as if it was bulging with dead zebras. Fenn winced.
`Where did you have in mind? Regent's Park Zoo?' Turning back, leaning against the windowsill, Chloe surveyed the stripped room.
`Another week and this place will really come together.You won't recognise it. The last chap who lived here definitely wouldn't recognise it.'
`Good,' said Fenn. `That's the general idea.'
The decorators, still in the process of stripping