Chapter 106: The Virgin And The Masters, Part 17, Get Used to It

"Want something a bit stronger than tea?" asks Beth.

I sniff. "A glass of wine would be nice, wouldn´t it."

We order a bottle of chilled rosé, with some nibbles to stop the alcohol sitting too heavily.

Beth looks at me. "Sorry about that," she says. "I forget that you´re new to this. Dearly as I love Richard, having to keep company with the wives of his business associates can be a bit wearing."

"Mmm..." I try to be non-committal, to avoid being rude about Beth´s friends.

"It´s okay," she says. "I know exactly what you´re thinking. It was just the same for me, as it became clear that Richard and I were more than just..." She looks at me closely now. "You´d better get used to it though."

I´m startled. "What? Why?"

"You´re with James, and he´s Richard´s co-director now, his partner. You´re going to have to rub shoulders with them too."

I´d not thought of that...

She laughs. "Don´t panic. It´s not all the time. Just put on your best bib and tucker when they have dinners