After Arundel (RP)

Emma chose to stay quiet when Mrs. Harper critiqued her revealing dress. There was no point in arguing with her mother-in-law.

"Well, it was different from any party I’ve ever been to, so, I guess it was like the play, in some ways?" she kept her voice light and casual, and was much relieved when the topic shifted to David and his upcoming promotion. Finally, some good news! Maybe she wouldn’t have to sell that dress after all.

"It’s about time they recognized his talents!" she couldn’t hide the pride in her voice "I always told him he deserved that promotion. And with all the extra hours he’s been putting in these last few months, because of the weather... it’s good to see his dedication finally being recognized"

Undeterred by her mother-in-law's shocked reaction to the play she’d chosen, Emma led them to grab a bite to eat. With money tight, she couldn’t afford taking them anywhere fancy. Besides – they were on an adventure! She received recommendations from her colleagues at the Independent about a place that promised an authentic experience, and she was eager to check it out. Maybe she could write a review for Mr. Thompson while she was at it.

The small Lebanese restaurant had soft oriental music playing in the background, blending with the clatter of pots, and sizzling from the kitchen. They were greeted by a friendly owner, who showed them to their table himself. The platters of appetizers arrived soon after.

"So, how’s James doing?" Emma asked, steering the conversation to David’s siblings. "And Betty?" She hoped the change of subject would keep things light and enjoyable, even if Mrs. Harper was still frowning at her choice of entertainment.

Emma was swept up in Mr. Harper's exuberance. He had ordered a bit of everything, exactly what she would have chosen herself, and without hesitation, she shamelessly helped herself to a taste from his platters, offering him to try some of hers in return. She knew he wouldn’t mind – he was much more easy going than his wife, and she was pleased that he joined them that afternoon.

She nodded when Mrs. Harper tells her more about David’s upcoming promotion. She regrated to have missed the announcement last night, but maybe it was for the best. This way, they could celebrate just the two of them, later in the evening.

"Iraq? That’s still going?" Emma was rather clueless on current global affairs. She wasn’t even aware that there were British soldiers stationed there. Mrs. Harper had every reason to be proud of James. He was her eldest, brave, and sharp witted – qualities Emma respected as well. Despite their differences, she felt empathy toward the older woman. She imagined it must be difficult to be a mother to a son deployed in such a tumultuous region—countless sleepless nights, constantly checking the news. Had she thought Mrs. Harper would have welcomed the gesture, she would have reached out to squeeze the palm of her hand.

But the news about Betty completely blindsided her. Emma wasn’t one to be lost for words, but the news of Betty’s pregnancy left her speechless for a moment. What could she possibly say? Betty was the youngest of the siblings, too young to become a mother. She wasn’t married, and Emma hadn’t even known she was seeing anyone. Emma could only imagine how much it was troubling her mother-in-law. She certainly couldn’t offer congratulations on soon becoming a grandmother. She couldn’t sound like she’s sorry for her mother in law either. She wracked her brain for something to say, regretting her decision to ask how Betty was doing in the first place. Finally, she managed a soft murmur of acknowledgment before quickly changing the subject. "How long are you staying? How do you like your hotel?"

"Really? There aren’t?" Again, the significance of if there could, or couldn’t, be uniformed Brits in Iraq eluded her. She made a mental note to herself to do some reading about it when she had the chance. Not because she was passionate about foreign policy, or because she wanted to be well informed, but because it had some personal importance to her in-laws.

"Anyways," she continued "It was fun showing you around today." She had already spent more time than expected with her in-laws, and though she couldn’t ignore the subtle hint from Mrs. Harper about staying longer, she did have other priorities. She had to search for leads on Eliot’s disappearance before the trail ran cold, and she had to do it before David came home for dinner. That didn’t leave her much time.

"If you need any tips for a night out, just let me know" she offered, a light tease in her voice: "I do write for the Independent lifestyle section, you know." Her column was aimed at people her age, of course, but she could easily point them in the direction of something fun. But maybe tone it down this time, and avoid suggesting clubbing, or popular pickup bars. "There’s a lot more to London than the usual boring spots. I’ll send you some recommendations."

"God, I hope I’m not too old for fairy-tales!" Emma laughs lightly, not taking the critique to heart "I think it's important to keep that sense of wonder alive. Fantasy, especially vampires, lets me tap into something primal. Fear. Desire. The unknown. It speaks to a part of us that doesn’t age. If we lose that, we lose a bit of what makes life interesting"

She stopped as an idea popped into her mind, and with that, a playful smile crossed her lips:

"How about I take you to my writers' circle later this afternoon? It's a bit off the beaten path, but I think you might find it fascinating. It's where up-and-coming writers, like myself, read selected chapters from the books they are working on. The energy is always so....electric. I know you've both already visited London's main tourist attractions in the past, so this could be something new, something a little more personal. What do you think?"

"Hi everyone, this is Charles, and Evelyn" Emma introduced her in-laws to the dimly lit room full of aspiring writers. The group was an eclectic mix of oddballs, unsure whether they were pursuing a career or simply indulging in art. Some tried too hard to look edgy, dressing in ways that seemed intended to shock anyone who glanced their way. There was at least one substance abuser (that she knew of), a few recluses, and then there was Jonathan—who had once written a piece so disturbing it lingered in everyone’s minds for weeks, leaving a foul taste in their mouths. None of them were serious authors. All of them had their issues.

Emma was the only one who had actually been published. Her darkness was much more subtle, too deep for any casual observer to notice, though her own novel was disturbing in its own right, a tale of forbidden lust and blood-soaked desire.

It wasn’t surprising that her in-laws felt out of place here. Charles was cautiously taking it all in, but Evelyn's fingers were gripping her purse just a little too tightly.

"They’re my father and mother-in-law" Emma continued, her voice warm and inviting. "They thought it’d be fun to drop by and listen to us today." She smiled at Evelyn and Charles before gesturing toward the circle. "Come on, join us"

She should have suspected. That sleek Aston Martin parked outside, so out of place in that sleepy neighbourhood—of course it was his. Her eyes flicked over Henry as he stood there, his tall frame imposing in his perfectly tailored suit. The years hadn’t changed him; the same arrogance still radiated from him, a smirk tugging at his lips as he stared down at her. A rush of memories hit her, of the many thrilling moments they spent together, soured by the way he treated her.

She could feel Charles and Evelyn's eyes upon her. Already they were suspecting something. Henry didn’t look like he was part of the group. They must have already started wondering who he was, and why he was here.

A warm smile crossed her lips the moment she regained her composure, the charm she’d honed over the years sliding effortless into place. "Of course" she acquiesced almost immediately. She knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t back down until he got what he wanted. "Let’s talk outside."

She flashed a quick smile at her in-laws. "I’ll be back in a moment—just a quick chat outside." And without waiting for their reply, she moved toward the exit and waited just outside for him to join her, before closing the door behind them.