AUGUST 1977, THE DOLPHIN, PORTGLAS

Emily crosses the restaurant, making her way towards the table where Margaret and Edward are seated. She is accompanied by a young woman who Margaret realises must be Sophie. Edward and Margaret stand to greet them. Emily kisses Margaret and Edward respectively. Emily turns to her companion.

‘Sophie this is Margaret, I cannot believe it has taken so long for you two to meet.’

Margaret takes Sophie’s proffered hand. ‘Yes, so pleased to meet you at last’.

‘Hi,’ says Sophie. ‘It’s great to be back here.’

‘Hello Sophie’ says Edward taking her by the shoulders and kissing her on both cheeks. ‘So pleased to see you again’

‘You too Edward, it’s been too long. You look well’

‘So do you Sophie’.

‘Shall we sit?’ says Margaret. ‘Please Sophie, sit next to me. I want to hear all about you three as children at Tregethlan’.

They take their seats, Edward and Sophie either side of Margaret with Emily facing her. The waiter appears at Edward’s elbow with the menus and wine list. He distributes the menus, leaving Edward to peruse the choice of wine.

Margaret pretends to study her menu while covertly peeping from under her eyelashes at Sophie. What an earthy looking young woman, she thinks. Those unusual blue-grey eyes, unruly, long, sun-kissed curly hair. Not at all the sort of friend she would expect Emily to have. Her bright orange and green kaftan dress with brown – what were they? – hieroglyphics – scattered over it, gives her an almost gypsy air. The pearl earrings are a bit unexpected though. They look real too. Margaret is interrupted in her thoughts by Edward.

‘Shall we have champagne dear? It’s a bit of a special occasion?’

‘Why not? That would be lovely’ answers Margaret.

‘Thank you Edward, you know how much I love champagne’ says Sophie.

‘Did you drink a lot of champagne as children then?’ Margaret asks, eyebrows raised.

‘Of course not, don’t be silly darling. Don’t all young women like champagne? You certainly do don’t you Emily?’

‘I don’t know Edward. I’ve always found even the expensive stuff vastly overrated. A stiff G and T for me anytime.’

The waiter reappears and Edward is relieved to give him back the wine list with his order. He buries himself in his menu.

Turning to Sophie, Margaret asks, ‘So Sophie, how did you come to be at Tregethlan?’

‘I was incredibly young. I arrived as a toddler with my parents from the Netherlands.’

Sophie tells Margaret briefly about her parents escape during the war.

‘It all sounds very exciting’ says Margaret.

‘I don’t think it was for my parents, but yes I suppose it does. I think they must have been terrified but very brave.’

‘That’s obviously where you get your spirit of adventure from Sophie’ says Edward.

Margaret looks questioningly at Edward. How long is it since these two last met and how much does he know about her as a young woman? 

Edward realises he is talking too much, saying the wrong thing. Too many drinks at the bar beforehand. ‘Emily keeps me up to date on your comings and goings, don’t you Emily?’ Before Emily can comment Edward asks if everyone is ready to order. All eyes return to their menus. The atmosphere has changed.

Chapter 34