Ros laughed. ‘Don’t worry about it. I was only unpacking.’
‘Unpacking?’
‘I’ve just moved to London.’
‘Where were you before?’
‘Teddington,’ she replied.
‘Exotic Middlesex.’
‘You’re laughing at me.’
‘I know it’s more than my life’s worth. So it’s your first evening in London,’ he added after a moment.
‘You make that sound like something to celebrate.’
‘It is. I remember the night I arrived in London. I changed my shirt and went out until dawn. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more excited about life and the promise it held than when I walked over Waterloo Bridge at midnight.’
‘Well my housemate’s gone out, so it’s just me and a bottle of claret. Unless you wanted to discuss my article,’ she quipped before she had even realised what she’d said.
‘You want to talk through your article over a bottle of claret?’
There was a hint of amusement in his voice and it embarrassed her.
‘No, it’s Friday night. Of course you’ve got plans,’ she backtracked.
‘That depends.’
‘Depends on what?’ she asked, her heart beating hard from excitement and awkwardness.
‘Is it good claret?’
‘It almost bankrupted me.’
‘Then you should probably keep hold of it.’
‘Of course,’ she said softly, aware that he was letting her down gently.
‘We’ll just have to go to the pub then,’ he added.
‘To discuss the piece?’
‘Of course.’
She glanced at her watch: 6.30.
‘Where are you?’ he asked.
‘Primrose Hill. I could get to Soho for eight o’clock.’
‘Or I could come to you. I’d hate to be responsible for a young lady walking around Soho on her own at night.’
‘I can look after myself.’
‘I’m sure. But I have wheels. How about I pick you up in an hour?’
Chapter Nine