Chapter 42

“It was very kind of your mother to invite me.”

He stepped to one side to let her enter the house before him. “My mother is a very kind woman.”

Camille looked around the space she found herself in. An entrance hall, but not as she knew it, it was vast and simply furnished, white walls and dark wooden floor scattered with rugs. The effect was one of space and coolness.

“She sends her apologies.”

Camille shook her head, not understanding.

“My mother sends her apologies. George had an emergency at work. She managed to contact most of the other guests, except Lily,” he added drily.

“And me.”

He tipped his head in acknowledgement.

This got worse. “So there is no party.” She was the gatecrasher. Feeling physically sick, she pressed a hand to her trembling lips. “That’s terrible. When can I arrange to go home?”

From her expression, it seemed to Theo that she looked capable of swimming if necessary. “There is no transport back to the mai