She smiled and he trailed a finger down her cheek, noting the way her eyes widened and darkened. Tristan felt his body harden and tamped down on the response. He was supposed to be forgetting last night and keeping his distance.
He dropped his hand and stalked through the house until he reached the kitchen.
‘I’m sorry. I should have expected this…’ she said.
Tristan shook his head. Not sure if he was more agitated at himself, her, or the hyenas filling his front garden. ‘I don’t know how you live like this.’
She swallowed. ‘It’s not normally this bad. In New York you get followed sometimes, but it’s different here.’
‘It’s disgusting.’
‘I’m sorry.’
He swore, and Lily flinched.
‘Stop apologising. It’s not your fault,’ he bit out. ‘If anything it’s mine.’ He raked a hand through his hair and pulled his mobile out of his pocket. ‘Make a coffee, or something. We might be a while.’
‘Do you want one?’
‘No, thanks.’
After a brief interlude in his study, Tristan strode out into his rear garden and found Lily sipping tea on a stone bench, studying one of the statues that dotted his garden.
‘Plans have changed,’ he said brusquely, not enjoying the way she seemed to fit so seamlessly into his home.
‘Oh?’ Lily replied, confused.
‘We leave for Hillesden Abbey in an hour.’
‘How?’
‘Helicopter.’
‘Helicop…? But I have a dress fitting today with Jo.’
‘You had a dress fitting. The seamstress will travel to the Abbey during the week to meet with you.’
‘But surely Chanel don’t…?’
‘Yeah, they do. Now, stop arguing. A car will be pulling up in ten minutes to take us onto the Heath.’
‘Helicopters leave from the Heath?’
‘Not as a general rule.’
Ten minutes later two police motorcycles escorted a stretch limousine along Hampstead Lane and pulled up near Kenwood House, where a bright red helicopter was waiting. A few curious onlookers watched as they alighted from the car—but no paparazzi, Tristan was pleased to note.
‘Are you okay to fly in one of these?’ Tristan raised his voice above the whir of the rotors.
‘I don’t know,’ Lily yelled back. ‘I never have.’
He helped her secure the safety harness and stowed their overnight bags behind her seat.
‘I’m co-piloting today, but let me know if you feel sick.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ She smiled tentatively and he realised she probably would be. She was a survivor, and quick to adapt to the circumstances around her.
He handed her a set of headphones and took his seat beside the pilot, not wanting to think about how that was just one more thing to admire about her.