A New Dream, Maggie Ford [books to read romance txt] 📗

to keep hers as invisible as possible. It seemed she was being successful at gently introducing it today.

Simon too had enjoyed great success with his costume jewellery but was growing restive. Usually it took twenty to thirty minutes to present a show, as opposed to the preparation which took hours. This time the show was to last a whole morning and continue through the afternoon, repeated over and over for the benefit of ever-changing audiences. It was exhausting and draining but it was imperative to keep going while other exhibitors continued to do so.

‘I think I’ll take a quick look around the other stands,’ he muttered and Julia nodded, wishing she could too. But he would bring back reports of what he saw and that was as important to her as managing her own show.

As he moved off she put her mind to the reaction of the crowd. There were almost as many men at this exhibition as women, mostly with wives or girlfriends on their arms. Some were on their own, but they were usually buyers whom one could easily pick out. One such Julia noticed. He didn’t look like a buyer though as he came towards her. There was something slightly familiar about him. She stared then moments later gasped as she recognized the face of Chester Morrison.

Twenty-Four

For a moment he looked as startled as she. But seconds later his expression was replaced by a broad smile as he moved towards her through the groups of people, reaching her in a few long strides.

She had been standing by the curtain to the small changing area from where she could judge the reactions to her designs by both the public and, hopefully, buyers.

‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.

His voice still bore the energetic, amiable timbre she remembered and which now made her heart flip to hear. Why, she didn’t know. At the same time came a resurgence of the old resentment at his callousness in breaking off their engagement the moment she and her family had found themselves in financial straits. But he’d been younger then and under the strong influence of his arrogant family. No doubt he was married now and his own master.

He made to step up on to the low, temporary catwalk but she stopped him with an almost imperious out-turned palm of her hand. It was typical of him to assume everywhere to be his domain. He hadn’t changed. But at her signal he stayed where he was, forced to look up at her from his position. She found that quite gratifying.

‘What am I doing here? I have my own a business – I’m a fashion designer and quite well known.’ No harm in saying so and she was, to some extent.

Julia lifted her head proudly and made herself stand a little taller. She had noted a buyer hovering a few paces away, making notes as her second model turned at the end of the catwalk to retrace her steps with expert casualness back to the changing area.

Chester looked suitably impressed. ‘Glad to see you doing well,’ he said, but Julia had her eye on the buyer. Chester’s presence might prevent her from speaking to the man and he could prove important to her.

And where was Simon when she wanted him? She looked down at Chester. ‘Excuse me for a moment, will you?’ She saw him step back a little, obviously not expecting her reaction. ‘I have to speak to someone,’ she offered as an excuse as she moved casually off towards the man making notes.

He looked up from his pad at her approach and smiled, tilting his head towards her stand. ‘Very good,’ he appraised. ‘You are the designer?’ When she nodded he said, ‘I am a buyer for…’ The name was drowned by a group of young people passing close by, laughing noisily. But Julia wasn’t worried. She could ask him again later. ‘So you are Julia Layzell?’

‘That’s correct,’ she answered calmly though her heart was pounding rather surprisingly. She had dealt with many buyers and was mystified why she should feel so on edge and excited this time.

‘I wonder if we might have a small business chat,’ he was saying. ‘I have to be somewhere in a few minutes, but what do you say about having lunch together, say in about an hour, around twelve thirty, at the George Hotel? That’s only just outside this exhibition, a small place but we can talk better there.’

‘That would be fine,’ she replied, all thoughts of Chester flown. ‘I will need to bring along my business partner.’

‘Fine,’ he replied. ‘I shall see you then.’

‘And you are?’

He held out a hand. ‘The name’s Thompson.’

Julia nodded as they shook hands and watched him shoulder his way through the moving knots of people, realizing that she hadn’t asked him to repeat the name of the people for whom he was a buyer. She would ask him later when they met in the George.

She returned to find Chester still where she had left him. He grinned at her and said, ‘Quite the important young lady these days, eh?’

She ignored the remark. ‘And why are you here?’

Chester shrugged. ‘Just having a look around but it’s an unexpected surprise seeing you here. I’ve often wondered about you. Have you ever thought about me?’

He paused but when she didn’t answer he went on, ‘It is delightful to see you again.’

No reference at all to the way in which their relationship had ended. She noticed he was looking down at her left hand.

‘Not married, I see?’

‘No.’ Why had she said that? Of course she wasn’t married but she need not have stated the fact so definitely. She should have explained that she was in a committed relationship.

Too late to alter it now as he said in a light tone, ‘Fancy!’ He became thoughtful then said suddenly, ‘Look, why don’t we have a drink together?’

‘Sorry, I’m needed here.’

‘Yes, of course,’ he said. ‘I’m forgetting you’re a businesswoman now. And business comes first.’

‘Comes