'Friends do talk to each other about their holidays. You probably did the right thing, making yourself scarce. You know Caroline was worried about you getting your hooks into Peter?'
'What?'
'She guessed you were gay and thought you were trying to get Peter into your clutches.'
'Oh my god!'
'Not your type?'
'Is he anyone's type?'
'Caroline liked him enough to marry him.'
Was that the reason Caroline had been so unpleasant to me that first morning at breakfast in the Hotel des Amis? I moved the slice of chocolate cake I had bought so that it was between us in the middle of the little table, watching Lizetta's eyes drawn away from my face towards it. 'Would you like some?'
'I mustn't.'
'Oh go on,' I said, cutting it in half. 'Is he attractive - to women, I mean?'
'Yes, to some women he is. He's strong-minded, intelligent, decisive. He may not be the easiest person to get on with, but life will never be dull while he's around. Think of the old codgers, or those two tailor's dummies you're working with, who would you prefer? And like Peter, Caroline is ambitious; she would never settle for years of child rearing or the Women's Institute.'
'We should have got to know each other before. We've said hello once or twice.'
'Yes, we could have gossiped about all sorts of things. For instance, that woman on your team, is she really a partner?'
'Yes. She might liven up the old codgers' Thursday swimming sessions if she tagged along. A female partner in a swimsuit, it would be like their world coming to an end.'
'You know about the partners' swimming sessions do you?'
'I am allowed to go. They need someone to e-mail reminders to them so they won't forget.'
'You are privileged. A gay man getting into the same pool as the old codgers. That sounds like their world coming to an end.'
'Peter is the only one at senior level who knows about me, as far as I know.'
'You might be surprised. You don't hide it all that well.'
'What d'you mean?'
'You look at men you pass in the street. You were doing it while we walked here. Fortunately I'm not one for tittle-tattle.' She pursed her lips. 'Well, not all of the time.'
Since my return to favour Peter and I had not discussed my 'disappearing act' in France, and if what Lizetta had said was true we were never likely to. Her comments raised too many awkward questions: for instance if Caroline had considered me a rival for Peter, was there something in his behaviour towards me or in his past that caused her suspicions? Whatever might have been in her mind or his was best forgotten. When I mentioned to him that Lizetta had joined the 'team' he confirmed she was a family friend: 'She's a good chum to Caroline. Both working in personnel they always have plenty to talk about. By the way your plan for combining the two computer networks has gone down well. How would you feel about giving a little presentation to a joint meeting of partners from both firms?'