Pillow Talk Part 42

'You do it,' Petra laughed. 'She'll be amazed.'

A couple of weeks before Christmas, not long after Kitty's visit, Arlo and Petra were down in London again, sitting on Eric's sofa reading the Sunday papers. Or rather Arlo was trying to read the papers while Petra fidgeted.

He peered over the top of one of the supplements and gave her a stern look.

'Are you reading that?' she asked.

'I'd like to be,' he said.

She crawled across the sofa and scrunched the paper away from him. 'Can I put something by you?'

'Can I read the papers afterwards undisturbed?'

'Promise,' said Petra. Arlo watched as she drew breath. 'It's just well, I know what I want to do.' She paused. 'With my tanzanite.'

'I've heard that one before,' Arlo laughed, looking down to the pile of papers, about to retrieve one.

'No I mean, for good. And it really is for good. Remember when Charlton took me to buy the new stone for the original bracelet? And I met those two lovely women in the mad tiny office with the huge cage? Well, one of the women is the administrator for the foundation which ensures all mining is ethical and that a percentage of the industry's annual profits are directed back to the Masai community.'

Arlo wasn't sure where this could possibly be leading.

'There's a small museum,' Petra said, 'near one of the empty mines.' She stopped. Her eyes sparkled. 'I'm going to give them my tanzanite. To put in their museum. That way, Mrs McNeil can return to Tanzania. I've told them they can have it on the condition that it's on permanent display and that it becomes known as the Lillian McNeil Tanzanite.'

Esther Savidge wasn't sure what sort of Christmas Petra was used to or what she'd like so she decided the best thing to do was simply to invite her to partake of a Savidge Christmas. Which probably differed very little to many other Christmases happening across the world. In Potters Bar. Or North Finchley. Or Yarm. Or Brondesbury. Stokesley. New Cross. Hong Kong. Chelsea. Hatton Garden. Even in Watford. Or Kent.

'We usually have goose is that OK?' she'd said on the phone to Petra.

'It's very OK,' Petra had said.

And it was. It was delicious.

The only aspect Petra hadn't been sure about was the opening of the presents. Traditionally, she liked to rip open her parcels and packages at the crack of dawn. The Savidges, it transpired, opened theirs after lunch. In a calm, controlled manner. Each person opening just one parcel in turn.

A cashmere scarf. Hardbacked novels she'd had her eye on but had been waiting for in paperback. Jo Malone bath oil. A calender sumptuously ill.u.s.trated with Joe Cornish photographs of North Yorks.h.i.+re. A pair of running shoes, because Arlo said she was always going on about getting fit. And an envelope with a 'P' on the front.

She would open that last. Just vouchers or something.

'Is this from you?' she asks Arlo when there's nothing left but the envelope.

He nods.

She slips her finger under the seal and jags it open. She pulls out the contents. A page of A4 paper headed 'ITINERARY'.

And two plane tickets. Destination: Kilimanjaro International Airport. Date: 17 February.

She stares at Arlo.

'It's half-term,' he shrugs nonchalantly as if it's on a par with a weekend away in the Cotswolds. 'I thought we ought to accompany the Lillian McNeil Tanzanite home.'

She throws her arms around his neck while Esther claps her hands in delight.

Petra glances down the itinerary again, absorbing more information this time. There's a six-day trek to Kilimanjaro, to watch dawn break from the peak on 23 February.

Tears are in her eyes. It's all so unbelievable. But actually, it's very real because it says so in black and white on the A4 paper in her hand.

Arlo has one final surprise in store for Petra, though she claims not to like surprises. But this one is a question he's intending to pop when they've reached the summit of Kilimanjaro, that mountain of Petra's daydreams. And though Arlo knows how Petra will answer, he can't wait to ask her anyway.

Author's note and Acknowledgements.

Tanzanite is one of the world's most sought-after gemstones. In contrast to the horror and lawlessness in the trade of 'conflict' or 'blood' diamonds, protocols have been established to ensure that all tanzanite is traded through legitimate and transparent channels by licensed dealers. Tanzanite is the only gemstone to be given an official 'clean bill of health' (at the International Gem Convention in Tucson, 2003). To champion tanzanite's heritage and safeguard its integrity, the Tanzanite Foundation was established as a non-profit, industry-supported organization.

The Tanzanite Foundation carefully monitors methods of practice and conduct and works to maintain the integrity of tanzanite's route-to-market while highlighting the importance of social consciousness and ethical methods of operation. Committed to making a real difference to the lives of the local community at tanzanite's source, the foundation funds social and economic upliftment. Initiatives are meaningful and sustainable and, to date, include a medi-clinic, a community centre, the Nasinyai Primary School and a new secondary school, infrastructural upgrades to the roads, the Small Mines a.s.sistance Programme, and fresh water supply to 2000 villagers and 4500 head of cattle.

I am indebted to Alex Duxbury and Gabriella Endlin at the Tanzanite Foundation for letting me spend many an absorbing hour in their company, for providing me with fascinating research material and for allowing me sit in 'the cage' surrounded by stunning tanzanites. Thank you so much.

From Hatton Garden to Runswick Bay, researching Pillow Talk was a real treat a true perk of my job. I'm so grateful to Dan and the staff at Bellore (39 Greville Street, London EC1N 8PJ, www.bellore.co.uk); also to Louise Fennell, Shaun Leane, Ana de Costa, Andrew Howe at Wright & Teague, Kate Reardon, Petra Bishai and her students at Kensington and Chelsea College thank you all for letting me natter and/or loiter.

Special thanks to Sam Barbic for so generously opening the door to her somnambulant world and allowing me to peep inside and poke around. Here's to a good night's sleep.

To Nigel and Jennifer Garton thank you for the loan of your names and your fantastic hospitality Up North.

When I was at school, the teachers often complained about my propensity for daydreaming. Nowadays, part of my job requires me to do just that! However, my words would be stuck in the clouds, or confined to my laptop at the very least, were it not for the expert collaboration of the skilled team supporting me.

My heartfelt grat.i.tude to everyone at my publishers, HarperCollins particularly to Lynne Drew my brilliant editor and pal, Claire Bord and Victoria Hughes-Williams; to Amanda Ridout; to Lee Motley; to Damon Greeney, Karen Davies and Sylvia May; to Elspeth Dougall, Wendy Neale and Clive Kintoff; to Leisa Nugent and Lucy Upton; to Marie Goldie and the Glasgow crew.

However, were it not for my wise and wonderful agent, I'd be stuck for a publisher I am thus indebted to Jonathan Lloyd a.k.a J.Llo, at Curtis Brown Ltd, and to Alice Lutyens and Camilla Goslett who summon Mr Lloyd from Very Important Meetings and Very Long Lunches when I want to speak to him. Mary Chamberlain, my diligent copy-editor, and Sophie Ransom, my industrious publicist, complete Team North.

My thanks to all of you, for the support, the fun and the success.

To Haringey Library Services, particularly Susan, Hilary, Germaine and Lai-Ming, thank you for my magical s.p.a.ce and those much appreciated cups of coffee.

Thank you, Jonny Zucker, for the Fabs and Minstrels and office goss.

Behind the scenes and after office hours, my warmest thanks to the Cohens, the Sutcliffes and Jerney de Vries. Also to the Earls Farm savvy club, especially Souki, Sue and Sarah.

Finally, to Jo and Luce and Kirsty and Sarah (again), to Kle and Jeanette and Cousin Kate and Melanie and Karen. When it comes to friends.h.i.+p, you are priceless gems and I love you.

www.cancerresearchuk.org (in memory of my beautiful friend Liz Berney, 1968-2005).

www.rhysdanielstrust.org.

About the Author.

Freya North gave up a PhD to write her first novel, Sally, in 1991. For four years she turned deaf ears to parents and friends who pleaded with her to 'get a proper job'. She went on the dole and did a succession of freelance and temping jobs to support her writing days. In 1995, throwing caution to the wind, Freya sent three chapters and a page of completely fabricated reviews to a top literary agent, and met with success: five publishers entered a bidding war for her book. In 1996, Sally was published to great acclaim and Freya was heralded as a fresh voice in fiction. Her next books, Chloe, Polly, Cat, Fen, Pip, Love Rules and Home Truths have all been bestsellers. She lives in London with her family.

For more information on Freya North, visit her website at www.freyanorth.co.uk.

Visit www.AuthorTracker.co.uk for exclusive information on Freya North.

Praise for Love Rules:.

'Freya North has matured to produce an emotive novel that deals with the darker side of love these are real women, with real feelings.'

She.

'Tantrums, tarts, tears and text-s.e.x ... what's not to love about this cautionary tale for true romantics?'

Heat.

'A distinctive storytelling style and credible, lovable characters ... an addictive read that encompa.s.ses the stuff life is made of: love, s.e.x, fidelity and, above all, friends.h.i.+p.'

Glamour.

'Plenty that's fresh to say about the age-old differences between men and women.'

Marie Claire.

'An intelligent tale of chance encounters, long-lasting friends.h.i.+p and what it's like to fall in and out of love.'

B Magazine.

Praise for Home Truths:.

'An eye-poppingly s.e.xy start leads into a family reunion laced with secrets. Tangled mother/daughter relations.h.i.+ps unravel and tantalising family riddles keep you glued to the end.'

Cosmopolitan.

'An engrossing emotional drama that's sure to feature on bestseller lists.'

Eve.

'You'll laugh, cry, then laugh some more.'

Company.

'Freya North manages to strike a good balance between drama, comedy and romance, and has penned another winner in Home Truths ... touching, enjoyable.'

Heat.

By the same author.

Sally Chloe Polly Cat Fen Pip.

Love Rules.

Home Truths.

end.