Paul had already arrived and clutched a merlot in his manicured fingers. He rose as Lara approached. “I took the liberty of ordering our starter,” he said. “I hope you still love fried seaweed.” He pressed a kiss to each of her cheeks and waved the server away, holding onto the back of her chair until she’d seated herself. “Haven’t you missed this?” he demanded, indicating the restaurant with a wide wave of his arm. Lara smiled without answering.
Outside, China Town bustled as though daylight still commanded the sky. A cosmopolitan version of an Oriental city recreated itself in the sprawling English metropolis. Coloured lights twinkled in the inky darkness and crowds thronged in the street outside the restaurants. Escape called to Lara from another continent, offering her a second chance
