Past Present, Chapter 1
Past Present
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Pairing: Skins, Katie/Effy
Rating: M
Author’s Notes: Inspired by all the great Keffy fics out there. Feedback would be manna. Volunteer beta readers needed, please drop me a line at dbctrl07@gmail.com.
Chapter 1
Katie Fitch was having a wonderful day, so much so that she had to take about five minutes in the powder room of her office to stand in front of the mirror and congratulate herself, addressing herself once more as a “kickass babe” after a lifetime away from such immaturity, or in real time, after 8 years away from Roundview College.
She was the new kid in Mongrand Advertising and already she was starting to make waves as their resident event planner. It was a blessing, that file from Caring Hands, a charity that cared for abused and neglected children. She doesn’t know how Ms. Holden thought of her for the project, but merely a month after drafting a proposal for it and presenting it to her boss Rachel, the press they received from planning a charity auction was paying for itself with media coverage and goodwill from potential clients.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that she deserved all the credit for it. After all, what arrived at her desk could not be termed a project and was more like an attempt at panhandling. That was what she initially thought before she started reading through the Caring Hands file. Whoever Ms. Holden and her team were, they weren’t just a bunch of bleeding hearts trying to take care of children who truly needed them. “Hardcore” was what she had in mind when she decided to quickly look them up. Elizabeth Holden and her team were dedicated to the point of blurring legal lines to try to protect those children who face abuse from those they trust most. The police and the conservative members of the media had taken to calling them the Scaring Hands, but they had no trouble enlisting the most liberal of politicians on their side.
Enlisting celebrities for the auction was easy enough. Katie has always found it easy to draw people in. And the world is full enough of starfuckers so auctioning some celebrities for a date to raise funds for charity would be a walk in the park. Well, they were mostly celebrities. One minor celebrity who is notorious for being camera shy and who has somehow made photos of her disappear is yet to be informed of her turn at the auction block, the one her boss wanted her to put in the docket. So she’s primping herself to meet the notorious Elizabeth Holden to get her to agree to risk a disastrous night out with someone who has deep pockets. She had her assistant, Diane, confirm the appointment at Mauricio’s, an upscale restaurant Ms. Holden went to regularly.
Since Roundview, Katie has changed. Her hair was longer now and no longer the loud red she and Emily used to wear. She decided to wear it down, the soft curls landing on her bare shoulder. What hasn’t changed is her self-confidence that was momentarily shaken due to Gobbler’s End. Katie remains the kind of woman no one can overlook; in an environment that was all about image,
“Can I have another shot of vodka, straight please?” Katie shot the barkeep her most seductive smile as she asked for her third round. “Forty-five fucking minutes late” she murmured under her breath as she sat at the bar waiting for the sainted, but apparently nonpunctual, Elizabeth Holden.
“I wouldn’t worry about it.” The barkeep, a blonde named Sheila, said as she carefully placed a filled glass in front of her. “I honestly doubt you’re the kind that gets stood up.”
Katie smiled slowly at the woman, knowing full well that it would be misconstrued. She couldn’t help but think back to how embarrassingly provincial she was back when Emily, the timid one, was brave enough to come out of the closet. Eight years was thankfully enough time for her to grow beyond Bristol.
Emily and Naomi are still across the Atlantic where the latter was studying for a degree in Environmental Law. Her sister was a fairly successful graphic artist and Naomi, she was loathe to admit, turned out to be the kind of person worthy to be married to her sister. Naomi was a regular contributor to one of the top newspapers in England and was slowly gaining a reputation for her hard-hitting but lucid writing about various causes. Over the years their truce settled into a friendship that was cemented when Naomi, out of the blue, asked to meet her at a pub one night.
“I’ve been accepted to Harvard University. Classes start in six months.” Naomi uncharacteristically agitated, bit her lip before continuing. “I haven’t told Ems, yet. I wanted to talk to you first.”
“Are you…” Katie felt her anger rising fast. “Are you going to fuck off on her, Campbell? Here to make sure I can catch her after you run off to be MSiss high-and-mighty international lawyer asshat bitch?”
“No.”
“Good. Cause you know I don’t have a problem with a little assault charge----“
“I’m here to ask for your permission, you twat.” Seeing the confusion on Katie’s face, Naomi took the plunge. “When it comes down to it, other than your dad, and well, JJ, in a really, really small way… You are her only family. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now and I know the timing is suspect, like I’m just trying to keep her close or something-“
“You’re not a lawyer yet, babes, so how about you talk to me like you’re a human being and tell me more about this permission thing.”
“You’re making it hard.”
“You should listen to yourself. I’m the one suffering here.”
“Katie! “ Naomi digs around her purse quickly and takes out a small hemp purse which she hands to the brunette. “Open it.”
Katie slowly unties the string of the purse and takes out a plain platinum band. “Jesus,” Katie exhales the word. “You’re…”
“I want to ask you for your permission to, well, ask her to marry me. Asking for your permission is just really a roundabout way of asking you to agree to stop putting her in the middle. I love her, Katie, and I know she loves me, but you are her constant. And if she accepts my proposal, I can’t help but think that our antagonism for each other will always be a source of pain for her, and that along with her commitment to me, she would have to resign herself to having a fragmented family.”
Katie took a long sip of her drink, still holding the band in her left hand. She silently handed the ring back to Naomi.
“I’m asking you to trust me with her, Katie. “
“Fuck, Campbell. Call her and tell her you will be at my place. This is not something we can talk about in a goddamn pub. “ Katie looked at the clearly nervous blonde. “Plus, in case I make you disappear, there are too many witnesses and all.”
As soon as they were in her flat, Katie made a beeline for the kitchen to make tea. The entire time was spent in silence until she settled two mugs on the kitchen table.
“First of all, I do realize that you could have gone and asked her without involving me in the process.” Katie paused to wait for the expected snark from Naomi. The twin thought that her prospective sister-in-law must have been truly out of her mind with anxiety to forgo her usual inane comments.
“Second, I bitch at you and all but most of it is out of, like, tradition. I know you make her happy. And all I need from you is the assurance that come hell or high water, you will try to keep her happy. Can you fucking promise me that? “
“I can promise you that more than anything, that’s what I want.” Naomi sincerely replied. “That’s one of the things truly know about myself, Katie. I want to make her happy. And if by some fuck up on my part I should lose her, I would want nothing but to see her have a good life.”
Katie thought of how far her sister and Naomi have come since Bristol, since their mother’s absolute refusal to accept that her daughter is gay and how their father, despite his own views, eventually decided to side with his wife. It still embarrassed Katie sometimes, how she treated Emily’s coming out. “You know I’ll never stop mocking your dress sense, right?”
Naomi rolled her eyes, “I try to think of you as an irritating but necessary appendage of her personality and I’ve put up with your shit for that.” She took a sip of her tea before continuing, “I am also aware that during those few times that I’ve been too involved with my job and causes you were there to remind her that I do love her.”
“I deny that ever happened.”
“Yeah, well, your sister was so surprised by you coming to my defense that she told me all about it. Everytime. Something about you being other than nasty to me just…she practically bounces off the walls with glee.” Seeing Katie about to retaliate, the blonde decided to shift their situation a little closer to normal. “And then we followed up those conversations with unbelievable make-up sex.”
“You are an arse.”
“It takes one to know one. So… are we good?”
“When are you proposing? And has no one ever told you about a rock, as in the kind measured in carats?”
“That’s not who we are, Katiekins. “
“Ugh. Please restrain yourself from another long-winded speech that contains the words conspicuous and consumption.” Katie exhaled. “Can you promise me that never again will she call me to say that she feels like she has an absentee roommate instead of a partner? And can you absolutely be certain that you are now smart enough to know when someone you have to work with is putting the moves on you? Hmmn?”
“Yes to the first one and as for the second one, surely you realize that I wasn’t going to betray Em like that.”
“You deny that you found that Ms PhD from Cambridge attractive or interesting at least?”
Naomi was silent and started circling the rim of her mug with her index finger.
Katie continued, “Have the two of you properly discussed that or did you sweep it under the rug? Do you know how scared she was? She thought you were thinking of moving on. ”
“That’s fucking ridiculous. She knows that I can only think of a present and a future with her.”
“Does she, now?” Katie stared intensely at Naomi. “Even you have to admit that you can be a presumptuous git.”
“I thought… Do you think she still doubts that I am entirely committed to her?”
Katie’s musings were interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Hi, Elizabeth Holden, sorry I’m late.”
Effy fucking Stonem bitch Holden. After her initial shock, Katie could only glare at the hand offered to her. After a few moments she took the offered hand and shook it. She was determined to beat Effy at her game. You wanna play polite and classy? I’ll give you classy, you anorexic, homicidal, junkie nymphomaniac. “Katie Fitch. No problem at all, Ms.Holden. I’m sure you had valid reasons, such as saving the children of the world. Perhaps you would like to reschedule? Deal with another member of our team?”
“It would seem to be a waste of opportunity since we are both here.” Effy was the first to break their staring match. “I understand if you want to reconsider.”
Just as Katie was about to “reconsider” being polite and splashing her drink across Effy’s face, Mauricio himself all red-faced and bursting with joy (or intoxication) yelled out, “Elizabeth Holden the second! How very good to see you, my darling! And why did you not bring the Elizabeth the First?! She is well, no?” He took Effy in her arms, firing his questions the entire time.
“She’s doing fine, Mauricio, off to some Italian village and corrupting young men.”
“Ah, I see. It’s because I am not younger that she dismisses my many offers during this continuing courtship.” When he let go, Mauricio noticed Katie.
“You must be the love of Effy’s life, then? The one her grandmother cannot help cooing about?” He winked and extended a hand to Katie, “Mauricio Valenciano, pro bono chef to your wedding reception. And future grandfather-in-law.”
“Katie Fitch. Ms. Stonem, er Ms. Holden and I are business acquaintances.”
“OH.” Mauricio looked at Effy for confirmation.
Effy’s tight, uncomfortable smile and Katie’s near glare made it clear that an exit was necessary.
“Your table is always ready for you, and I’ll go do what I do,” he said to Effy. He then turned to Katie and said, “enjoy your evening, Katerina, I’m sure you’ll find our Effy endlessly fascinating and absolutely charming.”
As soon as the head waiter ushered them into a corner table, Effy told the twin, “I wanted to let you know, but I didn’t know how to do that without risking the project.”
“Not a problem, Ms. Holden.” Katie replied, as coolly as she can, as if they were discussing the stock exchange. As if they weren’t close to killing each other five years ago. “Mongrand Advertising is committed to this project. Anything for the kids.”
“Please, could we just…”
“Mr. Adrian Bucher, our executive director, believes that you should be the last person to be auctioned off. It’s a good plan and I hope you would agree and cooperate.” Katie delivered her lines in an almost monotone, glaring at Effy the entire time.
“You look well, Katie.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. I’m sure the event would be a rousing success. Thank you for this meeting.” She abruptly stood up, and without a backward glance, headed for the door.
It was the fucking cold that reminded Katie that she left her goddamn Italian coat in the restaurant. She hurriedly walked to her car while fumbling for her keys and a cigarette. When she successfully got in, she was trembling, not just from the cold but the adrenaline. No wonder no one’s heard of what Effy Fucking Stonem was up to. She has somehow morphed into Elizabeth Holden, child protector, darling of society, piece of shit cunt that left her for dead eight years ago at Gobbler’s End.
Once inside her apartment, Katie headed straight for her kitchen, poured herself a single shot of vodka, and started rooting around for weed she hid inside a paprika bottle. After a few decent hits, she went to her office and turned on her laptop.
She opened the files containing her research on Caring Hands. A Wikipedia entry describes Ms. Holden as heir to Holden Communications, a multinational mobile phone network that is working its way to being one of the top ten companies in the universe. And Effy Stonem was its CEO, following the death of her brother.
The last statement was a fog light cutting through Katie’s fuzzy consciousness: Ms. Holden was guardian to her three-year-old niece Alicia, whom she has now adopted following her brother’s suicide.
Effy Stonem, Ms. Couldn’t-be-bothered-to-wear-something-that-covers-my-entire-arse, is a mother?
Motherfucker.
“Nope” Katie said aloud, “Not just a motherfucker. A fucking rich, goody-two-shoes motherfucker who I thought was living in a dive somewhere as a crack whore, offering blowjobs for a hit.”
The bottle of vodka was nearly half-empty when her doorbell rang.
She clicked a few keys to connect to her flat’s security system. On her monitor, extra coat draped on her arm, was Effy Stonem.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Pairing: Skins, Katie/Effy
Rating: M
Author’s Notes: Inspired by all the great Keffy fics out there. Feedback would be manna. Volunteer beta readers needed, please drop me a line at dbctrl07@gmail.com.
Chapter 1
Katie Fitch was having a wonderful day, so much so that she had to take about five minutes in the powder room of her office to stand in front of the mirror and congratulate herself, addressing herself once more as a “kickass babe” after a lifetime away from such immaturity, or in real time, after 8 years away from Roundview College.
She was the new kid in Mongrand Advertising and already she was starting to make waves as their resident event planner. It was a blessing, that file from Caring Hands, a charity that cared for abused and neglected children. She doesn’t know how Ms. Holden thought of her for the project, but merely a month after drafting a proposal for it and presenting it to her boss Rachel, the press they received from planning a charity auction was paying for itself with media coverage and goodwill from potential clients.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that she deserved all the credit for it. After all, what arrived at her desk could not be termed a project and was more like an attempt at panhandling. That was what she initially thought before she started reading through the Caring Hands file. Whoever Ms. Holden and her team were, they weren’t just a bunch of bleeding hearts trying to take care of children who truly needed them. “Hardcore” was what she had in mind when she decided to quickly look them up. Elizabeth Holden and her team were dedicated to the point of blurring legal lines to try to protect those children who face abuse from those they trust most. The police and the conservative members of the media had taken to calling them the Scaring Hands, but they had no trouble enlisting the most liberal of politicians on their side.
Enlisting celebrities for the auction was easy enough. Katie has always found it easy to draw people in. And the world is full enough of starfuckers so auctioning some celebrities for a date to raise funds for charity would be a walk in the park. Well, they were mostly celebrities. One minor celebrity who is notorious for being camera shy and who has somehow made photos of her disappear is yet to be informed of her turn at the auction block, the one her boss wanted her to put in the docket. So she’s primping herself to meet the notorious Elizabeth Holden to get her to agree to risk a disastrous night out with someone who has deep pockets. She had her assistant, Diane, confirm the appointment at Mauricio’s, an upscale restaurant Ms. Holden went to regularly.
Since Roundview, Katie has changed. Her hair was longer now and no longer the loud red she and Emily used to wear. She decided to wear it down, the soft curls landing on her bare shoulder. What hasn’t changed is her self-confidence that was momentarily shaken due to Gobbler’s End. Katie remains the kind of woman no one can overlook; in an environment that was all about image,
“Can I have another shot of vodka, straight please?” Katie shot the barkeep her most seductive smile as she asked for her third round. “Forty-five fucking minutes late” she murmured under her breath as she sat at the bar waiting for the sainted, but apparently nonpunctual, Elizabeth Holden.
“I wouldn’t worry about it.” The barkeep, a blonde named Sheila, said as she carefully placed a filled glass in front of her. “I honestly doubt you’re the kind that gets stood up.”
Katie smiled slowly at the woman, knowing full well that it would be misconstrued. She couldn’t help but think back to how embarrassingly provincial she was back when Emily, the timid one, was brave enough to come out of the closet. Eight years was thankfully enough time for her to grow beyond Bristol.
Emily and Naomi are still across the Atlantic where the latter was studying for a degree in Environmental Law. Her sister was a fairly successful graphic artist and Naomi, she was loathe to admit, turned out to be the kind of person worthy to be married to her sister. Naomi was a regular contributor to one of the top newspapers in England and was slowly gaining a reputation for her hard-hitting but lucid writing about various causes. Over the years their truce settled into a friendship that was cemented when Naomi, out of the blue, asked to meet her at a pub one night.
“I’ve been accepted to Harvard University. Classes start in six months.” Naomi uncharacteristically agitated, bit her lip before continuing. “I haven’t told Ems, yet. I wanted to talk to you first.”
“Are you…” Katie felt her anger rising fast. “Are you going to fuck off on her, Campbell? Here to make sure I can catch her after you run off to be MSiss high-and-mighty international lawyer asshat bitch?”
“No.”
“Good. Cause you know I don’t have a problem with a little assault charge----“
“I’m here to ask for your permission, you twat.” Seeing the confusion on Katie’s face, Naomi took the plunge. “When it comes down to it, other than your dad, and well, JJ, in a really, really small way… You are her only family. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now and I know the timing is suspect, like I’m just trying to keep her close or something-“
“You’re not a lawyer yet, babes, so how about you talk to me like you’re a human being and tell me more about this permission thing.”
“You’re making it hard.”
“You should listen to yourself. I’m the one suffering here.”
“Katie! “ Naomi digs around her purse quickly and takes out a small hemp purse which she hands to the brunette. “Open it.”
Katie slowly unties the string of the purse and takes out a plain platinum band. “Jesus,” Katie exhales the word. “You’re…”
“I want to ask you for your permission to, well, ask her to marry me. Asking for your permission is just really a roundabout way of asking you to agree to stop putting her in the middle. I love her, Katie, and I know she loves me, but you are her constant. And if she accepts my proposal, I can’t help but think that our antagonism for each other will always be a source of pain for her, and that along with her commitment to me, she would have to resign herself to having a fragmented family.”
Katie took a long sip of her drink, still holding the band in her left hand. She silently handed the ring back to Naomi.
“I’m asking you to trust me with her, Katie. “
“Fuck, Campbell. Call her and tell her you will be at my place. This is not something we can talk about in a goddamn pub. “ Katie looked at the clearly nervous blonde. “Plus, in case I make you disappear, there are too many witnesses and all.”
As soon as they were in her flat, Katie made a beeline for the kitchen to make tea. The entire time was spent in silence until she settled two mugs on the kitchen table.
“First of all, I do realize that you could have gone and asked her without involving me in the process.” Katie paused to wait for the expected snark from Naomi. The twin thought that her prospective sister-in-law must have been truly out of her mind with anxiety to forgo her usual inane comments.
“Second, I bitch at you and all but most of it is out of, like, tradition. I know you make her happy. And all I need from you is the assurance that come hell or high water, you will try to keep her happy. Can you fucking promise me that? “
“I can promise you that more than anything, that’s what I want.” Naomi sincerely replied. “That’s one of the things truly know about myself, Katie. I want to make her happy. And if by some fuck up on my part I should lose her, I would want nothing but to see her have a good life.”
Katie thought of how far her sister and Naomi have come since Bristol, since their mother’s absolute refusal to accept that her daughter is gay and how their father, despite his own views, eventually decided to side with his wife. It still embarrassed Katie sometimes, how she treated Emily’s coming out. “You know I’ll never stop mocking your dress sense, right?”
Naomi rolled her eyes, “I try to think of you as an irritating but necessary appendage of her personality and I’ve put up with your shit for that.” She took a sip of her tea before continuing, “I am also aware that during those few times that I’ve been too involved with my job and causes you were there to remind her that I do love her.”
“I deny that ever happened.”
“Yeah, well, your sister was so surprised by you coming to my defense that she told me all about it. Everytime. Something about you being other than nasty to me just…she practically bounces off the walls with glee.” Seeing Katie about to retaliate, the blonde decided to shift their situation a little closer to normal. “And then we followed up those conversations with unbelievable make-up sex.”
“You are an arse.”
“It takes one to know one. So… are we good?”
“When are you proposing? And has no one ever told you about a rock, as in the kind measured in carats?”
“That’s not who we are, Katiekins. “
“Ugh. Please restrain yourself from another long-winded speech that contains the words conspicuous and consumption.” Katie exhaled. “Can you promise me that never again will she call me to say that she feels like she has an absentee roommate instead of a partner? And can you absolutely be certain that you are now smart enough to know when someone you have to work with is putting the moves on you? Hmmn?”
“Yes to the first one and as for the second one, surely you realize that I wasn’t going to betray Em like that.”
“You deny that you found that Ms PhD from Cambridge attractive or interesting at least?”
Naomi was silent and started circling the rim of her mug with her index finger.
Katie continued, “Have the two of you properly discussed that or did you sweep it under the rug? Do you know how scared she was? She thought you were thinking of moving on. ”
“That’s fucking ridiculous. She knows that I can only think of a present and a future with her.”
“Does she, now?” Katie stared intensely at Naomi. “Even you have to admit that you can be a presumptuous git.”
“I thought… Do you think she still doubts that I am entirely committed to her?”
Katie’s musings were interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Hi, Elizabeth Holden, sorry I’m late.”
Effy fucking Stonem bitch Holden. After her initial shock, Katie could only glare at the hand offered to her. After a few moments she took the offered hand and shook it. She was determined to beat Effy at her game. You wanna play polite and classy? I’ll give you classy, you anorexic, homicidal, junkie nymphomaniac. “Katie Fitch. No problem at all, Ms.Holden. I’m sure you had valid reasons, such as saving the children of the world. Perhaps you would like to reschedule? Deal with another member of our team?”
“It would seem to be a waste of opportunity since we are both here.” Effy was the first to break their staring match. “I understand if you want to reconsider.”
Just as Katie was about to “reconsider” being polite and splashing her drink across Effy’s face, Mauricio himself all red-faced and bursting with joy (or intoxication) yelled out, “Elizabeth Holden the second! How very good to see you, my darling! And why did you not bring the Elizabeth the First?! She is well, no?” He took Effy in her arms, firing his questions the entire time.
“She’s doing fine, Mauricio, off to some Italian village and corrupting young men.”
“Ah, I see. It’s because I am not younger that she dismisses my many offers during this continuing courtship.” When he let go, Mauricio noticed Katie.
“You must be the love of Effy’s life, then? The one her grandmother cannot help cooing about?” He winked and extended a hand to Katie, “Mauricio Valenciano, pro bono chef to your wedding reception. And future grandfather-in-law.”
“Katie Fitch. Ms. Stonem, er Ms. Holden and I are business acquaintances.”
“OH.” Mauricio looked at Effy for confirmation.
Effy’s tight, uncomfortable smile and Katie’s near glare made it clear that an exit was necessary.
“Your table is always ready for you, and I’ll go do what I do,” he said to Effy. He then turned to Katie and said, “enjoy your evening, Katerina, I’m sure you’ll find our Effy endlessly fascinating and absolutely charming.”
As soon as the head waiter ushered them into a corner table, Effy told the twin, “I wanted to let you know, but I didn’t know how to do that without risking the project.”
“Not a problem, Ms. Holden.” Katie replied, as coolly as she can, as if they were discussing the stock exchange. As if they weren’t close to killing each other five years ago. “Mongrand Advertising is committed to this project. Anything for the kids.”
“Please, could we just…”
“Mr. Adrian Bucher, our executive director, believes that you should be the last person to be auctioned off. It’s a good plan and I hope you would agree and cooperate.” Katie delivered her lines in an almost monotone, glaring at Effy the entire time.
“You look well, Katie.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. I’m sure the event would be a rousing success. Thank you for this meeting.” She abruptly stood up, and without a backward glance, headed for the door.
It was the fucking cold that reminded Katie that she left her goddamn Italian coat in the restaurant. She hurriedly walked to her car while fumbling for her keys and a cigarette. When she successfully got in, she was trembling, not just from the cold but the adrenaline. No wonder no one’s heard of what Effy Fucking Stonem was up to. She has somehow morphed into Elizabeth Holden, child protector, darling of society, piece of shit cunt that left her for dead eight years ago at Gobbler’s End.
Once inside her apartment, Katie headed straight for her kitchen, poured herself a single shot of vodka, and started rooting around for weed she hid inside a paprika bottle. After a few decent hits, she went to her office and turned on her laptop.
She opened the files containing her research on Caring Hands. A Wikipedia entry describes Ms. Holden as heir to Holden Communications, a multinational mobile phone network that is working its way to being one of the top ten companies in the universe. And Effy Stonem was its CEO, following the death of her brother.
The last statement was a fog light cutting through Katie’s fuzzy consciousness: Ms. Holden was guardian to her three-year-old niece Alicia, whom she has now adopted following her brother’s suicide.
Effy Stonem, Ms. Couldn’t-be-bothered-to-wear-something-that-covers-my-entire-arse, is a mother?
Motherfucker.
“Nope” Katie said aloud, “Not just a motherfucker. A fucking rich, goody-two-shoes motherfucker who I thought was living in a dive somewhere as a crack whore, offering blowjobs for a hit.”
The bottle of vodka was nearly half-empty when her doorbell rang.
She clicked a few keys to connect to her flat’s security system. On her monitor, extra coat draped on her arm, was Effy Stonem.