“That’s not real Chinese food, Cecil. My point is we actually have so little in common when you really break it down. And I know you think it’s wrong of me to say this now, but I know you’ll be miserable being married to me in the long run. You deserve someone who actually has an Instagram account with more than eight posts. You deserve someone who loves sitting in the front row at the haute couture shows in Paris, who loves wearing huge emeralds while sunbathing on your super yacht. Someone who likes tying you up in the gondola in your town house and reenacting the wrestling scene from Death in Venice. I know there’s someone out there who’s perfect for you, who will love you for exactly who you are, Cecil.”

“But I thought … I thought that person … was you.”

“For a while, I thought I was that person too, but I’ve come to realize that I’m not.”

The waitress approached the table with a pot of boiling hot water.

“Would you like me to freshen up your teas? Are you all right, sir? Do you need some tissues?”

“No. I mean, yes, thanks.”

“I’m sorry, Cecil. Truly.”

“Can we stay friends?”

“Of course we can. I want to stay friends. I really do care for you. That’s why I’m doing this today, as difficult as it is for me to see you so hurt right now. But I just know you’ll be thanking me down the line. I know you’ll find your perfect soul mate, your twin flame, a lot sooner than you might think.”

“You seem so different suddenly, like a new woman.”

“A new woman?”

“I can’t quite explain it. It’s like your whole energy has changed, your voice has been transformed. There’s a new clarity, a fiery quality to it. Like someone who’s been transfigured.”

“What do you mean? I hope you don’t think I’m in love with someone else.”

“I didn’t mean that at all.”

“Or maybe you think I’m cheating on you or something …”

“That never crossed my mind.”

“But you said I seem transfigured, like you’re implying that I’ve been swept up by some new passion.”

“Lucie, relax, I wasn’t implying anything.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir

Central Park

Lucie thought a morning run around the reservoir would help clear her head, but it didn’t. She managed to sleep about four hours the night before, which was a victory compared with the previous days, but her head still felt like it was in a fog and she could not shake off this sensation deep within her bones that she couldn’t quite put into words. What was it? Anxiety? Dread? Guilt? Regret? None of those feelings quite described how she truly felt.

After twice running around the track that encircled the reservoir and showcased spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, Lucie cooled off by jogging along the bridle path behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As she passed a group of Tibetan monks in gold and maroon robes gathering by the grove of cherry blossom trees, she noticed someone waving at her. Squinting a bit to get her vision in focus, she realized it was Auden, dressed in light gray robes that set off his piercing blue eyes.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to stop you,” Auden said.

“It’s okay. I’m just cooling down from my run,” Lucie said, bending forward with her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve just been showing this delegation around the park, before our breakfast with the Dalai Lama.”

“You’re going to meet the Dalai Lama?”

“Yes. We always meet up when he’s in town.”

“Oh,” Lucie said, a little awed.

“Which reminds me, I got the most amusing email from Paloma Ortiz last night. You know the sisters are going to be in town next week?”

“Oh, really?”

Auden fished his phone out from his knitted hemp satchel. “Indeed they are! Paloma writes:

Mercedes and I have been luxuriating in Spain for the past two months. After Cissinghurst fell through, we were fortunate enough to rent the most wonderful villa in Tossa de Mar, on the Costa Brava, where we had a constant invasion of children and grandchildren. A big villa by the sea with the temptations of Barcelona nearby made for the perfect grandchild trap! So while it was not as relaxing as we would have liked, it was great fun nonetheless. Next week, we fly from Barcelona to New York, where we will be stocking up on provisions for our expedition to Mongolia! Yes, Mercedes and I are checking off a bucket-list dream of visiting Mongolia, where we intend to spend time with the eagle hunters, known as the burkitshi, and the reindeer people, also known as the Dukha. It is a four-day trek on horseback to the summer herding grounds of the Dukha, and I pray our old bones will be able to manage so much time in the saddle. (I’m told if all else fails we can charter a few helicopters and Cessnas to help.) We will be in Mongolia for three weeks, and if all goes well, we intend to fly from Ulaanbaatar to Urumqi in China, where our plan is to buy a big, comfortable Land Rover and drive along the Silk Route, journeying to such fabled cities as Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, following in the footsteps of Marco Polo.

“Can you believe it? The sisters are going to do Mongolia on horseback, and then they are going to attempt driving four thousand miles along the Silk Road, across five countries! I really think they might make it all the way to Venice just like Marco Polo did!” Auden laughed.

“How fabulous! I hope I have as much of an adventurous spirit when I’m their age.” Lucie smiled.

“I trust you will, especially now that you’ve shaken things up.”

Lucie gave Auden a wary look. “What do you mean by that?”

Auden paused, realizing that he had perhaps said too much. “I hope I haven’t overstepped, but Freddie did tell me the news … about you and Cecil.”

“Did he tell you at your gong bath last night?” Lucie asked, rather annoyed.

“No, I ran into him at Serendipity. He was sharing this humongous banana split with a very pretty redhead.”

“So he was high on sugar and gossiping with everyone.”

“No, he told me in the strictest of confidence because he’s a bit worried about you. He feels you’ve been going through a great deal lately.”

“Really? Freddie said that?”

“Lucie, any ending of a relationship—no matter how right the decision might feel—is still extremely soul-wounding.”

Lucie bristled. “My soul feels fine. Never better, actually.”

“Fantastic! All the same, I would be glad to gift you a breath work and guided meditation session any time you want, Lucie. Just say the word. Your breath is an incredibly powerful healing tool, and moving the breath through your body is an amazing way to open up your chakras, clear blocks, and resolve any inner conflicts that you have.”

“Thank you so much, Auden, but I can tell you this is the first time in my life where I’ve truly felt like I am absolutely free of inner conflict. Breaking up with Cecil cleared up all the conflict in my life.”

Auden smiled. “It makes me so happy to hear that. And now you can start afresh with George!”