folk are just like everyone else. Most of them are on drugs, and very lonely, because all their friends have deserted them.’
‘I wish some of ours would desert us,’ said Declan grimly. ‘That’s why we moved to the country.’
In the hall Tony was throwing out Simon Harris. The elder monster had just smashed a Ming bowl.
‘Was it very old?’ stammered Simon, white-lipped.
‘Only just over six hundred years,’ hissed Tony. ‘Out, OUT.’
‘I’ll pay for it.’
‘It would take you two years’ salary, which I don’t think you’d like from the way you’re always whining about money. Now, bugger off, before those little bastards break the whole place up.’
‘I must go,’ said Rupert.
‘Oh,’ said Maud, put out. She wanted the afternoon to go on for ever. It was as though the sun had gone in.
‘I’ve got to pick up my children from my ex.’
‘How old are they?’
‘Eight and ten.’
‘You must bring them over to see us. Taggie, my daughter, dotes on children. She’d keep them out of our hair. Has your ex-wife married again?’
‘Yes,’ said Rupert getting to his feet, ‘to my old
At that moment Freddie Jones rolled up with two over-loaded plates of Pavlova.
‘’ullo my darlings; brought you some sweet.’
‘Not for me, I’m off,’ said Rupert.
‘How’s my horse getting on?’ said Freddie.
‘Bloody well. I think we’ll run him in a two-mile chase at Cheltenham. He’s ready for it.’
They were interrupted by frantic tapping on the window pane. Valerie Jones was glaring in: No dessert, Fred-Fred, she mouthed.
Lizzie Vereker took Valerie’s place beside Declan: ‘D’you need rescuing?’
‘I did,’ said Declan. ‘I don’t any more. She nails your feet to the floor, but I’m trained to cut across wafflers.’ He shook his head. ‘How’s the book going?’
‘Backwards,’ said Lizzie. ‘Are you nervous about your first programme?’
‘Yes. I shouldn’t be allowed out before a series starts. I get so wound up, I can’t talk to anyone.’
‘Good luck with Johnny, ‘said Rupert, pausing on his way out.
‘Come and have dinner with us after the programme,’ said Declan.
‘Can’t. I’m off to Ireland. I know we’re both hellishly pushed, but let’s get together soon. I’ll come and look at your wood. ‘Bye, darling.’ He gave Lizzie a kiss.
As he crossed the deserted hall Sarah Stratton came out of the downstairs loo, reeking of Anais Anais. Glancing back towards the garden, Rupert saw that James was nose to nose with Paul Stratton, each mistakenly assuming he was furthering his own career.
‘Come and feed the fish,’ said Rupert, taking Sarah’s hand.
He led her down a grassy ride, flanked on either side by yew hedges, to the fish pond. Stuffed to bursting by Simon Harris’s monsters, the carp didn’t even bother to ruffle the surface of the water lilies.
‘Any repercussions?’ asked Rupert.
Sarah shook her head. ‘It seems funny, belting away from your tennis court with a pink dress over my head. The entire Gloucestershire fire brigade will recognize my bush, but not my face.’
Rupert grinned, and pulled her inside the thick curtain of a weeping ash. After he’d kissed her, he said: ‘When are we going to finish the set?’
‘Very soon, please.’
Her smooth golden face was green in the gloom; she looked like a water nymph.
‘How was Maud O’Hara?’ she asked.
‘Seemed pretty unmoored to me,’ said Rupert.
‘Looks as though she’d like to tie herself to you.’
‘Were you jealous?’
Sarah nodded.
‘Pity your husband’s summer recess coincides with mine.’
‘He’s never away,’ moaned Sarah, as Rupert’s fingers moved between her legs. ‘Why don’t we nip into the gazebo?’
‘Got to pick up the children. I’m late already.’
‘When am I going to see you?’ gasped Sarah, as Rupert’s other hand slid down underneath her pants at the back.
‘Come to Ireland with me. I’m leaving on Wednesday afternoon.’
‘I can’t. My ghastly step-children are coming for a couple of weeks on a trial visit. I know who it’s going to be a trial to as well. Paul’s going to Gatwick on Tuesday to meet them.’
‘That’ll give us at least five hours. Ring me at home the minute he leaves.’
‘Hulloo,’ called a male voice.
Frantically straightening her dress, Sarah shot out through the ash tree curtain and bent once more over the fish pond to hide her flaming face.
Wiping off her pale-pink lipstick, Rupert followed in a more leisurely fashion.
‘Sarah and I were talking about horses,’ he told an apoplectic Paul. ‘If you’re going to fork out for a groom, feed and grazing for two hunters, you’re talking about at least fifteen thousand a year. Better if Sarah kept something at my yard.’
‘We’ll discuss it in our own time, thank you,’ spluttered Paul. ‘We must go, Sarah.’
Back in the conservatory, Maud was being heavily chatted up by Bas.
‘Shove off, Bas,’ Monica told him. ‘Declan wants to go and I want two minutes with Maud.’
‘I’ll come and see you,’ said Bas, blowing Maud a kiss.
He’s very attractive, thought Maud dreamily, but not in Rupert’s class.
‘I’m sure you’re a joiner,’ said Monica, who was now busily dead-heading a pale-blue plumbago growing up a whitewashed trellis.
‘No,’ said Maud, ‘I’m an actress.’
Very firmly, but charmingly, she managed to resist all Monica’s urging that she should get herself involved in any kind of charity work.
‘The children come first,’ said Maud simply.
‘But two of them are away,’ protested Monica, ‘and Taggie’s eighteen.’
‘But still dyslexic,’ sighed Maud. ‘She needs her mother, and of course Declan needs his wife.’
‘But you must do something for charity,’ persisted Monica. ‘It’s such a good way of meeting new people, and it’s awfully easy to get bored in the country.’
‘I never get bored,’ lied Maud. ‘There’s so much to do to the house. I can’t pass a traffic light at the moment without wondering whether yellow would go with red in one of the children’s bedrooms.’
Driving home, Maud put a hand on Declan’s thigh, edging it upwards. Pixillated by Rupert’s interest, and Bas’s extravagant compliments, hazy with drink, she felt wildly desirable and alive again.
‘Let’s go straight to bed.’
‘What about Taggie?’ said Declan.
‘Say we’re both tired.’
Declan curled a hand into the front of her black dress.
‘They all wanted you.’
‘Did you like that?’ whispered Maud.
‘I know how hard I’ve got to fight to keep you,’ he said harshly and felt her nipples hardening.
Back in their bedroom at The Priory, he undressed her slowly down to her suspender belt and stockings, so black against the soft white skin.
