The Seven Stars by Anthea Fraser

to find!’
    ‘ Appearances can be deceptive,’ he said quietly, and she dared say no more. She knew he had been lonely since his wife’s death, knew too that he still hoped she would rescue him from that loneliness.
    And she was fond of him , she thought sadly. He was charming, thoughtful, and very attractive with that lean, clever face and easy smile. She enjoyed his company and they had many of the same interests. Also, and importantly, he understood how much her career meant to her, and his active interest in the school would be a positive advantage.
    And yet — and yet — he just wasn ’t David Webb, she admitted ruefully. As things stood, she had both Charles’s friendship and her relationship with David, and she was selfish enough to want that arrangement to continue.
    All the same , at the doorway of Beechcroft Mansions she didn’t turn away when Charles bent to kiss her. It was a good kiss, like Charles himself. Fond, hinting at hidden depths but making no demands. She withdrew before it could deepen.
    ‘ Good night, Charles. And thank you.’
    He smiled crookedly. ‘For what?’
    ‘ For the lift,’ Hannah said smilingly, and let herself into the house.
     

 
    4
     
    Andrew was whistling as he collected his golf bag from under the stairs the next morning. Helen watched him with a dry mouth. The moment had come.
    ‘ Have a good game,’ she said, and as he nodded absently, added, ‘I shan’t be here when you get back.’
    ‘ Where are you off to?’
    ‘ Steeple Bayliss.’
    He turned , frowning. ‘To see Pen? You never mentioned it.’
    ‘ I hope to see her, but I’m going to attend a two-week course on antiques.’
    ‘ Two - week ? ’
    ‘ As you reminded me, I need something to do; this is the first step towards starting work again. Also,’ she continued above his protest, ‘it will do us both good to have some time apart.’
    He was suddenly still. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘ Oh Andrew, why not admit it? Things haven’t been right for a while. As long as the children were here we could disguise it, but not any longer.’
    He said tightly , ‘I get it: this is all because I blasted you about that phone-call.’ His voice rose. ‘Good God, Helen —’
    ‘ You see?’ she said quietly, lifting her hands.
    ‘ See what?’
    ‘ How it is between us. We can’t discuss the least thing without your flying off the handle.’
    ‘ You regard this as “the least thing”, announcing you’re going away to consider the state of our marriage?’
    ‘ I’m right, though, aren’t I?’
    ‘ OK, so I have a short fuse, but you can be bloody infuriating, you know.’
    ‘ I’m not saying it’s all your fault; we must both change if we want to go on living together.’
    He digested that for a moment , then said more quietly, ‘I wish you had let me know how you were thinking.’
    ‘ Would it have made any difference? Anyway, let’s use the time apart to see how we feel.’
    ‘ You’ll come home the middle weekend?’
    ‘ No, it’s part of the course.’
    ‘ But you are intending to come back, in two weeks?’
    ‘ Of course.’
    ‘ Can I phone you?’
    ‘ It would be better not to, and see how we get on. I’ve stacked the freezer with one-portion meals; all you need to do is put them in the microwave. You won’t starve.’
    ‘ You’re not — going with anyone?’
    ‘ No, all by myself.’
    ‘ When did you decide on this?’
    She hesitated. If she told the truth , it would reinforce his idea that it was tit-for-tat. ‘A day or two ago. Now, you’d better go — the others will be waiting.’
    He eyed her doubtfully. ‘So I’ll see you — when?’
    ‘ A week on Saturday.’
    ‘ What shall I tell everyone?’
    ‘ That I’m on a two-week course. What else?’
    He nodded. ‘All right,’ he said, and added, ‘Enjoy yourself.’
    Awkwardly , he bent and kissed her cheek. ‘Goodbye, then.’
    ‘ Goodbye, Andrew.’
    She remained where she was until the sound of his car