The Macbeth Prophecy by Anthea Fraser Page A

week.”
    â€œIn other words, being brutally frank in my turn, you haven’t actually landed the job yet?”
    â€œOh, I’ll get it all right!”
    â€œI hope you won’t be disillusioned. Does the old man know of his impending bereavement?”
    â€œOf course. I handed in my notice on the first day of term.”
    â€œWithout a definite job to go to? Haven’t you heard of all the unemployed teachers walking the Embankment –”
    Whatever he had been going on to say was lost for ever. Without warning, Sue Anderson, whom I’d taken out on one or two occasions, startled us all by bursting into tears and rushing out of the room.
    Margaret Pearson surveyed me coldly. “Callous devil, aren’t you? That poor kid’s been carrying a torch for you for years. When you asked her out, she was over the moon. And now here you are, shouting to all and sundry that you can’t wait to shake the dust of the place off your feet.”
    â€œI didn’t know any of that,” I defended myself. “There was never anything serious.”
    â€œNot to you, perhaps. It was serious enough for her. The trouble is you’re too damned good-looking for your own good. You’ve never had to worry about girls, have you? They just come flocking.”
    â€œOh now look,” I protested, embarrassed as much by her back-handed compliment as by her accusations.
    â€œCan you honestly tell me there’s ever been a girl you fancied who didn’t come running when you snapped your fingers?”
    â€œWell, I –”
    â€œNo, you can’t!”
    â€œHold on, Maggie, it’s not Matthew’s fault if the girls all go for him. Wish I had his problem!”
    The bell sounded for the end of break, releasing me from my discomfiture, but when later that afternoon I bumped into Sue, red-eyed and subdued, in the staff cloak-room, my conscience belatedly asserted itself. She gave me a watery smile and would have passed me, but I caught hold of her arm.
    â€œSue, I’m sorry about this morning. I –”
    â€œYou’ve nothing to be sorry about, Matthew. It’s I who should apologize, for making such a fool of myself. It was – just the shock, that’s all.”
    â€œI didn’t realize you –”
    â€œOf course you didn’t. I never intended that you should.”
    â€œPerhaps we could have a drink together?” I asked tentatively.
    â€œPerhaps, but not this evening.” Her control was beginning to slip again. “Goodbye, Matthew,” she finished in a rush, and, escaping from my fingers, hurried out of the door.
    At least I’d tried. Putting the matter thankfully aside, I went home to phone Philip. And here another setback awaited me, and one which caused considerably more regret. When I told him of my coming interview, he replied: “The best of luck. Let me know how you get on, but I’m sure it’ll be OK.”
    â€œLet you know?” I frowned, not understanding.
    â€œYou weren’t expecting me to go with you? Matthew, we’re run off our feet here. A measles epidemic is in full swing, and between you and me I’m not very popular at the moment anyway. My resignation didn’t go down too well.”
    I tried to swallow my disappointment. “Have you heard from Dr Sampson?”
    â€œNothing definite. He’s taken up my references and my papers are with the Cumbria FPC. It all seems to be going smoothly.”
    Remembering Sue, I said suddenly, “Have you broken the news to that district nurse you were running round with?”
    â€œI have. There were a few tantrums but we survived.”
    I suppressed a smile. If I really was “too good-looking for my own good”, then so, too, was Philip.
    â€œI presume you had similar problems?” he asked astutely.
    â€œA few.”
    He laughed. “Couple of heart-breakers, aren’t we? Sorry, Matthew, I must dash.