what’s he wanting from Dr Harris, that’s what I’d like to know.’
‘Willie! You don’t think …’
‘Maybe. Something to entertain himself with while he recups, or whatever they call it.’
‘Whatever will the Rector have to say?’
‘Whatever it is, he’d better say it quick before it’s too late.’
‘She’s been in a funny mood for a while. That cancer business took her back and not half. It was the children, you see. She couldn’t stand the thought of them being left without her, and her not seeing ’em growing up. She loves ’em that much.’ Sylvia dug under the pillow for her handkerchief and wiped her eyes. ‘And so do I, I love ’em too. I’ve never had a happier time in my life since I went to work there.’
‘’ere ’ere. What about since you married me?’
In the darkness Sylvia smiled. ‘You’re all part and parcel, aren’t you? Went there to work, met you and that. It’s all one and the same. If I suspect he’s up to something more than producing a play I’ll kill ’im. So help me I will. I’ll kill ’im.’
‘Sylvia!’
‘I mean it, and I wouldn’t care how many years I spent in prison, it’d be worth it.’
‘Right scandal that’d be. What would you say when they asked you why you did it?’
Sylvia thought for a moment. ‘I’d say it was a crime of passion, ’cos I’d fallen for ’im and he was ignoring me! It was jealousy, that’s right, that was my motive. Jealousy.’
Willie was affronted. ‘Sounds as though I’m not satisfying you as I should.’
‘You’re all right on that score, it’s just a ruse so I don’t have to tell the truth.’
‘Which is?’
‘I killed him to stop him ruining a very happy marriage. They love each other, at bottom. It’s just that she’s feeling trapped at the moment. If only …’
Willie rolled over and put his arms round her. ‘Never mind, old love. It’ll sort itself out.’
‘Not easily, I’m afraid. You have to admit he’s very appealing, very sexy and so good looking. There’s something about his smile which is so attractive. He’s kind of all male and all man and yet child all at the same time. It makes him very irresistible.’
‘Any more of that and I’ll be doing for ’im miself!’
‘Oooo, Willie! You never would.’
‘I would.’
‘So, darling, what’s this play called? Is it one I know or something Hugo’s dreamt up?’
‘Not dreamt up, no. It’s a play written by a new playwright. It’s been done once in Reading, or somewhere, and it flopped. Badly. It’s been rejigged, bits cut out that didn’t work, et cetera, and now Hugo is convinced the chap’s got it right and he’s dying to have a go with it. I read parts of it last night at the meeting and …’
‘Yes?’
‘Peter.’
‘Yes?’
‘Peter, it’s quite … well, anyway, the part he wants me to take means a bit of kissing and that, and I wondered what you thought about it.’
‘I see. What’s it called?’
‘ Dark Rapture .’
‘Mmmmm.’
‘I know I’m being completely ridiculous and if I wasn’t your wife it wouldn’t matter two hoots really, but I am and that means complications and I’ve got to have you on my side before I say yes. Well, I did say yes and then I got cold feet last night in the bar and said I wouldn’t do it.’
‘What do the others think?’
‘Hugo asked them and they kind of half-heartedly said yes, they wanted me to do it, so he took it as a definite yes, which it wasn’t. You know how moral Harriet can get. She told him off.’
‘Would you like to do it?’
Caroline nodded. ‘Yes, I would. It feels like an affirmation that I’m taking life on again. I know it’s only a village play, but …’
‘Then do it, so long as there’s nothing you have to do which will be against everything you’ve ever stood for. There’s no nudity or anything, is there?’
‘Oh no, of course not. There couldn’t be in a Church Hall, could there? There’s the opportunity for
‘Willie! You don’t think …’
‘Maybe. Something to entertain himself with while he recups, or whatever they call it.’
‘Whatever will the Rector have to say?’
‘Whatever it is, he’d better say it quick before it’s too late.’
‘She’s been in a funny mood for a while. That cancer business took her back and not half. It was the children, you see. She couldn’t stand the thought of them being left without her, and her not seeing ’em growing up. She loves ’em that much.’ Sylvia dug under the pillow for her handkerchief and wiped her eyes. ‘And so do I, I love ’em too. I’ve never had a happier time in my life since I went to work there.’
‘’ere ’ere. What about since you married me?’
In the darkness Sylvia smiled. ‘You’re all part and parcel, aren’t you? Went there to work, met you and that. It’s all one and the same. If I suspect he’s up to something more than producing a play I’ll kill ’im. So help me I will. I’ll kill ’im.’
‘Sylvia!’
‘I mean it, and I wouldn’t care how many years I spent in prison, it’d be worth it.’
‘Right scandal that’d be. What would you say when they asked you why you did it?’
Sylvia thought for a moment. ‘I’d say it was a crime of passion, ’cos I’d fallen for ’im and he was ignoring me! It was jealousy, that’s right, that was my motive. Jealousy.’
Willie was affronted. ‘Sounds as though I’m not satisfying you as I should.’
‘You’re all right on that score, it’s just a ruse so I don’t have to tell the truth.’
‘Which is?’
‘I killed him to stop him ruining a very happy marriage. They love each other, at bottom. It’s just that she’s feeling trapped at the moment. If only …’
Willie rolled over and put his arms round her. ‘Never mind, old love. It’ll sort itself out.’
‘Not easily, I’m afraid. You have to admit he’s very appealing, very sexy and so good looking. There’s something about his smile which is so attractive. He’s kind of all male and all man and yet child all at the same time. It makes him very irresistible.’
‘Any more of that and I’ll be doing for ’im miself!’
‘Oooo, Willie! You never would.’
‘I would.’
‘So, darling, what’s this play called? Is it one I know or something Hugo’s dreamt up?’
‘Not dreamt up, no. It’s a play written by a new playwright. It’s been done once in Reading, or somewhere, and it flopped. Badly. It’s been rejigged, bits cut out that didn’t work, et cetera, and now Hugo is convinced the chap’s got it right and he’s dying to have a go with it. I read parts of it last night at the meeting and …’
‘Yes?’
‘Peter.’
‘Yes?’
‘Peter, it’s quite … well, anyway, the part he wants me to take means a bit of kissing and that, and I wondered what you thought about it.’
‘I see. What’s it called?’
‘ Dark Rapture .’
‘Mmmmm.’
‘I know I’m being completely ridiculous and if I wasn’t your wife it wouldn’t matter two hoots really, but I am and that means complications and I’ve got to have you on my side before I say yes. Well, I did say yes and then I got cold feet last night in the bar and said I wouldn’t do it.’
‘What do the others think?’
‘Hugo asked them and they kind of half-heartedly said yes, they wanted me to do it, so he took it as a definite yes, which it wasn’t. You know how moral Harriet can get. She told him off.’
‘Would you like to do it?’
Caroline nodded. ‘Yes, I would. It feels like an affirmation that I’m taking life on again. I know it’s only a village play, but …’
‘Then do it, so long as there’s nothing you have to do which will be against everything you’ve ever stood for. There’s no nudity or anything, is there?’
‘Oh no, of course not. There couldn’t be in a Church Hall, could there? There’s the opportunity for
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