Christmas at the Keep by Marcia Willett

Author:Marcia Willett [Willett, Marcia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473576742
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2022-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

He stares at the words for a moment, then he tucks the letter in between the leaves of a book, changes his shoes, and goes back out to find Ed and Honey.

Fliss watches them go with a mix of surprise and pleasure. It would be such a relief if these two could find an amicable way forward, rather than the bantering and bickering that is never very far away in their relationship. It’s odd that she’s more worried about Ed than she is about Freddie. Freddie seems to have lost his sense of direction but there’s something about Ed, a continual brightness, the need to keep everyone laughing, that she suspects is a veneer to hide something. But what? She and Hal have talked about it but never come to a conclusion. Ed doesn’t seem too heartbroken about the break-up with Rebecca, and he doesn’t seem to be short of money.

‘I’m not even sure what it is he does,’ Hal said. ‘I find the IT stuff very confusing. He baffles me with science. I’m just worried that he’s done something foolish, like when he lost Maria’s investments, and he’s just keeping his head down.’

‘You mean he’s hiding from creditors?’ Fliss was momentarily alarmed but instinct told her that this is not the reason for Ed’s visit.

Hal shook his head. ‘I don’t really think so, but that’s the trouble with Ed. You just never quite know. There’s an instability.’

Now, as she puts away the shopping, Fliss thinks about that remark. It’s true; all that glitter and gleam, smoke and mirrors, but who is the real Ed? She hates the idea that he can’t confide in them but there’s little she can do: she’s not his mother. At least she can offer him refuge. Maybe Freddie can win his confidence, and she wonders what they’re talking about, out there on the hill.

Following Hal into Bayards Kitchen, Susanna sees Clarissa too late to beat a retreat. She waves enthusiastically, indicating the spare chairs, and Susanna waves back, cursing under her breath.

‘At least she’s got Ralph with her,’ says Hal, as they order their coffee at the counter. ‘Want a croissant?’

‘Tempting,’ she answers, ‘but I shall resist. How about you?’

He shakes his head. ‘Fliss said she might get pasties for lunch. Come on. Once more unto the breach and all that.’

‘How nice to see you,’ cries Clarissa brightly as they sit down. ‘But odd to see you together without Gus or Fliss.’

She glances inquisitively between them as if demanding an explanation.

‘I know,’ Hal smiles blandly at her. ‘But there we are. You’ve found us out at last. We shall just have to beg you to keep it to yourselves.’

Susanna wants to laugh out loud at Clarissa’s expression, but manages not to simply because Ralph looks so uncomfortable.

‘How are you?’ he asks.

‘You must be so busy,’ Clarissa says before they can answer. ‘I was saying to Ralph that it must be so odd having your adult children living with you again. I do admire you. I can’t see Selina wanting to come back to live with us.

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