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“I’ll be at your mum’s at ten o’clock”

He holds out his hand and we barely brush fingertips before he turns and walks away I watch him disappear into the darkness, then turn and head down the drive to the house,

It’s all very well, getting one over on Trish But what about my unbearable frenzy of frustration?

Sixteen

I’ sharply on my door “Samantha! I need to speak to you! Now!”

It’s not even eight o’clock on a SaturdayWhere’s the fire?

“OK! Hang on a sec!” I call blearily

I get out of bed and put on a dressing gown, ht Nathaniel’s hand in mine … Nathaniel’s arms around me …

“Yes, Mrs Geiger?” I openthere in a white robe She puts her hand over the cordless phone in her hand

“Sae note of triumph in her voice “You’ve fibbed to me, haven’t you?”

I feel a white flash of shock How did she—how could she—

“Haven’t you?” She givesabout?”

My mind frantically runs over all the fibs I’ve ever told Trish, up to and including “I’ snificant Or she could have found out the whole lot

“I don’t knohat you’re referring to,” I say in a throaty voice “Madam”

“Well” Trish walks toward ine, I’m rather upset that you never told me you’d cooked paella for the Spanish ambassador”

My s open

“I specifically asked in your interview if you had cooked for any notable persons” Trish arches her eyebrows in reproof “You never even mentioned the banquet for three hundred at the Mansion House”

OK, has she been bipolar all this time? That would explain a lot

“Mrs Geiger,” I say, a little nervous “Would you like to sit down?”

“No, thank you!” she says crisply “I’erly”