Evil Angels Among Them by Kate Charles

gratitude, realising that she couldn’t face the thought of going back into the Rectory.
    He wrapped the stems of the flowers. ‘Having a dinner party, are you?’
    â€˜Oh, no. I just thought I’d call at Foxglove Cottage.’
    â€˜Ah!’ Fred handed the irises across the counter. ‘You’ve heard the news, then? Going to have a look for yourself, are you?’
    Becca looked at him blankly. ‘I knew that what’s-his-name – Lou – was arriving yesterday, but I haven’t heard anything else.’
    Fred grinned, hugely pleased with himself that he should be the first to tell her. ‘Turns out that Lou isn’t a he – he’s a she, if you know what I mean.’
    She wasn’t sure that she did know what he meant. ‘A she?’
    â€˜A woman. You know.’ He gestured expressively, sketching a pair of oversized breasts with his hands. ‘Seems we’ve got us a pair of queers in Walston. Lesbians – isn’t that the word?’
    Becca stared at him. ‘Oh!’
    â€˜Enid Bletsoe had them over for dinner last night, and she wasn’t half furious that they’d tricked her like that. Letting her think all this time that Lou was a man.’ He chortled with glee. ‘She stopped in here earlier to get a big bottle of Dettol to soak her dishes in, so she wouldn’t catch anything from them. I’ve never seen her so upset. Eyes near popping out of her head with rage. To think, she said, that she’d even invited the other one to join the Mothers’ Union. Can you imagine it? People like that in the Mothers’ Union?’
    Becca approached Foxglove Cottage shyly. She didn’t think she’d ever met any lesbians before and wasn’t quite sure what to expect, though Gillian had seemed perfectly nice and not unusual in any way.
    Bryony answered the door. ‘Mummy!’ she called. ‘It’s the Rector’s wife. She’s all wet, and she’s got flowers.’
    Somehow Becca found herself within a minute or two drying out in the cosy kitchen, sitting at the table with a cup of herbal tea in front of her. Her dripping coat, steaming gently, was draped over the Aga to dry, and Gill fussed over her in her own quiet way. ‘You’ll catch cold if you’re not careful. If you do, you must let me know and I’ll brew you up something for it.’
    â€˜Lou won’t drink Mummy’s brews,’ Bryony confided. ‘She says they’re poison.’
    â€˜Oh, you haven’t met Lou yet, have you?’ Gill addressed her daughter. ‘Darling, will you please go to Lou’s office and tell her that the Rector’s wife is here?’
    The girl went off on her errand, returning a moment later with Lou. ‘Hello,’ Lou said warmly, putting her hand out. ‘The Rector’s wife, is it? I’m glad I was warned – now I know I have to be on my best behaviour. No swearing in front of the Rector’s wife. I’m sure Gill sent Bryony to warn me on purpose, so she wouldn’t have to be ashamed of me.’
    â€˜Oh, Lou, you’re terrible.’ Gill’s slow smile didn’t indicate that she meant it.
    â€˜Welcome to Walston,’ Becca said sincerely. ‘It’s so nice to have you here.’
    Walking back home under the shelter of her umbrella over two hours later, her coat and hair dry again, Becca thought about how much she had enjoyed her afternoon with the two women. Gill was quiet and deliberate while Lou was warm and funny and talkative, with expressive hands that never stopped moving. Once she was there with them, it had never occurred to her that there was anything unusual or strange about their relationship: they treated each other with affection and respect, rather like a married couple.
    It was going to be nice having them in Walston. They might become real friends, and that would be wonderful. Stephen was right –