Evil Angels Among Them by Kate Charles Page A

they’d have to invite them round for a meal quite soon. Perhaps they should have Cyprian Lawrence as well – he must be lonely, living on his own like that, and snubbed by everyone in the village.
    Suddenly she realised, with a jolt, that she’d been enjoying herself so much that she hadn’t given another thought to the phone call. As she went up the lane her apprehensiveness returned, like an old familiar dark cloud settling back on top of her.
    But the car was in the drive, which meant that Stephen was home and she would be safe.
    Stephen was waiting for her at the door, frowning. ‘Where have you been?’ he demanded with uncharacteristic intensity.
    â€˜I’ve been paying a call at Foxglove Cottage,’ she began. ‘And they’re—’
    â€˜Well, I’ve been worried witless about you! You weren’t here, but your handbag was in the hall, and there wasn’t a note or anything. What was I supposed to think?’
    Becca clapped her hand to her mouth, stricken. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t think.’
    â€˜And the telephone was off the hook! I know I’ve mentioned this to you before, Becca, but it’s very important that you don’t leave the phone off the hook. I’m the Rector, in case you’ve forgotten, and people are always needing to get in touch with me. It’s very careless of you to do that.’
    It was the first time her husband had ever spoken to her sharply, or indeed with anything but tenderness. ‘Yes, Stephen,’ she said, swallowing hard. ‘I’m sorry.’ She turned her head away quickly so that he wouldn’t see the tears.
    CHAPTER 5
    Â Â Â Â  And why? their communing is not for peace: but they imagine deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.
    Psalm 35.20
    By the time of the service on Sunday morning, there wasn’t anyone at St Michael’s, or indeed in Walston, who didn’t know about Gillian and Lou – their unorthodox living arrangements and how they had deceived Enid Bletsoe. But as none of them save Enid – and Becca – had actually seen Lou, there was a good turnout for the service in the hope that the women would put in an appearance.
    They didn’t disappoint. Both of them were there, along with Bryony, oblivious to the fact that they were the most scandalous – and talked-about – thing to hit Walston in a good many years. Sitting near the front, they were unaware, in fact, that they were being shunned by the good folk of Walston by unspoken common consent.
    After the service they were not entirely left to their own devices; Becca Thorncroft spoke to them, of course, especially as she had determined to go ahead with her plans for a dinner party the following weekend, and she couldn’t wait to issue the invitation.
    â€˜It sounds a lovely idea,’ Gill assented. ‘But what about Bryony? You won’t want her to come, and we haven’t been here long enough to know any babysitters.’
    It was a problem which Becca hadn’t even considered. ‘Oh, I suppose it would be all right if you brought her along,’ she said doubtfully.
    â€˜Good Lord, no – you wouldn’t want this little horror in your house,’ Lou laughed, ruffling Bryony’s hair with affection.
    Enid, who had been lurking within earshot talking to Doris and Marjorie but with her back pointedly turned towards the offending women, spun around and put on a semblance of a friendly smile. ‘I couldn’t help overhearing,’ she began. ‘Perhaps I could help – I’d be more than happy to look after dear little Bryony for you.’
    With no reason to suspect that Enid, of late their firm friend and champion, was now their sworn enemy, Gill smiled her gratitude. ‘That’s very kind of you, Enid. Thank you very much. Would you like to come to our house or would you rather have her over with