Page 85 of A Helpin g Hand for the Village Nurse

‘We don’t usually go straight in there,’ she said as Magnus took her hand and practically dragged her through the kitchen. ‘We normally do drinks and nibbles first. Or at least have a little catch-up.’

‘Yes, but that’s ordinary film club. This isn’t film club, is it? This is a special get-together.’

‘Right…’ Ottilie noticed Geoff at the door of the cinema room waiting for them, looking as shifty as Magnus was being. At least, it seemed shifty to Ottilie. To her, it seemed very much as if they were doing something they both knew they ought not to be. Not in any sinister way, but in a meddling, naughty boy sort of way.

‘Magnus, what’s going?—’

‘Come on!’ Magnus said, his tone far too innocent. ‘We’re waiting to start.’

‘You look beautiful,’ Geoff said as Magnus pushed her towards him. Then he took her by the hand and led her into the cinema room, as if she’d never been there before and might not know how to get in. Or perhaps – the thought suddenly occurring to Ottilie – in case she had the notion to escape.

Inside, there was soft lighting. Not like the low lights they had just before the film began, but lighting from candles dotted all over the place. There was a table at the front row of seats, decked out with a gingham cloth, three bottles of wine and two glasses and various quite fancy-looking finger foods. There was also cheese and grapes and – ominously, as far Ottilie was concerned – a plate of oysters.

Heath stood by the screen, hands in his pockets, dressed in a soft denim shirt, looking as confused as she felt she must have done.

‘Nobody else is here yet?’ Ottilie asked, glancing between the three of them. And then her gaze went to the table of food. There wasn’t enough there for the whole crowd Magnus and Geoff were expecting – that much was obvious. What wasn’t so obvious was what the hell was going on.

‘Well,’ Geoff began, ‘Stacey couldn’t make it because Chloe was feeling a bit under the weather. And you know Victor and Corrine were thinking about coming, but…I suppose Corrine was too tired?’

Ottilie nodded.

‘And we asked Charles and Fliss, but they had something on already. And so did Lavender. And Flo said she didn’t like the film, so…’

‘What film is it?’

‘Shakespeare in Love.’

‘Hmm.’

‘So it’s just us four?’ Heath asked.

‘Actually’ – Magnus shot a look at Geoff, and the word shifty popped into Ottilie’s head again – ‘we might have to leave you to it. Something’s come up.’

‘What?’

‘Oh, something to do with our wholesaler,’ Geoff said.

‘At this time of night?’ Ottilie asked and exchanged a look with Heath that told her he was as suspicious as she was.

‘Yes, they’re very busy in the day so we have to sort these things out after hours,’ Magnus said. ‘But don’t let that stop you from enjoying the film.’

‘But if no one else can make it, shouldn’t we reschedule?’

‘No!’ Magnus and Geoff said together.

‘I mean,’ Magnus said, ‘we’ve already catered for it, and you wouldn’t want all the food to go to waste, would you?’

The food that only looked enough for two people? Ottilie frowned at Magnus. She couldn’t help it. ‘No,’ she said slowly. ‘I don’t suppose we would. But are you sure you won’t be able to join us?’

‘Perhaps later,’ Magnus said, ushering Geoff out of the room. ‘Take a seat, relax. The film is about to start. Enjoy!’

The door closed behind them, and Ottilie looked at Heath. ‘Did you know nobody else was coming?’

‘No. I take it you didn’t either.’

‘Nope. Does this smell like a set-up to you?’

‘Ever so slightly. What are we, like, twelve?’

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