Page 101 of A Good Heart is Hard to Find
21
The Ghost of Her Former Self
Publication date of Cass Leigh’s next novel, Shock to the Spirits, has been brought forward to 20 April. If it’s anything like her previous works, it will certainly live up to its title…
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I walked down to the pub, but it was still early and there was no sign of Francis, just Jason eating steak and onions.
By then, having missed lunch, I was sortof past being hungry so just ordered a sandwich and picked at Jason’s chips until it arrived.
‘Where have you been? I tried to phone you earlier,’ he said, curving his arm protectively around his plate and moving it out of my reach. ‘I can only stay at the Hall tomorrow, but I thought I could drive you up there tonight anyway, and just make it clear to Dante that you’re not doing anything thatisn’t on your list!’
‘No need, thanks, Jason – I’m already up. I mean, I took my things there earlier, because of Ma and Pa arriving. Didn’t Orla tell you? They don’t believe that I’m not concealing Jane in my cottage, so I thought I’d go and hide at the Hall until they give up and go. I’m expecting my brother Francis here around seven to discuss strategy.’
‘You’re already there? Then I hopeyou’ve made it plain to—’ Jason had begun, single-mindedly, when suddenly his brown eyes went wide and his jaw dropped open – very Neanderthal.
When I turned round all was made clear. In fact, most of Orla was made clear even to the most casual glance, because her slinky Barbarella costume was as moulded to her curvy figure as if it had been painted on. (Which I wouldn’t put past her if the fancytook her.)
The whole room went quiet, and even Charles, on looking absently up from his papers, seemed a trifle startled. Then one or two regulars leaned over the bar wolfwhistling, which seemed to break the spell.
Orla, beaming, came and sat down with us. ‘I can see this is going to be a popular outfit,’ she said happily. ‘Who said the age of curves was dead?’
‘Not me!’ Jason said, seeminglyunable to take his eyes from the grand canyon of her cleavage, temptingly revealed by the partly open zipper down the front of what could only be described as a clingy, leather-look, gold catsuit. I don’t remember Barbarella in one of those: but hell, a woman’s entitled to a little artistic licence.
‘Do you like it?’ Orla asked softly, leaning towards Jason. With the zipper that far down I couldn’tsee how she’d worked the gravity-defying trick. I’d have to ask her later.
‘Like it …?’ he murmured absently, then pulled himself together and said severely: ‘I don’t think you ought to wear that get-up in public – it’s way too revealing!’
‘What do you mean?’ she asked with hurt innocence. ‘I’m Barbarella – it’s my new singing telegram persona.’
‘Are you booked to do one tonight?’ I asked.‘Or just trying it out?’
‘Just a trial run. What do you think?’
‘Truly amazing. If you do any stag nights, though, I’d take Jason with you for protection.’
‘She’s not doing stag nights, or any other nights, dressed like that!’ he said firmly, like a Victorian papa.
‘Sez who?’ Orla demanded.
‘How about a short gold cape?’ I suggested. ‘For between the car and the venue and back again, at least?’
‘Why? Does my bum look big in this?’ she demanded suspiciously.
‘Big and curvy, like Jennifer Lopez, and it doesn’t seem to have done her any harm.’
‘Even with a cape …’ began Jason stubbornly.
‘You’re so dog in the manger!’ Orla exclaimed provocatively. ‘You’re not interested in me yourself, but you don’t want other men looking at me!’
‘Who said I’m not interested in you?’ Jason said, staringat her as if he was seeing her for the first time. I don’t think he’d so much as glanced my way since she’d arrived.
It was all looking very promising: they were starting to bicker already.
My brother Francis walked in, glanced around, caught sight of Orla, and stood looking poleaxed, so I seized my chance to leave them to it.
‘Would you both excuse me? There’s Francis now, so I’ll just gethim in a quiet corner for a little talk. Jason, shall I tell Rosetta you won’t be coming tomorrow after all?’
