Page 39 of An Unholy Affair
‘And afterwards?’
‘They put everything back.’
Jack assessed the space between the rows of pews and the stone altar.
‘It’s not that big.’
Eveline screwed up her nose. ‘I know. That’s why I’ve been trying to get rid of these.’ She indicated the pews. ‘If we could replace them with chairs, then we could do so much more with the space.’
‘But…?’
‘People are very attached to them.’ She gave him a rueful smile. ‘Some of the most vociferous opposition has come from people in the community who don’t even attend church. They may want them to stay, but unless I can find more ways to bring in people and money, this place is going to be luxury flats or a London banker’s second home within ten years.’
Jack took in the large interior, filled with rows of dark wood pews. He remembered how uncomfortable they were, and how imprisoned he felt when stuck in the middle. As a child, the church had a dwindling population. Nowadays, even with the most heavily attended wedding, he couldn’t imagine all of the pews being filled.
‘The ridiculous thing is,’ Eveline continued, ‘is that when this church was built, it didn’t evenhaveseats. People were expected to stand.’ She gestured to the stone recesses that ran along the side walls. ‘If you were elderly or infirm, then you sat there.’
‘Do you need funds to buy new chairs?’
‘Yes, but not a huge amount. Finn said he would buy the pews from me and re-sell them.’
‘Did you know my dad left a bequest in his will to the church?’
She shook her head.
‘It’s only a few grand, but mum said I should decide with you what to spend it on. I want to spend it on getting rid of these.’
‘Jack, we can’t.’
‘Why not?’
‘Your father was fairly vocal in his opposition to my idea.’
‘So?’
She gave him a look. ‘I can’t take his money and spend it on something he was vio—extremelyopposed to. And besides, it’s not as simple as that. I need the approval of the Bishop, English Heritage, and my parishioners.’
‘And how’s that going?’
‘The Bishop is onside, and Simon is helping me canvas support from the congregation. Unfortunately, the Dowager Duchess is against my plans and has a great deal of weight in the community.’
‘Can’t Stelle talk her around?’
‘Estelle’s grandmother is ten times fiercer than her, so unfortunately no. Although if English Heritage approves the plans, then that will swing it, no matter how many locals disagree. I’ve got a meeting with them in a couple of weeks.’
Jack looked up as the main door to the church opened, and a man in his thirties entered. Dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, one ear had multiple piercings, and a tattoo extended up the side of his neck. He was good-looking, but his face had the lines of a man who’d partied hard in the past.
Who the fuck is this?
Eveline stood as he approached and held out her good arm. ‘Kieran!’
‘Hey, sweetheart, what happened to your arm?’ he said, carefully hugging her.
The sight of another man being so physically familiar with Eveline unleashed a raging, green-eyed monster that Jack didn’t know he had. As it clawed its way up into his chest, he tried to relax his stance.
‘Oh, ’tis but a scratch,’ she said to Kieran.
‘A mere flesh wound?’
