Chapter Four
‘Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you,’ I warbled, palpitating slightly. ‘I’m Jen Armstrong, Peter’s widow.’
‘Ah,’ he said awkwardly. ‘I’m so sorry-’
‘It’s fine,’ I said, immediately cutting off his words of condolence.
If one more person said how sad they were for my loss, I’d scream.
‘Well, I mean, it’s not fine. Not really, ha!
’ Calm down, Jen. Take a breath. ‘What I meant was… it’s fine as in I’m slowly adjusting to the abrupt shift in marital status.
’ I nodded my head vigorously. ‘Not to mention being distracted by a ton of paperwork. Who knew there was so much to do? Not me. Loads of official stuff. Like registering the death. Telling the government. Sorting out tax and pension related stuff. It’s almost obscene,’ I declared, aware that I was rattling slightly.
Polly walked by with a refreshed tray of drinks and, like a person flagging down a black cab, I stuck out an arm.
‘Another drink, Jen?’ Polly asked.
‘Thanks,’ I said gratefully, before turning to Liam. ‘Champagne?’
‘Um, that’s very nice of you but… it’s not appropriate because-’
‘Nonsense,’ I interrupted. ‘Peter would insist. He loved champagne and assumed everyone else did too.’
‘Or would you prefer beer?’ asked Polly helpfully. ‘If so, I can fetch one for you. It’s no bother.’
‘Er, no,’ said Liam, shaking his head. ‘I love champagne too, but-’
‘No buts,’ I said brightly, whipping a flute off Polly’s tray. I thrust the drink at my new friend. ‘I insist.’
‘Well, I-’
‘Have you had anything to eat?’
‘Um, no, you see-’
‘Me neither,’ I said. ‘And actually, I think we should both have something before the food is all gone.’ Polly moved away as I steered Liam over to the buffet.
‘There’s still plenty of salmon and cucumber sandwiches left.
Oh, and pasta salad,’ I added, nodding my head at a half full bowl.
‘Oooh, yum, an assortment of fruit muffins. Now don’t be shy, Liam. I’ll keep you company.’
‘It’s very kind of you, but-’
‘I’ve already said, no buts!’
‘Seriously, you’re hospitality is incredibly thoughtful, but it is entirely inappropriate because-’
‘Do me a favour,’ I said, giving him an eyeroll my twins would have been proud of. ‘I feel terrible that I didn’t notice you earlier.’
‘Really?’ Liam looked puzzled.
‘Absolutely.’ I picked up a plate and put it in Liam’s hands. ‘Please, help yourself.’
‘Look, I’m not comfortable about this.’
‘Oh God,’ I said, clapping one hand to my breast. ‘Do you have food allergies?’
‘No-’
‘Ah, IBS? In which case, don’t be shy to mention it. It happens to the best of us. In fact, my sister had a bout of it, although my brother-in-law said it was more likely Irritable Bitch Syndrome-’
‘I don’t have any food issues,’ Liam insisted.
‘Good.’ I gave him a bright smile. ‘In which case, tuck in. Those sausage rolls look nice. Cilla – that’s the landlady of the pub next door – she made them.
She did all the catering. She was here earlier.
You might have caught a glimpse of her.’ I dropped my voice to a half whisper.
‘She is the rather opinionated platinum blonde who, like many around here, makes everything and everyone her business.’
‘Er, yes,’ Liam nodded, looking wary. ‘Our paths have briefly crossed.’
‘She looks ferocious,’ I confided. ‘But her bark is worse than her bite.’
‘Good to know,’ said Liam, finally popping a few sandwiches on his plate. ‘Thanks for this,’ he nodded at the food. ‘I didn’t have a chance to eat earlier and I’m ravenous.’ He then gave me a smile so dazzling that, for a moment, it was like looking directly at the sun. Wow, but he was beautiful.
‘Enjoy,’ I said, feeling momentarily giddy. I added a couple of sandwiches to my own plate. Drinking on an empty stomach wasn’t sensible. I didn’t want to make a berk of myself and do anything stupid. Like fainting. Although I wouldn’t mind swooning into this guy’s muscular arms.
I suddenly caught Hetty staring at me. She gave me a curious look.
I quickly averted my gaze. No way was I allowing Liam to escape and Hetty to waylay me.
Apart from anything else, Liam was extremely good looking, and I was secretly thrilled to be chatting to him.
Maybe I’d even flutter my eyelashes and have a little flirt.
But then again, maybe not. I didn’t want Sally striding over with further accusations of me behaving like a merry widow.
‘Have you travelled far?’ I chirruped, determined to keep this man by my side.
‘From Danderbury.’
‘Danderbury,’ I repeated thoughtfully. ‘The place rings bells, but I can’t think why.’
‘These are delicious, by the way,’ he said, tucking into a sandwich.
‘Good,’ I said vaguely.
Peter hadn’t known anyone from Danderbury.
Well, not to my knowledge. Although, just before Peter had died, I’d come to realise that there was plenty I’d not known about my husband.
For all I knew, he might have had a friendship with Liam Lancaster for years.
Decades. Or maybe this chap was a cousin umpteen times removed.
On the other side of the hall I spotted Cilla coming in with a portable trolley full of cups and saucers.
She paused to check the number of cups and then do a head count.
I could see her lips moving as she glanced around the room, one forefinger extended.
As she looked my way, she spotted Liam and appeared to falter.
Then her mouth pursed. Suddenly the trolley was roughly shoved to one side.
She started to push her way through the throng of people, heading straight towards us.
Uh-oh. Her face was devoid of smiles. In fact, she looked livid.
Whatever was the matter? I didn’t have long to find out.
‘You,’ she spat.
‘Me?’ I quavered. Oh God. What had I done to upset her? Unwittingly eaten all the cheese puffs?
‘Not you.’ She shook her head, then turned to my companion. ‘You!’ A manicured finger prodded Liam’s chest. ‘How dare you show your face around here, and at a wake of all places.’
‘My apologies, but I didn’t know there was a function going on today,’ Liam explained. ‘As soon as I realised it was a wake, I made to leave, but this nice lady started chatting to me and invited me to have something to eat.’
‘Oh she did, did she?’ Cilla growled.
Her eyes shifted back to me, and I shrank under her glare.
‘Is there a problem?’ I bleated.
‘Do you know who he is?’ she demanded.
Oh Lord. Who was this man in relation to her? An ex-lover? A stalker? An escaped resident from the local loony bin?
No, don’t use words like that, Jen. It’s not woke.
‘I meant no harm,’ Liam assured.
‘Look,’ I asserted. ‘What’s going on?’
‘I’ll tell you what’s going on,’ said Cilla furiously. ‘You’re fraternising with the enemy, that’s what. You’ve heard the rumours, yes? There were rumblings months ago, but in the last few weeks things have hotted up. Speculation has been rife.’
‘Sorry,’ I said testily. ‘But in the last few weeks I’ve been somewhat distracted by the death of my husband.’
Cilla was unapologetic.
‘Well it’s time to get reacquainted with the present and catch up with what’s been going on around here.
’ Cilla plonked her hands on her hips as, slowly, everyone stopped talking to listen to what she had to say about Liam Lancaster.
‘The Diocese of Danderbury – the owners of this building – have taken back control of Starlight Hall. Despite protracted discussions with the Parish Council, they’ve decided to put the hall up for sale on the open market.
This has attracted the attention of developers with their eyes on Starlight Hall and its three acres of land.
Their intention is to flatten this building and stick a load of houses on the plot. ’
I blanched. Yes, I had heard something about it.
There had even been a flyer posted through my letterbox.
It had invited Peter and me to attend a meeting at Starlight Hall with the rest of the villagers.
The goal had been to voice our opinions and object.
We hadn’t gone. At the time I’d had bigger fish to fry. Namely a failing marriage.
‘And this man’ – Cilla prodded Liam in the chest again – ‘is one of the builders cosying up with the Diocese.’