Free A Village Deception (Turnham Malpas 15) by Rebecca Shaw

Harry once she’d got her second glass and chatted to anyone willing to listen. Then she decided that as the crowd was beginning to disperse, she’d find Jeremy and they’d go home. But he had gone. Without her? Alarm bells began to ring. That was most unlike him. No matter what, he always behaved as a gentleman should. Harry spotted her scanning the crowd and quietly made his way towards her. She saw him coming and headed for the main door to escape.
    Harry caught up with her as she went through the little wicket gate at the back of the churchyard with the intention of taking the short cut back to the big house. ‘Not so fast, Venetia.’
    She swung round to confront him. ‘You idiot! In public! That’s not part of the game.’
    ‘Game?’
    ‘Well, not game, I didn’t mean that. It’s just that if Jeremy doesn’t know, I like it better that way. In public we are two very separate people. Right? No connection whatsoever. Right?’
    ‘I like it either way. But I do see your point. For a start, I wouldn’t like that rector to be in the know.’
    Venetia shuddered. ‘No. And neither would I. So, in future, in public we don’t know each other. Right?’
    ‘Right. This your secret way home to avoid the crowds?’
    In the darkness Venetia smiled. ‘No one uses it any more, but the dark doesn’t bother me. After all, who’s likely to be wandering across Home Park at this time of night? No one.’
    ‘I am.’
    ‘Ah! Well, you’re my lover, that’s different.’
    ‘I’m glad you don’t think of me as your bit on the side.’
    Venetia pretended to be shocked. ‘Now that really is a very vulgar expression.’
    Harry gripped hold of her hand. ‘Is it just a game?’
    ‘Not with you. There’s more to it than that. This time.’
    They faced each other and, even though it was almost pitch black, they could sense, without seeing, their mutual need. They were standing so close that they could feel each other’s breath before they kissed and Venetia knew at that moment that this was different from any other time. Before, it had always been fun, but with this man it was more serious. Then she remembered he could be gone next week, so she clung to him fiercely.
    Inside they were both tearing themselves apart. Harry because he was afraid of his feelings, Venetia because she didn’t want to get too involved when it was to be so short-lived. She stumbled off in the darkness, shoes in her hand and her bare feet feeling the dampness on the grass left behind by an earlier rainstorm, leaving Harry to find his own way back. He endeavoured to find what he called the country way back to Laburnum Cottage, but got hopelessly lost through unfamiliarity, and ended up being guided by the floodlights of the big house. Then he walked down the drive, down Jack’s Lane, and then Shepherd’s Hill.
    It was a good thing he had a key. But getting in quietly so as not to disturb Marie and Zack was impossible as they were both in the kitchen having a bedtime drink.
    ‘Harry! Want a drink before you go to bed?’
    Harry put his head round the door to say no thanks, he was going straight up. And he did, to spend the next two hours fretting about the situation he’d found himself in. He had to pull himself together. Falling in love? Absolutely not. It made life far too complicated and, in any case, he would be leaving in the middle of the week. He’d only promised to work until then.After all, Jimbo would want someone permanent, and permanent was not his scene. He wouldn’t go for a swim tomorrow, he’d stay away, let things cool.

Chapter 6
     
    Harry might not have had a very satisfactory evening, but there were those who had, those for whom love’s path ran sweet. Tamsin Goodenough, exhausted by the intensity of her concentration during the recital, was glad to have someone to put the kettle on, get out the cups, those delicate china ones that had belonged to her mother, pull forward a side table to put the tray on, and pour her a