Free Last Act of All by Aline Templeton

watch, and people talk to me sometimes, because I’m interested, but I don’t judge, and I don’t gossip. But yes, I suppose it is dangerous in its way. Knowledge is power, and really the only sort of power that still interests me.’
    A little silence fell, and his gaze went back to Neville, talking to Sandra Daley. ‘But when you’re still young — well, there are so many temptations.’
    ‘ Talking of temptations.’ Helena was becoming desperate. ‘Can’t I persuade you to have a vol-au-vent? And shall I get Charles Morley across to talk to you? He’s clearly a friend of yours.’
    Jumping to her feet she made her escape. Why would people persist in trying to force her to look at things which it had taken a lifetime’s practice to ignore? And this party seemed to be going on forever. Would they never leave?
    Like an answer to prayer, Edward approached her, his face full of concern. ‘I must be going — I’ve certainly outstayed my welcome, and it’s time some of these others remembered they have homes to go to. You’re looking tired.’
    She looked up gratefully, only to find his eyes fixed on her in a way that depressed her further. She had seen that look before, and it always meant trouble. Now she would have to avoid even the most harmless intimacy, and that, in this barren social environment, would be a real deprivation.
    ‘ Not at all.’ She assumed a light tone. ‘It’s always gratifying for a hostess to see that her guests are enjoying themselves.’
    He smiled in polite disbelief, turning to Maxwell Tilson. ‘I’m just on my way now, sir. Have you brought your car, or shall we walk down together?’
    Helena could see that the old man was not entirely pleased; his reply had a sarcastic edge. ‘Why, thank you, Edward. I feel sure that even my aged bones can make it down the hill unaided, but I have to admit that you did that very neatly.’
    Ignoring the implication, Edward went on, ‘In fact, I have an even better idea. The Morleys have to pass our respective doors; I’ll see if I can hitch a lift for the two of us.’
    Under such a quietly determined onslaught, the party inevitably began to break up, and Tilson got himself to his feet.
    ‘ He does get what he wants, that young man. I think you will have to be careful, my dear.’
    But this time Helena was ready, ‘He’s been so helpful to us both. And whatever he says, it can’t be easy to see your family home fall into other hands.’
    ‘ He must have felt very sure that your husband was the right custodian. Thank you for a most — enlivening — evening.’
    His eyes twinkled on the adjective, and Helena could not help laughing, as he kissed her hand with old-fashioned gallantry.
    Then they were, mercifully, leaving. The vicarage children had perpetrated nothing worse than black sticky marks on the new paintwork, and Marcia, flown with wine, was in full spate.
    ‘ What a marvellous, generous man your husband is! So good, so kind – we couldn’t believe it, could we, Peter, when he said – oh, I mustn’t let cats out of bags, must I? But I think, I really think, he has saved me from having a nervous breakdown—’
    Wearily, Helena wondered what empty promise he had been making now. Once she would have assumed it was a naive way of buying temporary popularity; tonight, she really wondered if he had given it for the pleasure of breaking it later. But meantime, to Marcia at least, Neville was all that was wonderful.
    His popularity, however, was not universal. Amid a volley of giggling, tipsy protests from Sandra, Neville was kissing her fingers individually by way of saying good-night. At his shoulder, Jack’s face was darkened by a cloud of suspicion; it was clear that Neville noticed, and was amused. The involvement of a jealous husband might add spice to a conquest that threatened to be all too easy.
    With considerable relief, Helena escorted them all out. But when, ahead of her husband, she came back into the room, a figure