‘I tell you what,’ Max said. ‘Why don’t you all go and have a look round the house? After all, it’s what you came to see. Or wander in the garden - let’s have a break from Ellie’s scrumptious food and stretch our legs for ten minutes. Is that okay with you Ellie?’
Ellie’s attention seemed to be dragged back from a million miles away. She gave a brave attempt at a beaming smile and nodded as if entirely in agreement.
‘Well, I for one can’t move,’ Mimi said. ‘I sometimes think it’s a good thing that I only cook simple food, although I do envy people who just eat what they like and don’t give a damn about their waistlines.’
Tom didn’t miss the way Ellie’s mouth tightened. Without a word she picked up the remainder of the serving dishes and made her way out of the dining room.
15
Leo and Penny had followed Ellie into the kitchen to find her standing by the open window to the garden, with her arms tightly folded.
‘Come on, Ellie. I know you think it was a pointed remark, but you’re being over-sensitive. She probably thought she was being friendly by praising your cooking.’
‘Like hell she did. Did you see her face? I suppose she also intended it to be a compliment when she said that I always look nice in this dress, even though she’s only seen me in it twice. Max doesn’t get it that there is one extra word in that sentence that changes its meaning. He thinks I’m paranoid about Mimi. If only he knew.’
Leo had the sense to realise that arguing wasn’t going to achieve anything.
‘Leave it, Ellie. Go and enjoy your friends. Penny and I have got this.’
Ellie’s arms dropped to her side and the stiffness melted as if all the energy had been sapped from her body.
‘Thanks, you two. But I think I’ll take a few minutes on my own, if that’s okay. I’m going to go upstairs, but I don’t want to go through the dining room. I’ll go round by the garden and let myself in through the side door.’
Without turning round she headed out, melting into the dark shadows of the night.
Leo turned to Penny with a smile. She knew Penny would wonder what had just happened, but would be too polite to ask.
‘Sorry about that - it’s nothing to worry about. Let’s get these plates sorted.’
Leo had met Gary and Penny years ago when they lived next door to Ellie and Max, and she’d always felt theirs was an unbalanced relationship, but until tonight there was nothing she could put her finger on. She decided to try to draw Penny out of herself a little and move away from the tricky subject of Ellie’s incongruous behaviour by asking about another of their guests.
‘Did I hear Sean say that he has a daughter? Where’s his wife tonight?’
Penny turned round and leaned on the Aga rail.
‘Ah, well. There’s a bit of history there. Sean was known for years as the village stud. Everybody’s idea of the perfect bit of rough - always smiling, twinkly eyes, but hard calloused hands and muscles to die for. He was single and he loved it. Then Bella arrived out of nowhere about five years ago. She was so glamorous, all the men were agog. She’s got a daughter - about fourteen or fifteen, I think - and Sean fell for Bella. Hook, line and sinker.’
Leo waited. Penny went quiet.
‘And…?’
‘I hate gossips, Leo. There but for the grace of God, I always think when I hear bad things about people. At least if I tell you, it will be fact and not the embroidered version you’ll probably hear in the village.’
Penny paused. She picked up a tea towel, as if to dry hands that weren’t even wet.
‘They had a child - a boy. Bella started to drink after he was born. Now, it seems, she’s become an alcoholic. Nobody knows much about her before she came here, but maybe she was already ill and disguised it well. Or maybe it was kicked off by postnatal depression. Whatever it was, everybody slags her off because of the way she is now. It’s true that she does look terrible. A bit like a blown up version of what she was, if that makes sense. Everything that was once big and seductive, like her lips, hair and figure, are now twice the size. She apparently lies on the sofa all day watching