And some people just can’t help themselves, she thought miserably. Would she never fully trust Ben’s love for her? What the hell was wrong with her?
‘You know what,’ she said, needing a moment to settle her emotions, ‘I think I’ll go for a walk.’
He turned to look out of the window. ‘But it’s almost dark.’
‘I won’t be long. I just need to stretch my legs; I’ve been sitting down for most of the day, and I could do with some fresh air.’
‘I’ll come with you.’
She raised her hands as if to physically stop him. ‘No, it’s okay, you stay here. I’ll be back before you’ve even missed me.’
She felt badly leaving him standing there in the kitchen looking so baffled, but she really did need a moment to reset herself. It was ridiculous how easily she had been unnerved by overhearing a perfectly innocent snatch of conversation. Of course Ben wasn’t cheating on her! She knew that in her heart. All he was doing, because he loved her, was planning a surprise for her birthday.
Without realising the direction in which she had wandered,she found herself entering the gloom of the woods, and with her eyes adjusting to the darkness, she slowed her pace before coming to a stop. Ahead of her, she saw the horizontal trunk of a fallen tree. Thinking it would be a good place to sit and think, she went over and sat down on it.
She’d only been there for a few minutes when she heard noises coming from behind her, the crackle and rustle of twigs and dried leaves.
Suddenly thinking of the podcast she’d been listening to in the car –The Disappearance of Olivia Benlow– and how the woman’s body had been found in a shallow grave in the woods, her stomach clenched, and her mouth went dry. Holding her breath, she then heard a low murmuring voice followed by a scampering sound. Then out of the darkness came the faint glow of a beam of light and the figure of a woman and a small dog.
Chapter Eleven
It was hard to know who was more startled, Venetia or her young neighbour sitting on the fallen tree, the spot where Venetia always sat while Bon-Bon, on his extendable lead, poked around in the leaves.
‘You have a dog,’ said Cassie as Bon-Bon stood stock still in the soft beam of light, emitting a low growl, his ears pricked. She didn’t say it in an accusatory voice, more a simple statement of fact.
‘Yes,’ said Venetia, equally matter-of-factly. ‘His name is Bon-Bon.’ Then as if the necessary introductions had been completed satisfactorily, the dog went to inspect Cassie. Standing close enough to be petted, he tilted his head back expectantly.
‘If he’s being a nuisance, or you’re not a fan of dogs, just ignore him,’ Venetia said.
‘How can I ignore him when he’s so adorable?’ Cassie responded. ‘Come and sit with me and tell me all about him. Presumably he’s the reason for your late night and early morning walks, isn’t he?’
‘Guilty as charged,’ Venetia said when she was seated next to Cassie. ‘Are you going to report me to the management company?’
‘Of course not. I’m not a snitch.’
‘You’d be perfectly within your rights to do so; after all, it does say quite clearly in the management rules,no pets allowed.’
‘But who could possibly object to this little cutie?’ After he’d been pawing at her, Cassie now had Bon-Bon on her lap, and he was plainly loving the attention. ‘But as totally gorgeous as he is,’ Cassie went on, ‘why have you moved here, where, to put it bluntly, he isn’t welcome?’
‘I have my reasons.’
‘I’ve noticed you have a habit of never really answering a question,’ the younger woman said when a few seconds had passed. ‘You did it at the drinks party.’
Thinking that it was quite an astute observation, Venetia said, ‘I answered your questions about my dog.’
‘True, and I do appreciate I scarcely know you, but it seems to me that you do tend to evade anything of a personal nature.’
Venetia smiled to herself. ‘Maybe it’s because I’m inherently dull and have nothing of worth to share. I’m much more interested in knowing why you’re here alone in the dark.’
‘There,’ said Cassie, ‘that’s a classic example of misdirection.’
Venetia turned her head to look at her companion. ‘Really? And there was me thinking I was just being a good neighbour.’
A small smile appeared on Cassie’s face. ‘You are, but you have to admit, you are giving the impression that you have something to hide, quite apart from this delightful little chap.’
Venetia laughed lightly. ‘We all do, don’t we? I’m no different to anybody else.’
‘What will you do if it becomes known by other people here that you have a dog?’
