‘How do you know that?’ asked Hannah.
‘I asked her about it. She comes and talks to me while I’m doing the greenhouses.’
‘Huh! She talks to me while I’m doing the porkers. Funny things, they are. That Clarence and Pigwinkle always come and try and chew my wellies. Daft buggers. You have to keep ’em in check; they can be quite aggressive but they’re all right.’
Hannah tried not to smile. He sounded quite fond of them.
‘Good job I’m not a proper villain. I know how to get rid of a dead body now. Pigs will eat anything. Won’t leave anything behind.’
‘Good to know,’ said Fliss. ‘Now, are we all done?’
Jason held out his hand and Fliss took it, and the two shook companionably.
‘Right, posh totty. Darts down the pub Thursday.’
‘Thursday?’
‘Yeah, the team are playing away so we can get a look-in at the board. See if you can beat me again. I’m sure it was a fluke last time.’
‘It was not,’ said Fliss hotly, nudging him in the shoulder.
‘Nah. Beginner’s luck.’
‘You just wait, Jason. I’m going to beat you hollow.’
Hannah watched as the two of them bumped and barged each other as they left the ladies’ room.
‘Oh dear God.’ This was exactly why she didn’t touch divorce law. She couldn’t cope with the drama.
Chapter Twenty-One
Much to Hannah’s relief, the others had made their own plans for the weekend and didn’t show too much interest when she said vaguely that she might see her old university friends. She and Conor were able to make their getaway on Saturday morning without anyone observing them leaving together. Not that it was a big secret, but she preferred to keep what was going on between the two of them quiet, especially as it was only a temporary arrangement.
The hotel back in Dublin was just as lovely as Hannah remembered and when they walked in, the good-looking male receptionist greeted them with a friendly, familiar welcome almost as if he remembered her from her last visit, which she was reasonably sure he couldn’t possibly have done. Conor, of course, was a different matter.
‘Mr Byrne, nice to see you again. Would you like to come into the bar for a whiskey while we take your bags up?’
Conor turned to Hannah, ‘Do you want a drink now?’ He lowered his voice. ‘We could revisit the scene of the crime.’
She kicked him lightly on the ankle. ‘No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’ve got a meeting with your lawyer tomorrow. Won’t you want a clear head?’
‘I’m not seeing him until 1pm. He’s a law unto himself. Complete madman. How many other lawyers do you know who conduct meetings on Sundays? So before then, I thought we could have a leisurely breakfast and a walk around Temple Bar. There’s a ton of interesting shops and places if you like and then you could come with me to see Patrick. After that we can go straight on to Trinity and we can see the library?’
‘Haven’t you seen it, like, a gazillion times?’
‘Not with you.’
‘You’re such smooth-tongued, blarney sort of guy. I bet you’ve kissed that stone, haven’t you? Did you practise that line?’
‘Wounding me again, Hannah.’ Conor winked.
‘I just like to keep you in your place.’
He leaned over and whispered in her ear, ‘And where would that place be? On top or below?’
‘Conor!’ she said in an outraged whisper, feeling the familiar blush ride out over her cheeks.
He simply grinned and turned to the receptionist who was busy printing out sheets of paper. ‘We’ll go straight on up.’
