‘I insist.’
Juliette went to fetch a bottle and came out moments later to find Richard standing next to Sarah.
‘Oh, hi. Would you like to join us for a sneaky afternoon drink?’ She pressed her index finger and thumb together. ‘Just a little one.’
‘No, thanks.’ His smile was saccharine. ‘Work to do, you know. Which is what I came to remind Sarah about. I have some errands to run this afternoon.’
‘She’ll be fine here with me,’ Juliette said as shepoured a glass of wine. ‘I’ll look after her.’ She was about to add the wine to another glass when Richard put his hand across it.
‘I don’t like to leave an empty house,’ he said.
Juliette sniggered. ‘I’m sure it’s capable of looking after itself.’
Sarah wiped at her mouth with her napkin and pushed out her chair. ‘I’d best get back,’ she said, standing up. ‘Richard is right. I do have a lot of work to do.’
Sarah wouldn’t meet her eye. Juliette had seen the glances passing between them and decided it wouldn’t be wise to interfere.
‘We’ll only be another half an hour or so, Richard,’ she went on regardless. ‘I’m sure that’s okay with you, isn’t it?’
Richard glared at her, then nodded.
‘Of course.’ He looked at Sarah. ‘Please don’t be late.’
Once they were alone again, Juliette poured wine into the empty glass. ‘A little won’t hurt, while he doesn’t know about it,’ she said, winking at Sarah. ‘Cheers.’
As they settled back into small talk, Juliette kept glancing at Sarah. There was something not right about the control Richard exerted on her, but who was she to get involved? If that was how they chose to live, then so be it.
Yet it did make her wonder why he’d suggestedSarah came round for coffee. He really blew hot and cold, as if he couldn’t figure out whether he should let Sarah out of his sight or not. She’d hate to be in a relationship like that.
So if she could give the woman a little reprieve from his oppression, then surely that couldn’t be a bad thing.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
2016
I absolutely loved living in White Oaks with Richard now that we were married. I had a choice of rooms to sit in, a garden to walk around and a village a few minutes away that I could wander round and not feel like a cheapskate. It was nothing like the life I had left behind in Derby, and more to do with the sort of lifestyle I had dreamed about. Somewhere safe, warm, clean, with lots of food and no malice.
I set about looking for a job, but Richard wasn’t too enamoured with the idea. At first he gave me money for shopping, and I cleaned the house as much as I could to feel like I was contributing. But one morning when I was in the village, I saw a notice in the coffee shop for a part-time assistant and went inside to find out more.
‘Hi, I’ve come about the job advertised in the window.’
‘Ah, right.’ The woman behind the counter smiled. ‘As you can see, I’m a bit busy now. Can you call, say, at half past four?’
‘Sure.’ I turned to go as she served another customer but, on impulse, I decided to clear a few tables. The woman was rushed off her feet and it wouldn’t take me more than a few minutes.
As I got back to the counter for the first time, my hands full of dishes, I placed them at the end and she beamed at me. The job was done in no time and I popped the final load down. The small queue had been sorted and everyone was sitting down enjoying their beverages.
‘Thanks ever so much for that,’ the woman said, holding out a hand to me. ‘I’m Barbara. I’ve seen you in here a few times, haven’t I?’
‘Yes, I only live a few minutes’ walk away.’
‘Well, now we have time, would you like a coffee and a piece of cake? I’ll have to keep my eye on things but there’s a lull because you’ve helped me out.’
We chatted and got to know each other and before I’d eaten the most delicious piece of coffee and walnut cake, she’d offered me a month’s trial. I was delighted. I might have been on to a good thing with Richard but I’m not a total scrounger.
‘I have a job!’ I told Richard once I was back home. ‘At the coffee shop. Fifteen hours a week. I’m?—’
‘I said you don’t need one. I told you I would provide for you.’
