‘I can’t hang around here all day,’ I protested. ‘You’re usually in your studio and it’s boring.’
‘Then get a hobby.’
‘I don’t need a hobby. I need a job.’
‘Being a skivvy for other people is not exactly a career.’
I wasn’t going to be perturbed. ‘Well, I don’t care what you think, I’m going to do it.’
‘Don’t expect me to be happy about it.’
‘I thought you’d be pleased I was bringing in some money.’ I folded my arms like a petulant child.
‘Fifteen hours with a piddly rate of pay per hour is hardly contributing to anything.’ Richard swept his hand around the room. ‘Besides, there’s plenty to do in the house.’
‘I don’t mind cleaning up but I’m not a housekeeper.’
‘It’s a huge property and needs looking after.’
‘Well, I’ll fit that in too.’ I gave him one of my little-girl-lost looks. ‘Please don’t be mad.’ I hugged him. ‘I don’t want to argue over something so trivial.’
He was like a brick as I tried to get some warmth from him.
‘Please yourself.’ He pushed me away. ‘But I don’t want you gossiping about anything, do you hear?’
I paused. ‘What are you really scared of? That people will talk about us?’
‘Not at all. I doubt anyone would be interested.’
‘Exactly.’ I smiled at him then. He would get used to the idea in time.
Over the next month, I went to work in the coffee shop for three hours per day, over the busiest lunch period. I soon got to know lots of people and would regale Richard with tales of who was doing what and with whom. Pretty soon, I knew nearly everything that was going on in the village and felt I had a group of friends besides Richard.
I never told him that I was questioned about our relationship so many times. I never told anyone more than we were married. There was really nothing to tell back then.
But that part-time job was the start of things if I think about it now. Richard hadn’t liked me taking control. Pretty soon, he was arguing with me about anything I did, big or small. I tried so hard to do things right for him, and before he moaned at me, but he was always one step ahead.
I hadn’t expected things to change so much once we were married, but Richard began to show his true colours quite soon after. It took me by surprise how much he’d lured me in, like a fly into a spider’s web, and made me his property.
And then when I started to feel ill, I hadn’t realised how involved he was with that either.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Danny was washing his car when he heard someone shout his name. He turned to see Richard at the bottom of the drive and walked down to greet him.
‘How are you doing?’ Richard asked. ‘Commuting life suiting you?’
‘Actually, yes, it is.’ Danny nodded. ‘Coming up here every weekend gives me time to switch off from work. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.’
Richard nodded. He ran a hand through his hair. ‘Could I talk to you about something?’
‘Sure.’
‘It’s a bit sensitive but I thought you should know. Juliette asked me about a child she’d seen in our garden the other day. She said she saw a little girl with blonde hair, wearing a red dress. The thing is, Danny, there hasn’t been a child in our garden for a good while.’
‘Oh! That’s strange.’
‘This may sound silly, but I took this photo.’ Richard passed his phone to Danny.
