‘What time will dinner be ready?’ Richard asked Louisa as he joined her in the kitchen.
‘Ten minutes at the most.’ She breathed in the freshly showered scent of him as he walked behind her to the fridge. ‘You smell nice.’
‘Red or white?’ He ignored her compliment.
‘None for me, thanks. I have a splitting headache.’
‘When have you ever not?’ he muttered.
Louisa turned away. She didn’t want to argue again. It seemed all they did nowadays. It was clear to see he didn’t want to be around her anymore.
‘Sarah will join me for a glass, I’m sure. In fact, she can come over for something to eat. I’ll text her to see if she wants to come over.’
Louisa tried not to let her shoulders sag. ‘Could we have dinner alone? It would be nice for a change.’
‘You don’t begrudge your sister, surely?’ His tone defied her to disagree.
She shook her head. ‘Of course not. I?—’
‘Good. Text her then.’
Louisa did as she was told. A message of thanks came in from Sarah a few seconds later.
‘She’ll be across in a few minutes,’ she told him.
‘Just ready for you to dish the food out.’ Richard’s smile was sly. ‘You will be capable of that?’
Louisa nodded. She raced around the kitchen to get everything ready. Beef stew had been on the stove for most of the day, leaving a delicious aroma around the house that once eaten would become overwhelming.
As she cut into a slice of crusty bread, she jumped as Richard curled his hand around her wrist. His firm grip made her drop the knife. He picked it up and held it next to her face.
‘I don’t like that bread. I told you not to buy it again.’
‘I-I can’t recall that.’
‘You never remember anything, you useless lump of lard.’
Tears welled in her eyes as he stared at her. She knew his game. He was trying to demean her so that she would go to her room. Then he could have dinner with Sarah, the dinnershehad cooked for them, while she went hungry.
‘I have white bread too,’ she offered weakly.
‘Useless, that’s all you are.’ He looked at the pan ofstew, then back at her. Her demeanour changed as she realised his intention, only hoping she could move in time to escape the scalding liquid.
Richard laughed. ‘You think I’d waste good food on you?’ He shook his head. ‘Dish it out.’
Louisa did as she was told, trying to stop her hands from shaking as she ladled the stew into three bowls for them all. She placed two of them on the table and turned to get the third. But as she picked it up, Richard blocked her. The bowl slipped out of her hand and onto the floor.
‘You clumsy cow.’ He stepped back as the stew went everywhere.
‘I’m sorry,’ Louisa cried, a bag of nerves by this time. She knelt to pick up the bowl that had smashed into three pieces.
Richard bent down beside her. ‘If I were you, I’d take a piece of that crockery with you. It’s nice and sharp. Would be good for slitting a wrist, don’t you think?’
She lowered her eyes. How could he be so cruel?
‘Anyone home?’ The door opened and Sarah stepped into the room.
Richard stood up quickly. ‘Sarah, just in time.’ He pointed to the table. ‘Beef stew. It looks and smells delicious.’
