CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Sarah was in the annexe, waiting for Richard to come across from the studio. She’d been looking forward to it all day. It didn’t bother her that she was being deceitful right under her sister’s eyes. As long as she had a good time on her mission, who cared.
At half past seven, Richard appeared.
‘I need a shower if I’m stopping,’ he said, sniffing at his armpits as she pulled him near. ‘I whiff a bit.’
‘Want me to join you?’ She took a quick look back towards the house, but Louisa was nowhere to be seen.
Richard shook his head. ‘But you can wait for me in bed.’
While he was under the water, Sarah removed her clothes and got out a bottle of whisky and two tumblers. She wanted to encourage Richard to stay longer and whisky was always a good option for that. But then there was a knock at the door. Grabbing atowel to cover her nakedness, she went to open it. It could only be Louisa. Her face was creased up in distress.
‘Hi, Lou. What’s up?’
‘Is Richard here?’ Louisa asked, glancing down at her towel for a moment.
‘No, he said he was going out this evening.’
‘Did he?’
‘Yes. This morning, over breakfast. He said he was meeting one of the farmers – what was his name? Oh, it will come to me in a minute. They were going to The Valley Arms.’
‘I can’t…’ Louisa frowned, looking back at the house for a moment. ‘I can’t remember. Did he say what time he’d be back?’
‘I don’t think so. Are you okay? You look really peaky.’
‘No, no. I’m fine.’
Sarah could see she looked nothing of the sort but didn’t want to push her concern. ‘Do you want me to get dressed and come over to the house with you?’ she offered, hoping Louisa would decline.
Louisa shook her head. ‘You have a night by yourself for a change. I’ll be fine.’
‘If you’re sure.’
Louisa was already walking away.
‘Night,’ Sarah shouted after her.
‘Night.’
Sarah closed the door with a grin. She flung thetowel onto the settee and ran to the bedroom, jumping on the bed next to Richard who was waiting for her.
‘She has no idea you’re here,’ she told him, running a hand down his chest.
‘She has no idea of anything really. In the morning, you could tell her and she wouldn’t remember you’d denied it. She’s so forgetful.’
An hour later, they’d made love twice and were lying in bed, legs entwined and whisky downed.
‘For an old man, you sure know how to keep a girl happy.’ Sarah stretched out like a kitten, almost purring.
Richard slapped her bottom. ‘Cheeky bitch,’ he growled.
‘Temper, temper. Do you have a dark side I haven’t seen yet?’
‘You don’t know the half of it.’
She turned towards him, running a hand over his chest. ‘Pray, tell me more.’
