Hester brought herself up sharply, and concentrated on David. In her year of sitting on the bench she’d made it a strict rule to put the cases from her mind once she left the court.
‘Come on, beautiful dreamer,’ said David, downing the last of his lager. ‘Time we got back to the grind.’
On their way out of the bar their route took them past the Barclays’ table, where both boys looked embarrassed when they saw Hester. She smiled a little, managing not to look in their father’s direction, and went out into the sunshine with David.
‘Nice-looking lads,’ he commented. ‘Visitors, I suppose.’
‘No. Their family moved into Ashdown House a few months ago.’
‘How do you know them?’ he asked curiously. ‘Or shouldn’t I ask?’
‘That’s right—you shouldn’t.’
He grinned, then whistled in surprise as they found the shop full of tourists admiring the porcelain display Hester had taken such pains to arrange. ‘Now you’re back from your bench I’ll get back to mine,’ he said hurriedly, and left her to see to the welcome influx of customers with her usual friendly attention.
Hester enjoyed her side of the business. David was the creative artist, but she was a skilled buyer, a born saleswoman, and in her element when it came to dealing with the public. Conway’s employed two women in their forties as assistants—Iris, who worked parttime, and Sheila, who worked full-time and did the accounts. The other employees were Mark, who was in his twenties and possessed of a physique which came in very useful for hauling furniture around and Peter, who assisted in the workshop. Mark also accompanied Ted Burrows, the driver, when deliveries were made in the smart van with CONWAY printed in gilt on a field of dark green.
Life for Hester Conway was busy and full, both professionally and socially. She went on regular visits to trade fairs all over the country, sometimes attended various functions with David—who was a Rotarian, and president of the local chamber of commerce—and when business was slacker in the post-Christmas lull holidays were spent in some warmer clime than the UK. She was also a member of the history society, the tennis club and contributed time to charity work, as well as attending regular additional periods of training for her unpaid function as a lay magistrate. Some days were so hectic that a few extra hours in the twenty-four would have been welcome.
As they shut up shop at five-thirty David reminded her they were due at a wine-tasting party at Chastlecombe House at eight-thirty, in aid of the local children’s home.
‘I’m off to see Father first,’ he said, looking at his watch. ‘I’ll go straight there, have supper with him at The Priory and meet you at the wine-tasting later.’
‘Right. Give him my love and tell him I’ll see him on Sunday.’
Robert Conway, David’s father, had been the founder and driving force of the business, but twelve months earlier he’d decided to retire. He’d sold his house and acquired a room at The Priory, which was more like a five-star hotel than the luxurious retirement home it actually was. He still drove his car, visited Lords cricket ground once a year for a test match and went off on a cruise whenever the fancy took him. His family took turns in entertaining him at Sunday lunch every couple of weeks or so, and the arrangement worked well for everyone, since Robert still took a keen interest in the business and was only too glad to step in whenever Hester and David needed a break.
Hester lived on the outskirts of town. Pear Tree Cottage was small, but with a sizeable garden with high hedges which enclosed a riot of colour at this time of year. Hester ate a swift salad dinner then went through the nightly ritual of watering her latest batch of bedding plants, wishing she could just potter about in the garden all evening. She was tired after the double drain of a morning in court before the session in the shop. It was an effort to shower and change for the charity evening, where she would see the same familiar faces that she encountered at pretty much every function she attended in the close-knit community of Chastlecombe.
Chastlecombe House retained all the Cromwellian severity of its origins, both inside and out. Since Mrs Cowper, its owner, was very kind in lending it out for charity events Hester knew it well. By the time she arrived the great hall, with its long trestle-table and heavy, carved furniture, was crowded, but two faces new to the community stood out. One of them was already familiar from the morning session in court. The other was a rather haggard, attractive woman who, from the striking resemblance, could only be the Barclay twins’ mother. And even from a distance it was easy to see that Mrs Barclay was pregnant.
‘How charming you look in that shade, Hester,’ said Mrs Cowper, emerging from the crowd to greet her. ‘Used to call it dusky pink when I was a girl. You know everyone, dear, so do mingle. Though if you fancy making yourself useful we could use an extra hand to pass round the nibbles.’
Hester agreed with alacrity. She took up two beautiful silver dishes—George III, she noted with respect—and made for the nearest group with her canapés.
‘Hester!’ said Tim Galbraith, son of Philip. ‘You look ravishing.’
To prevent his usual kiss Hester thrust the silver dishes at him, grinning. ‘Hands off, Tim. Have one of these nibbles.’
‘I’d rather nibble delectable you, Hester,’ he assured her, relieved her of one of the dishes and accompanied her from group to group round the crowded room, flirting with her outrageously as they went.
Tim Galbraith ran the local garden centre. In sight of forty, he remained happily unmarried and was such a charmer that every single woman of eligible age chased him with fervour. To date he remained unattached but never neglected—since he wined and dined several of the ladies in question in strict rotation, never giving any of them reason to believe he cared for one more than another. Hester collected more supplies, then circulated, with Tim again in tandem. As they approached the Barclays Hester became gradually aware that the twins’ father was watching her with something like disapproval.
She thrust her dish at Tim. ‘Carry on for me, would you, please? I see David’s car coming down the drive.’
‘Only if you swear to return to me later.’ He grinned. ‘Or should I ask David’s permission?’
The evening was pleasant, as always, and Chastlecombe House was a dramatic backdrop for the occasion, but Hester took pains to avoid meeting the newcomers. Mr Barclay would be bound to mention that she was a Justice of the Peace, which would be embarrassing for his wife, and it was with some relief that she saw them take leave of Mrs Cowper quite early. Because Mrs Barclay was pregnant, of course, thought Hester. And not overly young to be expecting a baby, either. The twins were eighteen, which presumably would put their mother in the forty-something age group, which was common enough these days—but the lady had looked very weary.
By the time David took Hester home she felt weary, too, and utterly lacking in enthusiasm for the following day, which was Saturday, and, in summer-season Chastlecombe, likely to be busy.
She was proved right. After a satisfying busy morning, Hester sent Iris and Sheila off to an early lunch, volunteering to hold the fort with only Mark for company until they got back.
‘If necessary I’ll lure Peter from the workshop,’ she assured David, who wanted to go home for a while.
‘I need to do some shopping on the way,’ he told her. ‘But if you get mobbed, ring me.’
There was usually a lull at this time on a Saturday, while shoppers went off in search of lunch in the many and various eating places in the town. Hester had no problem in coping with a group of polite Japanese tourists who spent a gratifying amount of money. Afterwards there were a few people looking rather than buying, then for a time the shop was empty. Mark kept watch while Hester brushed her hair and reapplied lipstick, then popped his head round the office door and told her someone was asking for her. Hester was prey to mixed feelings when she found