Read Online A Friend of the Family by Marcia Willett - Free Book Online

more Thea’s age, and her husband, Paul, was a research scientist at Exeter University, where Polly had met him when she was taking her degree. She had married him on graduating and had lived a rather solitary life ever since, Paul being deeply attached to his microscopes. Polly was rather amusing about it and by the end of the lunch the two girls were well on the way to friendship. Thea suggested that Harriet should bring Polly to lunch before she went back and Polly accepted with pleasure.
    As usual, Kate remained after all the guests had gone and she and Cass wandered back into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Cass took an apricot from the bowl and dug her teeth into the furry skin whilst Kate poured the remains of the coffee into her cup.
    â€˜So when is someone going to tell her?’ Kate tasted the coffee, made a face and pushed the cup away.
    â€˜Tell who what?’ Cass got up to fill the kettle.
    â€˜Thea. About Felicity.’
    â€˜Oh, that. Bit late now, don’t you think? We’ve all had the chance and missed it. Felicity obviously isn’t going to do it. George certainly won’t.’
    â€˜Soon it’ll be too late.’
    Cass came back to the table and sat down again. ‘Who do you suggest?Why don’t you do it yourself if you think it’s the right thing to do? The question is: is it? I think it’s already too late. I must admit that I’m amazed at Felicity, though. Popping in and out, all jolly chums together. I’d never have believed it.’
    â€˜I still don’t believe it.’ Kate frowned. ‘It simply isn’t Felicity. I have a horrid suspicion that she’s simply biding her time.’
    â€˜And then what?’
    Kate shook her head. ‘I don’t know. But I have this awful feeling that it’s all going to end in tears.’
    Â 
    GEORGE MADE HIS WAY back to the flat wishing that Thea had stayed up for an extra night. He had wanted terribly to persuade her, to beg her, even, to stay. He’d had no idea that he could come to need anyone as he needed Thea. He loved her and longed for her and yet he had been unable to ask her to stay on in London. Felicity’s shadow had slid between them and he could no longer be open and honest with her. He felt that he had no right to ask for favours whilst he was deceiving her. And he
was
deceiving her. All the time that he let her receive and entertain Felicity in her home without knowing what he and Felicity had been, she was being deceived. He longed to tell her, longed to unburden himself and pour it all out. What, after all, should prevent him? It had all happened before he and Thea met. Was it because Felicity had been married and he had been abusing his friendship with Mark? Or was it merely the fact of Felicity herself, who seemed so second-rate beside his new young love? George knew that this was an unworthy thought. If Felicity had been good enough for him then, he should not despise her now. The trouble was, he knew quite well that he should have told Thea right at the beginning. By putting it off he had made it seem bigger, more important than it was, and with each day that passed it became more and more difficult. Each weekend he geared himself up to tell her. Each time she said, Oh, Felicity popped in again,’ he tried to bring himself to the point. He tried to frame the words and couldn’t even begin, despite his rehearsals in the silence of the flat. He imagined her look of shock or,worse, disappointment. He saw that look of love fading and his heart failed. Even supposing she took it well, then what? He would have to forbid Felicity the house. He imagined Felicity’s reaction, and despair washed over him. What a fool he was, allowing this wonderful, golden experience to be tarnished because he was a coward.
    This weekend, he vowed as he let himself into the flat. Come what may, this weekend I shall tell her.
    He had just changed into cords and a