“Couple of days.”

“I’ll make an appointment when I know you’re going to be there.”

He surveyed her. “Garry did that to you, didn’t he?” She nodded. “You see, that’s the trouble. It’s so hard to get assistants with any flair. Good hairdressers are born, not made.”

He walked with her to the door. “When you come in for that appointment, we’ll fix up a date for dinner.” He put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “We’re going to be a great partnership. I’m good at raising money, so funds won’t be any problem.”

“I’ve got some money of my own. I could help you.”

He swept her into his arms and kissed her passionately. “What did I ever do before I met you,” he said huskily.

Well, well, well, thought Agatha shakily as she made her way to her car. Perhaps I really was mistaken in him. He is rather a dish.

She decided to drive into Evesham and buy some groceries in case Charles wanted to come to dinner. She was tired of eating out. The villa was on the corner of a side road.

She drove round into the side road to make a three-point turn and so drive back into town. It was then she noticed Mr. John’s car at the side of the house, gleaming, unmarked.

Surely he could not have got it repaired in time. Did some jealous husband beat him up? Someone he had been blackmailing?

But that kiss still burned on Agatha’s lips and she found she was becoming inclined to think that there was nothing wrong with him, except perhaps that he was a bit of a philanderer.

As she drove back into town and to Tesco’s supermarket, she began to feel the first surge of excitement about his idea of starting a salon in London. She was a shrewd enough businesswoman to make certain it prospered. He certainly was talented, more talented than London hairdressers Agatha had gone to. She had only said that bit about putting her money into his business to get him on the hook and allay his suspicions that she was on to him.

But what if he was genuine? She could get out of Carsely and back into an exciting, busy life. James would return and found her gone. With work to do, she would not have time to think of him.

She wandered around the supermarket wondering what to get for dinner. Then she reflected it was silly to waste money on expensive food for Charles, who would probably prefer sausage, egg and chips to anything else.

She queued and paid for her groceries, all the time thinking of the hairdressing project as escape.

It was only when she finally entered her cottage and began to unpack her groceries that Agatha’s common sense began to reassert itself. Mr. John surely got women on the hook by being charming to them. And yet… and yet… If he had reason to suspect she was on to him, why offer her a business proposition where she would be working closely with him? He had not asked for any money. She had offered it. She phoned Charles and asked him for dinner, telling him she would let him know her news when he arrived.

The sad fact was that Agatha had become addicted to the state of being in love and was all too ready to transfer that love to someone, anyone, other than James Lacey.

Charles arrived just as the first crack of lightning split the sky overhead. “Let’s hope the weather’s broken at last,” he said.

“Do you mind if we eat in the kitchen?” said Agatha.

“Not at all. What delicacies are you going to microwave for me?”

“Sausage, egg and chips, all fried.”

“Good. I’d like a bit of fried bread as well.”

“You’ve got it. Go and make yourself a drink and get me a gin and tonic while I fry. I’ll tell you all about it over dinner.”

Agatha turned to the stove. There was another great crack of thunder and then all the lights went out.

“Blast!” she shouted to Charles, who was at the drinks trolley in the living-room. “I’ll light candles. Don’t fall over anything.”

She fumbled in the kitchen drawer for the candles she kept in readiness to cope with Carsely’s many power cuts. Charles came in holding a branch of candles he had taken from the dining-room table. “If you’re all right, I’ll go back and get the drinks.”

“Wait a bit. I’ve got a big torch in this cupboard under the sink.” Agatha found it and handed it to him.

He put the candles with the others on the kitchen table and retreated with the torch.

“Thank God this is a gas cooker,” muttered Agatha.

When dinner was cooked, they sat down to eat it in candle-light.

“Now,” said Charles, “what happened?”

Agatha told him about her visit, about the hairdresser’s

bruised face, about the business offer and how she had found

the car, unmarked, at the side of the house.

“So it does look as if someone might have beaten him

up. Good,” remarked Charles.

Agatha said, “I’ve been wondering if we’ve been

wrong… about the blackmailing, I mean. Maybe he’s just a

ladies’ man.”

“A successful one, too, by the look in your eyes. Agatha,

he’s after your money.”

“I offered it. All he was doing was offering me a job.”

“Which you wouldn’t dream of accepting.”

“It might be a good idea. I mean, I’m rotting here in

Carsely.”

“When you talked about your life in London, I always

got the impression you were rotting there without knowing it.

You’ve got friends here. Something always seems to be happening to you.”

“I could do it for a bit. See how it works. I wouldn’t

sell up here till I was sure.”

“Aggie, he has got to you, you silly old thing.” Agatha winced at that “old” but said defensively, “In

any case I mean to string him along. It’s a good way of getting

to know him better. Then I can be sure.”

“I think that’s a damn dangerous thing to do.” “Why? If he does try to blackmail me, then I’ll go

straight to the police.”

“Aggie, blackmailers create violence. You’ve gone potty.” But Agatha had begun to build a dream up in her head of

being back working in London. Why not go for Bond Street?

Start with a splash. Big party. Get all the celebs. She could practically smell the petrol fumes of Bond Street, the scent from the perfume counter at Fenwick’s, the glowing pictures in the art galleries, the glittering jewels in Asprey’s window.

And perhaps, just perhaps, if he kissed her again like that, the bright pictures of James would fade and die.

“If you don’t want to know any more about it…” she began huffily.

“Oh, I do. I’ve a feeling you’re going to need my help soon. Listen to that storm, Aggie. You’re surely not going to send me home tonight.”

“You can sleep here… in the spare room.”

The phone rang. Agatha picked up the kitchen extension. It was Mr. John, his voice warm and concerned. “I just wanted to know you were all right.”

“Yes, I’m fine. Why?”

“This terrible storm. There are trees down everywhere. Have you electricity?”

“No, but I’ve a gas cooker and candles.”

“I’m very excited about our business project and would like to talk some more about it. Why don’t you drop over here tomorrow afternoon at three, say?”

“Yes, I’d like that. Get off!” Charles had crept up behind her and kissed the back of her neck.

“What’s going on?” demanded the hairdresser sharply. “Who’s there?

“No one,” said Agatha. “Just a mosquito. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.”

She swung round on Charles. “What did you do that for? That was John.”

“I guessed as much. You are getting into deep water, Aggie.”

“I’m not,” she protested huffily. She took a Sarah Lee apple pie out of the freezer and put it in the oven. “I should have put that on earlier,” she said. “Let’s go sit and relax.”

As they went into the living-room, all the lights came on again. “Good,” said Charles, “we can watch telly.”

He switched it on and flicked the channels until he came across a rerun of “Hill Street Blues” and settled down happily to watch.