Death of a Stranger by Eileen Dewhurst Read Free Book Online Page B

they made the incision, and when the cake had been carried off for cutting up Anna sat down and Tim stayed on his feet, a piece of card in his hand that he didn’t look at. “Family.’’ With an affectionate glance at his mother. “Friends.’’ His glance toured the room. “Thank you for being with my wife and me today.’’ His historic speech was under way and Anna was able to relax and enjoy it, confident from the times she had already heard him address groups of people that he would enjoy it too, although today he had no knowledge to impart, he had only what he himself jokily called wedding and after-dinner speeches – ‘a few well-chosen words’.
    Anna came to attention with a shiver of excitement, as she realised she was going to learn something new about her husband: the extent of his public wit. And that if he turned out to have little or none she wouldn’t care. How she had changed! In her past relationships her mind had always been in the ascendant over her heart, assessing would-be partners for their intelligence above and beyond their other qualities. Except with Jimmy. Not that Jimmy wasn’t intelligent – although it didn‘ t much show on his surface – but that wasn’t why she had married him. She hadn’t married Tim for his mind, either, any more than for his body, she had married him because he was Tim, for better or worse. And his short speech was proving to be for better. Anna thought – and hoped – that her relief at discovering this was for him rather than for herself.
    He had turned to Ted. “ Bit of a cushy number, you might think, being best man at a wedding where there are no bridesmaids to do the gallant thing by. But I can assure you all that Ted Mahy has done a vital job in helping me to reach today in one piece – in a whole range of ways he would hate me to detail – as well as being a steady presence at my side. So let us turn precedent on its head and drink to – the best man!’’
    Typical Tim to sit down with his audience’s attention directed away from himself, Anna reflected as she raised her glass. But now Ted had been given his opportunity he quickly directed the spotlight back on to the bridal couple with a few words ending in a toast, before slipping out on Tim’s signal to alert the musicians.
    That was when people began to leave their seats and move around, and at the first notes of music some of them began to go through to the ballroom. Tim and Anna joined them promptly, on the shared thought that a small audience for their opening dance would be preferable to a large one. They had taken only a few applauded turns before Tim indicated to Ted to join them with Marilyn, and soon Lorna was on the floor with Simon. Decorously, Anna noted, alerted to their presence by the brief rigidity of Tim’s arms. She and Tim must dance together again, she thought, the experience was bringing back the excitement of newness, making her feel, absurdly, that their first married night would be their first night together.
    â€œI’m enjoying this,’’ Tim whispered. “ But I think you’d better be available for a while to other men.’’
    The first of the other men was Simon Shaw. “Thank you for inviting me today,’’ he said. He was a good dancer, too, and similar to Tim in height and build. “I do so hope you and Tim are going to have a wonderful life.’’
    â€œWe expect to.’’ His eyes were large and blue, his skin creamy brown, his hair golden. Anna noted with amusement that several of the younger female guests were aware of him. Also Lorna, who to Anna’s relief was smiling on them approvingly.
    â€œI hope I’ll be able to feel like that with somebody one day.’’ A sentiment to cheer Tim when she reported it? He could hardly be speaking of Lorna. “Anna’’ – Simon’s face now