Echoes of the Dance by Marcia Willett Read Free Book Online

moor. Now I’m on my own it’s simply crazy to go on living there, even if I could afford to, which I can’t. It costs the earth to decorate it and heat it and, anyway, I need to add to my pension fund by downsizing, but even so, I can’t quite bring myself to move. Each time I think I’ve made the decision to leave I lose my nerve about ten minutes afterwards. I’m driving Roly mad with it.’
    â€˜Not a bit of it.’ He spoke automatically but his eyes were thoughtful. ‘You must do what’s right for you.’
    â€˜If only I knew what that was,’ muttered Kate wretchedly.
    Despite the fact that it was none of her business, Daisy was now absorbed by the small drama.
    â€˜Why is it so difficult?’ she asked. Her genuine interest robbed the question of any idle curiosity. ‘Can’t you find a smaller house in – where did you say? – Tavistock?’
    â€˜Kate is thinking that it’s time she had a complete change.’ Roly answered Daisy whilst Kate hesitated. ‘The difficulty is that she can’t quite decide what sort of change.’
    â€˜Oh, I know,’ cried Daisy eagerly. ‘Having choices is utter hell, isn’t it? Much easier to be told where to live and what to do.’
    Kate looked at her in surprise. ‘You’re absolutely right. For the first time for years I have only myself to plan for. In fact, this is the very first time. Although I’d been alone for a while when I first met David, that’s my late husband, the boys – my twin sons – were still young enough to want to come home from university from time to time so there was a point to keeping everything going. Now they’re both happily married and not very far away, David’s gone, and I just rattle about feeling sorry for myself. Anyway, it’s not your problem . . . But you’re so right about having choices. It’s hell! Now I don’t even have the dogs to worry about I ought to change the car for something small and economical.’ She shook her head despairingly. ‘I can’t even manage that. It’s crazy. I must be sensible. All I need is a tiny cottage and a tiny car. Should be simple.’
    â€˜But what about Floss?’ asked Daisy anxiously. Roly and Kate exchanged a glance and she frowned, distressed. ‘Am I speaking out of turn? It was just something Roly said – or did I misunderstand? Oh damn . . .’
    She groaned with embarrassment as Roly and Kate began to laugh.
    â€˜It’s OK,’ Kate reassured her. ‘He didn’t say so in so many words but I knew what he was hoping when he asked me to come and see Floss. Dear Roly. He tries to sort us all out, you know. Me, Monica, Mim, Nat . . .’
    â€˜Utter rubbish.’ Roly shifted uncomfortably. ‘I wouldn’t have the courage to attempt to interfere in anyone’s life.’
    Daisy drew breath to ask about Monica and Nat – these were names she hadn’t heard before – and then decided that she’d been quite inquisitive enough for the time being.
    â€˜I don’t remember using the word “interfere”,’ Kate was saying lightly. She was smiling at Roly. ‘And I must admit that I’m very taken with Floss.’
    Daisy saw hope leap up in Roly’s face. ‘She’s a very nice person,’ he said.
    Kate took the dog’s head between her hands. ‘She’s missing her mistress,’ she murmured. ‘Aren’t you, Floss?’
    â€˜Shall we give them a walk?’ Roly pushed his chair back from the table. ‘It would do us all good. Come on, Daisy. What were you saying about rest and gentle exercise? Well, you’ve had a jolly good rest, by the sound of it.’
    Daisy went away to put her boots on, her natural curiosity thoroughly stirred by Kate’s dilemma. As she laced up her boots, easing her back carefully, she realized that she