Home through the Dark by Anthea Fraser Read Free Book Online Page A

decorating savoury biscuits with different toppings, chopping up celery and filling it with cream cheese, tipping out packets of salted nuts and jars of olives. “We can put away the cups and saucers, anyway. They won’t be wanting coffee!” Kitty said.
    As it turned out, it was quite a sizable party, since besides the small cast several other actors and actresses, some of whose photographs decorated the stairway, came to join in the celebration. Kitty and I were kept busy for a while handing round the trays of canapés, but it wasn’t long before Stephen Darby made his way over to me. With great deliberation he selected a savoury from the plate I held.
    â€œYou’re Ginnie Durrell, I believe?” So he had asked Kitty about me.
    â€œI am,” I replied steadily.
    â€œAre you given to good works of this nature?”
    â€œI hardly think what I’m doing warrants that definition, but Kitty was short-handed and I enjoy being at the theatre.”
    He raised one eyebrow. “Stage-struck, Miss Durrell?”
    I flushed with annoyance. “In a manner of speaking. I read drama at university.”
    â€œI beg your pardon! Suzanne –” He put one arm out to encircle the waist of the girl who was passing. “This is the young lady who kindly supplied your aspirins last night. You’ll be even more grateful, I’m sure, when you hear she’s a university graduate!”
    Suzanne Grey was tall, her skin flawless, her eyes an unusually dark grey. She looked as highly strung and edgy as she had on stage, and she certainly wasn’t acting now. To my relief she didn’t seem to have taken in Stephen’s last comment.
    â€œIt was very kind of you. I had the most diabolical headache.”
    Stephen Darby’s eyes were still on my face. “I don’t remember seeing you before this week. Have you lived in Westhampton long?”
    â€œNo, only since Wednesday, as a matter of fact.”
    â€œWednesday? And it must have been – what? – Thursday afternoon you came here? You certainly didn’t waste much time, did you?”
    I said stiffly, “I told you I’ve always been interested in the theatre.”
    â€œBut mainly from the other side of the footlights, I imagine.”
    His careless superiority stung me into lack of caution.
    â€œNot always, by any means. Quite a few of my friends are professional actors.”
    â€œOh? Who are they?”
    Too late I realized the trap I’d laid for myself. I had no intention of betraying my connection with Carl. “I don’t suppose you’ll have heard of any of them,” I lied quickly. “People who were at university with me.”
    He laughed shortly. “From the way you were talking, I was beginning to think you were on nodding terms with Alec Guinness and Carl Clements!”
    â€œWill you excuse me?” I said clearly. “I think Kitty wants some more help.” I pushed my way blindly through the crowd over to the hatch. Behind me a slightly amused voice said, “Has Steve been riling you? Don’t take any notice of him!”
    I turned to find Robert Harling behind me.
    â€œWhat was all that about Carl Clements? Do you know him?”
    I drew a deep breath. “I have met him,” I said.
    â€œGod, I’d give my right arm for a chance to act with him! They say he’s a bastard to work with, but who cares?” He leaned past me to put a plate down on the counter. “You’re new here, aren’t you?”
    â€œYes, Ginnie Durrell.” If I repeated the name much more, I’d forget I’d ever been Ginnie Clements.
    â€œDid you see the play?”
    â€œYes, I enjoyed it very much.”
    â€œA bit dated, perhaps, but of course it was even when it was written. We must seem small fish to you here, if you’re used to the West End.”
    â€œI didn’t say –” I began desperately, but someone else had