Out of Step Read Online Free Page B

purpose.’
    ‘You
what?’
    ‘Unless I’m very much mistaken, he’s going to use it as a ploy to get you to go down there instead of me.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘I’ll bet you ten, no twenty, quid that he phones you within the week.’
    ‘What, to buy the drawing?’
    ‘No, dumbo! To ask you out! The man clearly fancies you. He realised who you were at once. He’s probably been fantasising about this beautiful capricious, unknown painter for weeks.’
    ‘What a load of old balls!’ Nell said. ‘Twenty quid? You’re on.’ They shook hands.
    ‘Mmm,’ Elly said. ‘Easy money, that.’
    ‘What d’you mean? How can he phone? He hasn’t got my number. He doesn’t even know my name.’
    ‘Ah well … actually he does.’ She grinned triumphantly at Nell. ‘Sorry and all that, but I had to write them both down for him. He absolutely
insisted!’

Chapter Three
    As was her habit on at least two mornings a week, Nell dragged herself unwillingly out of bed in order to go swimming. She knew that when she got there she would enjoy every minute of it, but at this early hour, with the day hardly begun and the world outside barely light, it needed considerable willpower. In October there were only the regulars at the leisure centre, so the pool was uncluttered with fair-weather swimmers, and you could do serious lengths and get some real exercise. Today, taking a brief pre-swim shower by the side of the pool, she noticed there was hardly anyone in so far, and then caught sight of a sleek auburn head and thought: Oh good. Anna’s here.
    Anna Smith had newly arrived in her job teaching biology at Nell and Elly’s old school in Boxcombe. She was six years younger than Nell but keen to be friends, and willing to be fearlessly candid to that end. In her first week at swimming she told Nell all about the married man she’d been having an affair with in London, whom she called ‘the Boss’ to ‘protect the guilty’. Last week she’d had an unkind tale about the stupidity of the Boss’s wife, also referred to under a nickname.
    ‘So Ermintrude goes to this party,’ Anna had said, ‘and what does she do? She says to this poor unfortunate woman, “Oh I remember you at X’s party last week. You were wearing the same dress as Y.” Talk about tactless!’
    Nell had felt rather uncomfortable about this, but enjoyed the stories nevertheless.
    Today, as was her custom, Nell did ten lengths straightoff before stopping for a chat. When she’d finished, she found Anna lying face upwards, supporting herself with the back of her head on the tiled edge, and with the water lapping at the little pearl earstuds she always wore. She was doing leg exercises.
    ‘Hi,’ Anna said. ‘How’s things?’
    ‘Fine,’ Nell said, gliding towards her, smiling.
    ‘Guess what? I’ve had some really good news. The Boss says he’s missed me so much since I moved down here that he’s decided to buy a place nearby so we can still meet! Isn’t that great?’
    ‘Amazing. So you didn’t leave London to end the affair?’
    ‘No way! I just got the chance of a permanent job and felt I had to take it. It was one hell of a wrench.’
    ‘He obviously thought so too.’
    ‘Lovely man,’ Anna said contentedly.
    ‘Will his wife know about the new place?’
    ‘Unfortunately yes. He’s officially buying it for family holidays, but he’ll get down here without Ermintrude and kids whenever he can. So, how about you? Still feeling restless?’
    ‘Even more so, if that’s possible.’
    ‘Have you begun looking for your dream house?’
    ‘Worse than that. I’ve found it, but some wretched man got there before me.’
    ‘On his own?’
    ‘Sort of. I believe his children visit him at weekends. Why?’
    ‘And the house is everything you’ve always wanted?’
    ‘Absolutely.’
    ‘Easy,’ Anna said, breaking into a grin. ‘The solution’s obvious – seduce the man, and get the house thrown in for free!’
    Nell laughed. ‘We can’t all be