Page 101 of A Change of Location
“Her.”
“Tell her if she prefers a genuine eighteenth-century miniature, I can provide one. A Marchioness of Milverston.”
“You’d do that?”
“Her ladyship will be well protected. Ron and Nico and a member of the security team can stand guard. Ariel, too.”
Hannah’s heart and lungs were resuming normal function when she noticed the empty wine glass and a half-full whisky tumbler on the marble worktop. Wedged between them was a small brown leather object, scallop-shaped. A ring box.
A flash of color drew her attention to the hallway. Caroline Bryden, wearing a short silk kimono, paused at the open door. Her legs and feet were bare.
She twirled her sash. “My patience wears thin, Martin.” Glancing at Hannah, she added, “Oh. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I’m going,” she said, blindly reaching for her purse. “See you later.”
A stolen prop. A brush with the law. Finding another woman, half-dressed, with the man I love.
Worst night of my life.
As soon as she stepped outside, she heard a motorcycle’s roar. So did the horses in the stable. They responded with a chorus of startled whinnies.
The machine sputtered along the drive and pulled in next to Martin’s car. The rider turned off the engine and dismounted. Removing his helmet, he placed it on a handlebar.
Lucas Daltrey looked across at her. “You didn’t see me on this thing. If you blab to Liz, she and her production insurers will have my balls.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Is Caroline here?”
“Inside. I believe she’s about to... be busy.”
“Got it in one. Truer words were never uttered.”
Perplexed by his grin, she said lamely, “You seem to know more than I do.”
“Explanations would take too long. I’m late enough as it is.”
“You made it.” Martin paced through the darkness, his shoes crunching against gravel.
“Barely.” Lucas gestured at the motorcycle. “Borrowing a set of wheels took longer than expected. An audio technician came to my rescue.”
“Brave man, venturing out on that old scooter at night. Step inside, make yourself at home.”
The actor clapped Martin’s shoulder. “Thanks again, mate.”
Watching him enter the kitchen, Hannah said, “I’m quite certain their intimacy coordinator is unaware that they use your house for a rehearsal studio.”
“They’re here because they need a bedroom. And privacy. They’re married. To each other.”
This was one of the better shocking revelations of the night. She ranked it just below seeing Poppy and Jack kissing behind the pub. “Since when?”
“Early June. I begged Caroline to let me tell you. Pestered her while driving to Salisbury. And the whole time we were there. All the way back. When I finally got her to agree, it was conditional. They needed a place where they could spend the night together without anybody finding out.”
“Unbelievable. Those two are even better actors off camera. I never guessed they liked each other all that much.”
“They went for coffee after their first audition together, and things moved along rapidly. Before they were cast as Rosalind and Granville, they were seeing each other in secret. Not long after the announcement that they’d be co-stars, they eloped. They told their parents first. Then their agents, who prefer that they time the announcement for the Cannes Film Festival.”
“That’s the middle of May. Practically their first anniversary.”
