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it.’

      Where the hell does she get her information? Norman asked himself, baffled.

      ‘Well, it’s true, isn’t it?’ Katharine persisted.

      ‘In certain ways, yes,’ Norman admitted a trifle reluctantly. ‘But only on a fraternal basis,’ he hastened to add. ‘Still, Hilary might not go on location with Mark. She doesn’t always.’

      ‘There’s a way around that,’ Katharine remarked, again with such self-confidence Norman had no alternative but to listen and give her the benefit of any doubts.

      ‘Victor is looking for a really talented costume designer, and Hilary’s as good as any in London. If I recommend her, I know he’ll sign her for the picture too,’ Katharine finished on a triumphant note, inwardly congratulating herself. She knew this to be inspired, and she wished she’d thought of it before. She couldn’t wait to suggest it to Victor.

      Norman was not only filled with astonishment but a considerable amount of admiration as well. This girl really was staggering. ‘Blimey, Katharine, you’ve certainly thought of everything.’ He grinned at her, feeling as if an enormous weight had been lifted, and then his face fell. ‘But Hilary’s away. I’m not sure when she’s coming back to town. You see, I tried … tried reaching her today.’

      ‘I understand, Norman. To help with Terry. Of course. But surely we can easily find out when she’s returning, can’t we?’

      ‘I’ll try. And Terry does listen to her,’ he found himself confiding. ‘Takes notice of her, always has. And, as I said, they have a good relationship these days, the sort of brother-and-sister type. And Mark doesn’t seem to object to their friendship. It’s platonic now, of course,’ he felt bound to reiterate.

      ‘I have Hilary’s number. I can call the house, if you like,’ Katharine suggested. ‘Personally, I think she’d jump at the idea of designing the costumes for Wuthering Heights. After all, it’s going to be a major film, and the credits would be marvellous for her. Not only that, she’d be working with her husband. She likes to collaborate with him, I know. She’d also be working with Terry.’ Katharine gave Norman a coy glance from underneath her dark sweeping lashes and smiled wickedly. ‘Her favourite actor, no doubt.’

      Norman had to laugh. He rubbed his hand over his chin, thinking hard, and then he laughed more heartily than before, immensely tickled at the mere thought of thwarting Alexa Garrett, of extracting Terry from her clutches. ‘This here combination of yours is highly complex,’ he ventured. ‘Bloody dicey, in fact. But it just might work. Christ, it just might! If we’re lucky,’ he added as an afterthought.

      Katharine sat back, inwardly hugging herself with delight, a smile ringing her mouth. ‘So you’ll help me to talk Terry into doing the picture?’

      ‘You’re on, duckie,’ Norman exclaimed, coming to a decision.

      Stretching out her hand, she said, ‘Then let’s shake on it, Norman.’ They clasped hands tightly, both grinning broadly, happy to be conspirators, albeit loving and well-intentioned ones determined to save Terrence Ogden from Alexa Garrett and also from himself. Katharine went on, ‘I think we should have another drink. To … seal the deal?’

      ‘Good idea, love. Make mine a light one though. I’ve got to be off in a tick. Penny’s waiting for me at John’s flat.’

      Katharine picked up their glasses and rose. Halfway to the door she paused and spun around. ‘That reminds me, there’s another thing I can help you with. I think. I’d like you to stay a few minutes when Kim arrives. It just occurred to me, he might be able to help you sort out the damage at John’s place. Suggest how you can get the furniture, carpet and curtains fixed, and also tell us where to find replacements for the broken items. Without the whole thing costing the earth. He knows a lot about antiques and art treasures, Norman.’

      ‘Okay,’ was Norman’s laconic response. ‘But wait a tick! How are you going to explain the damage in the first place?’

      ‘Oh, don’t worry about that,’ Katharine said, airily dismissive. ‘We’ll tell him Terry had a party, and that two of the more boisterous guests got into a fight. Kim doesn’t have to know the gory details. And actually, he’s not likely to ask.’

      ‘Right you are,’ Norman said. He leaned back, and he relaxed for the first time that day. And he prayed that Katharine’s scheme would work. There were too many ifs involved to permit Norman absolute peace of mind. On the other hand, her suggestions did have a degree of plausibility, and she sounded so confident and so sure of herself, perhaps she would be able to pull them off successfully. Apart from that, he didn’t have any better or brighter ideas himself, so they might as well put hers into operation. What did they have to lose? Nothing, he decided. Then Norman superstitiously crossed his fingers, closed his eyes and said three sincere Hail Marys under his breath.

       Chapter Eighteen

      Kim Cunningham, who had a chicken leg halfway to his mouth, put it down, staring at Katharine. ‘What’s so funny?’ he asked, wiping his fingers on a napkin. He picked up his glass of Montrachet and took a sip.

      Katharine giggled again, unable to suppress her amusement, her expression merry, her demeanour lighthearted. ‘I was just thinking of your face when you walked in and saw Norman Rook sitting here. You looked as if you’d caught me with my hand in the cookie jar.’

      ‘What do you mean?’ Kim’s grey eyes flickered with perplexity and a frown creased his brow.

      ‘As if I was doing something I shouldn’t. Two-timing you perhaps.’ This thought caused her more amusement; her laughter echoed in the stillness of the room and her eyes danced. Katharine’s gaiety was not assumed. It had been engendered by a number of things, chiefly her relief that Terry’s injury was not serious and her gratification that she and Norman had everything under control. Norman was her ally now, would help her to put her plans into effect, and ultimately she would be enabled to keep her commitment to Victor. Hilary was the key, of course.

      Conscious of Kim’s eyes on her, Katharine tore her mind away from the film and her involved schemes, and flashed him a smile. She was sitting on a pile of cushions on the floor in front of the glass coffee table, and she tucked her bare feet under her and leaned back on one elbow, emanating insouciance. Then she glanced at Kim, who was seated opposite on the sofa, and reaffirmed with another laugh, ‘Don’t worry, Norman’s no competition for you.’

      ‘I didn’t think he was,’ Kim responded in his usual good-natured way, laughing with her, fully aware that she was teasing him. ‘He’s hardly Terrence Ogden, my sweet. Actually, I was surprised, that’s all. I just wondered if we’d ever be alone.’

      ‘Norman’s far too polite to overstay his welcome,’ Katharine murmured and picked up her glass of wine. ‘He was fretting so much, earlier at the theatre, about the damage those idiots did to John’s flat, I couldn’t help taking pity on him. I just had to invite him over to meet you, Kim. I was certain you’d be able to give him a few tips. Thanks for being so helpful.’

      ‘Oh, it was no trouble,’ Kim answered genially. ‘I told him to give me a buzz tomorrow, and I’ll pass on the names of some dealers in Chinese antiques where I hope Terry will be able to replace those porcelain lamps and some of the other items. The jade pieces are going to be expensive though, I can tell you that right now.’

      Katharine nodded. ‘I guessed they would be. Still, Terry does feel he has to make everything right at the flat.’

      ‘Yes. Yes, I understand,’ Kim remarked. He picked up the chicken leg, bit into it and munched. Between bites, he asked her, ‘Don’t you like the things I brought for our midnight feast? You’re not eating.’

      ‘Of course I do! I’ve had some chicken, and half a scotch egg. I always have problems eating after

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