‘Fancy some company?’ he asked.
‘Shouldn’t you go home and rest your leg?’
‘Maybe, but I don’t want to. I’m still wide awake.’
‘Okay, then.’ She carried on walking, and Elijah joined her.
The streets were empty and quiet, with few lights on in the houses they passed, and no cars or people. There was a cat, a ginger tom who stood his ground on the pavement, forcing them to walk around him, and Nora silently acknowledged that the night was his domain, not hers. As they passed underneath a streetlight, a bat flitted overhead chasing down the moths drawn to the glow. In the distance a fox barked, and she shivered.
She was glad to have Elijah by her side and they walked in companionable silence for a while, until Elijah broke it.
‘What did you eat earlier to make you so restless?’ he asked.
‘A three-course meal with wine. Since I’ve been… on this diet, I’m not used to eating that amount of food.’ She’d nearly slipped up there, but caught herself in time.
‘You can’t fool me,’ he said, giving her the side-eye. ‘I know what’s really going on.’
‘Oh?’ Nora tensed. How could he – unless Kendra had blabbed?
‘You’re getting into training ready for walking Biscuit.’
Some of the tension flowed out of her. ‘Can’t resist a dig, can you?’
‘It wasn’t a dig. I was teasing.’ He paused. ‘Sorry.’ Another pause, then he said, ‘Where did you go for your meal?’
‘A gastro pub in Thornbury.’
‘Was it any good?’
‘It was lovely.’
‘I’ll have to try it sometime, though to be honest, I don’t eat out often.’
Neither would Nora from now on. ‘Do you get fed up of food, since you’re surrounded by it all day?’
‘Not really, although I wouldn’t usually order a pastry out. Too much like a busman’s holiday.’
‘You’re from Thornbury originally, aren’t you?’
‘That’s right.’
‘How do you like living in Picklewick?’
‘I love it.’
‘We don’t see you around much.’
‘We?’ He raised his eyebrows and Nora blushed.
‘It’s a turn of phrase,’ she said. ‘What I mean is,Inever see you in The Black Horse, or in the shop, for that matter. You’re always out the back.’
‘That’s where the magic happens. You said you’re one of my best customers?’
Nora hesitated. ‘I was.’
‘But not anymore?’ His expression was teasing. ‘What can I do to tempt you back?’
‘I’m on a diet, remember?’ Her tone was sharper than she’d intended, but she was getting a little fed up with people trying to persuade her that “one won’t hurt”.
