'Good, follow my lead,' Charles commanded, and it was pride alone that carried her forward.
'Willow, darling.' Theo's head turned as they approached. 'I wondered where you and Charles had got to.' She was almost fooled all over again by the warmth in his smile. . . but not quite.
'My fault, Theo. I persuaded Willow to tell me about her work and it was so enthralling we lost track of time,' Charles replied.
'You're highly honoured,' Theo said smoothly, his dark enquiring eyes on Willow. 'Usually she refuses to discuss her work.' Willow knew what he meant—she had told him once after making love that she never discussed her storylines until she was finished. He had laughed and said she was a secretive little thing and they had made love again.
'Charles can be very insistent,' she said coolly, ignoring Theo and smiling at Charles.
'I shall have to discover his secret.' Theo chuckled, and added, 'Alethea has been longing to meet you; apparently she is a big fan of yours, and has read all of your books.' He slipped an arm around her waist, a confident smile on his firm lips.
Willow's slender body tensed at his casual embrace and she concentrated her attention on Alethea as the introduction was made. She couldn't bear to look into her husband's lying eyes.
'Then you must have recognised Alethea,' Charles cut in with a charming smile for the older woman, 'that villain in the first book was obviously taken from someone we all know.' He laughed and gave a telling glance at Theo.
'But of course,' Alethea exclaimed and grinned at Theo. 'I'm amazed you let her get away with it, Theo.' She chuckled out loud.
Theo's dark eyes narrowed cautiously. 'With what?'
'Don't tell me you have not read all of Willow's books?' Charles mocked lightly.
'Guilty as charged. I have only read her latest. As a newly married man I have been much too busy to read,' he said smoothly, and tightened his arm around Willow's waist, slanting a gleaming smile at her, but she avoided his eyes.
'Then you don't know that the description of the serial killer is you to a T,' Charles teased.
She sensed rather than saw Theo's head jerk up. She had never expected anyone to make the connection before but now she was glad they had.
'Is that right, Willow, darling?' Theo was taken aback. A murderer? Surely she had not hated him that much. He was oddly hurt, but he was damned if he was going to show it. 'I am so glad to be of help,' he commented as with his free hand he tilted her chin so she had to look at him.
'I admit it,' she said offhandedly, and the eyes that met his were cool. 'But then we writers have to get our inspiration from
somewhere.' She smiled.
All Theo's male antennae rose in red alert as he noted the faint shadows beneath her eyes, and the slightly too bright smile. Something was badly wrong with his lovely wife, and he let his hand fall from her face. In the next few minutes he found out exactly what.
'You'd better beware, Theo,' Charles jocularly remarked in his cut-glass English accent. 'Her next one is about a woman who murders her husband.'
'How exciting. Can you tell us more, Willow?' Alethea asked, her brown eyes keen with interest.
'Oh, I don't know.' Willow let her glance skim around the group, her eyes glancing off the necklace around Christine's throat, and it gave her an idea.
'Well, maybe a little,' she said, and with vengeance in mind she did what she did best. . .let her imagination run riot. . .
'It starts with the woman finding a receipt in her husband's pocket for a diamond necklace.' And she let her gaze linger for a moment on Christine. 'Something glamorous like yours, Christine.' She smiled coolly, and was gratified to see the shock in Christine's face.
She didn't look at Theo but she almost laughed out loud at the sudden tension she could sense in every line of his long body. Yes, you bastard, squirm, she thought bitterly and continued, beginning to enjoy herself.
'But the wife knew that her husband had certainly not bought it for her, so she realises that he must have a mistress. Then she discovers he has not one, but two, and he had the colossal arrogance to marry her while keeping both of them. As you would expect, the wife's upset turns to murderous rage, and she determines to dispose of him, but craftily and at no threat to herself. . .'
It had gone very silent. Everyone in the group was waiting for what would happen next, and at least two of them more in fear than interest.
'I think that is enough.' Theo's fingers dug threateningly into her waist. 'You don't want to give away the whole plot, Willow, darling.'
'Spoilsport, Theo,' Charles spoke up. 'It sounds absolutely intriguing. I'm sure we all want to discover how it ends.' His golden eyes gleamed with amused respect at Willow. 'Do continue.'
'Oh, but she must get caught in the end,' Alethea said, totally unaware of the undercurrents swirling beneath the conversation as she addressed Willow again. 'If I remember rightly, in the first one the serial killer got the electric chair, and in the next a life sentence. Your murderers always do.'
'Maybe, maybe not,' Willow responded enigmatically. Only then did she tilt her chin to look up at Theo. A muscle was pulsing in his jaw, his mouth a grim line, and there was a ruthlessness in the dark eyes. But she didn't care; his reaction was proof, if any more proof were needed, she thought scathingly. 'But you are right, darling, I must not give any more away.' And she didn't just mean the plot.