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them and then moved off to welcome some new guests.
    Anna took Ellie ’ s arm. “ Come look at the fabulous view, ” she said, steering Ellie out the open French doors onto a terrace, away from the crowd.
    It was indeed a fabulous view. It was a beautiful bright evening and she could see right across Dublin Bay to Sutton, where she worked.
    “ Wow! ” she exclaimed as she took it all in.
    “ I know it ’ s your first time here and I remember how terrified I was on my first visit .” Anna lowered her voice, looking around to make sure no one could overhear. “ It can be overwhelming. ”
    “ Yeah, ” Ellie whispered back, “ they are pretty intimidating, especially the women. ”
    “ They ’ re always like this with newcomers, especially with younger, prettier women. They can be very bitchy but don ’ t let them get to you. ”
    “ Some of them are pretty scary ,” Ellie grinned. “ The way they looked me up and down! Phew !”
    “ I know what you mean, ” Anna laughed. “ I felt like that when I first came here but I soon realised that they ’ re sad really. They spend their time trying to reverse the agi ng process – they ’ re terrified that they ’ ll lose their husban ds to younger women . I just grin and bear it every time I come here. I have to, for the sake of Mike ’ s career. ”
    Ellie was horrified. “ I hope this won ’ t be a regular thing – these dinner parties, ” she said , turning to look anxiousl y at the other girl.
    “ I ’ m afraid it probably will. Judith likes to show off at least four times a year. The only respite is summer when all the women decamp to Marbella. That ’ s when the men have their little flings. ” Anna grinned wickedly.
    Ellie thought she was hearing things but , before she could reply, Mike and David came out on the terrace to join them.
    “ Get a load of this view, ” Mike said to David. “ Isn ’ t it something? ”
    “ Fabulous, ” David agreed, beaming from ear to ear. “ This is a beautiful place, isn ’ t it, Ellie? ” He put his arm around her shoulders. “ And Frank and Judith are both terrific, ” he added enthusiastically.
    She looked at him to see if he was joking and , when she saw that he wasn ’ t, her heart dropped. My God, he ’ s serious, she thought with dread. She caught the sympathe tic look Anna gave her as they were called in to dinner.

    5
    To Ellie ’ s consternation Frank appeared out of nowhere and put his arm proprietorially around her waist.
    He whispered in her ear, “ I wanted to change the setting s and have you next to me, my dear, but unfortunately J udith wouldn ’ t hear of it. However, you are seated tow ards the head of the table where I will be presiding .”
    Then he patted her bum twice , and if he ’ d been anyone but David ’ s boss she would have slapped him.
    He led her to her seat, Anna trailing behind them.
    “ I believe your place is on the other side, ” he said to Anna. “ Let me escort you. ”
    “ No, no, ” Anna said firmly . “ I can find it myself, than k you. ”
    Frank moved off with a smile and a shrug, and Anna threw Ellie a discreet ironic glance.
    Ellie was horrified to see David moving to the other end of the table . He turned to look at her and she shot him a look of panic but he just shrugged his shoulders helplessly .
    “ Who ’ s sitting beside you? ” Anna asked, seeing the still-empty spaces beside Ellie. She picked up the place-card on Ellie ’ s left side . “ James, ” she read out. “ Poor you! ” she whispered, throwing her eyes to heaven. “ He ’ s a crashing bore. Who ’ s on your other side? ”
    Ellie leaned down and read the name. “ Sam ,” she replied.
    “ That ’ s better! He ’ s a real sweetie. You ’ ll like him .”
    Anna moved to the opposite side of the table and took her place. She too was separated from her partner who was at the other end of the table, near David. Obviously she was used to this, thought Ellie .
    As people