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fought back but I didn ’ t really stand a chance; the lover and his friend were both much more solidly built than myself and threw me over as though I was a rag doll. ”  
    “ But that ’ s terrible.  Everyone said how in love you and Clara were. ”
    I give a derisive snort.  “ We despised each other.  Our families desired the match, not us.  Clara was beautiful but she was an evil grasping witch too.  She wanted my house and my money and she got it.  I think that ’ s one reason I ’ m still here.  I returned to haunt her so she could never enjoy this house.  It worked because I drove her to near madness and she packed up and left.  My brother moved in here after she ‘ d gone and from eavesdropping on his conversations with my parents I learnt that Clara ‘ s lover abandoned her in Italy, taking all her money with him. ”
    “ Did anyone suspect what she ’ d done? ”
    “ I ’ m certain my family did but they never did anything about it.  Too afraid of a scandal you see. ”
    “ Did you have any children? ”
    “ I thought you would have researched all this already.  It ’ s in your nature. ”
    “ I was tempted but I wanted you to tell me yourself. ”
    “ Thank you, ” I say, kissing the tip of her nose.  “ I appreciate that.  No we didn ’ t.  We ’ d only been married a few months when I died. ”
    “ How old were you when you died? ”
    “ Thirty three. ”
    “ So young.  It ’ s not right, ” she scowls.  One thing I love about her is her righteous sense of injustice.  “ So you never loved her? ”
    “ No. ”
    What is that in her eyes, relief?  She rests her head on my shoulder.
    “ Tom? ” she says, breaking the contemplative silence again.
    “ Yes? ” I smile.
    “ Did it hurt? ”
    I recall that awful moment, as though it was just yesterday.  “ I remember a brief moment of pain but nothing too awful.  I think I must have died instantly.  I was very confused afterwards, it took me a while to realise what had happened.  I just stood staring at my broken twisted body trying to understand.  I went back into the house and saw Clara with her lover, some pasty-faced conman with a pencil moustache and their friend drinking champagne and toasting my demise. ”
    “ The evil bastards, ” she seethes.
    “ Very much so but rest assured, I did pay Clara back in a way no court of law ever could. ”
    “ Good, ” she glowers, nestling into me.
    Our peace is disturbed by a knock at the door.
    Kate gives me an apologetic look then gets up to open it. 
    “ Sally, ” she smiles.
    I sigh and retreat to a corner of the room as Sally enters with her husband and a tall, sickeningly handsome man with dark hair and eyes and shockingly white teeth.  Kate seems surprised to see him.
    “ Kate, ” says Sally with a knowing smile and instantly I divine the reason for this visit.  “ This is Nick. ”
    “ Hello, ” says Kate politely.
    “ Hi, ” he replies, giving her a dazzling smile.
    “ Nick works with Simon at the office, ” continues Sally. 
    “ Oh really, ” replies Kate.  “ So you ’ re a solicitor too? ”
    “ Junior partner, ” Nick says with an annoying easy confidence.
    “ Kate ’ s a journalist, ” continues Sally and I want her to shut up.  “ She ’ s freelance so she can pick and choose her work. ”
    “ Sounds great.  I ’ d love to have such freedom, ” smiles Nick. 
    “ Yes it is very convenient, ” replies Kate pleasantly.  “ Can I get anyone a drink? ”
    After she ’ s taken their orders she heads into the kitchen and Nick ’ s eyes watch her go hungrily. 
    I follow Kate and she turns to me with an apologetic look in her eyes.  “ Sorry, I didn ’ t know Sally was going to bring him, ” she whispers.
    “ Can ’ t you get rid of him? ” I scowl.
    “ I ’ ll do my best. ”
    We go silent as Sally enters the room.  “ Are you alright?  I thought I heard you talking to someone. ”   The unease is clear in