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laughed.
    â€˜I might need that disentangling,’ said the third in the group, a slim boy who looked as if he might be perfect casting for Puck.
    â€˜Oh, this is Alan who plays Demdike’s daughter Elizabeth,’ said Dan.
    â€˜Is that Alizon’s mother?’ asked Libby, shaking hands again.
    Alan pulled a face. ‘Yes. And he’s older than I am.’
    The other two laughed.
    â€˜Well, if you don’t need more coffee, I’ll start collecting plates,’ said Libby. ‘Can you all dance after all that food?’
    â€˜It was fairly light,’ said Tom. ‘Your Harry knows what he’s doing. I think a lot of us are sorry he’s spoken for, though.’
    Libby grinned. ‘Thought you might be!’
    The dancers began to drift back towards the theatre. Most of them called out ‘Thank you’ to Hetty, Harry and Libby.
    â€˜He’s not going to do that every day, is he?’ asked Max, following Libby into the kitchen.
    â€˜Isn’t he? He said he was going to talk to you about it.’ Libby put the stack of plates by the sink.
    â€˜He did.’ Max was frowning. ‘He suggested bringing a lunch up every day, but I thought he meant just some sandwiches or small snacks.’
    â€˜Did he give you a price?’ asked Libby.
    â€˜Oh, yes. It’s not expensive.’
    â€˜Well, this is what you get, obviously. He’s doing these things in the regular menu, now, so I don’t suppose it’s that much effort. Probably won’t want to do it at the weekend, though.’
    â€˜Oh, they’re getting part of next weekend off. We’ll see how it goes, but a full day’s rehearsal on Monday and Tuesday. Have you seen the publicity?’
    Libby grinned. ‘Couldn’t miss it! All over the local media – and national, too, I understand?’
    â€˜Oh, yes.’ Max’s colour was rising. ‘People have been very kind.’
    â€˜People like Sir Andrew?’ asked Libby slyly.
    â€˜Yes.’ Max was now obviously uncomfortable.
    â€˜You don’t like charity, do you?’
    â€˜No, and I know people do these things because they are genuinely nice, but …’
    â€˜I know.’ Libby patted his arm. ‘Now, go and bully your poor boys and leave Hetty and me to finish clearing up.’
    â€˜What’s up with him?’ grunted Hetty, as she began to load plates into the dishwasher.
    â€˜He thinks people are being too kind to him,’ said Libby.
    â€˜Silly bugger.’
    Libby looked down at Hetty’s grey head with affectionate amusement. ‘Exactly.’
    When the sitting-room and kitchen had been restored to order, Libby looked into the theatre and wasted a few minutes admiring the perfect male physiques displaying themselves on the stage, before leaving and going to find Harry.
    The Pink Geranium’s door was locked, but Harry heard her knock and came to let her in.
    â€˜How did it go?’ he asked, leading the way back to the kitchen.
    â€˜Wonderful. They all told you so, didn’t they?’
    â€˜Well, yes. What did Max think?’
    â€˜That you’d spoilt them. He was expecting something far more ordinary – and not as much.’
    â€˜Oh!’ Harry took his hands out of the sink and looked at her. ‘Is that what he wants?’
    â€˜I think he’s just uncomfortable with people being nice to him. As far as I can see, Andrew’s paid for advertising and media coverage and he doesn’t like that, either.’
    Harry frowned. ‘What’s wrong with him?’
    â€˜I expect he feels he doesn’t deserve it.’
    â€˜Proud,’ said Harry, returning to the sink. ‘He didn’t query the price of the lunches, you know. Just said was I sure that was enough.’
    â€˜Do we know how he started the company? Or why? Has Andrew said anything to you?’
    Sir Andrew and Harry had a special relationship, of which