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after a bit. He expects the same to happen over the controversial memorial to the late dean.’
    A happy anticipatory grin spread over the baroness’s face.
    ‘Whatever that is going to be, I think I’m going to enjoy it. Tell me all.’
    ‘Can’t. He said he couldn’t do justice to it without having the drawings to hand. Apparently they’re with David at present, so we’ll see them tonight.’
    ‘Well there’s certainly enough going on to take David’s mind for a while off grace and sin.’
    ‘Huh?’
    ‘He’s refighting the battle between Augustine and Pelagius at the moment. I’m sure you’ll remember all about that from your youthful exploration of fifth-century theology.’
    ‘Not my period, old girl.’
    Her attention had wandered. ‘Never mind. You’ll pick up whatever’s necessary about the Early Fathers of the Church during the next few weeks.’
    ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no!’ Amiss followed up this fusillade by consciously setting his face in an expression of inflexible grimness. To his irritation, all his effort appeared to be wasted on the baroness, whose eyes were focused on the middle distance and whose face wore an expression of rapt concentration as she exhaled a mighty mouthful of pipe smoke.
    ‘Did you hear me. Jack?’
    ‘What? No. Thinking.’
    ‘Get it into your fat skull that I am not going to become the bishop’s nursemaid, nor, after tonight, get involved in any way whatsoever in his little problems in Westonbury. I don’t mind lending a sympathetic ear over dinner, but that’s it.’
    ‘Relax, my lad. You really must not allow yourself to become so overwrought.’ She heaved herself off the bed. ‘Now have another drink while I tart myself up. One must always look one’s best for one’s old flames.’
    ‘I thought you were trying to deter him from getting any ideas.’
    ‘Between showing my knickers, smoking a pipe and dropping in the occasional profanity, I’ve successfully disabused him of the notion that I’d make a good wife. However, I’m keeping an open mind about any other job vacancy.’ And winking salaciously, she shot into the bathroom.

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    Chapter 5
    « ^ »
    ‘Shall we move to my study for coffee? It’s cosier there.’
    The baroness cast an appraising glance around the dining room. ‘Cosy certainly isn’t the word I’d choose for this. Baroque, maybe. Or do I mean rococo?’
    ‘It rather passed me by at lunch time,’ said Amiss, ‘but it certainly comes into its own at night.’
    ‘It’s the lighting,’ said the bishop unhappily. ‘It points up all the gilt on the cornices…’
    ‘Not to speak of those fetching little cherubs peeking out of the corners…’ put in the baroness.
    ‘And that striking frieze of gold tassels,’ added Amiss, gazing in awe at the red velvet curtains.
    ‘Stick in a four-poster bed and it’d pass for an up-market whorehouse,’ pronounced the baroness as she stood up. ‘Not quite your style, David, I’d have thought.’
    ‘I hate it. Mostly I eat in the kitchen.’ He led the way down a long corridor, up a staircase and ushered his guests through a door on the left. ‘This is quite pleasant, don’t you think?’
    ‘By your predecessor’s standards, it’s positively minimalist,’ said the baroness, making a beeline for the chaise longue and draping herself along it.
    ‘Please make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be back with the coffee very soon.’
    ‘Can I help?’
    ‘No, thank you, Robert. Keep Jack company and pour yourselves some brandy.’
    As Amiss removed the bottle she yowled.
    ‘What’s the matter?’
    ‘I don’t like stingy measures.’
    ‘That wasn’t a stingy… Oh, what’s the point of arguing?’ He poured her another healthy double, helped himself to a modest portion and wandered around the book-lined room inspecting furniture. ‘Why do you think he’s got a lectern in his study?’
    ‘He works standing up. It’s no wonder he’s so straight-backed.’
    Amiss