Part 24 (2/2)

'Mmm.' Susan bent her head to take a sip of her G and T. 'I can't wait to see Louise in this show,' she said, changing the subject.

'Neither can I,' Karen agreed. 'Since she landed that job she's been a different person. In fact you'd hardly know her these days.'

'Yes, and of course she's finally admitted that she loves that delightful man, Mark. She couldn't have a better partner. He keeps her feet on the ground and she might need that if she's going to be a big hit in this show. I understand that the part she's playing is a pivotal one.'

'Yes, so I believe.' Karen handed her mother the potatoes and salad bowl. 'Take these through, will you, Mum? The steaks are done and we'd better get on if we don't want to miss the programme.'

At eight o'clock the four of them were seated in the living room, their eyes on the TV screen. They watched as the initial captions rolled and then it was the opening scene and Louise was seen in the character of Amy, cooking breakfast in her kitchen.

Susan was surprised to see that she was made up to appear at least ten years older than she actually was and as the scene progressed, she could see for the first time what a good actress her stepdaughter was. The character she was playing was just about as different from her own personality as it was possible to be. Watching the scene she soon lost herself in the story, almost forgetting that she was watching her own stepdaughter.

Ted was watching Susan. Her expressions went from surprise to enjoyment and then to pride in Louise's achievement. She was certainly very good in the part. In fact, he thought he could see something of Susan in Louise's development of the character. He looked again at Susan's face and smiled inwardly. She was such a lovely woman. He told himself daily how lucky he was to have met her. He didn't dare to think too far into the future but it was his dearest hope that one day he would be able to ask her to marry him.

Karen watched her sister's performance with interest. Clearly she had worked hard for this and her work had paid off. She was good; very good indeed. This was what Louise had wanted so badly. It had always been her ambition to land an important part on stage or TV and now here she was, fulfilling her dream. Now she could understand some of the reason for her sister's past recklessness, her spiteful, hard-to-forgive actions. They must have sprung from frustration and although they still rankled with Karen, she felt that now she could put them to one side and wish her sister well.

Simon watched the programme with his tongue firmly in his cheek. He didn't like soap operas anyway and he felt that Louise had always belonged in something tacky. She had found her niche and he wished her well of it. Hopefully it would keep her too busy to come and visit and happy enough not to want to cause any more problems.

Giving the programme more attention, he was suddenly aware of something interesting. Louise's portrayal of the motherly Amy was very much like his mother-in-law, Susan. How like Louise to steal someone else's personality for her own gain. He hoped that Susan wouldn't recognize the fact. Surely she would not see it as a compliment. He glanced around the room. Karen and Susan wore rapt expressions and Ted well, Ted only had eyes for Susan. Good luck to him!

I watched my first episode of King's Reach full of apprehension and self-doubt. Did I really come across as I'd intended? Did I look right sound right? And that wig! I hadn't been too sure about the make-up or costumes that wardrobe had chosen for me, but now, looking at them from the other side of the screen I could see that they were right.

'So proud of yourself, Miss Davies?' Mark handed me a gla.s.s of champagne and I took it from him, wrinkling my nose.

'Not really. Do you think they'll ring tomorrow and say they're terminating my contract?'

He laughed and sat down beside me. 'As if! You're the best thing that's happened to that show in a long time. You bring it to life.'

I leaned across to kiss his cheek. 'I suppose you wouldn't be the teeniest bit prejudiced, would you?'

He looked wounded. 'I hope I'm too honest for that. I'm an actor, remember? And I know good acting when I see it.'

I looked at him. 'What about your career, Mark? Has Patrick come up with anything for you?'

He shook his head. 'To be honest, darling, I'm not that bothered. I was never the actor that you are.' I made to protest but he held up his hand. 'No. I mean it.' He slipped an arm around my shoulders and nestled closer. 'I'm quite happy to bathe in your reflected glory; to chauffeur you hither and thither and be known as the celebrated Mr Louise Davies.'

'Don't say that!'

'I will say it because whether you recognized it or not, my darling, that was my fumbling way of asking you to marry me.'

I put down my gla.s.s and wound my arms around his neck. 'I don't deserve you, Mark Naylor, and you will never ever be Mr Louise Davies.'

'Well, OK, but the question still is, will you be Mrs Mark Naylor?'

I kissed him hard. 'I thought you'd never ask,' I whispered. 'And just for the record, you've got yourself a deal!'

By the same author.

Wives and Mothers.

The Long Way Home.

Oranges and Lemons.

This Year, Next Year.

The Lost Daughters.

Thursday's Child.

Eve's Daughter King's Walk.

Pride of Peac.o.c.ks All That I Am.

The Happy Highways Summer Snow Wishes and Dreams The Wise Child.

You'll Never Know . . .

Should I Forget You.

Falling Star Too Late to Paint the Roses.

True Colours.

Jeanne Whitmee.

First published in Great Britain 2015.

ISBN 978 0 7198 1846 2 (epub).

ISBN 978 0 7198 1847 9 mobi) ISBN 978 0 7198 1848 6 (pdf) ISBN 978 0 7198 1584 3 (print).

Robert Hale Limited.

Clerkenwell House.

Clerkenwell Green.

London EC1R 0HT ..

The right of Jeanne Whitmee to be identified as author of this work has been a.s.serted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and.

Patents Act 1988.

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