When the Devil Drives

'My own husband!' Fiona shrieked. 'You should have known I'd wantto speak to him!''Absolute stupidity,' said Mrs Driscoll.'I'm not a mind-reader,' Mrs Thursgood defended herself. 'Dozens oftimes, Mr Simon's rung and left messages with me, and nocomplaints.''But this is different, because we don't know where he is,' Fiona flungback unwisely, tears appearing in her rather prominent blue eyes. 'IfI'd spoken to him, I'd have made him tell me.''Reliable help is almost impossible to find these days,' said MrsDriscoll.Joanna, seeing Mrs Thursgood's eyes beginning to crackle withcuriosity as well as resentment, intervened hastily.'There's no real harm done,' she said crisply. 'It's very naughty ofSimon to be so vague, but you should be used to him by now, Fiona.Come into the drawing- room and sit down, and Mrs Thursgood willbring us all some tea.'Mrs Driscoll put an arm round her daughter's shoulders and led heraway without further argument.Joanna turned placatingly to the irate housekeeper. 'I'm sorry aboutall that,' she said. 'Mrs Simon is at a difficult stage in her pregnancy,and it makes her— highly strung sometimes.'The expression on Mrs Thursgood's face suggested that Fiona couldnot be strung highly enough for her, and she went off to the kitchenmuttering under her breath about 'spoiled madams' and 'interferingold cats'. Joanna decided it was best to pretend deafness.