Goodmans Hotel

'Yes, have a look.'

The picture showed a thatched cottage with a front garden full of flowers, a little over cute, and inside written with a green felt tip pen was the message: Rub in a little of the sandalwood oil from time to time and think of me -or someone better!

'The bottle came with it?'

'Aromatherapy oil. Smell it.'

I carefully unscrewed the cap and sniffed the contents. 'That is nice, a lovely smell. I'm afraid I haven't brought anything. Who sent you this? A secret lover?'

'If only. You're not so very far out though - why shouldn't you know. I've had a regular weekly appointment with a masseur for quite a while. He does offer aromatherapy, but my motives for seeing him were rather more basic. Don't look so shocked.'

'I wasn't. Surprised, that's all, you've never mentioned him.'

'Perhaps not, but I wasn't intending to make a secret of it. Paying for sex... but what are the options, at my age, if you still have the urge? Any sort of outlet, let alone a relationship, involves time, effort, and money. The arrangement was honest and straightforward, more so than a lot of supposedly respectable marriages are. It suited us both, there was mutual respect. I rang him to say that I would miss this week's appointment and that the illness was likely to prevent me seeing him for some time. So he came to visit and brought the card and the bottle of oil. Tell me what's wrong with that.'

'Nothing. You assume I'm prudish. I'm not. I've done things I wouldn't boast about, far more dubious than going to a masseur. What counts is how you thought of each other. Such a nice gift, he must like you a lot. Have you tried the oil?'

'No, you're supposed to dilute it. Bit awkward in here.'

I put the card and phial back on the cabinet. 'Is there anything you want me to do at Ferns and Foliage?'

'You're busy already. My staff will cope, they'll probably do better with me out of the way. Perhaps one thing, if you can find the time.'

'Of course.'

'As a precaution, could you get a form from the bank so that you can become one of the signatories for cheques? Be an idea to make Tom one too.'

'You're beginning to worry me now.'

'I'm not in any danger, no more than we all are, but we have to be sensible. Cheques require two signatures. At the moment there's me, the garden centre manager, and the chap who keeps an eye on the flats for me and helps me with paperwork. Another couple of signatories will make sure we're not caught out. If you don't mind doing it, that is. I shouldn't ask; you're under pressure at work already.'