A Conspiracy of Friends (33 page)

William spoke between Freddie’s excited howls, “Some pasta. I believe there’s a bit of chicken. Mushrooms.”

“Ideal,” she said.

“Five loaves and five fishes would be enough,” said Basil.

William and Basil stayed in the sitting room while Marcia began to cook the dinner. “She won’t let me in the kitchen when she’s working,” explained William. “She’s a professional cook, you see, and they don’t like amateurs cluttering the place up.”

“She’s a very fine woman,” said Basil, who knew Marcia slightly and had always rather admired her. “And I couldn’t help but notice that she’s wearing a ring.” He indicated his third finger discreetly.

Marcia, in the kitchen, heard what was being said, such were the acoustic properties of the flat. She paused in her labours, standing quite still. In the glass of the oven door she could make out the reflections of the two men sitting in the living room, across the corridor. She watched, as the prisoners in Plato’s cave fixed their eyes on the moving shadows of the real world outside.

“Yes,” said William. “An engagement ring.”

There was brief silence. Then Basil Wickramsinghe said, “You’re a lucky man, William. You really are.”

William said, “Yes, I think I am.”

Marcia leaned forwards and closed her eyes, such was her joy. Then she composed herself and continued to work on the meal as if nothing had happened, though she knew in her heart that everything had.

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, the 44 Scotland Street series, and the Corduroy Mansions series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh and has served on many national and international organizations concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland.

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Also available as an ebook by Alexander McCall Smith:

In the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series:
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency • 978-1-4000-7765-6
Tears of the Giraffe • 978-1-4000-7767-0
Morality for Beautiful Girls • 978-1-4000-7766-3
The Kalahari Typing School for Men • 978-1-4000-7941-4
The Full Cupboard of Life • 978-0-375-42324-6
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies • 978-0-375-42357-4
Blue Shoes and Happiness • 978-0-375-42426-7
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive • 978-0-375-42479-3
The Miracle at Speedy Motors • 978-0-307-37719-7
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built • 978-0-307-37810-1
The Double Comfort Safari Club • 978-0-307-37900-9
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party • 978-0-307-37963-4
The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection • 978-0-307-90715-8

In the Isabel Dalhousie Series:
The Sunday Philosophy Club • 978-0-375-42343-7
Friends, Lovers, Chocolate • 978-0-375-42392-5
The Right Attitude to Rain • 978-0-375-42462-5
The Careful Use of Compliments • 978-0-375-42527-1
The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday • 978-0-307-37776-0
The Lost Art of Gratitude • 978-0-307-37857-6
The Charming Quirks of Others • 978-0-307-37945-0
The Forgotten Affairs of Youth • 978-0-307-90679-3

In the Corduroy Mansions Series:
Corduroy Mansions • 978-0-307-37930-6
The Dog Who Came in From the Cold • 978-0-307-37984-9
A Conspiracy of Friends • 978-0-307-90724-0

In the Portuguese Irregular Verb Series:
Portuguese Irregular Verbs • 978-0-307-42729-8
The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs • 978-0-307-42858-5
At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances • 978-0-307-42488-4

In the 44 Scotland Street Series:
44 Scotland Street • 978-0-307-27679-7
Espresso Tales • 978-0-307-38639-7
Love Over Scotland • 978-0-307-38759-2
The World According to Bertie • 978-0-307-45522-2
The Unbearable Lightness of Scones • 978-0-307-47674-6
The Importance of Being Seven • 978-0-307-90724-0

The Girl Who Married a Lion • 978-0-375-42344-4

La’s Orchestra Saves the World • 978-0-307-37866-8

For Young Readers
The Great Cake Mystery • 978-0-307-74390-9

For more information on Pantheon Books:

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In the Corduroy Mansions Series

Corduroy Mansions
The Dog Who Came In from the Cold
A Conspiracy of Friends

In the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
Tears of the Giraffe
Morality for Beautiful Girls
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
The Full Cupboard of Life
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
Blue Shoes and Happiness
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
The Miracle at Speedy Motors
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
The Double Comfort Safari Club
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party
The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

In the Isabel Dalhousie Series

The Sunday Philosophy Club
Friends, Lovers, Chocolate
The Right Attitude to Rain
The Careful Use of Compliments
The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday
The Lost Art of Gratitude
The Charming Quirks of Others
The Forgotten Affairs of Youth

In the Portuguese Irregular Verbs Series

Portuguese Irregular Verbs
The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs
At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances

In the 44 Scotland Street Series

44 Scotland Street
Espresso Tales
Love over Scotland
The World According to Bertie
The Unbearable Lightness of Scones

The Girl Who Married a Lion and Other Tales from Africa
La’s Orchestra Saves the World