Page 42 of The Stranger in Room Six

Mabel

The following day, Mabel suggests they go to the library to talk. It’s a much brighter and airier room than it had been in her day. It gives her great pleasure to think how the flowery curtains, which have replaced the tapestried drapes, would have horrified her aunt.

The other residents are all downstairs, listening to ‘Celine Dion’, as Mabel likes to think of Claudette. The sound of a love song floats up through the house.

‘When did you last have sex?’ Mabel asks suddenly.

Belinda gives a start. ‘That’s a very personal question.’

‘Well, we’ve been talking about personal things. I’m curious, that’s all. I haven’t had sex since Churchill was prime minister. But I do recall feeling it was very special.’

‘So you were a teenager?’

‘Not necessarily. Churchill came back in the fifties, remember. Your turn now.’

Belinda flushes. ‘About fifteen years ago, I suppose.’

‘So you didn’t sleep with Imran after he came back into your life?

’ Mabel laughs. ‘Got you, didn’t I? Now I know some of your story in advance.

You probably think that old ladies like me don’t talk about sex.

But we do. Some of us, thank God, are still in possession of our minds too.

I’ve got Scotch and cod liver oil to thank! ’

At that, Belinda manages a laugh, despite her embarrassment. ‘If we’re going to jump ahead,’ she says, ‘please tell me if the Colonel was hanged or not.’

‘No – it’s your turn! You were acting all tough in prison; you’d even got Jac moved! What happened next?’