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we haven’t even got any guests here right now.’
    ‘It’s a tough time for everyone,’ Hayley agreed. ‘The hotel’s quiet too.’
    The Riverview Hotel was on the other side of the town (and the river) to the Bawnee River Guesthouse. It had been built during the last property boom and had an impressive spa and leisure centre as well as an over-the-top nightclub. At the time of its construction there had been much amusement at the thought of a nightclub in Ardbawn, but it had proved to be surprisingly popular, with people coming from the neighbouring towns every weekend. At first Sean and Nina had been worried about a possible loss of business to the hotel, but the people who came to the guesthouse (usually for fishing and horse-riding, with some occasional golfers)weren’t the sort of people who wanted to stay in an ultramodern hotel. And, as it turned out, the hotel drew more people to the town anyway, so the reality was it had been a bonus.
    ‘Ah, well, times have been tough before and we’ve got through them,’ Sean said brightly. ‘We’ll get through this too as long as we don’t spend money on things we can’t afford. Like the ad in your programme, Hayley. Sorry.’
    ‘The hotel is taking an ad,’ she told him.
    ‘I wish we could.’ He sounded truly regretful. ‘But I never do anything without Nina’s say-so. If it’s any use, we can do a special deal for anyone who stays over in the town for the nights of the production.’
    ‘That doesn’t help the drama society,’ Hayley pointed out.
    ‘You might get people coming who otherwise wouldn’t.’ Sean’s dark eyes twinkled at her.
    ‘I doubt it,’ she said.
    ‘All the same, it’s something to offer.’
    ‘Hmm.’ She looked doubtful.
    ‘If you’ve got leaflets and stuff, we’ll keep them here, of course,’ said Sean, ‘and we’ll hand them out to our guests. You never know, some of them might return for the show.’
    ‘You think?’ Hayley was sceptical.
    ‘The amateur dramatic group is very accomplished,’ Sean assured her. ‘Why shouldn’t people travel to see them?’ He allowed his eyes to twinkle at her again. ‘Are you playing Eliza?’
    Nina, whose back was to them, couldn’t help smiling. Sean was turning on the charm. And he could be very, very charming.
    ‘I’m not good enough,’ Hayley told him. ‘Lesley Chapman’s got that role.’
    ‘It’s a great play,’ Sean said. ‘I’ll definitely be along to watch.’
    ‘You’d have made a good Henry Higgins yourself.’ Hayley was blushing slightly. ‘You’ve got a certain arrogance. And charisma . . .’
    Nina glanced over her shoulder.
    ‘I was a bit of an actor myself back in the day,’ Sean said. ‘In fact I did once star as Henry Higgins.’
    ‘Really?’ asked Hayley. ‘When? And how come you’ve never joined us, in that case?’
    ‘Oh, I don’t have time for it these days. It was in my college years,’ replied Sean. ‘For one week only, but it was a great performance, according to the critics. Who were students too, so perhaps they were a bit biased, although they fancied themselves as harsh reviewers. After that I trod the boards for a time, but then . . .’
    ‘. . . he met me and his priorities changed,’ Nina finished for him.
    ‘I just didn’t get the breaks,’ said Sean. ‘I would’ve given George Clooney a run for his money.’
    This time Nina guffawed. But Hayley looked at Sean appraisingly.
    ‘You know,’ she said. ‘I absolutely think you would.’
    After Hayley had gone, Nina sat down at the kitchen table.
    ‘You were flirting with her,’ she told her husband in amusement.
    ‘Bringing a little glamour into her life,’ Sean said. ‘It must be dreary enough having nothing better to do than run a crummy amateur dramatics show with a bunch of losers.’
    ‘You said they were very accomplished,’ protested Nina.
    ‘I was being polite,’ said Sean. ‘One or two of them are OK. Most of them are hopeless. And naturally the