Tuesday 5 August 1930
She’s well-dressed, perhaps in her early thirties, but somewhat nervous and fluttery. Peters seems to live quietly, with few callers; he spends much of his time in his garden, and has constructed a substantial greenhouse, though she’s never seen inside it. She knows that he’s a widower – she’s a widow herself, since the war – but thinks he’s generally fairly happy with his life. He takes occasional trips by car, but goes to work by bus and presumably Underground. They’re been neighbours for about five years; both of them live alone but have servants who come in. Preston is living on a widow’s pension and some family money; she has some interest in spiritualism, but the ones she’s met come over as frauds, which is why she was glad to meet Marsden.
After the group arranges to call that evening, Audrey looks up Peters; he owns Peters Imports, which has been going for probably at least three generations. It facilitates shipping, mostly around the Empire, and occasionally indulges in a bit of speculative trade (for example they’ll bring in a large box of spices from Bombay in the hope that a London merchant will be interested).
The group ends up sitting out in Preston’s garden, observing the fifteen-foot hedge that surrounds Peters’ garden; Gertrude can see over it from an upper window, and it’s higher than most of the hedges here.
Bessie “accidentally” throws a juggling ball over the hedge, and goes next door with Preston to ask for it back; when he comes to the door, his hands are dripping with shine, and Bessie thinks she detects a slight smell of formalin. He returns the ball but doesn’t invite them in, making an excuse about something on the stove; he seems irritated to be interrupted, rather than annoyed with them specifically.
Preston doesn’t know the neighbours on Peters’ other side; her own other neighbours are a young couple with a new baby.