The Actuary in Trouble

  Acknowledgement This novel is dedicated to a lady who had a massive influence on my thirties and prayed for me every morning at nine o’clock. I underestimated the power of those prayers and felt the lack of them when she died and interceded for me no longer. Peggy Rapps taught me what grace and goodness looked like in the flesh and if I conjure up her face in my memory; everything else is eclipsed by her beautiful smile. She was one of the very best things about living in Market Harborough and I hope she won’t be too mortified about my fictional renovations of her apartment on Northampton Road. I suspect right now that she’s sorting out heaven from the comfort of her armchair and laying place cards bearing the names of her family, ready for the wedding feast at the coming of the King. She loved intrigue and excitement and had a wonderful view of the world. I wish I could tell her I’d finally written it all down.