Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death (The Grantchester Mysteries)

picnic.
    ‘I think I pique my curiosity whenever it can be of benefit to others,’ Sidney replied. ‘Otherwise, I try not to spend too much time on tittle-tattle, however pleasurable it may seem at the time. It never does anyone any good and it makes you feel cheap afterwards.’
    ‘I’m sorry I raised the question,’ said Jennifer.
    ‘I don’t mind you asking any question you like, my dear sister, just so long as you don’t mind my not answering it.’
    ‘But surely you must wonder ?’
    ‘I try not to think about that kind of thing. It serves no purpose. Discretion is a very underrated virtue, don’t you think, Amanda?’
    ‘I suppose it must be. But one can’t be serious all the time. Gossip can be quite fun.’
    ‘I am sure it can be, and I can see the temptation; but it’s too dangerous for a priest.’
    Amanda gave Sidney what he now recognised as one of her quizzical looks. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever met someone with such moral certainty,’ she replied. ‘You make me feel quite the flibbertigibbet.’
    ‘There’s nothing wrong with being a flibbertigibbet,’ said Sidney. ‘In fact, I think the world needs all the flibbertigibbets it can get.’
    ‘Then I am glad to be of assistance,’ said Amanda. ‘I wonder what the derivation of the word is? “Gibbet” is not very encouraging, is it?’
    ‘I think,’ said Sidney, ‘ “flibber” suggests “flighty”; it’s onomatopoeic.’
    ‘And where would you like to fly to?’ Amanda asked.
    ‘The moon and back, Miss Kendall, the moon and back.’
    Jennifer handed out mugs of tea. ‘Are you two flirting?’ she asked.
    ‘I think that should remain private,’ Amanda giggled. ‘I have heard that discretion is a very underrated virtue.’
    ‘I was only asking,’ said Jennifer, beginning to find herself quite the gooseberry. ‘My brother is something of a dark horse in that department.’
    Amanda let her gloved hand skim the surface of the water. ‘Well, I always enjoy a day at the races; not that it did Daphne’s father any good.’
    ‘I felt rather sorry for her in the end,’ said Sidney.
    ‘I love the way you think the best of people. She was quite short with you, wasn’t she? When she said,’ and here Amanda began to imitate the deep voice of her former friend, ‘ “if only you had demonstrated the same level of dedication to the priesthood,” I thought it was unnecessarily barbed.’
    ‘I don’t mind barbs.’
    ‘Really, Sidney. You are almost unnatural. I’m not sure I believe you.’
    ‘He likes to retain an air of mystery about him,’ Jennifer explained. ‘Although he is yet to realise how effective a ploy that is.’
    Amanda remembered what she had been meaning to say. ‘Perhaps, one day, you could take me to Newmarket, Sidney. We could have a bit of a flutter.’
    Her companion smiled. ‘That would be fun. Or, perhaps, we could go to a jazz concert. There’s a very good singer coming over from America later in the year, Gloria Dee . . .’
    ‘Oh I don’t think so,’ said Amanda quickly. ‘I draw the line at jazz.’
    ‘Dearie me,’ said Jennifer. ‘It was all going so well.’
    The three friends laughed and Sidney could not remember a time when he had been happier. They lit the candle on his cake, and the two girls sang ‘Happy Birthday’ in harmony. Then he blew out the candle and wished that he could have more of these moments away from the cares of the world. They remained sitting in the punt, singing and teasing each other for a good half-hour before they found that it was too cold to continue and decided it was time to go home.
    There would be a freeze that night and both women were anxious to return to London after Evensong in order to avoid any delay on the railway. Jennifer was starting a new secretarial job in the morning, while Amanda was preparing for the display of a newly cleaned Van Dyck double portrait at the National Gallery. It was, Sidney felt, a familiar Sunday evening experience for those involved in regular employment. The anxiety of Monday morning always seemed to cast a retrospective shadow.
    At Cambridge station, Amanda left in search of a cigarette while Jennifer took advantage of a moment alone with her brother.
    ‘I’m glad you two are getting on so well,’ she said.
    ‘Oh yes,’ Sidney said, almost involuntarily. ‘We’re thick as thieves these days.’
    Jennifer gave her brother a little punch on the shoulder. ‘Be careful.’
    ‘I think she’s out