All the Stars in Her Hand

Chapter Eleven

It wouldn”t do to sit down at Adele”s table in the pleated dress I had worn on this morning”s train, so I changed into the only semi-dressy dress I had brought with me — which I twigged instantly was too plain when I entered the dining room, a plain little blue sleeveless summer faux sateen competing with Poppy in silk trousers and a trendy formal half-jacket, and Adele in black chiffon. In mourning for her dead hopes, I thought.

Poppy wasn”t my only ally. Lois came forward and kissed my cheek when I entered the room, where Hollis was collecting the empty pre-dinner cocktails. She took both of my hands and squeezed them.

”I”m so pleased for you,” she whispered, with her usual kind smile. ”Alex must be ecstatic. Is he coming?” She glanced behind me.

”No,” I said. ”He”s ... still having to lay low.” It was hard to describe exactly where Alex was, since I had no idea.

”It”s dreadful, the way they”ve been treating his little mistake in the press. Daddy says it”s practically criminal. Well, libelous,” she corrected. ”As for myself, I was stunned by the news, I had no idea he was a novelist. To think he was such a success — and wasn”t that name the name of the writer you were so passionate about? You must have been speechless when the news came out. Or did you know?”

”Something like that.” I squeezed Lois”s hands in return. This was not an easy conversation to have at present, especially not when I felt as if all eyes were on me. A figment of my imagination, but it was difficult not to feel it under the circumstances of a seeming elopement.

Hollis entered. ”Dinner is served, Madame.” Erin brought in the first course as we were all seated at the dining table. I did my best not to think about past pitfalls, or moments of weakness in which I betrayed certain ignorances about society whilst seated in one of these chairs.

To my right was Lois — across was a young man I didn”t know, who was apparently dating her, with Poppy seated to Adele”s right. Robert was seated at the foot of the table, and the chair across from mine was empty, but a place was set for dinner, meaning someone else was supposed to be here.

”I suppose we should usher the elephant from the room,” said Poppy, with a hint of grim mirth as the wine was poured. ”Congratulations to you and to Alex, Maisie. I know that not everyone has supported your decision, but you are both adults and have done the deed in the most sensible of ways in our modern times by elopement.”

”Congratulations are due to whom?” The young man beside me was puzzled.

”I”m so sorry, you haven”t been introduced,” said Poppy. ”Kenny, Maisie, Maisie, Kenny. Maisie is newly-married to Alex, by the way — Aunt Adele”s oldest and only son, as you”ll recall.” A smirk on her lips.

The corner of my eye spotted Adele”s face, flashing white with quiet outrage before she sipped her water glass to cover the passing reaction.

”Ah, then, I wish you both well,” said Kenny, amiably. And naively, I thought, given the minefield he had just now entered. ”Lois told me about Alex, but I haven”t had the pleasure yet. I suppose I”m meeting his better half first.”

”I wouldn”t say that,” I answered, with a polite smile.

”It would be rather surprising if you did.” Adele”s remark was quiet, but still audible. Poppy”s reaction was that of someone witnessing a society burn, for which I was glad she did not catch my eye. I could still pretend I hadn”t heard.

”I hope you had a lovely ceremony in Italy,” said Lois. ”Where was it?”

”Verona,” I said. ”Sidney was staying in Venice until recently.”

”Verona is my third favorite Italian city,” said Lois. ”The architecture is simply magnificence. Have you ever been to the Verona Arena? I myself much prefer that sort of quaint setting to Covent Garden.”

”Where is Alex?” asked Poppy. ”I thought he would show himself after triggering a bit of fuss. Surely he”s not hiding from the fallout.” She sipped her wine, serene despite Adele”s livid state.

”Actually, I”m not sure,” I answered. ”Somewhere in England, I think.”

”You don”t know where your newly-married husband is?” Kenny sounded amused. ”I rather thought that part was supposed to come a bit later in marriage.”

Adele looked faintly smug in response to this joke. I tried not to blush.

”Sidney is trying to avoid any further publicity, so he”s keeping information about where he goes limited,” I said. ”Plus, his mobile phone is out of range sometimes ... he gets terrible reception in some parts of Europe, even some parts of England.”

This last bit was pure assumption on my part — my way of showing bravado when I was in the face of a challenge. It sounded better than saying that we didn”t have contact, with his signal skipping and no evidence he”d ever heard my voice message.

”What a pity,” said Robert. ”He should change mobile providers. Mine offers excellent reception everywhere except Greece. I have a devil of a time receiving emails when I”m in Mykonos. ”

”He”ll let me know after he”s settled,” I said. ”He”ll find a place with decent-enough reception to text or email. He thought it was better to wait until the last minute to decide.”

A polite silence followed, and I felt embarrassed that Adele was enjoying my discomfit, tiny as it was.

”I”m sure it”s not intentional,” joked Robert, gently. ”He would hardly want to lose the woman he just married. Knowing Alex, he simply lost track of time when traveling, because train tables and flight schedules were often not his strong suit in the past.”

”I beg to disagree. Alex is much more punctual these days,” said Lois. ”As Maisie said, reception is simply dreadful in some parts of the world. I told Alex months ago to change his phone to something better, with 5G capability.”

”So where was his last known destination, simply so we know whether to expect him in our midst?” asked Robert.

”Maisie thought he was coming back to England, remember?” said Poppy. ”Or something akin to that decision.” She cut through the asparagus spears on her plate.

”He considered Morocco, but then he decided to choose another spot,” I said, wading into the waters deeper. ”He said he wanted to choose the spot Dean would have preferred.” My voice became quieter despite my best attempts to sound normal.

”Dean was Alex”s closest friend, since childhood. He died recently after a long illness,” Lois explained to Kenny. ”I suppose it”s been hard on Alex.”

”I read the notice in the papers when it happened,” said Robert. ”One of my colleagues is very close with the Gresham family. It came as a bit of a shock, even so.” He gave us a smile of pity.

”Obviously Alex”s judgment has been affected by that loss as of late,” said Adele. Another quiet remark, but I could feel the cut of it to the bone.

”Which place was Alex talking about?” asked Poppy. ”I thought Dean Gresham leased a flat in the city. Except for the cottage he had in the south. It wouldn”t be there, obviously.”

”What about Brighton?” said Lois.

”That belonged to the family. I think it”s Nathan Gresham”s, really. Neither Gillian nor David ever go down unless Irene is bringing the children.”

”He didn”t say which place it was,” I answered. ”He said he would tell me after he settled.” Settled there or settled into the new spot — I left it to their imaginations as to which one, which was almost as informed as my own position.

”Why is he choosing a far-off spot?” said Kenny. ”Terribly sorry if it”s rude to ask, but I feel rather out of the loop.” He glanced at all of us apologetically, although he still looked amused.

”Oh, sorry, darling,” said Lois. ”Alex is a writer, you see. He”s had a bit of trouble with reporters asking him questions that he”d rather not answer.”

”Fiction or nonfiction?” he asked.

”Fiction,” I said. ”He just doesn”t like questions about his past. It”s a delicate subject sometimes, which parts of his life are part of the book through artistic license, and so on. His literary agent is pushing them towards him, and trying to make him exploit the attention for his career.”

”He must be quite famous,” laughed Kenny. ”Would I have heard of him?”

”Of course, darling,” said Poppy, sipping her wine and looking bored. ”He writes incognito, however. He would prefer us not to tell outside of blood or marriage.”

The word ”marriage” probably caused Adele to wince again. I felt intensely guilty, even though the pheromones of Verona were still heating my blood, and the rest of me was still in armor, ready to battle against her will in my newfound role.

”I”m sure Alex resented the attention,” said Robert. ”Clearly, whoever is advising him doesn”t know him at all.” He waved away the offer of beets from the serving dish in Hollis”s hands.

”Who is his literary agent?” Robert asked.

”Someone named Byron Duncan,” I said. ”I”ve only met him twice, but I didn”t really like him.”

Adele”s gaze lifted when I spoke. I detected something troubled in her countenance, which was when I remembered that she knew him, according to Sidney”s narrative. I wondered now if I should have brought this up.

”Sorry I”m late.” Another”s voice interrupted the conversation as the late guest arrived — Bunny, Adele”s old schoolfriend, entering with semi-casual togs that did not match the rest of the table”s decorum, including my own. Her skin well-weathered and creased from too much sun, hair cut in a bristling, ruffled style, all of it making her look two decades older than the woman who shared some of her childhood memories. She was a field consultant these days for the history department of a Middle Eastern university.

”The plan from Istanbul was a nightmare, and I didn”t find a cab until after I had given up in despair and decided to walk, practically. Too late for pudding?” she asked.

”Hollis, bring Ms. Simmons the salad course,” said Adele, smoothly.

”Never mind, just bring me the main, since that”s what the rest of the pack is up to now,” said Bunny, seating herself across from me. She glanced at her dinner companion. ”As I live and breathe,” she said. ”You — the young woman whom Alex has married.”

I blushed. ”That would be me.” I knew that Adele spoke regularly with her old school chum — word of Alex”s marriage probably passed to her the instant Adele recovered from his phone call.

”Good to have you join us.” She gave me a stout look, eye locked with mine for this statement, as if assessing me — or steeling me for the future. She glanced at Adele again. ”Addie, you look quite bright-eyed and invigorated. The new medication is doing wonders for your condition. Ten years have been lifted at least.” She squeezed her friend”s hand.

After pudding — one of Erin”s raspberry trifles — we had coffee in the living room, where Robert talked about his upcoming holiday and Lois talked about Kenny”s work at an investment bank”s new branch.

I sat apart from the conversation, trying to be obscure, as if I had been sucked back to the dinner party scene of old. Maybe I was losing my nerve for facing the future as Sidney”s wife, at least in his crowd and on their terms. Maybe I was simply tired after a long day”s travel and a long afternoon”s snubbing by Adele.

With the pleasant clink of ceramic, Bunny sat down on the neighboring sofa cushion. I felt that this was no coincidence, given how Adele”s old friend had spoken to me in the past. And this was only because Adele was listening to the main conversation at present, doing her best to look lively and amused in turn.

”First things first,” said Bunny. ”You”re quite right to do what you did. I don”t blame you for it one bit. Given circumstances and how long you waited for Alex.” She spoke quietly, a conversation for two.

”Thanks,” I said. ”That would be your congratulations, I expect. Probably the best ones I”ll receive under this roof.” I said this as a joke.

”I know that Addie is rather difficult to please. Heaven knows Alex is aware in spades,” said Bunny. ”You”re the sort of girl he should marry. I twigged that you were the sort who wouldn”t give him up easily.”

”Do you think she”ll forgive me?” This was more seriously spoken than my previous remarks.

”Give her time,” said Bunny. ”I”ll speak with her tonight. Maybe I can soften the damage a bit. Of course, there are limits to what anyone can do, since mother worship is one of nature”s most dangerous forces.” She chuckled. ”Yours is a pickle that very few people would snatch.”

”Thanks,” I said, but without humor.

”No blame on my part,” she said. ”Unlike Adele, I knew there was little chance of changing his mind. He isn”t one to leave behind his heart, and he would never consider marriage a cold practicality. All this is still hard on her to accept, strictly speaking.” She looked at Adele, whose look of polite placidity had slipped away, replaced by one of weariness, shades of deep unhappiness evident.

”How long are you staying?” I was beginning to hope it was until I was leaving, since I had no persuasive powers over my new mother-in law.What a weird term to use for Adele.I could not wrap my mind around that fact, as of yet.

”Only tonight. I have a connecting flight in the morning, delayed by weather. Adele kindly let me stop off en route to destination,” she answered. ”I thought she needed a bit of comfort from an old friend as well. Sometimes one needs a bit of a natter face to face over life”s troubles.”

”She”d rather have you here than me, it”s true,” I said. ”Fortunately for her, I won”t be staying long, either.” I thought I would skip telling Arnold I was in town and go back to Cornwall without further ado, since my time in the city had been disappointing yet again.

She patted my arm. ”I”ll put in a good word. No promises, of course.” Her tone was a bit dubious for this part, for which I did not blame her. The second half of dinner had felt like a deliberate avoidance of me — tasteful and refined in its execution, but still noticeable in the air.

I could hear Bunny try later on, as I went upstairs to bed. Hollis was taking away my bedtime cup of tea, and clearing away a coffee cup which Poppy had negligently left by the window seat when her cab arrived an hour ago.

”Do make the best of it, darling,” Bunny was saying. A snatch of it coming from behind the closed door of Adele”s private bedroom and sitting room upstairs.

”Why should I? Because Alex has been the absolute limit ever since she came into his life again.” Adele”s voice rose to overtake her friend”s. ”She”s made his recovery an absolute joke —”

”No one has done anything of the sort, dearest. Alex made his own decision, as we both know.”

I detected something soothing in Bunny”s tone, but it was not working. I slipped into my own room and closed the door, sitting down at the foot of the bed. Not Alex”s — Sidney”s — bed, but the second guest room, the one with inferior wallpaper and a view of the rubbish bins. It was probably coincidence, but it did not feel like it.

It would feel consoling at least to share his space under this roof, but I did not feel comfortable enough yet to defy Adele and claim my fair stake. Instead, I turned back the sheets on the guest bed and set my phone”s alarm for a decent waking hour.

Still no messages.Where are you, Sidney?I wondered to myself. Are you safe? Sleeping comfortably? Are you taking advantage of another cottage that some friend of the Greshams let you borrow, with no heat or running water in the Cotswold wilds? Anything was possible, and all options were equal in my imagination, until Sidney”s mobile texted me answers.

I shut out the light, curling up on my side, hoping to shut out the worst of my fears.

________________________

Another drizzly morning greeted me when I awoke. At first, I thought I was still in the hotel in Verona and this is what a drab winter”s day in Italy looked like, before my eyes focused on the lithograph of a rustic country village on the wall. I blinked, checked the time, then drew aside the covers.

Downstairs, I debated whether to ask Erin about breakfast policies or simply sneak in and make myself a piece of toast. In the sitting room, however, a tray with tea things sat on the morning table, along with a plate of muffins. Poppy was finishing one of them as Adele read the morning paper.

”Hi,” I said. ”I feel a little late.” I joined them, pouring myself a cup of tea. ”I think my alarm failed me.”

”We only rose to see Bunny off,” said Poppy. ”I have a few errands in the city, part of my thrice-yearly pilgrimage to the designers of London. Aunt Adele, are you quite certain you won”t come with me? I saw a very elegant suit that would be simply perfection in your wardrobe.”

”I have an appointment this morning with Robert, and some correspondence for the club,” said Adele. ”I think you prefer shopping without a companion.” She turned the page in her newspaper.

She was ignoring me in graceful fashion. It shouldn”t surprise me, and I decided to be grateful that it wasn”t verbal insults being hurled at me instead. She wanted me out of her house, not that I blamed her. The best way to remedy this was to maintain politeness for a short span of time, then pack my things to leave.

”I”m off,” said Poppy. ”Give my hullo to Robert when he comes.” She kissed Adele”s cheek, and passed by me with a sympathetic glance. I smiled back, as if there was nothing to be pitied about my predicament.

I closed both hands around my cup of tea, balancing it on my knees. ”Adele, I think maybe we should try to talk.” I ventured this in the patch of silence between us, when only the softshiffof turning newsprint interrupted.

”We are both quite capable of it already. Provided that we are not addressing each other,” she answered.

”I think now we have to, though,” I said. ”Think of Alex. He would want us to find at least one peaceful topic for the sake of the future.”

”For the sake of family foisted upon one.” Adele”s words hit their target perfectly, whether she meant herself or me. Or both of us, because I knew that deep within myself I had stopped liking her the week of the birthday party at Lewiston, and had stopped trying to like her the night of the art show.

I had no argument for this. She could never love me for the sake of her son, and our only common ground was a battle zone. What could I possibly say that didn”t make her feel I was casting salt into the wounds, as the girl who supposedly dashed all her dreams for him by luring him back to a country village — then marrying him without warning?

I heard the front door”s buzzer, which meant Robert must be here for the appointment. At least his arrival would break the room”s tension. I set my mostly-untouched cup on the table, as Hollis entered.

”A Mr. Duncan is inquiring whether Mrs. Davison will see him,” he announced.

Both Adele and I jumped ever so slightly, unless I imagined it in my startled state — this was not the person I expected.

Adele received this information in silence. She folded her newspaper and rose from her chair, pouring a cup of tea. ”Show him in,” she said, although I thought I detected her surprise deep in her tone of voice.

After a muffled word in the hall, the literary agent appeared. Seeing him again, I was struck by the difference between the charm and handsome poise and the ruthless matter-of-factness exhibited since our last meeting. He could have only one reason for being here, I knew.

”Adele,” he greeted her. ”It”s been quite some time.”

”Byron.” Her tone was cordial and cold — two emotions of which Adele was mistress to thenth degree. Her visitor couldn”t fail to see the point of them, even if there was a tiny bit — miniscule — evidence that another reaction had taken place with the announcement of his request. Byron Duncan was not a man to mistake that, either, I strongly suspected.

”You look well,” he said. ”As stunning as ever, to be frank. Not that I”m in the least surprised.”

”You”ve changed very little,” she said. A tone of indifference now. ”The city has suited you, obviously.”

”You”re being too generous,” he answered. His smile was indeed very charming — enough so that I felt myself lowering my guard. ”Considering the woman you are, I”ll accept the compliment as a sign that we”re still old friends.”

”Sit down, Byron,” she said, indicating the chair on the opposite side of the sofa, as she moved towards her original seat on its cushions.

”I suspect you have an idea why I”m here already, so I won”t beat about the bushes,” he said. ”You”re probably aware now that I have a professional relationship with your son, and have for some years. It”s important that I make contact with Alex about some business matters, which is something I hope you can facilitate.”

As he spoke, he lowered himself into the parlor chair, which is when he noticed me in the one nearest to the fireplace. His affable attitude now checked itself ever so slightly.

”I didn”t realize we weren”t having a private word,” he said to her. ”I apologize for being so frank.”

”You asked for Mrs. Davison,” she said. ”I didn”t know to which one you referred.” She rested one hand against the sofa”s back, but did not sit down.

The change in his expression for this reply was slight also, but his surprise — and uncertainty — for this piece of news did not escape me. He noticed now the ring on my left hand.

”You have my congratulations,” he said to me. ”Alex is a very lucky man.” He smiled.

”Thank you,” I answered.

Adele observed his reaction; something perceptive entered her gaze now. I thought she was taking note of the effect I had on Byron”s composure — seeing something which interested her in his reaction, although I could not yet fathom why. I thought possibly it was the fact that he wasn”t altogether pleased to encounter me, particularly after he heard about my change of status.

He accepted the cup of tea from Adele, with a word of thanks. He sipped it, taking a pause before he spoke again.

”You might be the person who can help me, then,” he said, speaking to me now. ”I really need to make contact with Alex.”

”Why?” I answered.

”At this juncture with the press story, it isn”t a good idea for him to be isolated from the P-R he”s generating. If he”s uncomfortable with it, that”s one thing, but that”s what my role is for. I can be the buffer that controls the information flow and parcels it out — enough to keep them satisfied, but still hungry.”

”But you wouldn”t listen to him,” I said. ”He told you that he didn”t want to exploit that story, because he already shared the reasons with the public. There”s too many sensitive aspects involving other people that he isn”t willing to talk about.”

”Alex is in a very delicate position,” said Byron. ”On many levels. If we don”t want his circumstances to collapse, we need to help him by keeping control of the situation and reminding him of its importance.”

”I don”t know where he is, so I can”t help you,” I answered. ”He didn”t tell me.” I shrugged.

Byron looked as if he didn”t believe me. ”He married you only a short time ago, but you decided to honeymoon separately?” The joke was biting, slightly mean. I felt the color trying to come into my cheeks, but I suppressed it.

”I”m telling the truth,” I answered. ”Sorry.” I shrugged again. ”I can”t help you find him, not that I would. I was the last person here to see him, so no one else can give you the answer. Besides which, I know Sidney would only be interested in talking to you if you”re willing to renegotiate his contract without the fourth book”s clause.”

The depths of his gaze became that of a gambler holding his cards close in a high-stake match, draining all emotional tells.

”I hate to say it, especially in front of Adele, but I hoped you would be the more sensible one in this situation,” he said. ”Obviously, I was wrong. Alex is the more mature one, who at least understood at the time the reasons why that clause was important. He understood from last time why I can”t do what he asks.”

”I doubt my son understands anything of the kind, knowing him.” Adele spoke up. ”On the other hand, am I to understand that he asked you directly to make this change on his behalf?”

”He did, but I explained the reasons why his request would never be considered, even if I was inclined to do something about it,” said Byron. ”I assure you, it”s under control. Alex is aware of how things stand, and he”ll come around to reason on it after he”s had time to think. Which is what I assume he”s doing right now if the girl he just married is here.”

Adele said nothing. I did not bother to support his statement by looking as if I agreed, when my feelings were anything but.

He rose. ”I can see that I”ve come to an impasse, however.” He placed the teacup on the table. ”Thank you for the hospitality, Adele. Business politics aside, it”s been too long since I”ve seen you.”

He took her hand for his goodbye, one thumb caressing her fingers just below the knuckle. A touch of attraction, either physical or emotional, but not that of strictly business. I could see Adele”s expression grow colder.

He turned to me. ”If you see him before I do, give him my best wishes for your future together,” he said. ”I”m sure I”ll be seeing you both again before too long, I hope.”

”Maybe so.” That was all the answer I would commit to offer.

”Good day to you both,” he said. ”I”ll see myself out.” He left the room, and I heard the murmured exchanged between him and Hollis. Voices in the distance, before the front door thudded closed in the hall.

Something about his assurance felt threatening, although I knew it was just my imagination. It was uncomfortable with the vision of him and I both hunting for Sidney at the same time, racing against time to be the one who discovered his whereabouts first. I wondered if he could track my passport — surely he didn”t have friends in government who could be bribed to share that kind of information. Ludicrous to think of it on my part, as if we were in a spy movie and not an ordinary clash of ideas.

”How well do you know him?” Adele asked, quietly.

I shook my head. ”Not well,” I answered. ”As I said before, we only met a couple of times. Once at Dean”s funeral, once at the cottage. The second time — I didn”t like him. It”s wrong, but that was the impression he left me with.”

”And Alex”s future is in his hands,” said Adele. It was spoken more like a question, unhappily so, I thought.

”For now, at least,” I said. ”You think it”s not a good thing.” A question of my own implied now. She knew him better than I did, at least on some levels. Maybe on more than one — I could tell Sidney was right about Byron”s interest in her.

”I don”t trust him,” she answered. ”He”s not someone with whom I would entrust my son”s professional future, given the choice.” She stared out the window. In its reflection, I saw her bite her lip, as if refraining from saying more. A troubled, brooding state settled around her like the rain”s fog outside the glass.

She didn”t want company evidently, for she didn”t speak to me again. Since she preferred watching the weather, I rose and left her in privacy. Apparently we were not expected to jointly debate the troubles of someone whom we both loved.

Hollis was hoovering the living room”s rug, and Robert was sitting on its sofa, reading a financial newspaper, which he lowered as I came in. ”I have those papers from the —” he began, than stopped when he realized it was only me. ”Ah,” he said. ”I thought you were Adele. My mistake.”

”She”s in the sitting room,” I said. ”She had a visitor who brought some difficult news. She”s probably taking a moment to let it settle.”

”I trust nothing”s wrong with Alex?”

”No. Well, nothing that anybody knows of, that is,” I answered, being a little more truthful in an obfuscated way. ”But since everyone knows I don”t know where he is ... my answer can hardly be trusted, can it?” I sank down in the parlor chair.

Robert gave me a pitying look. ”She”s rather hard on people sometimes,” he said. ”We all are. Part of the social sphere to which we belong, with dreadful standards and high expectations.”

”I”ve had a taste of those,” I answered, ruefully. ”I suppose I could find a bright side in all of this. I won”t go ignored or brushed over at the next few dinner parties, as the subject of a bit of scandalous gossip.”

He chuckled. ”I very much doubt either you or Alex has been doing anything too scandalous as of late,” he said. ”Besides which, the shock of that Alistair Davies” bit would be difficult to eclipse at this point.”

He folded his paper. ”Knowing Alex, he”s somewhere very sensible and safe, regardless of all those old stories about wild travels on the road. I expect the only reason he hasn”t rung anyone is poor mobile signal. You”ve heard Poppy chide him undoubtedly for never choosing the best tech — he has no interest in gigabytes and data coverage when he”s browsing in the shops, he buys a phone as if he”s buying a pair of socks.”

A little bit of a smile crossed my lips. ”He does have a bad habit of doing things like that,” I said. The smile began to fade at its corners again. ”I trust him, only I worry about his decision.” My voice quieted. ”He doesn”t have many chances left to make this right. He told me he didn”t want the situation to rub off on me. Take the shine off my success when everything is falling into place for my books.”

I refrained from the urge to bury my face for a second, so he couldn”t see whatever troubles flashed through my eyes as I thought about it all. ”I listened to him, but I wish I hadn”t.”

If I could take that moment back, I would; that would become the moment when I told him forcefully that I was sticking with him, and didn”t want to hear any arguments against it, no matter how sensible. I would have left the fate of my career on the lap of destiny, as I intended at first.

Robert nodded. ”I understand,” he said. ”Here you are, after taking the plunge into matrimony, facing the music of his family. Rather polite of you — and rather surprising after the last developments in the situation.”

I blushed. ”Would that be Alex moving away or the fight between me and her?” I asked, pretending to joke. ”Maybe we can make all of it water under the bridge, but it won”t be easy.”

”Gutsy to try, as they say in films,” said Robert. ”So long as one is realistic in their expectations.” He lifted an eyebrow, which I took as an inference to my problem.

”Don”t worry, I”m aware,” I said. ”I won”t be staying much longer. A short visit goes as far as the apology itself. The one for the fight, not for marrying Alex.” I gave him a smile that was a little more sincere.

”What you said at dinner about Gresham”s wishes made me think,” he said. ”I had a word with a friend of mine from my days as a solicitor, who works at the firm representing the Gresham family. He divulged to me that a recent transfer of property by will was made from Archibald Gresham”s name to that of Alex Davison. A small unpopulated island off the Irish coast, containing a family house, classified as a castle and protected structure.”

A castle? I was taken aback, picturing Dean with a holding that resembled something out of Medieval feudal days. This, he left in Sidney”s care? The letter the solicitor had given Sidney must have contained this bequest in some manner. I had never asked him what it was that Dean put inside it. I had assumed it was only a letter.

The place Dean would choose. It made sense now. I could guess what words might have been written about this gift.

”The paperwork isn”t official yet,” said Robert. ”But if I were a betting man, I would say there”s a small chance Alex has gone there.”

I absorbed this news as the shock of the revelation passed, letting me envision the possibility that he made his way there — if he had keys to it, possibly.

Robert laid aside the paper. ”I think I”ll see if Adele would welcome a quick word.” He gathered up his briefcase and went to the doorway to the hall before pausing to turn back. ”By the by — welcome to the family, Maise.”

He smiled at me. I did my best to smile back. Robert had always been nice to me.

The financial times he had left on the sofa sported dull headlines about stock upticks and international corn shares, the sort of thing Riley sometimes read to further his ambitions of being business minded. There were no books lying on the table, I reflected. Adele was the sort of person who kept everything in its place at all times.

Sidney didn”t inherit that from her, obviously. I wondered if he had inherited more of her stubbornness and willpower, enough to see him through this crisis point. There had to be something equal to her strong nature behind the grit I had seen in his eyes, the determination to survive.

Or maybe he inherited other aspects of her personality. When the memory of the ”Caligari chemicals mixing” came into my mind, I shut it out of my thoughts. Eyes closing tightly before opening to the dull newspaper and the delicate littleobjet d”arton the table.

”Robert tells me you”re leaving soon.” Adele”s voice came from the doorway behind me. I turned my head.

”I thought I should go on to the cottage soon,” I said. ”I promised Sid — Alex.” I folded my hands. Regretting the promise didn”t make it any less true.

Adele lingered. I waited, expecting her to leave, since there was no other visitor in the house except for me. Instead, she crossed to me and laid something in my lap.

It was the necklace, the family heirloom of drippy little diamonds and silver chain, that had once marked the promise between Sidney and I. It was the one I had given back years ago, after the accident, when he and I were no longer technically engaged.

”Alex wanted you to have it,” she said. ”As family tradition dictates.”

I stared down at the little rectangular diamonds, as clear as crystals except where the facets glittered with rainbow stars in the light. When I had first realized its value, I had been amazed. Its real value, however, had been the meaning behind it that Adele spoke of.

”Thank you,” I said. I glanced up at her. I was still nearly speechless that she had given it back.

”It”s what he would request me to do, I have no doubt,” she answered, in a tone of voice which had its usual frosty veneer.

”I know, but ... I know it was hard for you,” I answered, softly.

I couldn”t tell if anything about these words softened her. The look in her eyes was emotionless, and its deeper meaning was too hidden from where I sat.

”It”s your place in his life now to be the one who keeps it,” she answered, quietly. But still with a touch of cold. ”It”s your turn to worry about him when he runs off, and whether he”s coming back.”

After this, she left me alone in the room.