for her painful throat she would have thought it had been simply that. But the livid marks round her neck bore witness to the fact that it had been real.
‘Mr Evington has been here asking after you,’ said Sophie, as she poured Cicely a cup of coffee. ‘Mother told him you were asleep and that you could not be disturbed.’
Cicely’s heart sank. Though her aunt’s actions had been well-intentioned, she would have liked to see Alex.
‘She told him the same the next time he called as well,’ said Sophie, handing Cicely the coffee.
‘He has been twice?’ asked Cicely.
‘Three times. You’ve slept late,’ she explained, seeing Cicely’s expression. ‘He won’t be calling again, though.’
Cicely felt her hand beginning to tremble, and put the cup down with a clatter.
‘Is it too hot? I thought it might be. Let me put some more milk in for you.’
Cicely allowed Sophie to make the coffee cooler, although that had not been the reason for her almost dropping the cup.
‘He won’t be calling again, did you say?’ asked Cicely with studied nonchalance, for she found that she was longing to see him.
Her brush with death had made her see how precarious life was, and she could not let ignorance come between them. She knew she must talk to him, telling him that she was not engaged, so that he could come to know her better. And she must somehow ascertain his feelings for Eugenie.
‘He has had to go back to England. But I dare say you will see him there when you return,’ said Sophie.
‘Yes. I dare say,’ she said in a dispirited voice.
She was not so sure she would see him in England, for she knew that he had bought the manor so that he could catch the thief, and now that the thief was caught, then what was there to keep him in the countryside? Unless his feelings for her were strong enough to induce him to remain.
Sometimes she thought they were, and sometimes she thought they weren’t. She knew there was an electrical charge between them, but his deeper feelings were unclear.
How she longed to talk to him! But in her present condition it was impossible.
‘You won’t be well enough to travel for a while,’ said Sophie, echoing her own thoughts. ‘I know mother wants to keep you with us for as long as possible. And so do I.’
Cicely’s sojourn in Austria lasted another week, but then she felt she could impose on her aunt and cousin no longer. Sophie and Mrs Lessing had a long-standing arrangement to visit Paris, and although they pressed her to join them she declined, saying it was time for her to return to the Lodge.
Her return journey was more sombre than her outward journey had been, and she was glad to reach England. So much had happened since she had gone away, and she was looking forward to the peace and quiet of home. And hoping against hope that Alex was still in the neighbourhood.
‘It is good to have you back, miss,’ said Gibson as he welcomed her at the door. ‘I trust you had an enjoyable time?’
Gibson had known nothing of Cicely’s real reason for going to Marienbad, and had accepted at face value her story of going to pay a visit to her aunt, so she remarked simply, ‘Yes, thank you, Gibson. It was most . . . satisfactory.’
Gibson departed, and Cicely strolled round the sitting room, refamiliarising herself with it, before going out into the garden. It looked much the same as it had looked when she had left. It was hard to believe that she had only been gone for such a short space of time. So much had happened.
She went back into the house and regarded herself in the mirror. She was fortunate that high necks were fashionable, as her lace-trimmed blouse covered up the remains of her bruises, and she would not have to explain them to her friends.
She took off her gloves and hat. Hardly had she done so when Alice bounded into the house.
‘You’re back.’ Alice hugged her impulsively. ‘Thank goodness. It’s been so boring whilst you’ve been away.’
Not even Alice had known the truth behind Cicely’s visit to Marienbad: the fewer people who had known of her plan, the less likelihood it had had of leaking out and alarming Martin Goss, putting him on his guard. But now that he was safely in custody, the time had come to reveal the truth.
‘My time has been anything but boring