Act of Possession by Anne Mather

Author:Anne Mather [Mather, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472097439
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2014-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

REED drove her back to London on Sunday evening.

It was still light when they left Stonor’s End, and Antonia looked back over her shoulder with a helpless sense of despair. It hardly seemed possible it was only two days since he had brought her here. Already she felt an affinity with the house that was going to be difficult to displace.

The day itself had been something of an anti-climax, in that Reed had not appeared before lunchtime. Mrs Macauley, taking pity on her, as she mooched about the downstairs rooms that morning, had declared Reed had been up half the night with the vet, attending to the mare, whose foal had been born feet first. But Antonia had guessed that the housekeeper, too, had her doubts, and one sort of speculation was just as bad as another.

In the afternoon, Reed had spent more precious time talking with George Hetherington, the gardener. Antonia had seen them from her bedroom window, when she had gone upstairs to pack, and she had stood for several minutes watching them, feeling as if her heart was being torn out of her. She didn’t want to go; it was as simple as that. She didn’t want to return to London, knowing that when she left him, she might never see him again.

The maid, Ruth, had been changing Antonia’s bed when she first entered the bedroom, and she had offered to pack for her. ‘It’s all right; I can manage,’ Antonia told her gratefully. ‘You go on with what you’re doing. I shan’t get in your way.’

Ruth smiled her thanks. ‘You’re leaving today, are you, miss?’ she asked, rapidly changing pillow slips. ‘Do you like living in London?’

‘Not a lot.’ Antonia was honest. ‘But some of us don’t have a choice.’

‘No.’ Ruth set the pillows squarely against the padded headboard. ‘I sometimes think I’d like to live in London, but what with Mum and all, I don’t think that’s likely.’

‘Your mother’s been ill?’ asked Antonia sympathetically. ‘I’m sorry. Was it something serious?’

‘Cancer,’ said Ruth grimacing. ‘She had to have an operation. Then lots of therapy—you know, to make sure all the cells were dead. She was pretty sick over Christmas. My dad didn’t think she’d make it.’

‘But she did.’ Antonia regarded the girl gently.

‘Oh, yes.’ Ruth’s smile reappeared. ‘Thanks to Mr Reed. He arranged everything—all the treatment, the nursing home, everything! Then, when she was fit enough, he sent her and my dad out to Barbados for a holiday. Just so’s she’d get away from the cold weather.’

Antonia took a deep breath. ‘That was kind of him.’

‘Well, he is, isn’t he?’ said Ruth artlessly. ‘But I expect you know that. Being a friend of his, and all.’

Antonia had made some comment, she didn’t remember what, and soon afterwards, Ruth had finished her task and left her. But her words stuck in Antonia’s mind, not least because of their honesty. Reed was kind, and generous, and she had never known a man like him before.

The journey back

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