Separation, The by Jefferies Dinah

Author:Jefferies, Dinah [Jefferies, Dinah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780241966068
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2014-05-22T06:00:00+00:00

29

The station air smelt strongly of metal and sweat, the noise of people, trains and traders overpowering. Despite that, Lydia felt her resolve stiffen, and with some difficulty tracked down a call box. She dialled Cicely’s number, took a sharp breath when her friend answered, and kept her voice level. For a moment Cicely’s cool, offhand voice almost derailed her, but she pressed the receiver against her cheek, took another breath and came out with it.

‘I have nowhere to go.’

She heard Cicely’s sharp breath in. ‘So it’s true. Where are you now?’

‘Here. At the station.’

‘Stay right there.’

Lydia wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead, thankful that Jack, with uncanny prescience, had shown her the hoard of money he’d kept under the floorboard. She still needed to get a job, but there was enough to keep her afloat for a few months. And at least she’d made it south in one piece. This time, the journey had not involved ambushes, derailing, or diversions: everything had been surprisingly normal. So much so that she had to pinch herself, as a reminder that Jack and the girls were gone, and she wasn’t simply travelling back home to Alec.

Lydia was sipping an iced lemon by the time Cicely arrived, looking crisp and smart. She brushed cool lips over Lydia’s cheek. ‘You can tell me all about it on the way.’

Cicely threw open the door to her town house and looked about. It was a wonderful old merchant’s house, in a well-heeled part of town.

‘Good. No sign of Ralph. Men never know what’s really going on. Darling, you look a fright. I think a bath for you and then something to eat.’

‘I always thought men were the ones who did know what was going on,’ Lydia said.

Cicely laughed and waggled a pointed finger at her. ‘You have a lot to learn, my girl.’

They walked across the quiet hall.

Cicely reached over and took Lydia’s hand. ‘Darling. You already know how sorry I am about Emma and Fleur. But now Jack too. It must have been utterly ghastly, but at least he died like he lived.’

Lydia’s stomach turned over. ‘Someone tricked him on to the road that afternoon.’

Cicely stared. ‘Any idea who?’

Lili’s face flashed in her mind, but Lydia chose just to shrug. ‘Also a little boy I was looking after vanished. I need to make sure he’s safe.’ She leant back against the wall. ‘Harriet Parrott might be the place to start. You know, with George’s contacts. Would you help me?’

‘I’ll ring and tell her you’ll be there tomorrow at twelve sharp. Now you stay with me as long as you need. Okay?’ A wide smile lit Cicely’s face. ‘That’s what friends are for, after all.’

Lydia followed her to the exquisite guest suite on the top floor.

‘Will this suit you, madam?’ Cicely said. ‘No need to come down. I’ll have food sent up.’

After Cicely left, Lydia dropped her bag, and looked out at the distant Straits of Malacca. Rain blurred the view, blending the colours in watery blues and lilacs.

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