Free Memories of the Storm by Marcia Willett Page A

you said
just now.'
    'Rob isn't like that with you,' protests Hester. 'He
doesn't follow you about like a sick spaniel.'
    'No,' says Patricia rather sadly, switching out the
light and settling down to sleep. 'No, Rob's rather
down-to-earth, I'm afraid.'
    'I like Rob,' says Hester. She's rather shocked by
Patricia's reaction. How could she respect someone
who behaved so pathetically? 'He's . . . sensible.'
    'Oh, yes,' agrees Patricia with a little sigh. 'Rob's
sensible.'
    And now Hester can remember that, three or
four years ago when she was first married, Patricia
used to have that same expression when she looked
at Rob; that blind, worshipping look of adoration.
    She stares into the darkness, listening to the
river's voice. How frightening it must be to feel so
strongly and lose all sense of self; how dangerous to
expose one's vulnerability.
    'I shall never fall in love,' she exclaims vehemently.
    'Oh, shut up, Hes, and go to sleep,' mutters
Patricia. 'You know how early the boys wake up,
and Nanny has so much to do. I need some sleep
even if you don't.'
    Hester wriggles down, pulling up the blankets to
keep out the draughts. The river's voice can still be
heard, singing its endless murmuring song, and she
lies still, reciting Clare's poetry to herself:
    Here the steep bank, as dropping headlong
down,
    While glides the stream, a silver streak between
    As glide the shaded clouds along the sky . . .
    And at last the words and the river's music blend
together into a dreamless sleep.
    She could still hear the river, louder again now, and
with it the sounds of activity somewhere. Hester
realized that Clio must have returned from her
walk and was probably making some tea. She tidied
her notes, saved her computer work and went out
to find her.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    'I've been thinking, Hes.' Clio took down the
battered red Jackson's of Piccadilly tea caddy and
peered inside. 'You can have Lemon Burst,
Raspberry and Echinacea or Camomile. I really
ought to go back to London on Sunday.'
    'Raspberry, please. Well, why not? I'm perfectly
fit now and I'm sure they must be missing you at the
agency.'
    Clio poured boiling water into two mugs. 'I
think that there's a bit of a panic on. Peter never
actually insisted on a cut-off date, only that you
must be able to manage on your own again after
the operation, but I feel I'm needed more there
now.'
    'It was very kind of him and I've loved having you
here but, apart from anything else, I expect you're
rather looking forward to getting back to your work
and your friends.'
    Clio put a spoonful of honey into her mug of
Lemon Burst and threw the teabag into the bin.
Hester took her own mug and went to sit at the
table. Clio's expression was a familiar one, though
she hadn't seen it for many years. It was her 'going
back to school' face: a rather touching mixture of
hopefulness and trepidation.
    'Peter will be glad to have you back again.'
Hester continued to be positive. 'I know you
arranged a very reliable replacement but when
you've worked so closely with someone, as Peter has
with you – how long is it now? Nearly a year? – it
must be difficult to adapt to someone new.'
    Clio sat down opposite and St Francis leaped up
to sit at the end of the table as if presiding at a
meeting.
    'I shall miss you,' said Clio. She looked faintly
puzzled, almost irritated, at this discovery. 'I
haven't spent so long here since school holidays
when Mum and Dad were off on some expedition
or research trip or whatever. It's been rather like a
holiday, this last few weeks.'
    'We've had some fun, haven't we? And then, of
course, there was Lizzie. You've been quite busy at
Michaelgarth, helping her with ideas and fetching
and carrying people.'
    'I think that's part of it,' said Clio. 'I love my job,
really I do, but it's a bit deskbound. I've enjoyed
dashing about meeting Lizzie's theatre and film
friends and doing my own thing.'
    And Peter's knocked your confidence, added
Hester silently, and you've had the opportunity