Free Silverbridge by Joan Wolf Page B

doesn’t come out?”
    “No,” Tracy said in a thready voice. “Not now, Dave. I can’t do it now.”
    For the first time he noticed her pallor and her trembling. He put an arm around her shoulders, and said gently, “All right. I’m sure the first take will be okay. Come and sit down, and I’ll have someone bring you a glass of water.”
    Tracy nodded and allowed him to lead her to the chair that had her name on it. Gratefully, she sat down and rested her forehead on her lap.
    “You’re not going to faint, are you?” Dave asked in alarm.
    Tracy shook her head. “Where is that water?”
    “Here.” Someone put a plastic bottle in her hand, and she drank thirstily. The water was tepid, like most liquids in England, but she drank it gratefully. Finally, she was able to offer Dave an attempt at a smile.
    “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
    “That’s all right,” Dave replied. “You didn’t sleep at all last night. Perhaps I should have given you the day off.”
    “No, No, I was fine. Really.”
    “Well you’re finished for today,” Dave said. He was still looking worried. “I think you ought to go home and take a map.”
    Meg said from someplace behind Tracy’s chair, “I’ll take her, Dave.”
    “Take me where?” Tracy asked a little forlornly. “My hotel burned down.”
    As Meg appeared at his side, Dave explained, “We’ve made arrangements for you and Jon to stay here at Silverbridge.”
    Tracy jerked, as if a bolt of electricity had just shot through her. “What?”
    Dave said soothingly, “All the hotels were booked for the weekend. If you don’t want to remain at Silverbridge after Sunday, I’m sure we can make other arrangements. But for now, I think you’ll be more comfortable here than you would be at a bed-and-breakfast.”
    “We have a nice big bedroom for you, Tracy,” Meg said. “It even has a painting by Claude.”
    For some reason, Tracy felt panicked by the thought of staying at Silverbridge. “I don’t want to disrupt your family any more than they have been already,” she protested to Meg.
    “Don’t worry about that,” Dave said. “We’re paying Lord Silverb r idge hotel fees for you and Jon.”
    Tracy racked her brain for a valid excuse not to stay at Silverbridge for the weekend and could come up with nothing.
    “Do you feel well enough to walk?” Dave said solicitously.
    Tracy slowly breathed in and out. Then she did it again. “Yes,” she said.
    Despite her assurance, Dave put a hand under her elbow and supported her as she stood up. To her relief, the world remained clear and steady. She smiled at her concerned director. “I’m fine, really I am. Go back to work and don’t worry about me.”
    “You look better,” he said. “A little color has come back into your face.” He tu rned to Meg. “Lady Mar garet, if you would accompany Tracy to the house, I would be grateful.”
    “Not to worry,” Meg said. “Come along, Tracy. I’ve already had Mrs. Wilson make up your bed. You can crawl right in if that’s what you want.”
    Tracy made one last plea. “This has to be an imposition, Dave. Really, I wouldn’t mind a B&B for a few days.”
    “That photographer will have much easier access to you at a B&B than he will if you stay here,” Dave said.
    Tracy thought of Silverbridge’s huge extent of private property that Jason Counes could not trespass upon and gave in. “ This is very kind of you, Meg.”
    Meg smiled. “It will be fun having you.”
    Tracy looked apprehensively toward the terrace. It was empty.
    “Go with Lady Margaret,” Dave said firmly. “We’re finished with you for the day, you aren’t on call tomorrow, and we’re taking Sunday off. By the time you report for work on Monday morning, I expect to see roses back in those cheeks.”
    Tracy didn’t even attempt a smile as she turned toward Meg and a house she did not want to enter.
     
     
    A side entrance took them into a wood-paneled vestibule with a