Free An Ocean Apart by Robin Pilcher Page A

of her. A thought came into his head. “I tell you what. Christchurch have a Commem Ball this year. Would you come with me?”
    â€œWhen is it?”
    â€œThe twenty-third of June.”
    Rachel thought for a moment and nodded slowly. “All right, I’ll come, but only on one condition.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œYou wear your kilt.”
    â€œOkay.”
    Rachel swung herself gently from side to side, “ AND you bring your car and Smokey Robinson with you.”
    â€œThat’s two conditions.”
    Rachel smiled at him. “Well, that’s the deal.”
    â€œOkay. Sounds good enough to me!”

Chapter    FIVE
    Effie pattered her way across the hall to the drawing-room door, knocked quietly, and popped her head around the corner. There was no conversation in progress, only the sound of the fire crackling in the hearth and the contented snoring of one of the dogs lying out in front of it. Lord and Lady Inchelvie sat opposite each other at the far end of the room, he snoozing gently in his large, threadbare armchair, a glass of whisky precariously balanced on one of its sunken arms beside him, while she, clicking away with her knitting-needles, watched the muted screen of the television.
    â€œExcuse me, Lady Inchelvie,” Effie said, almost in a whisper.
    Alicia turned and dipped her head to look over the top of her spectacles at the little grey-haired head that peered round the door at about the same level as the handle. “Yes, Effie?”
    â€œThat’s the dinner through in the dining-room now.”
    Alicia bundled up the knitting and placed it on the table beside her, then rose from her chair. “Thank you, Effie. I’m afraid that we’re still waiting for David. I don’t quite know what he’s up to. I called up the stairs about a quarter of an hour ago, but he obviously didn’t hear me. I think I’d better just nip up to his room to see if everything’s all right.”
    â€œOch, don’t you bother yourself about that,” Effie said, appearing in full around the door. “I’m just away upstairs now to turn down the beds, so I’ll give him a wee knock on his door.” She looked across at Lord Inchelvie and smiled. “That’ll give you time to wake up his Lordship.”
    â€œOh, Effie, could you? That would be most kind.” Alicia glanced over towards her husband. “I’m afraid the poor man’s had a pretty tiring day at the office.”
    Effie paused for a moment. “Everything’s all right, is it not, Lady Inchelvie?” she asked tentatively.
    â€œYes, of course. Why do you ask?”
    â€œOh, it was just that I was hoping that his Lordship was feeling quite well, what wi’ him not going to the meeting tonight.”
    â€œNo, nothing to worry about, Effie. Just something quite important has cropped up which he has to discuss with David over dinner.”
    â€œWell, I’m glad to hear it, then.” She gave a quick smile in the direction of Lord Inchelvie and then waved her index finger in the air, as if conducting herself back into action. “Now I’ll just away and see where Mr. David has got to.”
    Effie closed the door of the drawing-room and made her way to the staircase and, readying herself for the ascent by placing one hand on the banister and the other on her left knee for extra leverage, she began to climb the stairs, gently humming to herself as she went. Having made the half-way landing, she stopped long enough to catch her breath and to make a mental note to remove an over-conspicuous cobweb that floated high up on the large dark portrait that loomed above her before continuing on her way.
    The door of the bathroom was open wide and the light off, but the steamy air that emanated from within still carried on it the smell of soap and after-shave. She hesitated, wondering whether she was a little premature in knocking on