Free Home through the Dark by Anthea Fraser

employment, anyway!”
    â€œI didn’t mention that it was temporary.”
    His eyes met mine with some amusement. “But since you’ve only taken the flat for six months, it can hardly be permanent, can it?” He turned away to give his order to the waitress and I started to eat my meal. “You know something, Miss Durrell? ” he went on deliberately, turning back to me, “I have a feeling that you’re not quite what you seem to be.”
    I stared at him wordlessly while he unhurriedly leaned over and ran one finger over the white band on my ringless hand. I jerked back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    â€œFor instance,” he continued softly, “I would hazard a guess that you are in fact Mrs. Carl Clements.”
    I ran my tongue round dry lips and when I spoke at last my voice was shriller than I cared for. “What are you, an enquiry agent or something?”
    He smiled. “Nothing so dramatic. Don’t look so worried, it’s no concern of mine. I won’t give you away.”
    â€œBut how – ?”
    â€œI recognized you back at the hotel. It was a chance in a thousand, I know, but I’d seen a photograph of you with your husband in an old magazine at the dentist’s, only the week before. I am right, aren’t I?”
    I nodded. There was no point in denying it.
    â€œI presume you’ve left him?”
    Another nod.
    â€œPermanently?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œDoes he know where you are?”
    â€œNo.” My breathing was rapid and shallow and I kept my eyes on my plate.
    After a moment he said gently, “Isn’t that rather cruel?” I did not reply. “You see, I know what he’s going through. My wife left me, too. We’re divorced now.” He answered the unspoken query that must have been in my eyes. “Yes, I suppose I did deserve it, but that didn’t make it hurt any the less at the time.”
    â€œHave you any children?”
    â€œNo. All nice and tidy.” His voice was bitter. He leaned back while the waitress placed a bowl of soup in front of him and then, with a shrewd glance at my face, he said, “Anyway, enough of that. What really intrigues me is why you so obviously regard me with such dark suspicion. Am I indebted to the imaginative Mrs. Foss again?”
    I crumbled the bread on my plate. His interest in me at the hotel was now doubly explained. He had recognized me and he’d heard me say I was going to live at his own address. His being at the window that night had also had a simple enough explanation, as I’d really suspected all along. Which left – “Did you follow me last Sunday afternoon?” I asked abruptly.
    He met my eyes. “Yes, but I didn’t think you’d noticed. I must be slipping!”
    That, at least, was truthful. “May I ask why?”
    â€œBecause, though I couldn’t imagine why, I was pretty sure you’d make a beeline for that grotty hotel and I didn’t feel it was a safe place for you to go.”
    â€œYou’re trying to say you went along to keep an eye on me?”
    â€œExactly that.”
    â€œAnd you’d have stormed the barricades if I hadn’t returned in reasonable time? That could have been embarrassing!”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous, Ginnie.” It was the first time he’d used my first name and he spoke impatiently. I flushed, resenting the reprimand although unwillingly aware that my facetiousness had warranted it.
    â€œAre you going to tell me why you went?”
    â€œNo. I’m sorry.”
    â€œSomething to do with your husband?”
    My flush deepened. “Good Lord no!”
    â€œThank God for that, anyway. It was something those pansies said, wasn’t it? You leaped as though you’d been stung when you heard the name of the place, so it must have rung some kind of a bell.”
    I stirred uneasily.