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“You’re worrying. I can tell. What is it, my darling?”
Cupping her glass of Pellegrino in both hands, Alexia drew her knees up to her chest. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to me.”
“If I tell you, do you promise not to overreact?”
“I’ll do my best. What is it, Alexia?”
“Do you remember that man who came to the gates at Kingsmere, the night after I was elected?”
“Dimly. I remember you left the table. But didn’t you say it was nothing?”
“It was nothing. It probably still is nothing.”
Teddy raised an eyebrow. “Probably?”
“I didn’t tell you, but a few weeks ago in London, I saw him again. The same man.”
“But . . . you never saw him. I remember now. He’d gone by the time you got to the gate, and the camera wasn’t working.”
“It was working,” Alexia said sheepishly. “I lied because I didn’t want to worry you.”
“For God’s sake, Alexia. I’m not a child. I want to know these things.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Anyway, I gave the footage to the police and they found out who it was.”
“Well? Who was it?”
“An American. He’s an ex-con with a history of mental illness.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds. He’s not violent or anything. But the thing is, he tu
rned up again. In Parliament Square, a couple of weeks before the summer recess. He grabbed me as I was getting out of the car with Edward. We—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on.” Teddy sat up. “He grabbed you? What do you mean? Did he hurt you?”
“No. I was shocked, but no.”
Teddy absorbed this information. He hated it when Alexia kept secrets from him, especially secrets like this. It was his job to protect her. His duty. He felt completely emasculated.
“Where were the police when all this happened? Your so-called security?”
“They were there. They pulled him off me.”
“I hope you pressed charges.”
Alexia looked uneasy. Teddy’s eyes widened.
“You did press charges?”
“I didn’t need to. Edward dealt with it.”
“How?”
“We deported him. Quietly. I didn’t want the press to make a story out of it. I just wanted him gone.”
