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Chapter 46
‘Yes, I know I said I’d come over yesterday, and the day before that, but I promise I will be there tomorrow.’
‘Great – I look forward to seeing you,’ said Oliver, his voice still full of concern, doubtless over the reason she hadn’t shown up at Somerville Hall like she’d promised. Abigail realised she hadn’t given him much of an explanation for her absence.
‘Everything okay?’ he ventured.
‘Yes, everything’s fine.’ In fact, it wasn’t. She’d woken up with severe morning sickness the last couple of days and just couldn’t even contemplate making the journey over to Somerville Hall.
‘You got your landline sorted at the cottage then?’
Abigail was sitting in the lounge using the house phone. At least yesterday she had the excuse of the landline being fitted. ‘Yes. Um, I’ve just got some errands to run today.’ She took a couple of sips of water, hoping she felt well enough to venture out later. ‘I promise I’ll be in tomorrow.’ Abigail knew she shouldn’t make promises she might not be able to keep, but if she didn’t reassure Oliver that everything was okay, he’d pay her a visit. She didn’t want him to see her like this, dishevelled, still hanging around in her PJs and dressing gown mid-morning. She hadn’t even showered.
The sound of someone knocking on her door startled her. ‘Oh, there’s someone at the door.’ She had a sudden thought. ‘You didn’t send Carys round to check on me, did you?’
‘No.’
‘Oh, okay.’ She imagined it was Lili. ‘Well, I must sign off. I expect Lili is paying me a visit.’
‘No, it’s not Lili. She’s working on our new patio outside the conservatory.’
‘Oh.’
‘Look, if you need me to come around …’
‘No, no, definitely not. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ She couldn’t guarantee it, but she’d just have to find a different excuse if she had another bout of morning sickness. Or perhaps tell him the truth? Abigail put the phone down and frowned at the insistent knocking on the cottage door. ‘Alright, alright. I’m coming.’
Ulysses’ barking wasn’t helping. ‘Quit it, Ulysses. It’s just someone at the door.’ If it wasn’t Lili, then maybe it was Gerald or her brother. She imagined they’d already got wind of her return from Carys. She felt a little guilty for not letting her family know she was back – although she was planning to ring them later on her new land line.
Abigail walked up to the front door and opened it. She took a step back in surprise, and then looked him up and down, her frown deepening. ‘What doyouwant?’
Albert returned her frown. ‘I was worried.’
‘About what?’
‘You.’
‘Me? Whatever for.’
‘Well, you said you were pregnant.’
‘Yeah – so?’
‘I haven’t seen you for a few days.’
‘I’m fine. I was waiting for my landline to fitted.’
The look on his face said he didn’t believe her. ‘Morning sickness, is it? You look a little peaky.’
‘That’s none of your business. I shouldn’t have told you.’
‘Have you told him?’
‘Him – who?’
‘Oliver.’
Abigail glared at him. So she hadn’t been imagining it the other day. Albert had been at the lighthouse window when Oliver left. He must have seen them kissing.
