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'Perhaps—perhaps he's having business worries.'
'Nonsense,' his mother said tartly. 'His companies are making an obscene amount of money. If he never worked another day he'd still be a wealthy man. So why is he pushing himself, as he undoubtedly is, when he could be relaxing for a while and enjoying this unique time with you?'
Cally shrugged. 'I don't know. We haven't really discussed it...'
Or much else, from what I can see. There was another silence, then Dr Tempest said, more gently, 'Cally, I'm aware that you spent your first year of marriage apart. I realise I'm not supposed to know, but Nick's godfather, a very dear friend, got to hear of it, and wrote me a concerned letter. My son's own correspondence made no reference to the fact that he was living alone, so when I discovered that you were now together again I decided not to pursue the point. To let sleeping dogs lie.
'And I would still,' she went on candidly, 'except that the dogs appear to have woken up, and are circling each other, gearing up for a fight. I don't want to be forced to send for a bucket of cold water.'
'Nick would never fight with me.' Cally permitted herself a reluctant smile. 'He's far too civilised.'
'Don't count on it,' Dr Tempest advised. 'One day he might surprise you. Or you might surprise him,' she added thoughtfully. 'If the facade ever snaps.'
She became brisk again. 'But I won't press you any further, dear girl. I just can't believe Nick isn't taking steps to remedy the situation. He was appalled when he realised what was happening in my marriage to his father, and swore to me that he would never marry unless he could make his wife so happy that she'd never know an anxious moment.'
She added drily. 'He seems to have fallen well short of that ideal, but I'm damned if I can see why.'
Cally turned away to look out of the window. Oh, God, she thought, if you knew—if you only knew... But at least you still have your illusions about him, whereas I—-I have none.
When they arrived back at the Hall, Cally said mendaciously that she wasn't hungry and went up to the bedroom, supposedly to rest. But she was unable to settle. Her thoughts were far too busy—and too wretched.
Instead, she decided to take a shower, then change into the coolest of the new dresses she'd acquired that morning. It was made from a thin cotton material, in an attractive pale turquoise colour, and the style was button-through, with a discreetly high waist.
Designed to conceal a multitude of sins, Cally thought, viewing herself in the mirror.
She'd go downstairs, she thought next, and try to convince her mother-in-law that the marriage was just experiencing a few teething troubles which would soon be resolved. It was what she wanted to hear, and she just might believe it.
But the house seemed deserted, although the remains of lunch were still laid out in the dining room. Cally helped herself to a plate of cold chicken and potato salad, and took it out on to the terrace, seating herself at a table with a sun umbrella. The baby, she told herself, would not appreciate her skipping meals, whatever the reason.
She was just finishing a dish of strawberries when she realised with a sinking heart that she wasn't alone any more, and that Adele was sauntering across the lawn towards her. She was wearing a smart figure-hugging dress in cafe au lait linen, and carried a broad-brimmed straw hat, which she was using to fan herself.
'Hi, there.' Her tone was casual, but her eyes were sharp as they flicked over the younger woman. 'All alone? No happy little family gathering today?'
'As you see,' Cally said shortly.
'I see that you're putting on weight, certainly. Heavens. Cally, you're going to be the size of a house if you don't watch it.'
'My weight gain,' Cally said levelly. 'is absolutely normal.'
Adele shrugged. 'If you say so. But it's hardly any wonder that Nick prefers to spend his time elsewhere these days.' She paused. 'I suppose he's told you that I'm going?'
'No,' Cally said slowly, still smarting from the previous jibe. 'He hasn't mentioned it.'
'Then you heard it from me first.' Adele sat down on the chair opposite. 'I'm moving down to an apartment near St Tropez, my dear. Far more my style than that dreary Dower House, and more than I can actually afford, but Nick s stirred himself to be generous for once.
She smiled. 'I gather he needs the Dower House vacated for some purpose of his own. I thought you might know what it was.'
'Why should I?' Cally found the last of the strawberries over-sweet, and pushed her plate away.
'Well, it's always been the place where the Tempests dump their unwanted women—once they've served their purpose.' Adele yawned. 'I'd say you'd make the ideal candidate, once you've produced the heir and Nick pensions you off.' Her eyes, bright with malice, met Cally's. 'That is what he's planning— isn't it?'
