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ong before it made a mark like that on me. If someone is lying, isn’t it more likely that it’s Sidney? He has everything to lie for.”
“Except it doesn’t make sense. Just think for a moment. If it isn’t the truth,” he argued, “then what is?”
“Then Rebecca and her father are lying.”
“Didn’t she say she didn’t know who it was in the bedroom?”
“Yes.” Jemima thought for a moment. “But if it wasn’t Sidney, then who was it? And why did Tobias say it was Sidney?”
“And also, how did he get in, whoever it was? Did she leave a key somewhere? Or even let him in herself? Scullery door, or garden door, if they have one?”
“And lie to get Sidney into trouble? Or to keep somebody else out of trouble?” She thought of that with distaste. But she had never been attacked. How much did it change everything inside you? Would she want it to be Sidney rather than some ruffian she did not know? Perhaps in some twisted way, she wanted it to be someone she could blame and keep locked up. Then she would feel safe. He could not ever do it again. But that made no sense, for if it were not Sidney, then whoever it was, he was still free. He could come back again! She would wake in the night at any noise, afraid, see shadows move and be terrified! Feel the hand on her throat, and her heart stop…“I don’t know,” she said. “I can understand. If someone hurt Cassie or Sophie, I would want to think that we had him! But then if it were someone else’s child hurt, and they said Patrick or you had done it, I’d fight them to the death to prove you hadn’t.”
Daniel sat perfectly still for a moment, his face full of conflicting emotions.
“And Thorwood?” he asked. “Why would he lie?”
“What do you want to know about him, apart from whether he really saw Sidney in the house? Or thinks he did? Does Miriam have anything concrete to suggest?”
“Yes.” He was looking at her very directly. “Miriam said one thing for which I have no answer, and I think it could be at the core of it…”
“Not Patrick!” Her voice choked. It was the thought at the back of her mind. She knew how angry he had been. Was it over something about Rebecca that he knew would hurt Jemima?
“No!” he said quickly. “Come on, Jem! I wouldn’t go sideways at it like that! It’s Thorwood again. Once he got Sidney out of America and out of the embassy in disgrace, why didn’t he let it be?”
“He wants…” She stopped, uncertain.
“Yes? What does he want? In hot blood, he wanted revenge for the assault. But in cooler blood, he wants the whole world to believe that Rebecca was actually attacked. This is a lot of revenge for the theft of a glass pendant. Is she persuading him to do it?”
“No. I think she would rather he didn’t.” Her mind went back to a conversation with Rebecca. “He is saying she will feel better if she gets him locked up, where he can’t hurt another young woman. She’ll be to blame if anyone else is hurt.”
“He must be very sure it was Sidney in the corridor,” Daniel said quietly, very seriously. “Miriam told me that the first time people come to swear to something, they are remembering what happened. The second time, they are remembering what they said the first time. And each time after that becomes more what they said than what they can actually relive in memory. In time, they come to use exactly the same words.”
She started to argue, then thought back a moment and realized how that might be true. She was sure of what she had said, but after a little while the actual memory was constructed by the words, not by the vision or the hearing of what had happened. “I’ll see what I can get,” she promised. “You can go back and tell Miriam I shall do my best.”
“It’s not for Miriam! It’s for…” He saw in her face that she was teasing him, and he blushed.
* * *
—
LATER IN THE evening, however, other things drove Daniel and Miriam out of Jemima’s mind. She had had no opportunity to speak alone with Patrick before they had to dress for dinner with the Thorwoods. She had not time to consider it before, but watching Patrick straightening his tie for the fifth time before the looking glass, she remembered how highly he regarded the Thorwoods. She admired his gratitude; a sense of appreciation was a generous thing. But a sense of debt for a gift fairly given, or as in his case, for a chance to be of service to someone else, did not warrant permanent obligation—unless there was more to it than she knew?
He caught her eye in the looking glass. Suddenly all pretense fell away and he turned and spoke. “You’re going to ask what part I played in certain events in Washington, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Is it to do with Tobias?” When he did not respond, she insisted. “Tell me!” she said simply. “Stop…”
“Morley Cross, who worked with Sidney at the embassy, you remember I told you they found his body in the river about the time Sidney left Washington? I’m waiting to hear whether it was before or after Sidney left. I’m not sure I believe Sidney really did that.”
“Why would he?”
“I don’t know, but I’m doing everything I can to find out. Come on, or we’ll be late…and you hate being late.”
This was not the time to discharge old obligations. She needed to understand Thorwood better. What Miriam had apparently said made sense. Jemima watched Patrick now, but the moment he turned to face her, she looked away. He would see in her face that she was anxious. She pretended to be concerned with her appearance. The gown was new, a gift from her mother. Jemima had no idea what it had cost, and she did not ask. It was a gorgeous, rich dark blue, falling to just above the ankle, the most fashionable length. It was made of silk and cut as low at the neck as she dared wear. Patrick’s eyes had widened when he saw it, but he had said nothing. Perhaps fashions in London were a little more avant-garde than those in Washington. Certainly, London was closer to Paris!
It was a short journey from Keppel Street to the hotel where the Thorwoods were staying. No time for serious conversation, which was a relief. Jemima occupied the time relating memories of visiting them in their home in Washington, and saying how much they must miss it.
They arrived about five minutes late. As far as she was concerned, it was perfect timing. For the hosts to wait a short while for people was fine; to be caught not quite ready was not.
