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The Thorwoods were all waiting in the sitting room of their suite when Patrick and Jemima arrived. The usual greetings were made, as if the threat of unpleasantness did not exist. Tobias was in a dark suit, very formal without quite being evening dress. Bernadette was extremely elegant in soft, plum-toned pinks. With the delicate way the fabric moved with her when she walked, it could only have been silk. She came forward as they entered and greeted Jemima warmly, although it was Patrick whose eyes she met first, before glancing at Jemima’s gown, drawing in breath, and deciding that whatever comment she was going to make was inadequate.
“What a charming color,” was all she said. “It is most flattering.”
“Thank you,” Jemima replied, as if it had been an unqualified compliment. “It is one of my favorites.” She hid the smile that came to her lips and turned to Rebecca, who was dressed in green. It was too dark for her and made her look cold. She was a little thin, and at the moment too pale to carry so heavy a shade. “I’m so happy to see you,” Jemima said warmly. “Every time I think of Washington, I remember how kind you were in showing your favorite places to me. I would never have seen the dogwood in bloom had it not been for you. Everyone speaks of the azaleas, and they were gorgeous, but the dogwoods are magical.”
Rebecca’s face lit at the memory. “Oh, yes! I’ve always thought so.”
“We must go out again,” Jemima said.
Tobias drew breath as if to say something, then changed his mind. He glanced at Bernadette, who shook her head minutely and said to Jemima, “Shall we go in to dinner?” It was a directive, not really a question.
Jemima noticed as they went into the dining room that Tobias offered his arm to Rebecca, rather than to his wife. Otherwise, Rebecca, as the unescorted one, would have gone in alone. Patrick had remained close to Jemima, perhaps thinking of her as the odd one, the only one not American, not in on some of the references in conversation. She did feel it at times: the sense of being a stranger, not sharing the idealism of a relatively new nation burning with pride for its uniquely noble beginnings. There had been one or two conversations in the past on the superiority of being a republic. Jemima felt far too vulnerable to argue. Anyway, it was ill-mannered and pointless.
The issue of loneliness in such company was sometimes very deep. She must make sure Patrick did not feel that in the Pitt family. Did they do that sometimes without thinking? Perhaps everybody felt separate in some way or other, at times?
Her father came sharply to mind. Knighted by the Queen. One of the last things she had done at the end of a reign that had lasted most of the century! And now he was confidant of the King, for some service he would never speak of; head of Special Branch, and keeping the secrets of any number of people, the great and the small, public and private. And yet, with his humble background he was never one of the Establishment by right.
Jemima thought about how alone we all are, behind the smooth manners or the awkwardness.
She was suddenly aware of the Thorwoods. They were talking to her but she had not been aware of it until Patrick touched her arm and repeated the question Tobias had asked.
“Oh, yes, thank you,” she answered a little awkwardly. She took the seat he was indicating for her. Everyone else also took their places as Tobias directed.
Dinner was ordered. Patrick ordered for her, and she did not mind in the least. He knew exactly what she liked.
Conversation was casual, not exactly awkward, but not flowi
ng. It was as if each person was intending to say something else, but wound up evading it. It was Bernadette who finally leaned forward, and the stillness in her, the tight muscles of her neck, conveyed such tension that everyone else stopped speaking. She seemed to be talking mainly to Patrick, but every so often she included Jemima. “I’m going to speak during our dessert, but this cannot be avoided all evening. It hangs over everything, and we are so busy avoiding it, it has finally become central. Tobias will be called to testify at Philip Sidney’s trial. If not tomorrow, then very soon. Perhaps the next day.”
“They seem to want me for tomorrow,” Tobias cut in. “For several days now, it has been almost meaningless…”
“Why?” Rebecca interrupted. “You aren’t for the prosecution! You know nothing about the embezzlement, do you?” She looked completely puzzled.
“No, I don’t.” Tobias looked miserable, as if he had been cornered and faced enemies in every direction. “I’m…sorry…” It was unclear whom he was addressing: Jemima, Rebecca, or even Patrick.
“Has the prosecution called you, sir?” Patrick asked. Under the table, he reached for Jemima’s hand.
“Yes,” Tobias said quietly.
Jemima looked at Bernadette. She was smiling, very slightly.
“Papa?” Rebecca began. “You said—”
Her mother silenced her with a glance. It was of such finality, it would have silenced Jemima. “I have no choice,” Tobias said quietly. “Something has happened that has taken from me the option of remaining silent.” He stopped for a moment.
Jemima looked at Patrick, but his eyes were concentrated on Tobias. Jemima was sure he did not know what Tobias was going to say.
Tobias looked at Rebecca. “I’m sorry, my dear, but your godmother’s pendant has turned up.”
“How can you know?” Rebecca demanded.
“The police in Washington found it, and sent a wire to the embassy here. I was notified this afternoon.”
“Where did they find it?” Rebecca asked.
“In a pawnshop. The owner was an honest man, and he reported it.”
“But it’s weeks later now,” Patrick pointed out. “His honesty works rather slowly.”
