you two looking so serious? Amelia, are you all right?’ Without giving her a chance to answer, Mara patted her husband’s arm affectionately and reached for Amelia’s hand. ‘Come with me.’
Mara led her down a passage, away from the guests, into what appeared to be the master bedroom. She closed the door behind her. Then she led Amelia into the en-suite bathroom.
‘Are you all right?’ she asked again. ‘You look a little flushed.’
Amelia looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was true: two bright spots had appeared on her cheeks. She opened a tap and held her hands under the cold water.
‘Just a little warm. I haven’t been around this many people in a while.’
‘Oh dear, it’s my fault. Have I pushed you too far? I’m sorry if I’ve caused you discomfort, Amelia.’ Mara was silent for a moment as she perched on the side of the bath. ‘I’m afraid I have a little confession to make.’
Amelia closed the tap and turned around. ‘I thought as much. It’s pretty clear that there was no need for you to make up numbers tonight.’
Mara sighed. ‘I hope you’re not going to be angry, but I’ve invited someone who might be able to help you make sense of this whole thing.’
Amelia started to protest, but Mara held out a hand to stop her. ‘I know you feel this is your issue, your problem to make sense of, but perhaps a little help will ease the way?’
Amelia didn’t reply. She was instantly angry at Mara’s interference. Of course Mara meant well, but she really didn’t like being sidelined like this. Emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
Mara stood up. ‘I know I’m asking a lot, but it worries me so much to see you back here in Moscow. Will you give me – and the person I’d like to introduce you to – a chance to help?’ For the first time since Amelia had known Mara, she looked uncomfortable.
Amelia started shaking her head. ‘Mara, I—’
‘Listen,’ Mara interrupted unceremoniously, ‘I know it’s difficult to be here among these people again, but please give this a chance. I’ll give you a few moments to cool off. Dinner will only be served in about ten to fifteen minutes, so take your time. No one will come in here.’
It was clear that Mara didn’t want to hear her objections. She started moving towards the door, but turned back. When she spoke again, her brisk tone was gone. ‘Forgive me if I’ve been a meddling old woman, but I really believe this man will be able to help you. I trust him implicitly.’
It took Amelia the entire fifteen minutes to calm her breathing and consider Mara’s actions. She didn’t want to compromise her own effectiveness, her desire to fly below the radar of whatever dark forces were at work because she was unable to deny a friend’s well-meant, but potentially distracting offer of help. Could she afford to let anyone else in on her pursuit of the truth? Or would it be short-sighted not to? She trusted Mara’s judgement, but she doubted her friend could truly understand the complexity of the situation. When she finally left the bedroom, she still hadn’t made up her mind.
The room was hot, but the din seemed to have diminished a little. Guests were starting to move into the dining room when she entered the main reception room. Immediately Mara appeared at her side again, this time, unsurprisingly, with the tall blonde man in tow.
‘Amelia, I’d like to introduce you to someone. This is Nick Sanford. Nick, Amelia Preston. Nick is a geologist, Amelia, and he knows the local mining industry very well. I’ve seated you next to one another. I think you’ll find much to talk about.’
Mara had the decency to blush as she introduced them. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, her eyes imploring Amelia to cooperate, and then she moved away, forced to focus her attention on other guests.
Amelia glanced up at the man who looked as discomfited as she felt.
She extended her hand. ‘Amelia Preston,’ she said,
Mara led her down a passage, away from the guests, into what appeared to be the master bedroom. She closed the door behind her. Then she led Amelia into the en-suite bathroom.
‘Are you all right?’ she asked again. ‘You look a little flushed.’
Amelia looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was true: two bright spots had appeared on her cheeks. She opened a tap and held her hands under the cold water.
‘Just a little warm. I haven’t been around this many people in a while.’
‘Oh dear, it’s my fault. Have I pushed you too far? I’m sorry if I’ve caused you discomfort, Amelia.’ Mara was silent for a moment as she perched on the side of the bath. ‘I’m afraid I have a little confession to make.’
Amelia closed the tap and turned around. ‘I thought as much. It’s pretty clear that there was no need for you to make up numbers tonight.’
Mara sighed. ‘I hope you’re not going to be angry, but I’ve invited someone who might be able to help you make sense of this whole thing.’
Amelia started to protest, but Mara held out a hand to stop her. ‘I know you feel this is your issue, your problem to make sense of, but perhaps a little help will ease the way?’
Amelia didn’t reply. She was instantly angry at Mara’s interference. Of course Mara meant well, but she really didn’t like being sidelined like this. Emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
Mara stood up. ‘I know I’m asking a lot, but it worries me so much to see you back here in Moscow. Will you give me – and the person I’d like to introduce you to – a chance to help?’ For the first time since Amelia had known Mara, she looked uncomfortable.
Amelia started shaking her head. ‘Mara, I—’
‘Listen,’ Mara interrupted unceremoniously, ‘I know it’s difficult to be here among these people again, but please give this a chance. I’ll give you a few moments to cool off. Dinner will only be served in about ten to fifteen minutes, so take your time. No one will come in here.’
It was clear that Mara didn’t want to hear her objections. She started moving towards the door, but turned back. When she spoke again, her brisk tone was gone. ‘Forgive me if I’ve been a meddling old woman, but I really believe this man will be able to help you. I trust him implicitly.’
It took Amelia the entire fifteen minutes to calm her breathing and consider Mara’s actions. She didn’t want to compromise her own effectiveness, her desire to fly below the radar of whatever dark forces were at work because she was unable to deny a friend’s well-meant, but potentially distracting offer of help. Could she afford to let anyone else in on her pursuit of the truth? Or would it be short-sighted not to? She trusted Mara’s judgement, but she doubted her friend could truly understand the complexity of the situation. When she finally left the bedroom, she still hadn’t made up her mind.
The room was hot, but the din seemed to have diminished a little. Guests were starting to move into the dining room when she entered the main reception room. Immediately Mara appeared at her side again, this time, unsurprisingly, with the tall blonde man in tow.
‘Amelia, I’d like to introduce you to someone. This is Nick Sanford. Nick, Amelia Preston. Nick is a geologist, Amelia, and he knows the local mining industry very well. I’ve seated you next to one another. I think you’ll find much to talk about.’
Mara had the decency to blush as she introduced them. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, her eyes imploring Amelia to cooperate, and then she moved away, forced to focus her attention on other guests.
Amelia glanced up at the man who looked as discomfited as she felt.
She extended her hand. ‘Amelia Preston,’ she said,
Similar Books
