thirty-eight
Effie hadn’t found a free moment to see Tristan that day.
Pepper had suffered from a minor stomachache after having gobbled down some grapes he’d found in the garden. Kettle had brought a dead rat into the kitchen, causing Mrs. Young to have a fit. And her neighbour’s dog had needed stitches for a minor cut.
She was about to finally leave her house when Jane walked into the entry hall, carrying Turi in her arms.
“Good afternoon.” Jane’s tone was cold. “I wouldn’t have disturbed you if Turi weren’t sick. Do you have a moment to examine him?”
“Of course.” She removed her coat and resigned to see Tristan later. “What’s the problem?”
“There’s something in his mouth, again, and I can’t remove it.”
Effie put Turi on the table in the drawing room and opened his small mouth gently. A piece of red rubber was stuck between his molars. “Did he chew his rubber toy?”
“He did.” Jane remained clipped.
“There’s no need to be so cold.” She selected a pair of small tweezers from her bag.
Jane squared her shoulders. “My best friend accused me of spreading lies.”
“I only meant to say you shouldn’t waste your life worrying about rumours since they usually turn out to be untrue or at the very least inaccurate.”
Turi didn’t like the intrusion of the cold piece of metal and started to move his head right and left. She had to hold his jaw while working with the tweezers.
Jane slouched. “I heard rumours about me after my visit to Montcrest.”
“Really?” She grabbed the piece of rubber with the tweezers and snatched it off.
Turi worked his jaw as if he were chewing something, his upper lip curling.
“I would be happy if you were less worried about what everyone thinks. That’s all.” She petted Turi who was licking his lips and teeth. “Turi is fine.”
“At least one of us is.”
“What did they say about you?” She cleaned the tweezers.
“That I might have an affair with him.” Jane’s voice quivered. “I’m risking my reputation for no reason.”
“Exactly my point.” She snapped her medical bag closed. “Rumours can destroy people’s lives.”
“I think I understand now.” Jane gathered her dog and headed for the door.
“Jane, don’t leave like that.”
“I need a moment alone but thank you. I mean it.”
Effie rubbed her forehead. Perhaps she’d been bitter with her friend, but between her uncomfortable night and Tristan, her patience was spread thin. And it was only a matter of time before Jane got caught in a web of gossip, too.
By the time she entered Tristan’s house, dusk crept over the streets still wet from the day’s downpour. The rain had come andgone through the afternoon, and a red sunset bled into the sky scarred by dark clouds.
Tristan welcomed her in his study, pale and tense as if he’d just recovered from a serious illness.
“I came as soon as I could,” she said, running to hug him.
“Thank you for coming.” He held her close, his breath caressing her skin.
She released him to see his face. “Your visit took me by surprise.”
