East of the Sun by Janet Rogers Read Free Book Online Page B

they’d been dying to ask for a year. Those would undoubtedly also be the ones who would enthusiastically recount the details of their encounter with her to all and sundry the next day.
    Despite feeling obliged, she knew now she really shouldn’t have accepted Mara’s invitation. This wasn’t the small dinner party she’d anticipated. She had so hoped to be able to keep a low profile and focus on her quest for as long as she could, but after tonight even more people would know that she was back in Moscow and speculation about her return would inevitably surface in the expat community.
    ‘There you are!’ Before she could locate the owner of the voice, Amelia felt an arm around her shoulder and found herself pressed against Wilfred Tshabalala’s ample stomach. His face was shiny with pleasure as he stood back and looked at her.
    ‘It is very, very good to see you, Amelia.’
    She returned her host’s smile automatically. She’d almost forgotten how he rolled his staccato r’s. It never failed to make him sound jolly. She knew that his easy manner meant that people frequently underestimated his intelligence. She also knew that he deliberately chose to do nothing to rectify their misconceptions.
    ‘It’s good to see you too, Wilfred.’
    ‘I was very happy when Mara told me you’d be here tonight, that I would have a chance to see you and talk to you. I didn’t know until this evening that you were in Moscow.’
    Before Amelia could reply, a tall blonde man walked up to them and shook Wilfred’s hand.
    ‘It’s good to see you, Wilfred. And always such a pleasure to be invited here to sample Mara’s delicious food.’
    In answer, Wilfred patted his stomach with a grin. Amelia watched as the two men exchanged pleasantries and vaguely registered the realisation that, contrary to Mara’s claim, Wilfred had obviously not been the one who’d requested her presence here tonight if he’d only learnt of her return a few hours earlier.
    ‘I’m surprised to see you here,’ Wilfred said, beaming up at the man. ‘I thought you were out of town.’
    ‘It was a last minute invitation,’ the man answered. ‘Apparently Mara had some cancellations, but I think she’s up to something. She said she needed a favour – a big one!’
    ‘Oh, that certainly sounds like my wife,’ Wilfred chuckled, shaking his head, but before they could continue their conversation, someone pulled on the tall man’s arm and started speaking to him. He listened for a moment and then turned back to Wilfred.
    ‘I’ll talk to you again later?’ With a brief nod in Amelia’s direction, he moved away.
    She wondered who the tall man was. Apparently he was at the party courtesy of the same last-minute invitation that had been extended to her. What was Mara up to? She was about to ask Wilfred about him, but he spoke first, his face suddenly serious.
    ‘How have you been, my dear? We’ve been so concerned about you.’
    Amelia squeezed his arm, touched by his kindness. She’d often thought that if she could have ever had a second father, Wilfred would have been her choice. ‘I’m doing fine. Not always, but I’m getting there.’
    Wilfred nodded gravely. ‘Tell me to mind my own business if this is inappropriate in any way, but why have you come back? You know, this place,’ Wilfred tsked, shaking his head as he continued, ‘it’s not a good place for you to be.’
    ‘I know and I agree.’ She could see he was waiting for more. ‘It’s difficult to explain, Wilfred, and this is such a line from a bad soap opera, but I feel I have to be here right now. All these loose ends. It would be good to tie them up once and for all. Before they disappear completely.’
    Wilfred nodded, but looked unconvinced, his expression thoughtful.
    ‘I can assure you, though,’ Amelia added, ‘that I hope this will be the very last time I come here.’
    ‘I’ve tracked you down!’ Mara exclaimed as she appeared next to her husband. ‘Why are