splendid. Caterina, watching her fig ure, always kept to the light Continental breakfast, just rolls and butter and fruit conserve, and there was a delicious aroma of freshly made coffee. She greeted me with a warm smile.
“Gail, my dear! Will you join me? Ralph won’t be down for at least another half hour.”
She spoke artlessly, too kind to be making a deliber ate point. But it was just further confirmation that Sir Ralph’s feelings about Alexis were reflected in his attitude to me. Caterina knew he wouldn’t welcome my company at the moment.
“Thank you,” I said, “but I’ve just had my breakfast. In any case I mustn’t stop. I’ll have to be off soon to catch the plane.”
She stopped pouring coffee to glance at me, puzzled. “The plane?”
“Yes—to Palma.”
“But, Gail, we understood from Brett that you had given up the idea of going. Rudi told him. Ralph and I were so relieved.”
“Yes, well ...” I said uneasily. “I’ve decided I will go after all. That’s why I’ve come to see you, actually. Caterina, I hate having to impose on you when you’ve been so wonderfully good already. I know how this whole business has upset you and Sir Ralph. But, you see, I shall worry dreadfully about Madeleine while I’m away.”
Putting down her coffee cup, Caterina stood up and took my two hands in hers.
“My dear— of course! We cannot allow poor Made leine to suffer any more than she must. I shall watch over her with the greatest care, Gail. You need have no fear of that.”
“Oh thank you, Caterina. That makes me a lot hap pier in my mind. You don’t know what a consolation it is to me, to feel that you are right next door. I am not much impressed by that new nurse.”
“How are you getting to London Airport?” she asked.
“By train. I’m going back now to ring for a taxi to take me to the station.”
“No, no, no.” She shook her head emphatically. “I’ll drive you.”
“But I can’t allow you to do that.”
She looked at me reproachfully. “We are friends, Gail, you and I, are we not? Please don’t let this terrible trouble change our relationship. It’s true that I think you are unwise to go chasing after your uncle, but if you have made up your mind, then please let me do you this small service.”
I capitulated in the face of her gentle persuasion. “Thank you again. It would be a help not having to bother with trains and worrying about connections.”
Last night I had not unpacked properly but merely transferred a few things I thought I might need into an overnight case. I collected this from my bedroom and went along to say goodbye to Madeleine. She was still in bed. Freda Aiken had brought a tray of tea and toast, and was busy plumping up Madeleine’s pillows. She was brisk, efficient and strong. No doubt an excel lent nurse but without the saving grace of human warmth.
“That will do, that will do,” Madeleine told her petu lantly. “Leave us now, please. I wish to talk to my niece alone.”
Freda Aiken withdrew, looking decidedly indignant, and Madeleine said grudgingly, “She tries, I suppose, but she is not like Belle.” She sighed, and I thought I saw tears glint in her pale golden eyes. “And now you are off, Gail.”
“In a few minutes. I just looked in to say goodbye. Caterina is driving me to ... to London.”
“Is she? How nice for you both.”
Madeleine was in one of her difficult moods this morning, and it made me feel doubly guilty about leaving her. But I knew I was doing the right thing. I need only be gone for a couple of days, and with any luck Alexis would come back with me. With any luck Madeleine need never discover what had hap pened. Surely if Alexis and I could talk for a few minutes, I could make him understand the full impli cations of what he was doing. Make him realize the harm not only to Madeleine but to everything he had believed in and worked for all these years. I must be able to make him see.
I bent and kissed my