Part 26 (1/2)
It was already half past seven.
Alethea swallowed her tea and raced through a shower; she was going
with Sarre to the clinic and she mustn't keep him waiting.
She put on the cotton jersey outfit, a modic.u.m of make-up, brushed her hair free of tangles and hurried downstairs.
In the hall she paused.
There were a number of doors, one or two of them were slightly open; she knew the sitting room and the drawing room and the study, the others were unknown quant.i.ties.
She was about to try the first one when Sarre's voice reached her.
”In here, Alethea-right-hand middle door.
' It was a small room with no window, getting its light from the
drawing room beyond the open double doors.
Sarre got up as she went in and pulled out a chair as he wished her a cheerful good morning.
She sat down at the small oval table and he asked: ”Tea or coffee?
There's coffee here, but I have it on the best authority-Al--that Mrs
McCrea is poised over a teapot with the kettle in case you would prefer tea.
' She laughed.
”T had a super cup of tea just now.
I'd like coffee, please.
' She was taking the first sip when Al sidled through the door.
His ”Morning, miss,” was chirpy, but then she supposed he always was.
”A nice rasher and an egg or two?
' he suggested, 'or there's a bit of 'am.
' Her eyes swept the table.
There was marmalade and toast and orange juice--she was expected to have the bacon and eggs.
She told him one egg and two rashers and he slipped out of the room.
Only when they heard the faint creak of the baize service door did Sarre remark: ”We've gone all British, as you see, only the warm
weather saves us from plates of porridge.
Did you sleep?
' ”Like a log.
When do you want to go to the clinic?
' He glanced at his watch.
”In about half an hour.
Does that suit you?
' ”Of course.
Don't the children come to breakfast?
' He shook his head.
”Nanny says they don't eat properly unless she's there to see that they
do.
' He glanced at her.
”Perhaps that's something you'll be able to alter later on.