I hauled up the weight and pulled back to the boathouse, made the boat fast, walked through the town, and up the rope walk to the cliffs.
I think I covered the four miles to home in forty minutes.
Rachel was in the library waiting for me.
Dinner had been put back because I had not come.
She came towards me, anxious.
“At last you have returned,” she said.
“I have been very worried.
Where were you, then?”
“Out rowing, in the harbor,” I answered her.
“Fine weather for excursions.
Far better on the water than inside the Rose and Crown.”
The startled shock that came into her eyes was all I needed for the final proof.
“All right, I know your secret,” I continued.
“Don’t think up any lies.”
Seecombe came in to ask if he should serve dinner.
“Do so, at once,” I said, “I shall not change.”
I stared at her, saying no more, and we went in to dinner.
Seecombe was all concern, sensing something wrong.
He hovered at my elbow like a doctor, tempting me to taste the dishes that he proffered.
“You have overtaxed your strength, sir,” he said, “this will not do at all.
We shall have you ill again.”
He looked at Rachel for confirmation, and for backing.
She said nothing.
As soon as dinner was over, which each of us had barely tasted, Rachel rose to her feet and went straight upstairs.
I followed her.
When she came to the door of the boudoir she would have closed it against me, but I was too quick for her and stood inside the room, with my back against it.
The look of apprehension came to her eyes again.
She went away from me, and stood by the mantelpiece.
“How long has Rainaldi been staying at the Rose and Crown?” I said.
“That is my business,” she replied.
“Mine also.
Answer me,” I said.
I think she saw there was no hope to keep me quiet, or fob me off with fables.
“Very well then, for the past two weeks,” she answered.
“Why is he here?” I said.
“Because I asked him.
Because he is my friend.
Because I needed his advice, and, knowing your dislike, could not ask him to this house.”
“Why should you need his advice?”
“That, again, is my business.
Not yours.
Stop behaving like a child, Philip, and have some understanding.”
I was glad to see her so distressed.
It showed she was at fault.
“You ask me to have understanding,” I said.
“Do you expect me to understand deceit?
You have been lying every day to me for the past two weeks, and cannot deny it.”
“If I have deceived you, it was not willingly,” she said.
“I did it for your sake only.
You hate Rainaldi.