“Might I have a quick word with you,Susan?”
“Ofcourse.”
Clarissa jerked her head. “Outside, if youplease.”
Susan joined Clarissa in the hallway but kept the door open a crack so she could keep an eye onElizabeth.
Clarissa told Susan about her visit with John, and his news aboutSimon.
Simon? She’d not thought much about him lately, but when she heard the news she felt a shiver run throughher.
“Oh…”
“Are you going to be all right?” Clarissa asked putting her hand on Susan’sshoulder.
Susan nodded. “I thinkso.”
“I know he was your fiancé, but that was years ago. But it’s possible to still havefeelings.”
Susan thought about that. “Aside from Simon’s health, I guess my greatest concern right now is for John. I know he was troubled that he’d not been in touch with Simon. He expressed to me that he wanted to find him, but he never seemed to have the opportunity to pursue hisquest.”
Susan peeked in through the crack in the door to check onElizabeth.
“I don’t mean to take you from Elizabeth, but I just wanted to let youknow.”
“Thank you,” Susan said, patting Clarissa’sarm.
“I’ll leave you, then, if you’re allright.”
“Iam.”
Susan went back into the room and sat at the table where the two of them worked together. Elizabeth came over and studiedSusan.
“Are you all right?” Elizabeth asked. “You lookfunny.”
Susan realized she was lost in her ownthoughts.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve just had a little bit of unsettling news, isall.”
Elizabeth leaned in and hugged Susan. “I’ll make it allbetter.”
“Thank you, my dear, you alwaysdo.”
* * *
Johnand the messenger reached London in good time. It was early evening and already starting to get dark. And after the messenger took him to Brook’s Way he went directly to Number Six. He knocked but there was no answer. He tried the door and it opened. He went inside and looked around the small house. The house was dark with no lights, and it was not easy to find his way through thehouse.
The house was small, cramped and dingy. The furnishings were sparse and what there was looked worn. It was obviously a furnished rented house, which had seen bettertimes.
There was no lit fire in the sitting room so he headed toward the kitchen and called out. “Simon. Simon, are youhere?”
There was no response. He looked into the kitchen and it was dark and cold. He saw a stairway to the second floor and went up. He traversed the hall and called again. “Simon?” There was no answer but he saw light coming from underneath a door and he went over to it and openedit.
It was a bedroom, with a low burning fire, and a bed with an oil lamp on the table beside it. He walked over to the bed, his eyes adjusting to thedarkness.
“Simon?
He saw his brother lying in the bed, not moving. Was he dead? John leaned down and touched Simon’s shoulder. He moved and his eyes flickeredopen.
