“Stay calm. Here’s what’s going to happen. Have her get dressed and fix her face. Johnny and I will take her back to Clayton. Your story is you’ve been here, getting the place ready for the next renter and doing work for me.”

“Got it.”

“You haven’t seen Astrid because she’s been with me and Johnny, sightseeing. Sit tight for an hour after we leave with her. Or better, run around and get sweaty. Rub some dust and dirt on your clothes and hands, make it look like you’ve been working all day. Come home without a clue. Understand?”

“Understood.”

The door opened behind him and Astrid emerged, miraculously transformed into a respectable lady. Dressed, combed, shod. Cool and calm as if stepping out of a shop instead of a bedroom.

“You heard all that?” Major said.

“I’ve been with you all day on the boat and I haven’t seen him.”

“Good girl.”

She touched his arm. “Thank you.”

“What are uncles for? Now give each other a kiss and let’s start the subterfuge.”

Kennet and Astrid kissed quickly. “Wait outside a minute?” he whispered in her hair. And when she was gone, he faced Major and looked him in the eye.

“Thank you.”

Major snorted and shrugged a shoulder. “Thank your brother. He thinks fast. Had a plan in hand before the train even pulled out.”

“He learned quick thinking from you. But really, I meant thank you for not embarrassing her.”

Now Major looked directly at him. “Who am I to embarrass someone for loving who they love?”

Kennet nodded. “I’m grateful.”

Major patted Kennet’s jaw. “See you at home. Remember: sweat and dirt and you haven’t seen her all day.” He headed for the door in his lurching stride, then turned back. “Not to embarrass you, but you’re a smart egg. You’ll destroy all the incriminating evidence? Flush the rubbers. Check under the bed for the wrappers. Throw them away at home, not here.”

“Right,” Kennet said, and when the door closed, he squeezed his eyes tight. He opened them slowly, blinking through bursts of yellow and orange. Back in the bedroom, he stripped the sheets and rolled them into a bundle to take home and launder. He crouched down and collected the torn wrappers from the floor, checking under the bed for any incriminating scraps of evidence.

He wasn’t such a smart egg the last time they made love. He fell asleep afterward, still tight inside Astrid’s body. But sleep made him go loose and slack and when he awoke and rolled away, he left the rubber behind. Astrid pushed away his panicked, fumbling fingers and quickly got it out herself and flushed it. Calm and unfazed, she told him to find some vinegar in the cottage’s pantry, which he did. She shooed him out of the bathroom, told him not to worry and get back in bed.