The rain, the restless sea.

The rain had ended, and only Anna had come to dinner.

This seemed if anything as purposeful as the gathering of the clan on the previous night.

She was meant to confide in Anna.

‘I was thinking,’ said Rachaela, ‘I may need to get away to London for a while, after all.’

‘How should that be?’ Anna did not look astonished or even feral. She was bland.

‘Some money matters I should have sorted out.’

‘Surely, a letter would do.’

‘No mail comes to the house.’

‘The van brings it. Cheta—’

‘I really think I’ll need to attend to it personally.’

‘Well, if you must.’

No refusal then. And nothing to assist.

Rachaela looked into the fire. She saw no pictures there, not even of Sylvian’s funeral pyre.

‘As you know,’ Rachaela said, ‘I’ve slept with him.’

‘Oh, my dear,’ said Anna. Obviously there had been a breach of etiquette.

‘It was what you all wanted and anticipated. I thought you’d like to be certain.’ Anna did not say anything. ‘I’ve seen nothing of him, since then.’ Rachaela had not meant to say this.

‘Adamus is very secretive,’ said Anna. ‘You must allow him time.’

‘I was the innocent, not he. What does he need time for? He’s had thirty years.’

‘He doesn’t communicate easily,’ said Anna, indulgently. ‘I myself haven’t seen him, except briefly, for a great while. You must be patient.’

‘So you said before. Why must I be patient?’

‘What else can you do?’ said Anna simply.

‘Yes, I see. Plainly nothing. How long do you think he’ll hide from me? Two months, three?’

‘I don’t know, Rachaela.’

‘Or perhaps this is now a permanent state. Maybe I should get Michael or Cheta to take me into the tower with them when they deliver meals.’

‘That would never do. You can’t force yourself upon him.’

‘He forced himself on me. You all forced him on me.’

‘No, Rachaela. There was some measure of acceptance on your part.’

‘This is a game,’ said Rachaela, ‘as I suspected.’

‘Not at all. More... more a dance, Rachaela. A changing of partners through time.’

‘Left alone on the dance floor,’ said Rachaela, ‘and the band’s gone home. When the last little star has left the sky,’ she added, quoting with banality, ‘and not still together.’

‘He is as he is.’

‘I see that. Where am I?’

‘You are quite secure, Rachaela. You have all of us.’

Rachaela quailed. ‘But you’re all mad.’

Anna smiled her smile. ‘What can I say to that.’

Rachaela saw a picture in the fire. It was Camillo riding on the back of the great black cat.

‘Well, I’ll go to London.’

Anna said, ‘Wait a while.’

‘For what?’

‘Perhaps something will happen.’

‘But it has. I told you.’

She thought, Has anything happened? Another dream.

She thought: London, have I the strength to try again?