Sally thought about that and then she said, ‘Will you come with us?’

Ed frowned. ‘Will I come with you where?’

‘To Los Angeles. To visit Auntie Vee.’

‘I didn’t know you were going to Los Angeles to visit Auntie Vee.’

‘Well, Mommy said so on the telephone. She said we’d try to get away some time this week.’

Ed sat up straight. ‘Did she? Well… I guess if she said so, then you must be. I don’t know if I’ll be able to come with you, though. August is a pretty busy time on the farm.’

‘Try to come, won’t you? I want you to come.’

Ed kissed her again and then stood up. ‘Sure, I’ll try to come. Now why don’t you get yourself some sleep?’

He tucked her in tight, and then closed her door and crossed the landing to the master bedroom. Once more, Season’s taste and stylishness was all around. The rugs were rich pink and there was white-and-gold rococo furniture everywhere, chairs and commodes and side-tables all genuine eighteenth-century French. The bed was a half-tester, draped with pink velour and covered with a gold-embroidered bedspread. Ed watched himself thoughtfully in the gilt cheval mirror as he stripped off his plaid riding-shirt, his faded blue jeans, and his undershorts. Naked, he was lean and muscular, with a crucifix of black hair across his chest. Since he’d taken over South Burlington, he’d lost twenty pounds.

He was tying up his bathrobe when Season walked in. ‘Dilys is just beating your eggs now,’ she said.

He turned around. ‘That’s good. Sally’s teacher thinks I’m going to suffer from indigestion if I don’t eat regular.’

‘Is Sally still awake?’

‘Only just.’

Season went to her dressing-table and began to take off her diamond earrings. ‘You haven’t asked me how my day went yet,’ she said.

He stood behind her, so that she could see his face in the mirror. ‘I don’t have to ask. I know you were bored stiff.’

She put her earrings away, and then she started unbuttoning her silk suit. Underneath it, she was nude, except for a small pair of white backless panties. She had a skinny, fashion-model’s figure, with small wide-nippled breasts and long, lean thighs. She took the comb out of her hair and began to brush it. She left her pants suit on the floor for Dilys to pick up later.

‘Actually,’ she said, ‘I wasn’t totally bored. The day did have its moments.’

‘Like when?’

‘A man came to steam-clean the rug in the hall. He was quite good-looking in an artisan kind of way. He told me he had eight children.’

‘Anything else?’ he asked her. His face was expressionless.