“I’m on a sort of rotation,” she said, “something like your judges used to be.”

“You ride a mule from village to village?”

“I drive a mini from hospital to hospital,” Rose replied. “Next week I start at St. George’s for two weeks.”

“Oh, yes, at Hyde Park Corner.”

“That’s the one,” Rose said. “You know your London, Viv.”

“As long as I have an A to Z Guide in my handbag,” Viv replied.

“Did you have a good ride this morning?” Stone asked.

“Oh, yes,” Rose said.

“I could hardly keep up with her,” Dino added.

“I’m a farmer’s daughter,” Rose said. “There were always horses.”

“Where was the family farm?”

“In Rutland, in the north of England. It’s the country’s smallest county.”

“It sounds lovely,” Viv said. “Does your family still live there?”

“Yes.”

—

After lunch and some wine, everybody adjourned for a nap.

—

Viv, after Dino was asleep, called her London office at Strategic Services, spoke to her assistant and made a request, then she went back to the bed.

“What were you doing?” Dino asked.

“Oh, go back to sleep,” she said.

“I was thinking, maybe a matinee?”

“Dino, do you know how long it’s been since we had a matinee?”

“Well, we don’t often have an afternoon in bed, do we?”

Viv rolled over and explored his crotch. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

—

Stone and Rose had finished their matinee and were getting drowsy.

“Stone,” Rose said, “do you think Viv likes me?”

“Sure she does,” Stone said. “Believe me, you’d know it if she didn’t.”

14

Stone woke later than usual and felt groggy. There was an empty brandy snifter on the bedside table, and he vaguely recalled Rose pouring them both one at bedtime. He got up, pulled on a robe, and made his way unsteadily to the bathroom, used the toilet, and splashed some cold water on his face, then returned to the bedroom. He had expected Rose to be asleep; there was an envelope on Rose’s side of the bed, but no Rose. There was an empty snifter on her side, too.

He sat down on the bed, opened the envelope, and found a letter, handwritten on Windward Hall stationery.

My dear Stone,

Forgive me for sneaking out early this morning, but I had an e-mail, requiring me to be at St. George’s in London today, so I called an Uber to get to the station.

I had a wonderful time at Windward and enjoyed meeting Viv and Dino. I’ll give you a call later in the week.

Love,

Rose

There was a sharp rap on his door. “Stone?” Sounded like Viv.

“Come in,” he called.

Viv came in, dressed for the day. “You’re usually an early riser, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it’s nearly ten o’clock. Are you all right?”