Amy went to the tray and began to pour tea into cups. The practical one, Rutledge realized. Or—less involved? She carried one to Walter without a word, and then gave one to Jenny. Peter refused his, but Edwin accepted one as well, as if needing to keep his hands busy.

Matron came in, saying, “I’m so sorry to interrupt your celebration, but I’m afraid we must borrow Mr. Teller for a bit.”

He followed her, almost as if he was glad of escape. Jenny started after him, then stopped at a glance from Matron.

Edwin said, when he’d gone, “I’m sorry. It’s been a very difficult time for us. For Walter as well. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

Smoothing what oil she could over troubled waters, Amy said, “Jenny, you must be so happy. He looks well, doesn’t he? A little tired, perhaps.”

“I want to leave here as soon as the doctors will let him go,” she answered. “I want to go home, and I want to have Harry back again.”

“You ought to stay with us for a few days,” Amy suggested, but Jenny shook her head.

“I’m sick of London.”

Edwin moved to stand beside Rutledge. “Has he told you why he left? Or where he was?” he asked quietly.

“I’m not sure how much I believe,” Rutledge answered. “But at a guess, I’d say he never left London.”

“London?” Edwin stared at him. “Well. That most certainly is good news.” He hesitated. “There are no charges, I hope, growing out of this. The inquiry, the search?”

“None.” Bowles would never agree to any, Rutledge knew.

But before Rutledge left the clinic, he had a last word with Walter Teller. The doctors had pronounced him in good health and told him that he was free to return to Essex. What they really believed they kept to themselves.

Rutledge said, “This will not happen again. Is that understood?”

Walter’s head reared back, as if about to challenge Rutledge. And then he said, “It wasn’t deliberate. I didn’t ask the police to search for me.”

“What did you think would happen, when the clinic discovered you were missing? To protect themselves, the first order of business was to summon the police.”

“Yes, I suppose I should have expected that. But why the Yard?”

“You’re an important man, Mr. Teller. We were concerned.”

Teller had the grace to look ashamed of himself. “Yes, all right. It won’t happen again. For that matter, I can’t think of any reason why it should.”

Rutledge said as he walked to the door, “There’s something else. You’ve put your wife through a very difficult time. The least you can do for her sake is change your mind now about your son’s schooling.”

Teller said, “It was my father’s wish—”