She paused at the door. “Ben, Charlotte … I have not forgotten what I told you when you first came, that your search was impossible. It appears I was wrong. Well done.”

With another smile, the Reverend Mother left. Sam slung his arm round Ben’s shoulders.

“Come on then, little brother, let’s go and look at these dogs. And the Sparrowhawk! Tell me, is the kingfisher still there above my berth? That I do remember!”

The brothers followed the Reverend Mother out of the room. Lotti let out a deep breath.

My berth, Sam had said. Well, of course it was. His berth. Not hers.

“Let’s go and help Sister Monique with lunch,” said Clara. “Give Ben and Sam some space.”

“Not right now,” said Lotti. “There’s something I have to do.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Lotti followed Ben and Sam down toward the river. The brothers were deep in conversation. From Ben’s hand gestures, Lotti knew that he was talking about the Channel crossing.

He didn’t look back to see if Lotti was following. She was hurt, but a part of her was glad.

It made her decision easier.

At the Sparrowhawk, she sat quietly on the foredeck with Federico while inside Sam and Ben fussed over the puppies. She listened as Sam walked about the cabins, his conversation peppered with “I’d forgotten” and “I remember.”

Ben laughed a lot, and Lotti was glad of that too.

After about fifteen minutes, Ben came out to find her.

“We’re going up for lunch, are you coming?”

“In a minute. I’d just like to sit here for a while.”

He looked at her and frowned. “Are you all right?”

“I am completely and absolutely fine!” Lotti said. “I’m just being quiet for a bit because it’s been such an exciting day. Go! I’ll join you in a minute.”

She watched him walk away through Nathan’s workshop with quick, elastic steps she had never seen before.

“Ben!” she called, just before he reached the door into the cabin.

He stopped and turned. “What is it?”

“I’m glad we were friends.”

Ben laughed, then left.

The strangeness of Lotti’s parting remark didn’t strike Ben until he stood before the convent’s refectory table, listening to the Reverend Mother say grace.

I’m glad we were friends, Lotti had said.

Not are friends.

Were.

What was that supposed to mean? And why wasn’t she here?

They sat down to eat, and Lotti didn’t come.

“Where is she?” asked Clara.

“She said she wanted to be quiet for a bit.”

Clara looked worried. “That’s unlike Lotti.”

Yes, thought Ben. It is.

Suddenly, he had a very bad feeling. He pushed back his plate.

“I’ll just go and make sure she’s all right.”