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Chapters (47)
  1. Cover
  2. PROLOGUE
  3. PROLOGUE
  4. PART I
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Chapter Eight
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. PART II
  16. Chapter Eleven
  17. Chapter Twelve
  18. Chapter Thirteen
  19. Chapter Fourteen
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-One
  27. PART III
  28. Chapter Twenty-Two
  29. Chapter Twenty-Three
  30. Chapter Twenty-Four
  31. Chapter Twenty-Five
  32. Chapter Twenty-Six
  33. PART IV
  34. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  35. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  36. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  37. Chapter Thirty
  38. Chapter Thirty-One
  39. Chapter Thirty-Two
  40. Chapter Thirty-Three
  41. Chapter Thirty-Four
  42. PART V
  43. Chapter Thirty-Five
  44. Chapter Thirty-Six
  45. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  46. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  47. EPILOGUE

But these were not normal circumstances and there was never time to linger.

Under the surface, secrets bubbled.

And sooner or later, all secrets bubble over.

Chapter Seven

On the day before the Netherbury’s Scottish holiday, Aunt Vera held a Women’s Institute fête committee coffee morning. Included in the meeting was to be Lady Clarion, whom Aunt Vera was so very anxious to impress.

Lotti was to Be Useful, handing round sandwiches.

She rose feeling optimistic. It was the last day of Clara’s probation period: soon, the threat of boarding school would be gone for ever and from tomorrow, for almost a whole week, she would have Barton to herself. When the Netherburys returned, happy and relaxed from their holiday, she would introduce them to Federico.

Almost definitely.

For now, she just needed one more day of Exemplary behavior.

Lotti took no chances. She got up earlier than usual for Federico’s morning walk, she kept him on the lead in case he went anywhere he shouldn’t, she stayed out only half their usual time in case her aunt or uncle also rose early. It was just unfortunate that in her hurry to return to the house, as she tied Federico up behind Zachy’s cottage, she did not notice how very frayed his rope had become …

Back in her room, Lotti dressed uncomplainingly in a stiff, old-fashioned sailor suit chosen by her aunt, braided her hair and washed her face until it shone. When she went down for breakfast, Aunt Vera looked at her almost approvingly.

The weather was glorious, Barton Lacey beautiful. The French windows in the drawing room were open to let in the scent of stocks and lilies. The committee ladies began to arrive, and Aunt Vera puffed with pride as they complimented her on her beautiful home. Lotti bit her tongue and picked up the sandwich tray.

“You are a credit to your aunt,” Lady Clarion informed her.

Lotti dropped an exemplary curtsey. Aunt Vera simpered.

Everything was going splendidly.

But Federico was growing restless.

For eight weeks, since he had first been tied up behind Zachy’s cottage, he had been working on a plan to be free. The plan was simple—he was a simple dog—but it was good.

Federico was chewing through his rope.

How much he chewed depended on how bored he was. Today, after his shortened walk, he was very bored indeed.

And so he chewed, and chewed.

At about the time Lotti started to hand around the sandwiches, the last frayed strand of rope snapped. Federico bounded away from the cottage, streaked silently past Zachy working in the fruit frames, and fled in search of Lotti.