Chapter 4, Part 3: Revolts and Revelations

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

Sunday morning

After an eventful Saturday night, Sunday dawns cool but bright, a fresh breeze scudding white clouds across a cobalt sky. It is a sight to cheer the heart after the recent winter gloom, and so the Park is quite busy with families of all classes enjoying the brighter weather. Not so Mr Alexander Shairan, however, who walks through the park with barely a glance at the sky above or the trees and grass around him.

I'm walking through the park slowly, reluctantly. I breakfasted with Theo early; his wife was still in bed, and I was glad. I didn't see the children, and I'm sort of glad of that too. I don't want to know about them, not right now. We said goodbye very properly and chastely. I wished I could kiss him. I can't help thinking the next time I see him is bound to be when I'm with Mr E. I half expected him to turn up on Theo's doorstep this morning, talking about my "virtue". I bet when I get home he'll want us to sort out confronting Theo, which is mostly why I'm walking slowly. I'm not - I'm not ready for this, not at all.