Chapter 52

“Help yourself to a sandwich. I’ll pour you a cup of tea.” Tea in first, as always, but then three lumps.

I sighed. I hadn’t taken three lumps since I’d been a boy. However, informing her of that would get me nowhere.

“Thank you.” I sat on the chair opposite her, balancing the plate on one knee, and merely took a token sip of the tea. I set it aside on the end table at my elbow, and waited patiently for her to tell me why she had summoned me.

Never having been one for idle chitchat, she got down to the heart of the matter straightaway. “I’m having a small dinner party on Friday.”

“That’s New Year’s Eve.”

“Why, so it is! How very clever of you!” She smiled. “Your presence will be appreciated. And please do not tell me you have other plans. I know very well that you’ll spend New Year’s Eve as you always do—alone in that house you refuse to part with.”