Stealth

13

Stone went back to the house. On the way he saw Rose and Dino galloping across the meadow, making for the stone wall. He went into the house, to the library, lit a fire, found a book, and read while the butler set the table for lunch.

A few minutes later Viv came into the library, found a Country Life, and took a seat opposite from him. “It appears,” she said, leafing through the magazine, “that this publication exists for the purpose of displaying fine houses to be sold by the wealthy to the rich. Oh, look,” she said, holding it up. “An actual article — about cooking on those massive AGA stoves they have.”

“When did you last cook something, Viv?” Stone asked.

“Right before I went into the Academy. Then after I met Dino, I couldn’t cook anything Italian without insidious remarks about the cooking of his mother — who was, by the way, a vile cook. After that, I gave it up.”

“Smart move. I had his mother’s cooking once — just once — and you describe it accurately.”

“This is typical,” she said, holding up the magazine. “Five bedrooms and two baths. How does that work?”

“One for guests, I suspect. And a few years ago, they wouldn’t have had central heating.”

“And yet your house, despite its size, is quite cozy.”

“But the gas bill would be enormous if the staff didn’t turn off the heat when I’m not in residence. I have to give them a couple of days’ notice that I’m coming.”

Viv was quiet for a moment. “Rose seems nice,” she said.

“Oh, she is.”

“I didn’t mean in bed. I meant, generally speaking.”

“She is that, too.”

“How did you meet?”

“I was involved in a minor accident in Scotland...”

“You mean the one in which you totaled Felicity’s Aston Martin when it fell twelve feet off a bridge?”

“Well, yes.”

“How did you happen to have Felicity’s car?”

“She drove it up there on an inspection tour of the camp. She loves to drive. I was to drive it back for her. I like to drive, too.”

“I’m sorry, how did the accident involve Rose?”

“I came to in their infirmary and she...” He stopped and thought for a moment. “I was going to say that she was in charge of treating me... but she wasn’t. There was a male doctor in charge, but I didn’t see him again after she arrived on the scene.”

“What was she doing at a training camp for MI-6?”

“She was on a locum. That’s where one doctor fills in for another, while he’s on vacation.”

“What was the place like?”

“Not what you’d call comfortable,” Stone said. “In fact, the training seemed designed to make everyone uncomfortable. It was very military.”

“And why would Rose want to do a locum at such a place?”

“You’d have to ask her that. Her reasons never came up in conversation.”

“If I know you, Stone, there wasn’t a great deal of conversation. On any subject.”

“Now, now. I can be quite chatty, you know.”

“Well, you’re a great chatter-upper, as the Brits would say, but conversation?”

“You and I are having a very nice conversation, aren’t we? And I’m holding up my end.”

“I suspect that you spent most of your time holding up her end,” Viv said, archly.

Stone laughed. “You remind me of Felicity sometimes.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should.”

The door opened and Rose and Dino came in, still in their riding clothes.

“Dino,” Stone said, “where on earth did you find the riding gear?”

“In the village,” Dino said, “at your suggestion, the last time I was here. I just left it in the closet when I went home, and when I came back, it was still there, cleaned and pressed.”

Geoffrey came in and announced lunch, and they moved to the table.

“Rose,” Viv said, “Stone was just telling me you did a locum at the training camp in Scotland.”

“I did,” Rose replied.

“And where are you based in London?”

“I’m on a sort of rotation,” she said, “something like your judges used to be.”

“You ride a mule from village to village?”

“I drive a mini from hospital to hospital,” Rose replied. “Next week I start at St. George’s for two weeks.”

“Oh, yes, at Hyde Park Corner.”

“That’s the one,” Rose said. “You know your London, Viv.”

“As long as I have an A to Z Guide in my handbag,” Viv replied.

“Did you have a good ride this morning?” Stone asked.

“Oh, yes,” Rose said.

“I could hardly keep up with her,” Dino added.

“I’m a farmer’s daughter,” Rose said. “There were always horses.”

“Where was the family farm?”

“In Rutland, in the north of England. It’s the country’s smallest county.”

“It sounds lovely,” Viv said. “Does your family still live there?”

“Yes.”

After lunch and some wine, everybody adjourned for a nap.

Viv, after Dino was asleep, called her London office at Strategic Services, spoke to her assistant and made a request, then she went back to the bed.

“What were you doing?” Dino asked.

“Oh, go back to sleep,” she said.

“I was thinking, maybe a matinee?”

“Dino, do you know how long it’s been since we had a matinee?”

“Well, we don’t often have an afternoon in bed, do we?”

Viv rolled over and explored his crotch. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

Stone and Rose had finished their matinee and were getting drowsy.

“Stone,” Rose said, “do you think Viv likes me?”

“Sure she does,” Stone said. “Believe me, you’d know it if she didn’t.”