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“Are they staying with you?” Lela imagined Sophie pacing upstairs.Why wasn’t she here?

“They stayed the first night. Peter rang me from the taxi on the way from the airport.” Mariella Debrincat chose her words with care.

“You weren’t expecting him?” Hamish was polite.

“My nephew wasn’t due back from Australia for a few more weeks, but he said his friend urgently needed to get to Malta.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” Lela gripped her hands tightly together.Please, she offered a silent prayer,don’t let her be pregnant.

“They are very much in love. People don’t always make sensible decisions when they’re in love.” The older woman looked speculatively from Lela to Hamish again.

“Do you know where they are now?” Would this clever, cautious woman tell Lela?

“They’ve gone to stay with a cousin on Gozo.”

“Gozo.” Lela exchanged looks with Hamish. “Why have they gone there, Mrs. Debrincat?”

“It’s a good place to work and think for the summer. And they’re with family, so I know they’re safe.” The emphasis on the wordsfamilyandsafepuzzled Lela.

“Are Peter’s parents there?” she asked.

“They’re currently overseas. Peter’s mother is my sister.” She rolled a pearl through her fingers. “You could say that in her absence, I’m Peter’s guardian.”

“Except he’s of age.” Hamish re-entered the conversation. “It’s Sophie who’s underage.”

“I checked when they arrived,” answered Peter’s aunt.

“And what did you do about it?” he asked softly.

“Luca arranged to put a bed in my room, where Sophie spent the night.” The older woman refused to be ruffled.

“Isn’t that unusual, when you have so many rooms?” Hamish gestured to the size and luxury of the house. “And to share your bedroom with a stranger seems even more unusual?”

“I knew Sophie’s family would be concerned about her well-being,” she answered with equanimity. “I wanted to be in a position to reassure them should any questions arise.”

“Rather an elaborate precaution, Mrs. Debrincat.”

“Peter’s impulsiveness in bringing Sophie here is the action of youth and love. No one should be punished for that.”

“Perhaps the damage was already done before they arrived?” Hamish probed with rapier precision.

Lela drew in a sharp breath, aghast at his direct attack. The self-possessed old woman merely smiled at him, unfazed and unsurprised by the direction he’d taken.

“She’s not expecting a child, if that’s what you’ve been thinking.” Mariella Debrincat sipped her tea.

Lela swallowed. Still, her question emerged as a croak. “Are you sure?”

“I asked her, then I separately asked Peter. He’s never lied to me. They are young and hot-headed, but not fools.” She looked from Lela to Hamish. “Would you like the address of my cousin in Gozo?”

Hamish glanced at her, and Lela nodded. “You’re happy for us to see them?”

“There’s no justification for burdening these children with ancient animosities,” she replied.

“Thank you.” He took the slip of paper.

Luca re-appeared. “You rang, madam.”

“Please show our guests out.”