Page 70 of Mayfair Madame

“Hey, I’m here at my sister’s,” I said, feeling weary.

“How was the journey? Okay? How are you feeling?" The moment I heard her voice, a feeling of calm washed over me.

“I’m tired. I wish I were still in your bed.”

“I wish you were too.”

Silence hung between us. My breath hitched, and I took a calming breath, trying not to break down.

“How’s your mum?” she asked. Had she sensed how close I was to tears? Since when had I become so emotional?

“Lucy says she’s okay, and we’ll probably go to see her later today. I’m not sure when I’ll be home.”

“Take your time. I’ll be waiting. But call me, and I’ll come and meet you at the station.”

“Ellie. I cooked more bacon,” Lucy called.

“Is that your sister? You’d best go get your food. Make sure you look after yourself. You should still be here, not halfway across the country.”

“I’m a couple of hours away, if that, but I promise to take care. Can I call you later?”

“You’d better. I should let you go.” Was she as reluctant as me to end the call?

We said our goodbyes, and I walked back into the kitchen.

“Everything okay?” Lucy placed another sandwich in front of me.

“Yeah, I think it’s going to be.”

Chapter Twenty

Naomi

Idropped Ellie at the station and watched as the train pulled out. She was nowhere near ready to travel, but her sister needed her. Ellie’s guilt was clear. She’d barely spoken since her sister’s call, wringing her hands and biting her lip. Even Melinda had seemed concerned.

Once the ticket was booked, we travelled to her apartment and threw a few clothes and toiletries into a backpack.

“How long will you be gone?” I asked her. She needed to rest, not to be travelling two and a half hours on a packed train.

“I’m not sure. A day, maybe two. No more than that.”

“Well, call me, and I’ll sort out your return train ticket.” Not even a word of protest, and that had me worried too.

Four hours had passed. She’d called to say she’d arrived, but I could tell from her voice that she was exhausted. She was eating, and that was the main thing.

She needed to keep her strength up.

“Naomi, did you hear me?”

“Sorry? What did you say?”

“I asked if you were going to work this weekend. You have a couple of clients booked in, but it’s nothing we can’t move around if needed. Or we could reassign them.”

“Who is it?” I remembered there was a party for Jeffrey, but I thought that was in a couple of weeks.

“It’s someone new. A woman. We’ve done the usual checks, but she didn’t mind male or female. I can hand it off to Marco. He won’t mind.”

“Could you? I’m so tired after this week and not sure I’d be able to concentrate.”