“No idea,” he said. “It’s not as though we’ve exchanged Christmas cards over the years.”
He laid an arm across me, and I realized we were making up.
“So what did you do today?” he asked.
“Mostly I rested, but I’ve got exciting news—three of Anna’s relatives have seen the monster, and at least two are willing to talk to us.”
“Who?”
“Anna. The girl who served us breakfast.”
“Hmm,” he said. “How interesting.”
“I thought you’d be pleased,” I said. “Maybe even excited.”
“Oh, I am. I’ll definitely follow up,” he said. “How’s the dizziness? Do you think you’ll be able to come with us tomorrow?”
“It’s much better, and I’d love to,” I said.
“Good. We could use your sharp eyes.” He wriggled his way under the covers. “Aren’t you going to put out the candle?”
I realized he was inviting me to stay.
I blew out the flame and rolled toward him.
A few minutes later, a soft rumbling began in the back of his throat, and before long he fell onto his back. The snoring grew louder. I lay awake for what seemed like forever, blinking into the dark.
I tried to remember the last time we made love, and could not.
I thought about the man leaving Meg’s room, and hoped she was being careful. If Hank got her into trouble, her reputation might be ruined, but she’d end up well off, at least by the time I was finished with Hank. If a regular workingman got her into a predicament—well, I just hoped he’d marry her, and that they really were in love.
—
In the morning, Ellis was gone. He had removed the Blackout frame, so I woke to daylight. It was almost ten o’clock, early by my standards.
Downstairs, Anna was scrubbing the windows with a wad of newspaper. An earthenware jug labeled DISTILLED VINEGAR sat on a nearby table. She had a plain cotton kerchief tied around her hair, knotted on top, in stark contrast to the bright Hermès scarf that was tied similarly around mine.
She glanced at me and turned away immediately.
“Good morning, Mrs. Hyde,” she said pointedly.
“Good morning,” I said, slithering into the nearest chair. It was only then that I registered the absence of Hank and Ellis.
Anna was watching from the corner of her eye.
“They’ve gone out,” she said, attacking the window with renewed vigor. “They said to tell you they’ll be back tomorrow.”
I sat up, panicked. “What? Where did they go?”
“Inverness, apparently,” she said.
“Where’s that? And why?”
“It’s fourteen miles up the road. And for what reason, I would not know,” she said, setting the wad of newspaper on the sill and wiping her hands on her apron.
“They didn’t leave a note or anything?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“Do you know if they cleared up the…confusion?” I asked, wincing at the final word.
She turned and glared at me, planting her hands on her hips. “Do you mean about using a fake name? You’ll have to ask Angus about that.”
I was struck through with terror. If the landlord made me leave, what was I supposed to do? Where was I supposed to go?
“Any chance you’ve brought your ration book down?” Anna continued. “Only I can’t help but notice that not one of you has handed one in, even though I mentioned it yesterday, and you were supposed to do it the moment you checked in. Although I suppose if you’ll be going elsewhere, it doesn’t much matter.”
“I’m not sure where Ellis put them,” I said weakly. “I’ll have a look in a bit.”
Anna kept her hands on her hips, staring at me with grave suspicion. I dropped my gaze into my lap.
“I’ll get your breakfast then, shall I?” she said, before stomping past.
I put my elbows on the table and dropped my head into my hands. I couldn’t believe Ellis would do this to me. There had to be some mistake.
Breakfast was a slab of drawer porridge and decidedly weak tea, with no milk or sugar. Anna dropped them in front of me with a clatter and went back to the window.
“Bacon, butter, sugar, milk—it doesn’t grow on trees, you know,” she said, as though continuing a conversation.
My hands were back in my lap. I started picking at the chips in my nail polish.
“Or eggs. Or margarine. Or tea,” Anna continued. She surveyed the wad of newspaper in her hand and dropped it on the table. She crumpled up a fresh sheet, tipped the mouth of the jug against it, and slammed the jug back down.
“I suppose tea does grow on trees, but not around here.” She nodded toward my cup. “I’ve reused leaves for that,” she said.
For about fifteen seconds I thought maybe she was finished.
“I suppose I could make you a beetroot sandwich in the meantime, although I don’t suppose National Loaf is up to your usual standards. Neeps, tatties, onions. Porridge, certainly—but no milk, mind you. I might be able to find a tablet or two of saccharine. And I don’t suppose you’ve got a gas mask, have you?” She glanced quickly at me, intuited the answer, and sighed grievously. “I thought not. You’re supposed to carry one at all times. You can get a fine for that. And I don’t suppose the mustard gas will know the difference between you and a normal person.” She curled her lips on the last two words.
I finally looked up from my lap. “Anna, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.”
“Oh, aye. I’m not sure I’d believe it anyway.”
She might as well have slapped me.
Mr. Ross came through from the back, wearing the same sweater as the day before, pants of the same dark olive, and heavy black boots. It looked like a military outfit, although there were no badges or any other identifying information on it. He stopped momentarily at the sight of me, then continued as though I didn’t exist, going to the till and removing cash. He flipped through a large ledger book, making occasional notes with a pencil. With a start, I noticed that the first two joints of his right index finger were missing.
Anna turned her attention back to the window.
“Shall I correct the spelling in the register?” he said without looking up.
My relief was so great I clapped a hand to my mouth.
“I’ll take that as a yes?”
“Yes,” I said, barely managing to speak. “Thank you.”
It was more than enough that he wasn’t turning me out. He had no reason whatever to preserve my dignity, and this simple act of kindness caused my throat to constrict.
“Right then.” He slapped his thigh. “Conall, trobhad!” The tall dog trotted around the corner of the bar, and the two of them left.
“You’re very lucky is all I have to say,” said Anna.
My innards twisted into a knot, and my hands and heart fluttered so badly I couldn’t even consider lifting a fork, never mind a teacup. I pushed my chair back so hard it screeched against the floor and bolted upstairs, abandoning my breakfast.
“I’ve half a mind to call the warden for that!” Anna shouted after me.