Frederick took the umbrella from Selena and shook off the rain drops by the front door, closed it up and put it in the umbrella stand. He shut the door and took Selena’s coat and headscarf from her. He hung the raincoat on the coat rack, but for some reason he could not explain, kept hold of the silk headscarf, turning it in his hands to examine the flowery red rose pattern and read the Jaqmar label. Selena’s hands were chilled from the rain, from holding the umbrella in alternate hands and so kept on her white woollen gloves.
Miriam gave him furious look as he led Selena into the kitchen. ‘You’ve got a nerve coming here,’ she said viciously, turning towards Selena, ‘pretending to be a decent white girl when you’re nothing but a lying slut.’
‘I came to apologise,’ she answered mildly.
‘
