“A year isn’t such a long time. Have you any reason to think he has changed?”
I refrained from mentioning Charley’s own metamorphosis after her absence of about an equal amount of time.
“No. Only he has mentioned the possibility of coming home. I’m not sure if he meant permanently but I think ‘home’ still means New York.”
“Oh.” Charley gave this a moment of solemn contemplation. “He never mentioned that to me.”
Three years ago, Matthias had left New York behind to take up a job in London. He had packed his trunks and left his home at Sutton Place, vanishing on a steamer bound for Southampton despite one of the bitterest rows that he and Charley had ever had when she had opposed his decision to leave. “This is not the only course,” Charley had railed. “They can close ranks all they like
