Twenty-TwoWhy hadn’t she noticed before? Pania Hayes sat across from Sir John Russell in the shaded hotel courtyard and studied her friend as he finalized the orders of the timber and bricks needed to get the rebuild of Gold House under way. They had just finished a relaxing lunch together when Nathan arrived with the Gold House work supervisor to discuss progress.
She sat and observed the men talking, sipping the last of her coffee and daydreaming. Cressida Washington’s words echoed in her head: “Maybe your poor old Sir John is feeling a bit overtaken by events.” She regarded the proud profile she knew so well, and noticed salt-and-pepper shading in the dark beard that hugged his firm jawline, and a network of tiny worry lines crowding the outside corners of his eyes.
When did they appe
