17
A nor-easter rose and swirled in the early hours, rattling leaves off trees and making birds chatter with indignation as they desperately tried to hold on to their perches. The wind howled around the corners of the house and sunlight streamed through the windows, offering a hint of warmth to come. Cissie watched George stack kindling beneath the copper and stuff newspaper between the sticks.
He struck a match to it and amber tongues soon began to lick the kindling. ‘That should do it. I’ll see you for lunch.’ He gave her forehead a perfunctory kiss and left for work, his coat tails flapping about his trousers. She huddled closer to the fire to warm her fingers and sighed at the dirty laundry piled in the basket.
At the same time, Jane let herself out of the front gate at Lovain. She
