CHAPTER FIFTEENOn Tuesday evening, Zsuzsa, looking particularly pretty in her colourful new dress, dragged me with her to the village festivities which, in a moment of weakness or inattention I had apparently agreed to attend.
Weirdly, things were almost back to normal at the castle. Katalin, partially restored by a letter from Alex, had risen in time for dinner on Sunday which had made me dread a blazing row with the Count. However, by tacit agreement neither of them had referred to Zarescu, each treating the other with chilly but faultless civility. István had looked at her askance once or twice, but took his lead from his father.
I felt so grateful for the fragile peace that I declined to break it just yet by revealing my own secret.
I could hear the music long before we came to the
