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She joked, as they settled at their table. “Only when business brings me up here,” he replied. ” He mocked her serious tone. “I represent one of the largest suppliers of sterile materials in the country; Brassington Royal Hospital Trust is about to become one of my clients – I 29 hope. Now –” He forestalled any further discussion of his job by scanning the huge menu. “The speciality is fish and seafood,” he said. ” The fame was justified. Claire, raised on tales of badly cooked, poor quality English food, was surprised by the crisp vegetables, the juicy flakes of Dover sole, and the creamy, dreamy lemon soufflé.

Midnight was closing time, and Claire felt it was time she got back to Kelham House. 36 But just as Patrick stood holding out her coat someone at the bar called him over; he was known even here, apparently. She stood alone for a moment until the singer came down off the stage and spoke to her. ” she asked. ” Claire’s accent was stronger now. ” Surely her accent wasn’t so pronounced? “I’m from Donegal,” Claire said. “Well, and you have songs in the sea and in the mountains up there,” the woman said.

He turned to glance at her. “I don’t think you should go there on your own,” he said. ” “You’d better wait until I come back,” he said with barely-suppressed irritation. ” “I won’t be alone; I’ll be with Jan,” she pointed out. ” This wasn’t really true; they’d only been twice, but Claire was stung by Patrick’s assumption that he knew better than she did. “Summer’s different,” he said, and Claire opened her mouth to argue, then thought better of it. Arguing with Cousin Patrick about how she should spend her free time was a bit too much like arguing with Da, she decided.