Page 90 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

Skye shook her head. ‘Two hours ahead. This is the time we normally catch up with emails and admin.’

‘I’m sure there’ll be a perfectly valid explanation,’ Clare said. ‘Maybe try again?’

Skye wrinkled her nose. ‘Maybe later. Our guests will be here any minute.’

Liz checked her hair in the mirror. ‘I feel a bit queasy. I’m normally very comfortable with Patrick. But if he has misled me about Viv, this is the last time I’ll be buttering his scones.’

‘Confront him,’ said Skye. ‘There might be a perfectly valid explanation for that too.’

‘Flippin’ men,’ Clare grumbled. ‘We’re probably better off without them.’

‘Agreed,’ Liz and Skye replied unanimously.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Clare

The Delmarges had arrived on time; Patrick had parked at the front door and Clare, Liz and Skye had gone out to greet them. The car doors were open and Clare caught the scent of lavender and rose perfumes as the two old ladies scrambled to get out.

‘Welcome to Clemency House,’ Liz said.

Patrick appeared not to detect the frostiness in her voice, but it was obvious to Clare.

‘You’re very kind to invite us,’ he said, his eyes firmly locked on Liz.

Clare took an instant liking to him: he was dressed in crumpled linen shorts and shirt and had the sort of deep creases at the side of his eyes which implied he’d spent a lot of his life smiling.

‘I hope it’s not an imposition?’

‘Not at all,’ Liz said, tartly. ‘Let me introduce everyone …’

There was no mistaking Liz’s tone this time as she explained who was who and that Ivy would be joining them shortly, and Patrick did a wary double take.

‘It’s lovely to finally meet you and your family,’ Clare said, deciding to step into the role of hostess. ‘I’ve heard so much about you from Liz.’

‘Really?’ His face lit up. ‘Good I hope?’

Liz smoothed her hands on her apron, remaining tight-lipped.

‘Oh yes,’ Skye confirmed.

‘I’m thrilled to have company,’ Clare added, and indicated her arm. ‘I haven’t dared venture too far since this pesky accident.’

‘How was your journey?’ Skye asked Patrick’s mother. ‘Pleasant I hope?’

‘Would have been better if my son wasn’t a spoilsport.’ Camilla clung on to the car door while Patrick lifted her walking frame out of the boot and set it in front of her.

‘How so?’ Clare asked, protecting her arm as Camilla took a step towards her.

‘We wanted to come by boat. We’d have been no bother,’ she said with a sniff and then jerked her head towards Patrick. ‘But misery guts said no.’

‘It would have been such fun,’ said Agatha, already seated in her wheelchair on the pavement with her bag perched on her lap.

‘For whom?’ Patrick chuckled.

‘He’s lovely,’ Skye murmured in Clare’s ear.

‘Perfect for Liz,’ Clare whispered back.