Read Dominion for Free Online Page B

white apron and cap, took their order Irene looked around her. ‘I’ll have to start
thinking about Christmas shopping soon. I can’t decide what to give the boys. Steve’s talking about getting them a big Hornby train set, but I know he just wants to play with it
himself. Nanny says they want a whole army of toy soldiers.’
    ‘How is Nanny?’
    ‘Still got that cough. I don’t think the panel doctor she’s with is any good, you know what they’re like. I’ve made an appointment with our man. I worry about the
children getting it, and you can see the poor girl’s in discomfort.’
    ‘I’m dreading Christmas,’ Sarah said with sudden bleakness. ‘I have since Charlie died.’
    Irene reached over and put a hand on her sister’s, her pretty face contrite. ‘I’m sorry, dear, I do go on so—’
    ‘I can’t expect people never to mention children in front of me.’
    Irene’s blue eyes were full of concern. ‘I know it’s hard. For you and David—’
    Sarah took her cigarettes from her bag and offered one to her sister. She said, with sudden anger, ‘After more than two years you’d think it would get easier.’
    ‘No sign of another?’ Irene asked.
    Sarah shook her head. ‘No.’ She blinked away a tear. ‘I’m sorry David got into that argument with Steve on Sunday. He gets – moody.’
    ‘It doesn’t matter. We were all upset.’
    ‘He said he was sorry afterwards. Not that he really meant it,’ she added heavily.
    ‘You and David,’ Irene said hesitantly, ‘you find it hard to share the grief, don’t you?’
    ‘We used to be so close. But David’s become – unreachable. When I think – when I think how we were when Charlie was alive.’ She looked her sister in the face.
‘I think he’s having an affair.’
    ‘Oh, my dear,’ Irene said softly. ‘Are you sure?’
    Sarah shook her head. ‘No. But I think so.’
    The nippy came with her silver-plated tray, set out the tea and biscuits. Irene poured and handed Sarah a cup. ‘Why do you think that?’ she asked quietly.
    ‘There’s a woman at work he’s friendly with. Carol. She’s a clerk in the Dominions Office Registry. I’ve met her a couple of times at functions, she’s quite
plain but very smart, went to university. She’s got a bright personality.’ Sarah gave a brittle laugh. ‘Good God, they used to say that about me.’ She hesitated.
‘David goes into work at weekends sometimes, he has for over a year. That’s where he is today. He claims they’re very busy, which I suppose they are, with relations with the
Dominions being so tricky. But sometimes he goes out in the evening, too, he tells me he goes to the tennis club to play with his friend Geoff. They have an indoor court now. He says it relaxes
him.’
    ‘Maybe it does.’
    ‘More than being at home with me, I suppose. Damn him,’ Sarah said, angry again, then shook her head. ‘No, I don’t mean that.’
    Irene hesitated. ‘What makes you think he’s interested in this woman?’
    ‘She’s interested in him, I could see that when we met.’
    Irene smiled. ‘David’s a very good-looking man. But he’s never – well – strayed before, has he? Not like Steve.’
    Sarah blew out a cloud of smoke. ‘You told me last time that you threatened to leave him, take the boys with you.’
    ‘Yes. I think that’s stopped him, you know how he loves the boys. Me too, in his way. Sarah, you’re not thinking of leaving David?’
    She shook her head. ‘No. I love him more than ever. Pathetic, isn’t it?’
    ‘Of course not. But, dear, it doesn’t sound like you’ve any real reason to suspect anything.’ She looked at her sister sharply. ‘Or have you? It was strange perfume
on his collar that gave Steve away last time.’
    ‘A few weeks ago, when the weather was getting colder, David asked me to take his winter coat to the cleaners. I emptied out the pockets, like I usually do – he leaves handkerchiefs
in there sometimes. I found a used