Chapter 7

That document seemed to be endless. How many hours had he been reading it? Maybe not even hours, maybe days. But he needed to clarify all the details of that contract which was so important for business.

A cough made him look up.

"Sir Ardlay, it's very late," his secretary announced nervously.

Albert looked around him in surprise.

"Is it already dark?"

He looked quickly at the clock and saw with amazement that it was nine.

"And what are you doing here at this late hour?" he asked worried, seeing that the girl hadn't left yet.

"I was finishing the letters that must be sent on Monday, sir."

"But you shouldn't have stayed so late." He couldn't hide the reproachful tone of his voice.

"It was important to finish them today. Besides, you might need something," she added firmly.

"Thank you, Margaret. But it wasn't necessary for you to stay. You'd better go and rest."

"Do you need anything else?" she asked politely, willing to stay if she needed to.

"No, thank you, Margaret. You can rest easy."

He bowed his head, feeling somehow guilty. He had to admit that Margaret's efficiency had saved him from various headaches but he shouldn't impose upon her helpfulness.

"How are you going to leave?" he asked, realizing that it was late for her to be walking alone in the streets.

"I'll take a cab, sir," she assured him with a slight smile, opening the door.

"You'll do nothing of the sort. Ask Richard to take you and tell him to come back for me."

"But, sir, you don't need to be bothered about me," she said, stunned by that gesture.

"It's not a bother. A young lady shouldn't be walking in the streets at this time of night."

"Th...thank you," she murmured, still astonished.

Before closing the door, she turned again.

"Do you need me to come tomorrow?" she asked with interest.

Albert had turned his eyes back to the contract he was holding in his hands but when he heard her he was forced to look at her again.

"Tomorrow is Sunday?" he asked, uncertain of what day it was.

"Yes, sir."

He smiled with condescension.

"No, Margaret, you can rest tomorrow," he assured her, feeling he was an exploiter.

"But you have to finish transcribing the contract until Monday," she insisted, looking at him expectantly.

That was true, but he couldn't ask her to work on a Sunday. He looked at her apologetically.

"I'll be here at eight o'clock, sir," she said decidedly, with a slight smile.

"Wait," he said, seeing that the girl was moving away. "I can't come to the office tomorrow." He remembered that his aunt had organized a lunch. "I'll send a chauffeur to bring you to my house, and we'll work there with George and Archie. Is that all right with you?"

"Yes, sir," she answered, barely simulating her joy.

"Thank you."

When she closed the door, Margaret had to sit at her desk for a moment; her legs were trembling. She would go to his house! It was more than she had imagined...And the best of all was that she would spend a Sunday with him...Even if she would be working...she would be with him. She brought a hand to her chest as she felt her heart beating excitedly at that prospect.

Albert put his fingers on the car's window, closing his eyes; he was tired. There was nothing more pleasant than going back home after a long day's work. The purring of the motor was like a lullaby. But although he wanted to sleep, he couldn't. He had so many things on his mind that it was impossible for him to rest.

"We're here, sir," announced the chauffeur.

"Thank you, Richard."

He looked at his watch as he got off the car. It was twenty past eleven.

"Don't forget to go and bring Margaret in the morning."

"Don't worry, sir."

"See you tomorrow, then."

"Good night, sir."

Albert smiled, exhausted. The night was a little cold, but not so much as other nights. He took a deep breath while he looked around him in the darkness; then he looked up at the immense dark sky where just a few stars were shining, bringing a little calmness to his mind.

He entered the house with a growing desire to see a pair of emerald green eyes he had missed all day. But it was too late to see her. Besides, his aunt was there. He didn't have the courage to endure a reprimand. He walked into the dark room with heavy steps.

"It was about time you came home!" murmured a voice which he could recognize anywhere.

He could clearly perceive she was smiling, although he couldn't see her in the darkness of the night.

"What are you doing up so late?" he asked, pretending to be angry, even though the mere fact that he knew she was still awake filled him with joy.

"I'm practicing to be an angry wife," answered Candy mockingly, as she lit the lamp that was next to her chair.

"Well, let me tell you that you're very good at it," Albert said laughing. The idea that she had been practicing to be his wife made his heart beat with happiness.

"Don't tease me, Albert. I've spent a long time practicing...and instead of giving me a good excuse, you are laughing." Her pouting would have melted any heart.

"I'm sorry I was so late," he said, still smiling but trying to look serious. "I had a lot of work, but I spent all my time thinking about you." He said the last words as a joke even though it was a great truth.

"You see, that's the reason why you came so late," she declared reproachfully.

"What's that?" he asked, not understanding.

"That you spend all day thinking about me, instead of hurrying to finish that contract and coming to see me. I think you like more missing me than having me near you," she conjectured in the same joking tone, although what she claimed was true.

Albert looked at her steadily; she was playing the same game with him, saying things jokingly, knowing they were true. And he liked that.

"Nothing compares to having you near me, you know," he assured her, while still looking at her.

Candy felt a chill running through her whole body whenever Albert looked at her like that.

"Would you like some cake and a glass of milk?" she asked, trying to put her thoughts in order.

Whenever Albert spoke to her in that deep voice, she forgot everything and what was worse, whenever he looked at her in that way...she felt like she was floating.

"It's...it's your favorite cake," she stammered, still bewildered, unable to say anything more coherent.

"Chocolate?" guessed Albert, as he kept looking at her.

"Yes."

The chocolate cake had become his favorite because of her; only because of her...

"I'll have some cake only if you join me and have a piece too..." he suggested subtly.

"I'll have to sacrifice myself for you," she joked.

"Poor little girl...you are a martyr," he answered, knowing that she loved eating at all times.

"That's right," she sighed. "Look at everything I have to do to make sure you won't die before the wedding."

Albert laughed amused.

Candy had stopped being nervous about the wedding since they discussed it openly and now she took the subject so naturally that it even seemed as if her whole life depended on that event.

Inside the kitchen, they sat face to face, looking at each other.

"How is the contract going?" she asked with interest. She knew Albert was very worried about that matter.

"We still have to arrange several details..." he said seriously. "We'll work tomorrow to get it ready. We must sign it on Monday."

"You're going to work on a Sunday?" she asked with a mixture of astonishment and sadness.

"Yes," he replied apologetically.

"Won't I see you tomorrow?" She couldn't hide her disappointment.

Candy had returned from Lakewood with Aunt Elroy after Eliza's party and she had hardly been able to talk to Albert. She had thought they could spend some time together on Sunday...but now all her hopes had just vanished.

"Actually, we'll work here tomorrow, at home..."

"But you're going to be busy all the same, aren't you?"

"A little...yes," he admitted.

"It doesn't matter...At least you won't be away," confessed Candy with sincerity.

Albert raised his hand spontaneously upon hearing her words and gently caressed the face of his little girl...But she wasn't a little girl anymore; she was a woman who had him wrapped around her little finger, just as Neal had said.

"And how was your day?" asked Albert, trying not to let her notice the intensity of his voice.

"Mmmm..." Candy looked at the ceiling, in an attempt to arrange her thoughts.

Whenever he looked at her in that way, he made her tremble but it was much worse when he touched her...She simply lost the function of both her brain and body...

"You know, nothing special...With Aunt Elroy around, I always have

to be very quiet," she complained jokingly. "I spent all day helping her decide about tomorrow's lunch," she added with a bored expression. "At least she didn't make me repeat the name of her grandfather."

Albert laughed.

"Don't laugh at my misfortune," she said with a smile.

"Candice, why are you awake at this time of night?" a tremulous voice was heard from the shadows.

Somewhat uncomfortably, both looked into the darkness. In a few moments appeared Aunt Elroy's figure, dressed in a lilac robe.

"I'm sorry, Aunt," Albert hastened to say. "Candy was keeping me company while I was eating something."

"William?" she added in surprise. "I didn't hear you come in," she confessed, relieved that her nephew was at home now.

"I came just a moment ago."

"How is the contract with the Judes going?"

"Fine; I still have to arrange some details. Tomorrow I'll work here, so I'll have everything ready by Monday," he said.

"All right, my boy." She had gone through all that herself once. "You need rest," she added in distress, looking at Candy for a few moments.

"I'm going to bed now," Candy hastened to reply, before the old lady reproached her as she usually did.

"Finish your glass of milk first," said Aunt Elroy, seeing that she was still eating with him.

She turned away, pleased to see that her dear nephew wouldn't go to bed on an empty stomach. The butler had informed her that whenever he came home late he never had any dinner and went straight to bed. At least that girl had managed what was impossible for the rest. Even his aunt had suggested to him that he eat something as soon as she found out about that bad habit of his, but he had just added that he ate when he was hungry.

While she was climbing the stairs with her usual elegance, she remembered that she had reproached Candy for eating two slices of cake...

Didn't that girl ever have enough to eat?

At least her excessive hunger had been helpful today. The echo of some laughter coming from the kitchen made her stop. For a moment she felt she was transported to the past, when William was laughing along with his sister...After she had died, she had never heard him laughing with so much joy. But now he did, just like he used to do in the past...She suppressed a sigh. She had to admit that he laughed like that only with that irrepressible girl. She felt something between jealousy and nostalgia in her heart. She looked up and went on walking without stopping again.

Candy looked at the clock in her bedroom. It was very early. She could have breakfast with Albert before he started working. She sighed with excitement, taking one last look in the mirror.

She went down to the dining room, thinking she would surprise him

by having woken up so early. But when she entered she found nobody there.

"Good morning, Miss Candice."

"Good morning, Robert," she greeted him, somewhat disappointed.

She looked around her, not knowing whether she should ask about Albert or not. Maybe she had got up earlier than him.

"Albert has already got up?" she asked apprehensively.

"Yes, he has, miss."

"And he's had breakfast?"

"Yes, miss."

"Really? And where is he now?"

"In the library. He's working."

"So early? she whispered, as if talking to herself. "Has he been there for a long time?" she asked, unable to hide the disappointment she felt.

"Yes, miss."

"Thank you," she said with desolation.

She had done her best to try to get up before eight o'clock, so that she would be with him for a little while.

"But the master asked me to let him know when you come down for breakfast, miss," he confessed when he saw the girl's sad expression.

Candy looked at him in surprise, her desolation turning immediately into hope. He had thought about her!

"I'll go and tell him myself that I'm awake," she added with a wink.

"Yes, miss." The servant hid a smile. "I'm sure the master will like this surprise," he answered, winking slightly too.

She almost jumped to the library. She smoothed out her dress a little before knocking on the door. She could barely hear the murmur of voices from inside. She took a deep breath when his voice told her to enter.

"Candy? What a surprise!" said Albert when he saw her.

But Candy was a little surprised too when she found out that not only George was there, but also a girl, about a couple of years older than herself, with bronze-colored hair and a face like a doll's.

Albert stopped instantly upon seeing her. He walked quickly towards her, while she had remained at the door, undecided.

"Come in, please," he asked her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning, Miss Candice."

"Hello, George," she greeted him.

Albert hugged her shoulders.

"I believe you don't know Margaret, my secretary."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Candy," she said, somewhat relieved to know she was his secretary.

"The pleasure is mine, miss," she answered politely.

"Please, just call me Candy."

The girl smiled with gratitude for her trust but she couldn't treat her differently; she knew her place.

"Excuse us for a moment," said Albert with a smile as he was heading outside with Candy.

Margaret followed them surreptitiously with her eyes, feeling heartbroken. She had never seen her boss's eyes shining as she had just seen them. She had never seen him smile so tenderly and spontaneously as when she appeared at the door...She lowered her eyes trying to hide her feelings in the depths of her heart, where they had always been.

George looked at her out of the corner of his eye and couldn't help feeling pity for her. He had realized a long time ago that it wasn't only love for work that had made her so efficient...but also for William.

"Well, you're up early today!" said Albert smiling, while they were walking unhurriedly.

"I wanted to surprise you..." she admitted. "But I couldn't...You've beaten me as usual," she added pouting.

"Really? You should have warned me; I would wake you up," he replied with a smile.

"You always say that, and never do it."

Albert laughed.

"Your secretary is very pretty." She didn't know herself why she said that.

Albert looked at her without understanding. "She's very efficient," he assured her.

"If you say so."

Albert looked at her for a moment. Maybe Candy was jealous? He raised an eyebrow, feeling a Machiavellian gratifying sensation inside him.

"Albert, forgive me; I overslept," Archie interrupted them from the stairs.

"Don't worry, Archie. Go and have your breakfast and later you can join our meeting."

He fixed his eyes on Candy.

"Have you had any breakfast, Candy?"

"No," she answered. "Can we have our breakfast together, Archie?"

"It will be my pleasure, Candy. Come on, then," added Archie.

"I'll see you later, little girl." Albert approached her and gave her a kiss on the forehead, as soon as he helped her sit down in the dining room.

While returning to the library, he smiled with joy. Could it be possible that she felt jealous of Margaret? If that was true, then everything was going well, although he hadn't aimed for it. He had a few plans in mind about how to find out if Candy was really interested in him... but he hadn't been able to run any of them for lack of time.

Candy looked at Albert with regret as he was walking away. She wondered why it bothered her so much that his secretary was at home.

"Archie..." She hesitated before she continued. "Do you know Margaret?" she asked suspiciously.

"Albert's secretary?"

"Yes."

"Of course I do," he answered with a smile. "She's a very industrious girl. I think that when I have my own office, I'll hire someone like her. Why do you ask, Candy?"

"She's in the library too," said Candy, pretending to be indifferent.

"Margaret is always so helpful. Albert is very fortunate to have her around..."

Candy didn't know why, but with every praise of Archie towards that Margaret her stomach was revolving. Talking about that subject was a bad idea. And it was apparent that the lady in question was very efficient.

Albert had mentioned her a couple of times...but she had never cared about her. However, by listening to Archie and what was worse, by meeting her, things seemed different to her.

She had to entertain herself with something so as not to think about Albert and his secretary in the library, but Aunt Elroy was very busy getting ready for her visitors and she left her alone, just when she needed her most.

She went out to the garden trying to distract herself, but as soon as she took a few steps, she began to think about a valid excuse to see how Albert treated that Margaret...

"Good morning, miss," the gardener greeted her.

"Hello, John. What are you doing?"

"I'm planting these roses they have brought from Lakewood."

Candy looked at them...They were Anthony's roses. She approached them carefully and touched them delicately. Anthony's sweet face came instantly to her mind. He looked so much like Albert...That's why she had felt so attracted to him from the beginning...because of her Prince. She smiled.

Behind the window of the library, a pair of blue eyes was looking steadily at her from a distance, following each one of her movements.

"Do you agree with that, William?" George called his attention.

"Forgive me, George, I wasn't paying attention," he admitted, turning towards him.

George began to repeat patiently everything he had said, while Margaret also looked through the window and sorrowfully discovered

who had distracted him from afar.

Candy turned around to look at the library window. The reflection of the sun didn't allow her to look inside, but she knew he was there. However, she was irrationally uneasy about his "efficient" secretary. She was very pretty. If only she could be there...but she didn't have any excuse for that.

The shadows of some birds called her attention. She looked at them with curiosity.

If only she had wings...

She would fly to the branch closest to that window and would spy a little. That's it...She would climb that tree to spy just a little bit. What a great idea!

With expectant eyes she began to look for the most suitable way to achieve her goal without anyone suspecting. In her mind she formed a plan of going around the mansion and climbing a couple of trees before that one which was in front of the window of the library. She would throw herself from branch to branch until she reached her destination and she would see him without anybody noticing. It was perfect.

She walked stealthily until she got out of the gardener's sight. As soon as she reached the corner she threw herself forward until she reached the first tree she had marked in her mind.

Everything was going perfectly. She smirked when she jumped between the branches with her usual agility. Later she would have to change and receive Aunt Elroy's visitors.

Before jumping to the last tree, she found out with regret that the lower branches were thinner than the higher ones. She climbed two more branches and threw herself to her objective. With some difficulty she lay down on the branch, but the only thing she could see were the legs of Albert's chair. She would have to go lower to be able to see what was happening inside. She hesitated for a moment; the branches were too thin...but her curiosity was great.

"What's the matter, William?" asked George, when he saw Albert turning his head as if he had heard something.

"Did you hear that?" he asked, listening carefully to the sounds around him.

"No," answered George doubtfully. "What is it?" he added, not hearing anything extraordinary.

"That sound...as if something was creaking," Albert replied, somewhat surprised.

Margaret shook her head when her boss's eyes were fixed on her.

"I didn't hear it either," answered Archie when his uncle looked at him.

Albert turned his face towards the tree, but he only saw the branches

moving.

"Maybe it was a squirrel," he said as if speaking to himself, remembering Poupe who lived in Lakewood now.

They continued reviewing the documents but after a minute he heard that sound again, now more clearly. He was about to go back and see when he heard the tree shaking unexpectedly as if it were breaking in two.

"Aaaaahhhhh!" A scream made everybody's heart stop.

Albert stopped immediately and turned to see what had happened. Maybe some maid had thrown accidentally something from the top floor.

"Candy?" he cried with anguish when he saw it was Candy who was lying on the ground.

George and Archie ran out to help her. Albert simply opened the window and jumped from there with some difficulty. He was the first to reach her.

"Candy, are you all right?" he asked in agony, seeing the poor girl lying helpless on the ground.

Candy recovered from her fright and felt full of shame. How in the name of God had she fallen?

"Yes, Albert, I'm all right," she answered blushing, while Albert helped her gently to sit up.

That moment appeared not only Archie and George but the servants too, and also Aunt Elroy was turning the corner.

"What happened?" asked the old lady, worried and angry at the same time.

"I fell from the tree," Candy replied distressed.

"But what were you doing up there?" asked Aunt Elroy in bewilderment. "You could have been killed!" she added angrily.

"I..." She was struggling to find a good excuse in front of everybody's expectant eyes. "The birds...they fell...The nest was high and I wanted to help them," she said, stumbling on each word.

Aunt Elroy brought her hand to her forehead. That scatterbrained girl

would never learn to behave like a lady...

Candy tried to stand up with Albert's help but she doubled up in pain. She couldn't walk.

"It seems I've twisted my ankle," she declared dejectedly.

Albert looked at her worried.

"Let me see your foot," he asked her.

Margaret was watching carefully from the window, feeling that her heart would break.

Albert took Candy's foot delicately, remembering the times he was in Africa helping those who needed him most.

"I'm going to take off your shoe to see how you are," he informed her

gently.

Candy only nodded. The pain she was feeling was beyond a twist but she didn't want to worry anybody with her cries. Albert's touch alone had caused her to writhe in pain.

She was wearing boots, and it was as hard to put them on as it was to take them off. Albert tried to get the boot out, but he felt Candy tense in pain at his first attempt. He looked up with anguish and saw her eyes full of tears. She smiled at him painfully.

Albert felt his heart torn in two. He couldn't bear to see her crying. He knew she was in more pain than she wanted to admit. The knuckles of her fingers were almost white as she was squeezing her dress tightly.

"We have to cut through the shoe to be able to examine your foot," he said tenderly.

"Wouldn't it be better if we called a doctor?" suggested Aunt Elroy, seeing the expression of suffering of both of them.

"I'm a nurse, and I don't think that would be necessary," declared Candy.

Nobody paid attention to her words.

"Richard, go and fetch Dr. Martin," commanded Albert.

"Yes, sir."

"Rita, bring a pair of scissors," he commanded again.

"Why don't we bring her inside?" suggested Archie.

"Yes, you are right."

"Peter, take Candice to the living room," Aunt Elroy ordered one of the servants.

But Albert didn't give the servant time to even blink since he had already taken her in his arms.

Candy didn't know if her dizziness was because of Albert's closeness or because of the fall.

Albert cut the shoe very carefully and managed to get Candy's foot out, although he couldn't help causing her pain. A pain that was his own too...not a physical one, but in his soul.

The foot started to swell up in a deforming way the moment it was released. Albert knew this was not a simple ankle twist.

Fortunately Dr. Martin arrived without much delay. After examining her he gave his diagnosis.

"It's a sprain of the ankle."

Everybody frowned in distress.

"But it's not so bad; we'll have to immobilize the foot for about six weeks and it'll be as good as new. You'll have to keep Candy here for a while," he declared, looking at Albert.

"This is what matters," he answered with a relieved smile.

"Six weeks?" asked Aunt Elroy in panic.

"Yes, this is the usual treatment in these cases."

Candy bit her lip; at least during all this time she wouldn't wear those heeled shoes and maybe not even the bodice. She took a deep breath of relief.

"But in a week there will be the announcement of the engagement!"

Aunt Elroy's desolation was palpable.

They hadn't thought about that. Candy turned her sad eyes to Albert who was looking at her with tenderness.

"There is nothing to worry about, Aunt. Candy will attend with her foot in plaster," he answered.

"Of course," added Candy, relieved to see that they would not postpone it.

Aunt Elroy shook her head in resignation. In days like this, she felt it wasn't of any use to tame that scatterbrained girl since William always ended up justifying her mistakes.

It was almost afternoon when they finally finished their work in the library.

"Thank you, Margaret," Albert told her with sincere gratitude.

"It was nothing, sir," she said, focusing briefly on his eyes.

His look was as cordial as ever, and even a little warmer, perhaps out of gratitude. But he would never look at her as he looked at that girl. In the morning, when she came into the library, Margaret saw how her boss's face was illuminated and later she saw him with his gaze lost in the distance, as he was watching carefully that girl. And finally, after the accident, he treated her as if she were made of glass. That day she had known a totally different man, quite different from the president of Ardlay Enterprises. In business he was powerful yet kind, but when he was with that girl he seemed to be as vulnerable and tender as a child.

She bowed her head and left with her heart constricted.

Albert walked towards Candy's room but before he entered, a maid informed him that she was asleep. He went downstairs and stepped out to the garden. He didn't want to wake her up.

He went straight to the tree from where Candy had fallen. He examined it carefully. A few remains of the branch were stuck to the trunk; so thin it was. He looked higher and ascertained there were no nests or anything like that. He went around the tree and discovered a small piece of fabric from Candy's dress on the nearby tree. He climbed with agility trying to find any nests...but there were no signs of nests around; he only found some broken branches, as if someone had passed from there.

He raised his eyebrows smiling. Someone had fallen all right, not trying to help birds, but snooping.

But why would she do that? She knew very well that the library door

was open for her...Maybe she was jealous?

He brought a hand to his jaw, thinking how interesting and encouraging that was.

Entering the house, he came across his aunt.

"Have you finished your work, my boy?" she asked anxiously.

"Yes, Aunt. At last we have everything ready."

"I'm very glad to hear it."

"Have your visitors left?"

"Yes, they left a long time ago."

The old lady looked at him, trying to detect his state of mind. He looked relaxed, maybe because the contract was finally ready.

"You must talk to Candice about what happened this morning," she said severely.

"Please, Aunt, let's not start again with this."

Albert sighed in resignation; it wasn't the first time his aunt suggested such a thing.

"This girl needs a good guiding. You don't realize that her behavior is not ladylike," she added.

"Aunt, climbing a tree to help some birds is no crime." He knew that was a lie, but he had to defend her somehow.

"But someone else should do it, not her."

That moment one of the maids entered.

"Madam, forgive me for disturbing you." The apprehension in her voice was palpable. "May I bring Miss Candice her dinner?"

"Yes," she answered coldly, without even looking at her.

"Please, Rita, bring my dinner too to Candy's room. I'll join her."

"Yes, sir."

"William...but...this...this is..." stammered the old lady, astonished at her nephew's insolence.

"Please, Aunt...I don't want to discuss it. I won't let Candy have her dinner alone."

Having said that, he got up and went away, terminating any discussion.

Candy was lying on her side, looking out of the window, when she heard the knocking on the door.

"Albert?" she said, unable to hide her joy at seeing him in her room.

"How are you, little girl?" he asked, as excited as she was.

"Fine...It doesn't hurt so much now."

"I'm glad," he answered sincerely.

He sat on the bed very carefully.

"Are you still working in the library?" she asked with curiosity.

"No, we finished a while ago."

Another knocking interrupted them. It was the maid bringing a dinner for two.

"I don't think I'm going to eat so much, Rita," declared Candy honestly.

Albert laughed. "The other dinner is for me," he informed her.

"Oh..." said Candy, surprised and happy that she wouldn't eat alone.

She had to stifle several sighs that would betray how romantic it seemed for the two of them to have their dinner alone, in her room. Maybe soon they would do that every day.

"Candy, may I ask you something?" said Albert when they had almost finished their dinner.

"Of course," she answered quickly. He could ask her anything, she thought, except about what she was doing on that tree.

"What were you doing on that tree?"

She almost choked on the water she was drinking that moment. Albert must have some telepathic power, asking her just what she didn't want him to ask.

"I...I was...I was trying to see if there was any nest nearby." She didn't remember well the excuse she had given earlier, but she was sure it had to do with birds.

"Didn't you say you were helping some birds?"

"Of course I did...I wanted to see if there was a nest on that tree," she replied, trying to correct her mistake.

"And were there birds or chicks?"

"Chicks."

"But when you fell you didn't have anything in your hands."

"Probably they flew away."

"But didn't you say they were chicks? Chicks can't fly," he said slowly.

"May I take the dishes?" the maid interrupted them.

Candy sighed in relief when she saw her, praying for that to manage to distract Albert from his interrogation.

Albert hid a smile, his suspicions being confirmed.

"Albert," said Candy, trying to change the subject, "you haven't told me how it was in New York."

It was Albert's turn to choke on his water. He had been avoiding to talk about his trip since he had returned...He looked at her distressed, debating whether he should tell her the truth or subtly conceal it...