He began to feel nervous. His pleasure in escorting a striking mature woman around the school started to fade, and he wondered why she wanted to interview him alone.
The chapel was empty. She took a back pew and invited him to sit beside her. Looking straight into his eyes, she said: "Now tell me the truth."
*
Augusta saw the flash of surprise and fear in the boy's expression and knew that she was right.
However, he recovered in an instant. "I've already told you the truth," he said.
She shook her head. "You have not."
He smiled.
The smile took her by surprise. She had caught him out; she knew he was on the defensive; yet he could smile at her. Few men could resist the force of her will, but it seemed he was exceptional, despite his youth. "How old are you?" she said.
"Sixteen."
She studied him. He was outrageously good-looking, with his curly dark-brown hair and smooth skin, although there was already a hint of decadence in the heavy-lidded eyes and full lips. He reminded her somewhat of the earl of Strang, with his poise and good looks.... She pushed that thought aside with a guilty pang. "Peter Middleton was not in difficulties when you arrived at the pool," she said. "He was swimming around quite happily."
"What makes you say this?" he said coolly.
He was scared, she sensed, but he maintained his composure. He was really quite remarkably mature. She found herself unwillingly showing more of her hand. "You're forgetting that Hugh Pilaster was there," she said. "He is my nephew. His father took his own life last week, as you probably heard, and that is why he isn't here. But he has spoken to his mother, who is my sister-in-law."
"What did he say?"
Augusta frowned. "He said that Edward threw Peter's clothes into the water," she said reluctantly. She did not really understand why Teddy would do such a thing.
"And then?"
Augusta smiled. This boy was taking control of the conversation. She was supposed to be questioning him, but instead he was interrogating her. "Just tell me what really happened," she said.
He nodded. "Very well."
