Micky frowned. "There was another boy swimming in the pool when we got there."
"Who?"
He shook his head. "I couldn't see his face, and I didn't know it was going to be important."
"Did he see what happened?"
"I don't know. I'm not sure at what point he left."
"But he had gone by the time you got the body out of the water."
"Yes."
"I wish we knew who it was," Augusta said anxiously.
"He may not even have been a schoolboy," Micky pointed out. "He could be from the town. Anyway, for whatever reason, he hasn't come forward as a witness, so I suppose he's no danger to us."
No danger to us. It struck Augusta that she was involved with this boy in something dishonest, possibly illegal. She did not like the situation. She had got into it without realizing, and now she was trapped. She looked hard at him and said: "What do you want?"
She caught him off guard for the first time. Looking bewildered, he said: "What do you mean?"
"You covered up for my son. You committed perjury today." He was unbalanced by her directness, she saw. That pleased her: she was in control again. "I don't believe you took such a risk out of the goodness of your heart. I think you want something in return. Why don't you just tell me what it is?"
She saw his gaze drop momentarily to her bosom, and for a wild moment she thought he was going to make an indecent suggestion. Then he said: "I want to spend the summer with you."
She had not expected that. "Why?"
"My home is six weeks' journey away. I have to stay at school during the holidays. I hate it--it's lonely and boring. I'd like to be invited to spend the summer with Edward."
Suddenly he was a schoolboy again. She had thought he would ask for money, or perhaps a job at Pilasters Bank. But this seemed such a small, almost childish request. However, it clearly was not small to him. After all, she thought, he is only sixteen.
"You shall stay with us for the summer, and welcome," she said. The thought did not displease her. He was a rather formidable young man in some ways, but his manners were perfect and he was good-looking: it would be no hardship to have him as a guest. And he might be a good influence on Edward. If Teddy had a fault it was that he was rather aimless. Micky was just the opposite. Perhaps some of his strength of will would rub off on her Teddy.
Micky smiled, showing white teeth. "Thank you," he said. He seemed sincerely delighted.
