Clarity

"So, what would she have me do? I mean, the teacher," said Louisa. "Where should I meet with Adelaide?"

"She suggested that you two, uhm, —you and Adele, should sit for, uhm, lunch, maybe?" Brightfin said.

"Lunch!?" asked Louisa.

"Mmm-mmm…" Brightfin was nodding, "lunch."

There was something Louisa felt after she said that. It was the recoil of that thought again; the repeated warning Samantha had given her to not indulge with Adelaide. But well, eating with her did not necessarily signify anything and then even if it did, Louisa thought that she would rather push with whatever little Adelaide wanted her to do.

"Have it arranged," she finally said, "but somewhere private. We can even have lunch together in this place. She will like that. I know Adelaide would."

"Or…" Brightfin stalled, "could be in the, uhm, cottage?"

"Cottage."

"Cottage. Out in the back. Actually, it's, uhm, at the side of the house."

"So, you'll prefer this place? This cottage?"