Chapter Thirteen

Elena beamed. ‘I’d love that too. Will you be staying long?’

‘No. I have to go back to Germany to tie up loose ends on the park project.’

Comforted by the prospect of seeing Michael again, Elena went into the pet hotel with a spring in her step. Even though they had only been parted the night before, Violet was as ecstatic to see his mistress as she was to see him. Having persuaded him into eating, she played with him and took him out for a walk.

She was grateful to have a task to devote her energies to, for her recent period of idleness had made time hang heavy on her hands. Her plan to take the little dog home with her again was disrupted when the chauffeur came inside to pass on a message he had received on the car phone: Andrea would meet her at the same exclusive restaurant for an early dinner instead. Quite unprepared for the news that Andrea had successfully evaded being delayed abroad for the rest of the day, Elena was cast into renewed panic.

Having moved metaphoric mountains