Chapter 18

Theo placed their order and plied her with wine until their escargots were served. The wine had perhaps made her adventurous, she could not be sure, but she actually enjoyed her first taste of snails, and she relaxed to enjoy the rest of their meal.

‘Dr Lynch came into the restaurant one evening to sample our cuisine.’ Theo remarked some time later when they were drinking their coffee, and Elena’s heart seemed to jerk uncomfortably in her chest at the topic he had chosen for conversation. ‘ I suppose you have heard that he’s the fellow who bought Rose Gardens from Lady Mint.’ Theo elaborated on the subject,’ and I must say that the lady who accompanied the good doctor was quite a dish.’

‘Mr Stephan is a specialist, and so doesn’t use the title Doctor,’ Elena explained, raising her cup to a sip of strong, aromatic coffee, and congratulating herself on the fact that she could speak without the tremor in her voice.

‘Do you know him?’ Theo pounced unexpectedly.

‘Yes,’ she answered him abr