"You need a slice of wedding cake to mop up the champagne," he said softly.

"It's coming in now and you'll have to cut it.

' She managed very well, although it seemed a great pity to spoil such a lovely bride cake.

It was so good that Sarre gave her another gla.s.s of champagne and she sat listening to the speeches in a pleasant haze.

Wien and proposing their health, Sarre replying, his uncle getting up and welcoming her into the family, even the vicar saying a word or two.

They came to an end at last and everyone went into the garden and sat about and talked until Mrs Bustle, with a little discreet help from a girl from the village, came out with the tea tray and after that it was time to leave.

They were going from Dover this time, with the Hovercraft, an early evening crossing which meant that they would be back in Groningen well before midnight.

Sitting in the car presently with Sarre beside her, Alethea sighed and said: "Well, that was a very nice wedding.

I quite enjoyed it.

' "So did I. I'm glad Uncle and Aunt are taking your grandmother and Mrs Bustle out to dinner this evening, it'll make a nice end to the day.

' Alethea agreed.

And what sort of an end could she expect for her day?

she wondered.

The children would be in bed, probably the servants as well.

Were they going to stop on the way for dinner, or have supper when they arrived?

She didn't like to ask and upon reflection, it didn't really matter.

She was still wearing her wedding outfit although she had left the bouquet with her grandmother.

Sarre had asked her to keep it on and although she hadn't planned to wear it on the journey she had had no objection; they would be in the car for the whole journey so that there was no fear of spoiling it.

"We have a long drive before us," explained Sarre, 'but once we're on the other side we can speed up a bit.

' As to speed, Alethea decided in no time at all, they weren't doing too badly on this side either.

Sarre cut across to the M11, left it just south of Harlow and worked his way down to the Dart ford Tunnel, and after that it was a more or less straight run all the way to Dover, with the Jaguar eating up the miles with no effort at all.

"This is a nice car," observed Alethea.

Sarre's mouth twitched.

"Very nice," he agreed gravely.

"T need something pretty powerful; I travel around quite a bit.

I've just taken delivery of a Bristol 603E, we'll try it out

together.

' Alethea thought a bit.

"A Bristol aren't they handmade, as it were?

' "That's right.

' He added: "T need two cars in case one breaks down.

' She didn't know much about cars, but surely a Bristol and a Jaguar

would add up to around thirty-five thousand pounds?

It occurred to her that she had very little knowledge of Sarre's income.

He had told her that he had inherited the house in Groningen, and

doctors, she knew, did get discount on things, but there were still the servants and the upkeep of the big house.

She longed to ask about it and didn't dare.

"We've not discussed money, have we?

' remarked Sarre, just as though he had known what she was thinking about, so that she went a guilty red and jumped.

She said: "No," rather shortly and then added: "You don't have to, unless you want to.

' He laughed softly.

"My dear girl, you are my wife, of course we must discuss it.

' He sent the car tearing down the M2.

"We'll go and see my solicitor as soon as possible I've made a new will, of course.

' "Sarre.

' "It's customary," he pointed out laconically.

"It will be explained to you in good time.

I've money of my own as well as an income from my work quite a lot of

money.

You'll have an allowance, naturally, and I think I can promise that you can have anything within reason.

' "Are you rich?

' asked Alethea.

"Well, yes, I'm afraid I am.

It seemed best not to mention it until after we were married.

' She could hear the laugh in his voice as he spoke.

"Very rich?

' "Very.

' She sat silent for all of a minute.

"If I'd known that I'm not sure if I would have married you.

' "That's why I waited until we were married before telling you.

' He was looking straight ahead and she stared at his profile, its chin

very firm, his mouth too.

As she looked it curved into a smile.

"Forgiven?

' he wanted to know.

He couldn't see her smile, but she did.

"Yes, of course.

Actually, I expect I'll like it very much I mean, to have money to

spend.

' She settled back in her seat; she felt more at ease with him now that she knew. Money wasn't all that important to her, but it would be nice to have enough of it; besides, Sarre seemed to take it for granted and she supposed that in time she would too.

The crossing was smooth; it seemed no time at all before they were making their way out of Ca lais towards Ostend and then on towards Antwerp.

They stopped in Bruges where they had dinner at the Portinari Hotel, not lingering over it, and then sped on.

From Antwerp the road was fast; it seemed no time at all before they were sweeping around Utrecht and taking the road to As sen and Groningen.

They had driven a hundred and ninety miles from Bruges, more or less, in under three hours and they were welcomed by the carillons ringing out eleven o'clock.

There were lights streaming from the downstairs windows and as they drew up before the door, it was flung open and Al stood waiting to usher them in.

Alethea, with Sarre's hand on her arm, stood uncertainly on the cobbled pavement.

She seemed to have come a very long way in a very short time, but then of course she wasn't used to fast driving or the effortless manner in which Sarre conjured up meals in hotels, instant attention when he wanted it, as well as apparently having a route so imprinted on his brain that he didn't falter once the whole way.

"Welcome home," said Sarre, and walked her up the steps.

And indeed it was a welcome home: behind Al, Mrs McCrea, Nanny, Nel and even Juffrouw Bril were grouped, and in front of them the two children in their dressing gowns but nonetheless wide awake.

The hall was filled with flowers; cream roses and carnations, lilies of the valley, orange blossom and stephanotis--the flowers which had made up her little bouquet.

She stood there for a few seconds, taking it all in while Sarre said something quietly to Al, who disappeared briefly and then reappeared with that selfsame bouquet.

She took it with a little gasp of surprise and looked enquiringly at Sarre.

"T had an arrangement with Granny," he told her blandly.