Читать книгу The Stonecutter - Camilla Lackberg - Страница 20

The pleasure of novelty had truly begun to wear off. The whole winter had been filled with trysts, and at first Agnes had enjoyed every moment. But now that winter was in retreat and spring was quietly approaching, she felt indolence beginning to creep in. To be honest, she no longer saw what it was about him that she had found so attractive. Of course he was good-looking, she couldn’t deny that, but his speech was crude and uneducated and there was a constant odour of sweat about him. It had also become harder and harder to sneak down to his place, now that the winter darkness was relinquishing its protective cover. No, she would have to put an end to this, she decided as she sat in front of the mirror in her room.

She attended to the last details of her dress and went down to have breakfast with her father. She had seen Anders yesterday, so her body was still overwhelmed by a great weariness. She sat down at the breakfast table after kissing her father on the cheek and began listlessly cracking open the shell of a soft-boiled egg. Her exhaustion made the smell of the egg turn her stomach.

‘What is it, my heart?’ August asked in concern, gazing at her across the large table.

‘Just a little tired,’ she replied miserably. ‘I didn’t sleep well last night.’

‘You poor thing,’ he said in sympathy. ‘See that you eat something, then you can go back to bed for a while. Perhaps we should take you to see Dr Fern. You’ve been rather out of sorts all winter.’

Agnes couldn’t help smiling, though she had to hide the smile hastily behind her serviette. With a downcast look she answered her father, ‘Yes, I have been a bit worn out. But it was probably mostly because of the winter darkness. Just wait, once spring comes I’ll be more lively again.’

‘Hmm, well, we shall see. But think about it. Perhaps the doctor should have a look at you all the same.’

‘Yes, Father,’ she said, forcing herself to take a bite of egg.

She shouldn’t have done that. The instant she put the boiled egg-white in her mouth she felt her stomach turn over and something rose up in her throat. She jumped up from the table and with her hand to her mouth she dashed to the toilet they had on the ground floor. She had scarcely raised the lid before a cascade of yesterday’s dinner mixed with gall splashed into the toilet bowl. She felt her eyes fill with tears. Her stomach turned inside out several more times. She waited a while, and when there didn’t seem to be any more coming, she wiped her mouth in disgust and left the little room on shaky legs. Outside stood her father, looking worried.

‘Dear heart, how are you?’

She just shook her head and swallowed to get rid of the repulsive taste of vomit in her mouth.

August put his arm round her shoulders, led her into the parlour, and sat her down on one of the sofas. He put his hand on her forehead.

‘Agnes, you’re in a cold sweat. No, I’m going to ring Dr Fern at once and ask him to come over and have a look at you.’

Agnes managed only a feeble nod, then lay down on the sofa and shut her eyes. The room was spinning behind her closed eyelids.