The care arrangement precludes any prospect of her being asked to leave, anything like that, but the woman’s tone is enough to raise some faint, unsettling possibilities. Rachel takes several minutes to think out what she must say and do in the next few hours, and it is almost a pleasure to watch her hone some more of her skills in planning, concealment and staged revelation. Given lack of need for much else or essential belief in her, these skills are at present the smartest thing about her, and it is no surprise they are so well-developed; they will be called upon that night, next day, and every moment till next month, when she goes to meet Fiona again.
