Anabel woke up in the morning to the shower pounding in the bathroom. Ben wasn't in bed. She sat up, rubbing her fuzzy head. Her mouth tasted sour. The time was 10:15. The shower stopped. Ben came in the room, a towel wrapped around his waist.

She looked him over objectively, denying the physical effect he had on her. He was handsome, tall, dark-haired, muscular. He had always been ambitious, with an extroverted personality, something that appealed to her quieter ways. He liked dating the baron's daughter, and he never tried to capitalize on her family. He'd seemed to genuinely like them, and care for her. She liked that about him. She'd thought they'd made a good pair. The difficulty was he had other women. No one serious, he'd tell her. Aren't I serious, she wanted to ask, but knew he'd laugh at her, and say, when he was ready to settle down, she was first in line.

Now, though, now he was obsessed with Oakton and his inheritance from Drew Ramsey. His other work took second place to the Ramsey estate, and he'd passed much of his legal work to a former partner.

Ben towel-dried his hair as she watched him. He looked good enough to model for a shampoo or bath soap commercial. Closing her eyes, she struggled with the urge to pull him into bed, something the old Ben refused at his whim to keep her hoping. She counted to 20 by twos, breathing slowly. It was a technique she used to calm her nerves. Ben knew she did this, and always waited for her finish. Calmer, opened her eye to find Ben watching her, puzzled.

"What are you doing?"

"Ben? Did you forget? I take slow breaths to calm down."

"Forget?" Ben looked away. "I, it's been a while. Are you ready for a shower?"

Now it was her turn to be puzzled. "Soon," she said.

"Happy New Year, darling," he said. "How'd you sleep?"

"Happy New Year," she said. "Slept like a log. I'm taking a shower. I'll be quick." She slipped out of bed and hurried into the bathroom with her clothes.

She returned, drying her hair with a towel. Ben had put on pants and was slipping into his shirt. The old, familiar sight twanged her nerves, but she realized she didn't know this new Ben, and maybe didn't much like him.

Drew buttoned his shirt. "I've got to go to Bath tomorrow. The Ramsey house there needs more repairs. Sir Drew didn't want work done while he was so ill."

Ramsey again. Ben was obsessed with the Ramsey estate.

Anabel hurried into her clothes. "I'm surprised you stay here, then."

"I love Oakton," he said. "Look out the window. The meadows, the woods in the distance. Much like it's been for hundreds of years."

This was new. Ben liked city life, and joked Oakton smelled of sheep and leaf mould.

"That's new. You told me Oakton was your idea of 'languishing in the pits.'"

Drew froze, realizing he'd given something away. Ben had always admired Oakton, and Drew realized now Ben had been diplomatic. He buttoned the last button on his shirt, and straightened the cuffs, giving him time to think of an answer.

He looked out the window again, and then at her. He cocked his head on one side. "I used to think so, but I've learned to like it, caring for the estate, living here." He smiled gently at her. "Wouldn't you learn to love it?"

She suddenly wanted to be home, away from him, from the old Ben and the new. It was over.

"I'll take a shower now." She threw the covers back and slid out of bed. She wished she hadn't drunk so much. "I'll be leaving soon, Ben, I want to get home and see how Papa is doing."

"Of course, darling," he said. "I must visit Lord Kennet soon. I'll pick you up day after tomorrow and we'll go to dinner.

She flinched. Ben said, "Are you busy that night? When are you free?"

"It'll...Ben." She stopped. She'd have to tell him it was over. Sooner better than later, she decided. "Things have changed, since we've been apart." She met his eyes. "When I saw you at the party, I believed I still wanted to be with you. But you've changed." She looked him up and down, as though the answer might be written on him somewhere. "Maybe I have, too. I'm sorry, I know we were together for a long time, but it's no good pretending we can go on." She looked through her purse. "Do you know where my keys are?"

"In my pocket," Drew said, figuring out how to use this unexpected change to his advantage. "My love." She stiffened, and he changed his tone. "I'll accept your decision, your feelings, but I remain your friend." She may yet be my new vessel, he thought, keep her in the loop.

She relaxed just a bit. She'd known Ben all her life. Less trouble if they stayed on good terms. He was going to inherit a fortune and be a force in Pelham.

She smiled, and Drew noticed her relief. "I'm glad you say that, Ben. We should stay friends."

"Stay for breakfast. April has it ready about now. I'll wait while you shower, and we'll go down together."

***

The dining room sideboard was set with chafing dishes of fried potatoes, a pile of bacon, two racks with cold toast, English style, and various toppings and condiments. Coffee and tea were in insulated pitchers. Anabel and Ben entered to find Wyatt seated at the table, eating bacon and eggs.

"Morning, yall. Help yourself from the dishes. April!" he called out.

April opened the door leading from the kitchen to the dining room. She was wearing jeans, a green sweatshirt, and an apron tied around her waist.

"Happy New Year for about the 10th time," she said, cheerfully. "Help yourself to the dishes. How do you want your eggs?"

"Two hard fried," said Ben, handing Anabel a plate.

"Two sunny side up," said Anabel. She put potatoes on her plate, then took toast from the rack. She went to the table and Wyatt pulled out the chair next to him. She poured a cup of coffee and sat down.

April returned a few minutes later and put their eggs before them. She got herself a cup of tea, added honey and cream, and sat down. The fragrant tea let off steam.

"Where are Mrs. Burke and Max," Anabel asked, as Ben sat beside her. She nibbled at her bacon, then ate hungrily.

"Walking Smokey," April said. She got a slice of cold, hard toast and spread strawberry jam on it. She bit a piece off and crunched away. "I wonder if it will snow today."

"Probably not," said Ben. He cut his egg and mashed it on his fork. He added a bit of potato.

Anabel helped herself to more potatoes and bacon. "I didn't realize I was so hungry. I didn't eat much yesterday."

"Fill up before you leave," said April. "Mom is cooking a pork roast and our usual side dishes to go with it. Cabbage for greens, and Hopping John."

"What's Hopping John?" Anabel asked.

"Rice and black-eyed peas," said Wyatt. He refilled his coffee cup. He met Anabel's eyes and she smiled. "It grows on you."

The kitchen door opened, and they heard muffled voices. A moment later Max bounced through the door from the kitchen, Smokey behind him.

"Miss Anabel! You're here!" He sat next to her. "Are you staying for a while? They have sports on TV."

"No, Max, I have to go home after I eat." She smiled at the cute little boy.

The faint, muffled bong of a church bell chimed in the dining room. April listened, thinking the bells were pealing for New Year's Day. The bong sounded again, and shortly after, a third time.

Anabel froze, cup halfway to her mouth, listening. The bell rang again. She put her cup down and hurried into the kitchen. April followed her. The bell rang. Anabel opened the kitchen door and the fifth peal sounded, louder and clear.

"The passing bell." Anabel was pale.

"What?"

"The passing bell rings to tell local people someone is dying. The priest could go to help and comfort them, but the church stopped ringing it years and years ago. It rings three sets of three."

The bell rang for a sixth time.

"St. Duncan's ringing it now," said April. 'Second set."

"St. Duncan rings it for Lord and Lady Kennet, and the Earl of Pelham." Anabel was listening, her eyes damp with tears.

"Lord Kennet? Oh," April realized who she meant. "Do you need to leave? Can you drive?"

The bell tolled the seventh chime.

"I can drive. I've got to hurry." April nodded. "Ben has my keys."

"I'll get them." The church bell rang for the eighth time. April went to Ben. When she asked for the keys, he didn't give them to her, but went in the kitchen. April followed him, exasperated.

"Anabel, dear. So sorry to hear the passing bell." He hugged her, but she stepped away.

"Where's her key, Ben?"" April asked. "She needs to get home right away." April put her hand on Anabel's arm. "Maybe you should call and let them know you're on the way."

Anabel nodded and took out her phone. She spoke with someone.

Ben took his time getting her keys from his pocket. April took them and gave them to Anabel.

"Good thing you suggested I call," Anabel said to April. "Papa's in hospital." She took her keys, put on her jacket, and hurried out the door. April followed her to the door and watched as Anabel backed her car around and drove off.

The bell rang for the ninth time.

April returned to the dining room and sat down.

"What happened?" Debra asked.

"Anabel's father is in hospital."

"What are all the bells about?" Max asked.

Ben said. "The bells are rung for a death. When someone was dying, the passing bell was rung, so the priest could attend the dying. When the person died, the death knell is rung. For the funeral, the funeral toll is rung."

"Who is sick?" Max asked.

"Anabel's father," said April "You remember, the man with the oxygen tank at Christmas Eve."

"Oh, yes, he gave me an English pound coin. I liked him."

"He's very ill, and they've taken him to the hospital," said April. "I'll try to call Geoff later, but I doubt there's anything I can do to help."