The Way You Look Tonight by Richard Madeley Page A

word to a living soul about my conversation with the Kennedys I’d
regret it for the rest of my days. I almost felt like retracting my offer to help them.’
    Stella heard the creak of the mattress and the swish of Sylvia’s legs against the sheets as the younger girl sat bolt upright on the bed.
    ‘A-
ha
! Gotcha! Your first slip, Miss Superspy! So, you’ve offered to help them, have you? Now we’re getting somewhere! Help with
what
, exactly?’
    A weary groan floated from the bathroom, followed by the sounds of a sharp intake of breath and swirling water and bubbles as Stella submerged herself completely beneath the water.
    Two mornings later she stood with her hosts on the front porch of the house on Bancroft Road. A shiny black sedan was parked against the kerb, its dark-suited driver behind the
wheel. He had already silently and effortlessly carried Stella’s bulging suitcase down the front path and deposited it in the trunk.
    Sylvia nodded appreciatively at the car. ‘The McKewans on Franklin have just got one exactly the same. It’s an Oldsmobile Dynamic, right, Dad? Brand new, too. That one there’s
got
to be FBI.’ She began to hop up and down on one leg.
    ‘I
knew
it,’ she continued. ‘It’s obvious. Stella’s going to be an FBI special age—’
    ‘Hush, Sylvia,’ her father said, with a crispness that Stella hadn’t heard in his voice before. ‘You were bad enough during the drive back on Sunday, let alone at supper
last night. Enough now. Stella’s under a direct presidential order to say nothing. This isn’t a joke, or a game.’
    Sylvia subsided, muttering under her breath.
    Jeb turned to Stella. ‘Can you at least tell us when you’ll be back?’
    She shook her head. ‘I honestly haven’t a clue. I hope it’s before the fall, though. I’d hate to miss my first term at Smith. I haven’t even had time to look around
the campus, yet. But in any event I’ll be well behind in my preparations for next term because of this.’
    Dorothy smiled. ‘They’ll understand. They can make allowances. Anyway, we’ll speak to your faculty head for you. Not that there’s much we can tell them . . . all this
secrecy . . .’
    A thought suddenly occurred to her.
    ‘Oh my goodness. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before. What about your mother? Can you write to Diana about any of it?’
    Stella nodded. ‘I think so. A little. I asked old Crew-Cut the same question yesterday and he said provided I don’t go into any specific details I can at least tell her I’m
going away on official US government business. But I have to hand over any letters I write to his lot to be censored first. I suppose I’ll write something to my mother on the plane later on
the way down to—’
    There was an awkward silence before Stella closed her eyes and shook her head in despair.
    ‘Oh God, I’m hopeless at this, aren’t I? I wasn’t even supposed to tell you I’m flying anywhere, and now I just have.’
    ‘Don’t worry, honey, we didn’t hear a thing,’ Jeb smiled, nudging her conspiratorially.
    The Oldsmobile’s horn sounded.
    ‘Well . . .’
    The Rockfairs crowded around Stella, taking turns to hug and kiss her.
    ‘We’ll see you when we see you, I guess,’ Dorothy said, giving her a final squeeze. ‘Call or write when you’re allowed, even if it’s only to let us know
you’re safe.’
    ‘I will, I promise,’ Stella replied, suddenly feeling absurdly emotional. ‘You’ve all been so lovely to me and I’ve only been here a few days. I’ve learned so
much about life here in America in less than a week.’
    ‘You’re not the only one,’ Jeb said drily as he took her arm and walked her to the waiting car. ‘I’ve learned
never
to introduce any of my house guests to
the Kennedy boys so soon again. Especially if they’re as beautiful as you. Clearly, it’s just asking for trouble.’
    He opened the car’s rear door for her and placed both his hands gently on her