The Phoenix Series Box Set 2

by Ted Tayler

  “For now, darling,” Athena said, grabbing his hand and leading him back to their rooms. “After Hope takes her afternoon nap, maybe we can take a siesta too?”

  “Blimey, is Maria Elena joining us?”

  Athena gave Phoenix a hefty thump on the arm.

  “Absolutely not; she’s got the hots for Giles Burke. You won’t have seen the two of them flirting in the swimming pool. Minos caught them when he was over there exercising on Wednesday evening. You see, you don’t know everything that goes on around here.”

  “I haven’t swum for ages; not since Hope was born. I enjoyed spending time in that pool. I’ll never forget you in that silver-grey costume, back in the days when you were ignoring me, pretending you weren’t attracted to me.”

  Phoenix stepped smartly to his right, avoiding another playful punch.

  “Maybe we should forget that siesta and take Hope to the pool together?”

  Athena laughed. “Golly, we’re as bad as an old married couple, remember when we used to spend the whole weekend in bed?”

  “You might as well tell your parents not to bother travelling tomorrow then,” said Phoenix. “If we’re already exhibiting symptoms of married life, then it will be a wasted journey.”

  “You don’t get away with it as easy as that, mister,” said Athena. “They’re staying here for two nights, and I’ll bet you my mother mentions the word ‘wedding’ before she’s been here an hour.”

  “If we could persuade her to accept that we want a quiet wedding, with the minimum of family and friends, then the sooner it happens the better, as far as I’m concerned.”

  Athena stopped dead in her tracks.

  “Was that a proposal?” she asked. “Not very romantic, but if so, then the answer is yes.”

  “Now we only have to convince your parents to agree to our wishes and find a way to get married without revealing my identity. Answers on a postcard.”

  Phoenix had slipped his arm around Athena’s waist. They reached their apartments and went through to the lounge where Maria Elena sat. The young nanny looked up and caught them clinging to one another.

  “You two look happy. Have you had good news, perhaps?”

  “We’re getting married,” said Phoenix, scooping up Hope, and holding her over his head at arm’s length.

  “Congratulations,” cried Maria Elena, “I expect you can’t wait to tell everyone?”

  “We’ll inform those who need to know,” said Phoenix, “we don’t want a fuss. So, keep it under your hat, okay?”

  “Under my hat?” Maria Elena cocked her head to one side, clearly, this was a phrase she hadn’t come across. Then she smiled a broad smile that lit up the room. Phoenix saw immediately why Giles Burke had fallen for her.

  “Ah, you want me to come to the wedding; and I can wear a beautiful hat. I will care for Hope during the ceremony; she will look very pretty in a gown, no?”

  “Yes, I believe she will,” said Athena. “What Phoenix meant was we don’t want you to tell anyone outside of Larcombe Manor of the wedding. Do you think you can do that? Not even your parents, back in Estepona.”

  “If that is your wish, then this is what I shall do,” Maria Elena passed her hand across her mouth as if she was fastening a zip.

  “You’re learning,” said Phoenix with a grin; just as Hope was sick on his shoulder. “You, young lady, I can see, don’t enjoy being chucked in the air, a short while after your feed.”

  Hope gave him a toothless grin.

  “Let’s get us both washed. Then we’ll have a play before we eat. Make the most of the calm before the storm, when your grandparents arrive tomorrow.”

  Maria Elena left to prepare for lunch. The phone rang. Athena answered. She listened for a while, then ended the call.

  “Trouble?” asked Phoenix.

  “Henry,” Athena replied, “he’s injected Thacker with a high dosage of his own product. The effect was immediate. Death will follow in the next hour.”

  “Remember to keep Maria Elena busy indoors tomorrow morning,” said Phoenix. “Warn Giles too; just in case they’re spending nights together. We don’t want her slipping away from his room in the stable block and catching sight of the burial party taking Thacker across to the pet cemetery.”

  Athena nodded. She was pensive. Phoenix sat by her and cradled Hope in his lap.

  “Thacker was a nasty piece of work. He ruined dozens of lives, not just the girl that ex-copper mentioned. Don’t shed any tears over him.”

  “You’re right, as always. I think I’ll reward Orion with a sum of ten thousand pounds. Do you think that’s appropriate?”

  “I’m sure the Ditchburn family would approve,” said Phoenix. “I’m still struggling to come to terms with having my nemesis being taken on as an Olympus contractor.”

  “You think you’ve got problems?” said Athena. “I’m struggling with the thought I’ve got to tell Mummy and Daddy I’m not getting married in a cathedral, as they planned, but in a small, family church at the Manor where the Hunt family were baptised, married, and buried.”

  “Erebus would have approved,” said Phoenix, carrying Hope over to the side table where the photograph of William and Elizabeth Hunt had pride of place. “I think we would have his blessing.”

  “It will be the beginning of a new dynasty,” said Athena, joining her fiancée, “the Fox-Bailey’s will be legitimised.

  “A new dawn,” they said, in unison.

  CHAPTER 9

  Saturday, 8th March 2014

  Geoffrey and Grace Fox left Paddington at half-past ten and their train pulled into Bath Spa station at noon. As Geoffrey helped Grace onto the platform, their daughter Annabelle Grace Fox stepped forward to greet them.

  “It’s wonderful to see you both,” she cried, as she embraced her parents, “we’ve so been looking forward to this visit.”

  She gestured to the driver to carry her parents’ cases out to the waiting car. The Foxes were to be treated to one of the better limousines from the Olympus transport section today. Not a standard vehicle, with an image of Mt. Olympus, emblazoned on the door panels.

  “On your own then, darling?” Grace asked.

  “Phoenix is looking after Hope; we’ve given nanny the day off.”

  “Phoenix didn’t strike me as a ‘hands-on’ father,” said Geoffrey, “he is at home then? Not gallivanting around the country on behalf of the Olympus charity?”

  “They’re both at Larcombe Manor waiting to see you,” said Athena. The car negotiated the Saturday morning traffic, wending its way out of Bath into the green, sunny countryside.

  As the car swept up the driveway towards the Georgian manor house, Geoffrey gave a low whistle of appreciation.

  “What a magnificent place to live, and work, darling. I can’t wait to explore.”

  “Sorry, Daddy,” said Athena, “you may not have much time to wander around on this visit. It’s the three of us you’ve come to see, isn’t it? We’ve got lots to discuss.”

  The car drew up in front of the building. Phoenix stood on the steps with Hope in his arms. His daughter was in her best new clothes. He had just told her in no uncertain terms that puking on this outfit, as soon as her grandparents arrived, was out of the question. Hope had given him the ‘are you serious?’ look.

  “Now, that’s a look I’ve seen before,” he chuckled, “you’ve inherited that from your mother.”

  Geoffrey and Grace Fox got out of the car and were reunited with their first grandchild. Phoenix kissed Grace on the cheek and handed the pristine infant over, then went to shake Geoffrey by the hand.

  “Welcome to Larcombe, Geoffrey,” he said.

  “Good to see you, Phoenix,” Geoffrey replied quietly. “I wondered whether you might have been on one of your adventures.”

  The two men stood and watched the three women in their lives. Grace, Annabelle and Hope were in a world of their own. The driver emerged from the house to inform Athena he had left their guests’ cases in thei
r room. Phoenix invited everyone to join him inside.

  He was only too aware of the old man’s suspicions. He knew the rest of the weekend would be occupied in deflecting thoughts of poking his nose into what lay behind the charity smokescreen. The staff had been briefed by Minos, to ensure there were no overt signs of Olympus over the next forty-eight hours.

  Phoenix was free to show his future in-laws around the manor house, the orangery and the gardens. Everywhere else had to be out of bounds.

  The elegant Georgian furniture in the rooms on the ground floor and the superb ceiling-high windows lifted the surroundings above the descriptions that Phoenix offered.

  “This is where we hold meetings with invited guests, where we eat; if the senior charity officers are in residence. There are charity offices there on the left; further on are the kitchens.”

  They climbed the magnificent staircase. Geoffrey stopped to admire the paintings.

  “What a history this place must possess, Phoenix, if these walls could talk, eh?”

  Phoenix let the comment pass. He carried on with his guided tour.

  “More meeting rooms, and offices, on the left. They each have a terrific view over the grand patio and the lawns at the rear of the building. On your right are the apartments occupied by our senior staff. Your room is at the far end; opposite our suite of rooms. You have a spectacular view of the trees and lawns at the front of the estate.”

  Phoenix opened the door to the rooms they had inherited from Erebus.

  “Sir William Hunt and his family enjoyed living in this corner of the building. We love it too.”

  Geoffrey Fox walked through the reception room, to the lounge. He stood at the window and surveyed the view.

  “Magnificent,” he said, “what are the buildings I can see, Phoenix?”

  “We’ll take a walk over there after lunch if you wish,” said Phoenix, “but much of what’s left to see is mundane, I’m afraid. The main house is the jewel in the crown.”

  Athena sat with her mother, who was still holding onto Hope when the two men turned back to the room and joined them.

  “What a lovely home, sweetheart,” said Grace to her daughter. Turning to gaze to the child in her arms added, “Aren’t you a lucky baby, to grow up here?”

  “I’ve asked the staff to prepare lunch for us, as Maria Elena is off today,” said Athena. She walked through to the kitchen, and Phoenix joined her.

  “Need a hand,” he said, coming up behind Athena and slipping his arms around her waist.

  “I need a drink,” she said, pressing herself back against the body of the man she loved, “every step is like walking on broken glass. We need to tread so carefully.”

  “I warned you,” chided Phoenix, “but you insisted on bringing them here. Don’t worry, we’ll get through it. If you break the ‘W’ news to them, sooner, rather than later, that might take Geoffrey’s mind off what’s happening elsewhere in the grounds.”

  They carried the food and drink through to the lounge. Hope was keeping their guests amused; she was a quick learner.

  “Let’s have lunch,” said Athena.

  When they sat, relaxing afterwards, Athena and Grace left to get coffees for the four of them. Hope was nodding off in her grandfather’s arms, and Phoenix took her to her bedroom for a nap.

  “This looks serious,” said Geoffrey, when the four of them were seated, with the coffee cups on a silver tray on the low table in front of them.

  “We have an announcement,” said Athena. “Phoenix has asked me to marry him, and I accepted.”

  Grace hugged her daughter and wiped a tear from her eye. “That’s wonderful news, darling.”

  “Don’t cry, Mummy, you’ll start me off too,” said Athena.

  Geoffrey Fox gripped Phoenix firmly by the hand. “Welcome to the family, Phoenix. Not before time, of course, but young people have different ways these days.”

  Once the initial excitement had quietened, Athena explained their wish for a private ceremony. Geoffrey and Grace exchanged glances but didn’t protest.

  “As it’s a sunny afternoon, we’ll put Hope in her buggy when she wakes up, then we’ll take a stroll around the grounds. We can visit the church and the other places of interest; then I’m sure you want to see your rooms. Perhaps you want to put your feet up, take a nap before we dine this evening?”

  “Whatever you decide darling,” said her mother. “If I can push the buggy when we’re walking, then I don’t really care about anything else.”

  An hour later, when Hope was ready for more fussing over from the grandparents, the five of them ventured out into the Saturday afternoon sunshine. Phoenix showed them the orangery and the walled kitchen garden. Grace and Geoffrey admired the spring flowers and mature bushes and trees that were Erebus’s legacy to Larcombe.

  As they crossed the lawns to the tiny family church, Geoffrey pointed towards the buildings in the distance. “What goes on over there, Annabelle?”

  “Oh, the old stable block is used as accommodation for the ex-servicemen we house here. Many of our carers and trainers live on the estate. Other guests are here temporarily, while they receive treatment for their PTSD. At the far end, what was once a row of estate workers’ cottages have been converted into a swimming pool, recreation areas, and a staff restaurant.”

  “Is that an ice-house, in the corner?” asked Grace Fox. “I’ve read about them, but never seen one, except in photographs.”

  “It’s derelict,” said Phoenix, “we ought to get it condemned. I keep meaning to get it fenced off, especially with Hope likely to go exploring in years to come.”

  They had reached the other side of the lawn and stood inside the porch of the family church.

  “Have you given any thought to a date yet?” asked Grace.

  “Saturday, the nineteenth of April,” replied Athena, “on Easter Saturday. I know it’s only weeks away, but we don’t want anything elaborate.”

  Phoenix swallowed hard. A little warning wouldn’t have gone amiss, he thought. He recalled his previous two wedding services; one a brief affair in a registry office, with a pregnant Karen, and the other on a secluded beach in The Gambia, with Sue Owens. Basic or not, this would be his first church wedding.

  They moved inside the church. The six short rows of pews defined the numbers the church could accommodate. Everything else one would expect was in evidence; an altar, a lectern, and a font. The stained-glass window above the altar depicted St. Michael slaying the dragon.

  “It’s spartan,” said Geoffrey, “but no doubt it was sufficient for the Hunt family and its estate workers to worship. There’s no cemetery here, though, Phoenix?”

  “After any funeral service held here, for the past two centuries at least, bodies have been buried in the city’s main graveyard.”

  He decided Geoffrey needn’t learn of the site where family pets had been laid to rest. Traces of Dwight Thacker’s unmarked grave might still be visible.

  They left the church, and Phoenix paused to stare across the valley, to the crematorium and cemetery where the Hunt mausoleum stood. He thought of his mentor, Erebus and imagined that he would have approved of his marriage to Athena, and the venue they had chosen.

  The truncated estate tour was soon over, and they made their way back to the house. Geoffrey and Grace retired to their room, to unpack and relax until the early evening. Phoenix, Athena and Hope returned to their apartment.

  “Well, that went as well as we could have hoped,” said Athena.

  “I have several questions,” Phoenix said, as he removed Hope from her buggy, “firstly, have you invited anyone else to dinner this evening?

  “I wanted Rusty and Artemis to be present. He’s going to be your best man. Is that okay?”

  “That’s fine. Secondly, have you decided on a bridesmaid or a maid of honour? The natural choice is Artemis, but we need to find two different witnesses for signing the register.”

  “I have mentioned it to Artemis, and she was mo
re than happy to be my bridesmaid. Your concern is regarding the small matter of your name, I suppose?”

  “With a simple ceremony, we can dispense with the elaborate order of service sheets. We can get the banns read in the family church. There’s no need for anything other than our first names to be used during the service. It’s the official document where we absolutely need a surname. We have to avoid Artemis, and the wider public ever seeing that, whatever happens.”

  “I’ll discuss things with Henry Case; I’m sure we can overcome your concerns,” said Athena. “Were you comfortable with me fixing the date, so soon? Mummy’s question panicked me.”

  “My diary was free that weekend, anyway,” said Phoenix, with a nonchalant wave.

  Rusty and Artemis joined them for dinner and were introduced to Geoffrey and Grace Fox.

  Sunday, 9th March 2014

  On Sunday morning, Minos and Alastor were told of the forthcoming wedding, and both men agreed to perform the role of witness. It was something to make them feel important.

  After a lazy morning, and brunch on the patio, Phoenix asked if everyone was ready for a trip to the coast.

  “It’s another warm, sunny day,” he said, “why don’t we drive to Lymington, to visit ‘Elizabeth’?”

  “Is this a family member, Phoenix?” asked Geoffrey.

  “Elizabeth was Sir William Hunt’s wife. He was the founder of the charity. We inherited the yacht he named after her when he passed away. We thought of selling her, getting much-needed funds for our work, but for the moment, we love her too much to part with her.”

  “Do you sail, Phoenix?” Geoffrey asked.

  “Heavens, no,” said Phoenix, “but we have several ex-servicemen here who can sail her. We’re hoping to go sailing in the future; to give Hope her first overseas trip.”

  “Not a honeymoon voyage?” asked Grace.

  “We’re too busy with our work to have a holiday in April,” said Athena. “Hope will enjoy it more when she’s a little older.”

  The trip to and from Lymington passed without incident, on this occasion. They spent two pleasant hours, either looking over the yacht or trying to spot a more elegant one moored in the marina. It was a difficult task.