The Big House

by Larche Davies

  *

  David was in a different stream from Lucy and didn’t see the new teacher until the following day. He had a shock when she swept into the classroom. He’d been told she was stunning, but he was not prepared for such an icy beauty. When her blue eyes glanced in his direction they seemed to pierce right through him. She moved around the class, looking at the screens one by one. Despite the coldness of her eyes, her voice was warm – like the soft, red-gold colour of her hair – and almost tender. The other boys blushed and melted before her, but when she came over to look at David’s screen, the hair rose on the back of his neck.

  “Jesus! Could you feel it?” said one boy when the class was over. “There was warmth just oozing out of her, as though you were the only person in the world that mattered.”

  “It’s her aura,” said another. “It’s charisma, or charm, or something.”

  “You should never trust charm,” said David.

  The other boys jeered. “Just because she didn’t spend much time with you!”

  *

  “You were right about the new teacher,” David told Dorothy that night, as they sat in front of the sitting-room fire. She put down her cookery magazine and looked at him with interest.

  “The other boys were swooning over her,” he said, “but she gave me goose pimples. It’s a real shame Mr Owen left. I’m never going to be able to learn from that woman”.

  Lucy and Paul were sitting close together on the sofa with a large tray full of jigsaw puzzle across their laps.

  “She’s only temporary,” said Lucy, slotting a piece into place. “Perhaps Mr Owen will come back soon. He showed me how to create an email address, so if you give me yours, I can send you messages in class.”

  *

  All thoughts of the new teacher vanished at supper time.

  “Somebody rang today to say that Beverley’s fetching David and Lucy tomorrow,” said Miss Clements, as they sat round the mahogany dining table. “So go up as soon as you’ve finished your meal, and double-check your bags. You might be away a few days, and I suppose you’re expected to look tidy if you go to court even if you are behind a screen.”

  Lucy shuddered. “I’ll be sick if I see Thomas again.”

  “Now, now, we don’t use words like that at the table, do we dear?”

  “Sorry,” muttered Lucy. “Perhaps I’ll just faint, and then they won’t be able to get a word out of me.”

  “I’ll faint if I have to see that Beverley again,” said Dorothy. “She treats us like half-wits.”

  “Well, I expect she went to college or got a qualification or something,” said Miss Clements kindly, “so that makes her feel important. We must try and be tolerant of other people’s little weaknesses, mustn’t we?”

  Her sister sniffed and twitched her nose. “I don’t see why we should,” she snapped.

  “Have another slice of apple pie with cream, Marilyn dear.”

  *

  David and Lucy were ready with their bags before breakfast. When Gwen Jones arrived to take Paul to school, Lucy took off the gold chain with the daffodil circle and put it round his neck.

  “Keep it hidden under your shirt,” she whispered, “so no one will see it. But when you’re wondering where I am, just feel it with your fingers and you’ll know I’m with you in spirit. I’ll be thinking of you all the time.”

  Fifteen minutes later Dorothy appeared in the hall with her school bag. She threw her arms round David and Lucy. “Good luck!” she mumbled into their necks.

  “Dorothy! Wait for me to put on my coat,” said Miss Clements. “You mustn’t go out on your own, remember. Donald and I will come with you as far as the main road. You’ll have plenty of company from there on.”

  “Thank you, but it’s alright,” said Dorothy. “There’s no need. Izzy from down the road says I can walk with her while the others are away. She’s waiting at the gate for me.”

  “Are you sure, dear?” Miss Clements was relieved. It did upset things when her routine had to be changed. “Well, there we are then. That’s settled.”

  Beverley arrived at nine o’clock. “Come along, kiddos, Pete’s waiting, and we’ve got a meeting with Mr Lovett this afternoon.” She almost pushed them out of the front door. “I expect you made arrangements for Dorothy to be escorted to school and back,” she called to Miss Clements as she hurried down the path.

  “Don’t worry. It’s all sorted.”

  *

  Lucy and David had their meeting with Mr Lovett and a barrister in the afternoon, and went over their statements. Mr Lovett told them to ring him if they thought of anything else he needed to know, and David entered the office number onto his mobile phone. By the end of the meeting they were even more terrified at the thought of cross-examination than they had been at the beginning, and they left the office hardly able speak.

  “Don’t worry, kiddywinkies,” said Beverley cheerfully. “The sooner it happens, the sooner it’s over.”

  She hustled them along, and by six o’clock they were settled into two single rooms in a hotel in Bloomsbury. Lucy was worried that people would come through to use the bathroom, but Beverley explained with great amusement that it was for her own private use. “It’s called an on sweet,” she said. “That’s French.”

  *

  Thomas’s trial lasted several days. The night before she was due to give evidence, Lucy lay awake in her hotel bed, going over the same old memories. She remembered how kind Thomas had been when she was little, and had fallen and cut her knee, and how patient he was when he’d taught her how to use his tools. Irrational doubts and hopes popped up in her mind. Perhaps it was all a terrible mistake. Was it possible that the Thomas of the fire was a different Thomas?

  She could still picture the little garden he had helped Paul to create, with its flowers and carrots and prettily laid-out stones. It was he who had soothed Paul’s screams that time when Aunt Sarah stopped him sprinkling rat poison over his pansies. She felt a powerful surge of indignation when she remembered that, at school the next day, one of the Drax girls had the cheek to accuse her of giving Paul the poison!

  Suddenly she sat up in bed. Of course! How could she not have realised? Drax must have paid Thomas to plant the poison, so that Lucy would be blamed and bring dishonour on Copse’s house. This was exactly what David had warned her about at the time, and she hadn’t believed him. She felt hot with shame as she remembered how she’d told him that she couldn’t trust him – David, her truest friend in the whole world.

  Now she was consumed by anger, and a flash of red swept before her eyes. Thomas had been prepared to risk her innocent little brother’s life, just for the sake of pleasing Drax! Plus, no doubt, for a hefty fee! She could hardly wait to give her evidence. Thomas would cringe.

  That night she slept better than she had for weeks.

  *

  Lucy stood her ground. The horrible man who cross-examined her suggested she was lying and had made things up just to get attention to herself. He even suggested that she and David had planned the fire together in revenge for punishments. She was undaunted. Never in her life had she felt so strong.

  David’s evidence didn’t take as long as hers did, and after it was all over Beverley hurried them out through the side of the court building. Pete was waiting for them and she bundled them into the back of his car. Lucy tried to relax. For once she found Beverley’s ceaseless chatter quite soothing. She gazed out of the window and focused on the world outside. As they turned into the main road, she gasped and clutched David’s sleeve.

  “Bernie!” she whispered.

  David peered across her. A heavily built individual was hurrying out of the main entrance of the court building. At the bottom of the steps he stood to one side and scrutinised the emerging public.

  “I recognise him,” said David quietly. “Who is he? Is he looking for us?�
��

  “It’s Bernie, the caretaker at the Copse commune.”

  The car moved on.

  “Now, both of you go and have a lie-down to calm your nerves,” said Beverley, when they arrived back at their hotel.

  David gripped her arm. “We saw Bernie from the Copse commune. He was looking for us outside the court.”

  Beverley was taken aback. She stopped to think. “No,” she said at last. “There’s no way he could have found out where you’re staying. We’ve been super-duper, extra careful. He couldn’t have seen you in court, because of the screen – nor in the car, because of those black windows – like royalty.”

  She relaxed. “Phew! You gave me a fright there. He’s probably gone off to poke his nose in someone else’s business by now. I’ll report it to Mr Lovett, but I know he’ll say you’re safe. Now, off you go for that lie-down. I’ll be back later. We’ll be eating in the hotel restaurant at seven, so don’t you go down for one of their luxury afternoon teas.”

  *

  Back in her room, Lucy couldn’t lie down. She sat on her bed and shivered. Her throat was tight and something gripped her chest. Thank goodness she’d brought Miss Clements’s inhaler. On the third puff her breathing eased. Her hands felt shaky, and she was wondering if that was the Ventolin or just nerves when David’s head appeared round the door.

  “Hi there!” he said and stopped short. He was shocked.

  Lucy seemed to have shrunk. She was trembling and stared at him with haunted eyes. He wanted to put his arms round her and hold her close, to comfort himself as well as her, but he was afraid she would rebuff him.

  “Come on,” he said, as cheerfully as he could. “Let’s go down and order one of their luxury afternoon teas.”

  *

  David dropped his bag on the floor of the hotel foyer. Pete was coming for him any minute, but he had to say goodbye properly to Lucy. He’d asked Mr Lovett if he could stay but he’d said no, he mustn’t miss any more school, and Lucy would be sent back double-quick, as soon as Mr Lovett was sure he wouldn’t need her any more.

  While Beverley was hovering in the hotel entrance looking out for Pete, he took Lucy’s hand.

  “If anything goes wrong, get a bus to Victoria coach station,” he said quietly. “The receptionist told me. Then you can get a coach all the way home.”

  Lucy nodded. Home! Only a temporary home perhaps, but what a comfortable word!

  Pete drove up and honked the horn. He leaned over and flung open the passenger door. “Get slippy!” he called. “I can’t stop here.”

  David gave Lucy a big hug. “I wish you could come back with me. Or at least that I could stay with you.”

  Lucy was grateful, but she was too tense to hug him back, and he was disappointed.

  She smiled and said, “With you in spirit! Tell Paul I’ll be back soon.”

  *

  Even after Thomas had been found guilty, there was more to come.

  “You’ve got a couple more days in London, I’m afraid,” said Beverley, as they made their way to the tube station. “That’s Thomas out of the way. They’ll probably send him down for life, and good riddance. But the lawyers want to see you about the case against Father Copse – and Father Drax if they can find him. You’ve got an appointment with Mr Lovett at ten o’clock on Wednesday.”

  Lucy’s heart sank. Paul must be fretting for her, and it just seemed to go on forever. She’d ask Beverley if she could use her mobile phone to ring him tonight. “I wish something would happen to Father Copse’s case so I never have to go to court again,” she said.

  “Well, there’s no point in wishing,” said Beverley, pushing her into a crowded carriage. “You’ll be a major witness if it happens. But, you never know. There’s still a chance they’ll say he’s too crazy to stand trial.”

  “If only the others could be up here with me, so I wouldn’t be on my own.”

  “You’re not on your own,” said Beverley indignantly. “I’ve been with you the whole time.”

  Chapter Ten

  It was Tuesday. When Dorothy and David arrived back from school, Paul was in the kitchen drinking milky tea and eating angel cake. “Very delicious!” he announced.

  “Take the tray to your room,” said Miss Clements. “It’ll be nice and cosy for you there after walking back in that horrid wind.”

  In the sitting room the fire was roaring and the flames lit up the colours in the carpet. David turned on the television and threw himself back in an armchair. Dorothy put down the tea tray, and they each took a piece of the angel cake.

  “The easy life,” remarked David. “I wonder what Lucy’s doing.”

  The doorbell rang through to the kitchen. Miss Clements sighed and wished she hadn’t told the children never to open the door unless they knew who it was. All this coming and going was so inconvenient, was it not? She put down her wooden spoon, took off her apron and crossed the hall to the front door. The visitor introduced herself. Miss Clements ushered her into the dining room, and then poked her head round the sitting room door.

  “Dorothy,” she said, “There’s a Miss Morris from the school to see you.”

  All three children stood up and went into the hall.

  “She only wants you, dear,” said Miss Clements to Dorothy. “Well, I’m sure there’s no reason why you shouldn’t all go in if you want to,” she added, as they stepped into the dining room together.

  Miss Morris came forward smiling and gracious. “Hello, Dorothy – oh, and your friends as well! I didn’t realise David lived in the same house as you. Or is he just visiting? Hello, David. And who’s this little fellow?”

  David felt his skin prickling. He mumbled “Hello,” but avoided her piercing gaze. Paul started humming, and Dorothy gave him a little push. The sound diminished, but didn’t quite stop.

  “It’s nice of you to call, Miss Morris,” said Dorothy. “Is there a problem with my work?”

  “Not at all! You’re doing very well for a beginner, but I did wonder if you’d like a little private tuition, say once or twice a week?”

  Dorothy was taken aback.

  “I wouldn’t expect you to pay me,” continued Miss Morris, “because it would give me pleasure to help you.” Her smile was warm and kind. “I can see that you’d benefit enormously. It would only take a month or so for you to master all the basics.”

  “Oh,” said Dorothy, trying to think quickly. “That’s very generous of you. I’d have to ask Miss Clements. She’s my foster mother, you know.”

  “Of course. I‘ll have a word with her. You could come to my flat after school, just for an hour twice a week, and we’ll see how we get on.”

  The humming increased in volume.

  “Thank you so much for coming,” said Dorothy hastily. “I’ll speak to Miss Clements myself and let you know in class tomorrow.”

  She hustled Paul out of the room. ”Take him, David. I’ll just see Miss Morris out.”

  Miss Clements appeared just as Miss Morris was leaving, and she explained the purpose of her visit once more. Miss Marilyn’s face peeped over the landing banister rail. Her face twitched.

  “What a good idea, Dorothy, my love,” said Miss Clements. “You were only saying yesterday it would be really useful to be expert on the computer.”

  “I’ve told Miss Morris that I’ll think about it and discuss it with you. I’m not sure how I could do it, what with all my homework and revision. I’ll let her know tomorrow. Thank you, Miss Morris.”

  Dorothy didn’t quite push Miss Morris, but she did close the door rather quickly after her.

  “Well, it’s your choice, dear, but so very kind of her,” said Miss Clements as she went back to her kitchen.

  “Holy fire! What was all that about?” said Dorothy, shutting the sitting-room door. “I’d love to have extra tuition and be really expert, but n
o way am I going to her flat!”

  “Thank the Bag, she’s gone!” exclaimed David. “She makes my hair stand on end. You can’t possibly have private lessons with her!”

  “She makes my hum come,” said Paul.

  The topic of conversation for the rest of the afternoon was Miss Morris’s visit, and it continued at supper.

  “Why don’t you ask her if she’d like to give the lessons here, in the dining room?” asked Miss Clements. “Then she won’t have to tidy her sitting room for you, and I could bring her a cup of tea and a piece of cake, just to check everything’s alright. You could give me a signal if something was wrong.”

  “Phew! Brilliant!” exclaimed Dorothy with relief. “It’s just that she’s so weird. I don’t want to be with her in a strange place.”

  She decided she’d take up the offer on that basis. “It can’t do any harm,” she said, “and I’d be learning something really useful for when I get a job.”

  “Don’t trust her!” snapped Miss Marilyn. They all stared at her, but she gave no explanation.

  “Do you know her, dear?” asked Miss Clements.

  “No,” replied Miss Marilyn abruptly, “but I’ve got eyes in my head. I’d put my faith in Lucifer himself before I’d trust that woman!”

  “I thought she seemed very pleasant,” murmured Miss Clements. “You really should try and look for the good in people Marilyn dear. Pre-judgment is such a horrid thing, is it not?”

  Miss Marilyn snorted, and Dorothy changed the subject.

  “I’m going to do my swotting over the holiday,” she said. “If I can just pass maths and English this summer I’ll be able to get a job when the trials are over. I’ll be seventeen in September.”

  Miss Clements’s normally bland expression gave a flicker of surprise.