“And here was me worrying about her.” I said, sitting back against the pillows then hauling myself back up again.
“I need to…” I started but Roland gave me a gentle shove back.
“You don’t need to do anything. Elizabeth’s bringing you up a cup of tea, just stop being a busy-body for a bit, if you can manage that.
“But what if… ?” I started again.
“Don’t you get it?” He said, “Our so-called tv friends – shame about that documentary, it might have been the making of us – were here to frighten you away. Not only didn’t they succeed, but they failed at stopping the very thing they’d come to prevent.” He paused. “But you’ve seen them off for now.”
“For now?”
“Well, there’s no doubt, the stakes just got higher.” He said. I shook my head firmly,
“No, they haven’t,” I said, “Because I won’t be here.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
My morning stroll with Murray had cleared my head and confirmed my thinking, and I saw no reason not to immediately put everything into action. Of course, I wasn’t going to just disappear without a word, so I packed the few things I had with me – not a lot, it had only been intended to be a couple of nights stay – and set off to do the rounds.
In a route reminiscent of my tour of the house a few days ago, although it seemed a lot longer, I started at the top. Henry was as expected, wired up to the computer, but not half as cocky. Other than greeting me with,
“What’s up babe?” He was so busy not meeting my eye, that it was difficult to know whether he was even listening to my goodbye.
“For goodness sake,” I said in exasperation, “Stop working that keyboard and just pay attention to me, what’s the matter?” He muttered something I didn’t catch, so I put out a foot and swung his swivel chair round to face me.
“Very sorry.” He muttered, chin down to chest. “Didn’t pitch in.”
“What d’you mean?”
“Yesterday… all that stuff going on. Heard it all start up and…” he paused.
“And what?” I said,
“Put the headphones on and turned up the volume. Sorry.” I laughed wryly at his guilty expression,
“Don’t be silly,” I said. “Strikes me as the most sensible thing to do under the circumstances. Don’t give it another thought,” He muttered something else which I didn’t catch.
“Look, I’ve just popped in to say goodbye,” I said, “I’m off later.”
“OK.” He said. “Bye.” And swiveled back into position with rather more relief than regret.
I knocked on Felicia’s door with some apprehension and entered in answer to her imperious, ‘Come’. The huge room was darker than I remembered because of the residue of snow on the skylights, but still dazzling after the dimness of the hallway. It was also startlingly empty. I turned slowly on my heel. There were one or two odd pieces lurking in a corner, but other than that, nothing. She was standing by the table, looking at me expectantly and still pink-quilted. I wondered if she ever got dressed. As if she’d heard the thought she replied,
“Never waste time dressing and undressing, pretty pointless, unless it’s for a special occasion, so you’ll have to forgive my informality.” I smiled,
“I’ve come to thank you.”
“Oh?” She said.
“For yesterday, you were brilliant.” She nodded briskly,
“Well, somebody had to do something, the rest of the family aren’t much use, are they? And it was, as you might say, a call to arms.” I looked at her sharply, was that a joke? She gave a brief twitch which could have been the beginnings of a smile, or maybe just a twitch. I thought of all the smashed years of clay piled in the library,
“All your work though, what will you do now? I asked. She looked at me as if I was mad,
“Start all over again, of course. Now, if you don’t mind, I am rather busy.”
“I came to say goodbye as well as thank you. I’m leaving.” I said.
“Good.” She said, “Nothing but problems since you arrived.”
“Right.” I said, backing out the door, a hug didn’t seem to be on offer.
Devorah and Bella, when I tracked them down in Bella’s room, more than made up for Felicia in the embrace stakes. As soon as I stuck my head round the door, I was pulled into firm hugs against first one capacious bosom, Bella’s and then a second, Devorah’s, with the ever-amenable Simona, slightly squashed but cheerful, between us.
“You were like just awesome.” Devorah said when she’d let me go and,
“I won’t say I didn’t think you had it in you,” said Bella, “Because I did. But you’re not going to hang around are you?” I shook my head. “Didn’t think so.” She said and I was surprised at the regret in her voice, she might be the only person not pleased to see the back of me. We were interrupted by a resounding thump against the bedroom door which turned out to be Mimi, looking unusually disheveled – and that was saying something – Bella helped her up and she smiled at us all.
“Goodness me,” she said. “I didn’t mean to be here at all. I was on the way to ask Elizabeth something, although,” she ran a hand distractedly through her halo of fine white hair, “I can’t for the life of me think now what it might have been.” She looked at us enquiringly, as if we might have an idea.
“Mimi,” I said, “I’ll say my goodbyes now, because I might not see you before I leave.” She looked at me sharply, confirming yet again there was more behind the daffiness than she chose to show.
“Yes, I see.” She said, “Well, it’s been really lovely having you to stay, given us a chance to find out a bit more about each other, hasn’t it?” Devorah smothered a snigger behind me, but I ignored her. Mimi reached up a little and placed two forefingers briefly on my forehead, an odd gesture yet like so much else, disconcertingly not unfamiliar. “I expect we’ll see you again, sooner or later.” She said and headed out of the room and down the corridor. She’d got a little way before she obviously remembered what it was she wanted to impart to Elizabeth, she exclaimed and disappeared. I sighed and turned back to the other two women.
“She’s right you know.” Said Bella. “We’ll probably see you again.”
“Not if I can help it.” I said, squeezing her arm to show no hard feelings as I leant over and kissed Simona’s plump cheek.
The visit I was looking forward to least was next and, coward that I am, I rather hoped she might not be there, but in response to the knock on the door Etty asked me to come in. She was as before, writing at her desk, and didn’t glance up for a moment or two. I felt we were past the standing around awkwardly phase, so sat myself firmly on the chair and waited. She finished what she was listing in a lined notebook, she was near the end of the book and I could see slips of differently coloured paper sticking out as markers from between lots of the pages. Was this I wondered, the Etty Goodkind Book of Spells. She snapped the cover closed, slipped an elastic band round it and looked over at me.
“Well?” She said.
“I’m afraid I’m leaving.” I said “And…”
“Don’t be afraid. By far the best thing, don’t you think?” I nodded, of course it was. I had no doubts about what I was going to do, but perhaps a polite remonstration on her part wouldn’t have hurt. There was a short pause then,
“Is there anything else?” She enquired. I’d thought I’d used up a month’s store of emotional stuff yesterday and didn’t have any feelings left, turns out though I did. I sat up straighter.
“Are you not going to say anything at all about what happened?”
“What would you like said?” She asked with interest. I clenched my nails in my palms. Bloody woman had the power to get up my nose as much as Ophelia, must run in the family. She sighed,
“Look, I warned you what w
ould happen if you stayed,” she said. “The assumptions that would be made and the danger those would bring. You didn’t believe me. You stayed. You attracted that attention. It was a… difficult situation, but it was dealt with adequately.”
“And?” I asked. She raised a brow over the green glint,
“And nothing. You’ve made your own decisions all along. You made a clear choice when you reacted yesterday, it had to be free-willed, would only work if you came to it voluntarily.”
“It was hardly a choice.” I said, “It was them or us.”
“It always is.”
“But now it’s my choice to forget about it, get the hell out of here and get on with my life.”
“Good luck.” She said.
“Meaning?”
“Exactly what I say. But you’re misguided if you imagine you’re leaving it behind. It’s who you are, always has been. What happened yesterday merely confirmed what we all knew.”
“Which was?” I asked.
“Don’t play games.” She snapped. I turned away from her. She was right, no question. I’d tasted my strength, felt the power of Etty and knew I was her equal if not more. But that made no difference, I was only what I was, if I chose to be, and I chose not to be.
I rose to my feet, looking down on her where she sat upright, back not making any contact with the chair. It wasn’t that my feelings for her weren’t strong – they were, they just weren’t particularly fond – nevertheless she was old and she was indisputably family. I softened my voice,
“I’m sorry,” I said, “If I’ve been a disappointment, but I hope you’ll respect my decision and know that I’m saying goodbye with no hard feeling between us.” She nodded in acknowledgement and, still seated, held out her hand. I hesitated before I took it and her mouth twitched in amusement, although I needn’t have worried, it was just a handshake, an oddly formal gesture.
Ophelia and Adam were indeed snug on a sofa in the living room downstairs. Murray was seated opposite them and they had a tray of coffee and biscuits into which they were tucking with enthusiasm. It all looked very comfortably domesticated. Both my parents got up when I came in, and Ophelia flung out her arms dramatically.
“Darling, darling girl,” she said. “I feel so terribly guilty for pulling you into all this.” She paused, presumably for me to reassure her. I didn’t say anything. I was wondering whether, what and how things had been explained to Adam, but decided I wasn’t going to worry too much about it, I’d leave it in the capable hands of Murray and my Mother, who always seemed to have managed things satisfactorily until now. Murray glanced at my overnight bag, packed at my feet,
“You’re off then?” He said. “The roads should be all right. They’re saying so on the radio, everything’s running more or less normal today, but still, be careful. I nodded, and seeing my parents were murmuring sweet nothings to each other, mouthed at Murray,
“Sasha?”
“Taxi, to the station, ‘bout an hour ago.” I nodded in relief.
“Ma?” I said, reclaiming her attention. “Are you driving back with me? Because I want to leave before it gets dark.”
“Darling,” she said, “I think I’m going to be totally selfish for once.” I glanced at her sideways but no, there was no irony involved, “And go back,” she continued, “With Murray and your Father, you don’t mind honeybun, do you? I am,” she murmured, leaning further into Adam, “Totally exhausted, with all that’s been thrown at us over these last few days.” Murray followed me out into the hallway,
“We’ll be leaving soon and all.” He said. “And don’t worry, I’ve settled up with that Elizabeth for the rooms and food and such. She didn’t want to take anything under the circumstances, but I insisted, said to her, you’re not running a blooming charity here.” I smiled, trust Murray to do the right thing.
“You OK?” He said.
“I will be.”
“And all sorted,” he jerked his head, “With the family, I mean?” I nodded.
“I’m just going to find Roland,” I said. “Then I’m off.” He patted me gently on the back,
“Drive safely hear me? You’ve had a lot on your mind, I don’t want you not concentrating.” I laughed,
“Trust me Murray, concentrating on the motorway is going to be the most relaxing activity I’ve done for days.”
Roland was in the kitchen with a half-finished cup of coffee in front of him and was watching Gladys with mild apprehension. She was back on the silver tray and rocking, so I guessed the Chief was with us. Still, there were no dinner or room bookings for the next few days, so perhaps he’d head for the hills before we needed her to be constructive again.
“I’m heading off.” I said to Roland. He nodded and smiled amenably. “Bet you can’t wait to see the back of us. Hasn’t exactly been an uneventful visit. Still, very appreciative of what you’ve tried to do.” I pulled out a couple of sheets of paper from my shoulder bag.
“Look,” I said, “I know you’ll think I’m bossy.”
“As if!”
“I’ve put together a bit of a forward plan of action and some lists. This gives you several things to follow up on.”
“Well, we’ve already had Hugh Whateverhisnameis and Morwenna, in from the Psychic Society this morning.” He said. “They were in a high old state of excitement, practically hysterical,” he grinned. “That equipment they’d set up in the library apparently recorded all sorts of power bursts and a cartload of inexplicably odd sounds. They were quite beside themselves.” I frowned at him, worried.
“What would they have picked up?”
“Not to worry.” He said, “Nothing dodgy, everything’s calibrated to pick up things outside the normal range of speech or vision – apparently that’s the wavelength ghosts prefer to work on. Don’t ask! Anyway, suitably leaked, it should generate some good publicity for us.”
“So you will follow through then?” I asked, pleased.
“Much as I can. You talk up a good plan, niece of mine. Now come here and give me a hug.” I complied and was just pulling away, when Elizabeth and Alfred came through the back door. She was pulling a small trolley on wheels, with logs for the fire and he was bent double, steering it from behind.
“You off then?” She said. “Thought you wouldn’t hang around longer than you had to – blimey there was a mess and a half to clear up in the library, what the devil did you get up to in there.”
“Elizabeth,” I said, “Trust me, you really don’t want to know.”
“That’s as maybe,” she said, “All I’m saying is things were a darn sight more normal before you happened along.” I glanced at Gladys, chanting and rocking, and wasn’t sure whether I went along with that, normal hadn’t ever seemed an integral element of Home Hill. She sniffed, “S’pose, you’ll be wanting a sandwich to take with you, long drive, you might get peckish.” I smiled and reassured her I was fine, but I was touched, I suspected that was the nearest Elizabeth might get to gushing.
I realised, as I went through the front doors that I hadn’t commiserated properly with Ophelia about poor old Ink, and was feeling dreadfully guilty about that as I dumped my bag in the passenger seat. I was frightened the car would play up again and not start, although Alfred had looked at it for me, muttering what he didn’t know about engines, wasn’t worth writing home about and bless him, it started first time and actually sounded a lot smoother than it ever had done before.
As I let off the handbrake, there was a rapping on the window, I jumped. It was the solicitor again, I spotted his flashy SUV parked the other side of the mermaid. I wound down the window.
“You’re going?” He said. I shook my head,
“Nope, just thought I’d sit in the car with the engine running – it passes the time.” He ignored the sarcasm.
“I need your phone numbe
r.” He said. I looked at him in surprise, I didn’t feel we’d hit it off that well – in fact I couldn’t think of a polite word we’d said to each other.
“I don’t think so.” I said. He caught my meaning and laughed,
“No, I can assure you, I wasn’t thinking of a date, but I will need to make contact at some point in the future.”
“What on earth for?” I asked. He waved a vague hand,
“Legal stuff.” He said and I frowned at him,
“I really don’t see… “ I started. He lost patience, although from what I’d seen, he didn’t have a whole load to start with,
“For goodness sake,” he thrust his phone into my hand, “Just put it in there will you and then you can go.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue, so did as he asked and then, for some reason, felt the need to justify my leaving, but like everyone else he really didn’t want me to stay.
“Sooner you go the better, nothing short of all hell’s broken loose since you came on the scene.” I thought that was a bit on the harsh side, but who cared what he thought anyway. “And,” he added helpfully, just as I was taking off the handbrake, “You’ve got a great big smudge on your forehead.”
I pulled the mirror sharply down in annoyance, but he wasn’t wrong, must have come from touching the car door which was smutty from the snow, or maybe Mimi had something on her fingers when she touched me.
I thanked him politely, I knew my manners even if he didn’t, spat on a tissue with perhaps a little more force than necessary and cleaned up. But as I turned away, something was odd and I looked back quickly. For a moment, I’d thought my eyes, always unobtrusively hazel, had glinted green. But it must have just been a trick of the light.
~ the end ~
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
REVIEWS FOR RELATIVELY STRANGE & EVEN STRANGER
Witch Dust Page 29