‘Now when did I ever do that?’
‘Come, come Professor. You’ve been doing that ever since I knew you.’ George was grinning all over his face as he added. ‘Let’s hope Laura recovers her health and fitness in the next few weeks. I think you know that she intends riding in the local point-to-point at the beginning of April, and I truly believe she has a good chance of success in the Ladies event; both the gelding and the mare seem to be in great form.’
‘I’m hoping to be there to see that, but I have to be in North Devon for the first public performance of the Tropicana Circus and then I’m giving lectures, as a guest, on a cruise ship.’
‘Sounds like you’re having a busy time, Giles. I’m sure you prefer it that way. You always wanted to be a detective, even as a small boy, so we all want to know how you’re doing in the world of detection.’
‘Well, George, let me say that as soon as I know how well I’m doing you’ll be one of the first to be told. At the moment I’m stumped, but Laura may be able to assist me when we have her back home. She may have some news I’m waiting for.’
‘I’ll pick her up from the hospital tomorrow, Giles. I’ll give the Royal Infirmary a phone in the morning to find out when she’ll be signed off.’
Before he left the stables Giles paid a visit to boxes where the two hunters had their heads looking out at him. His mind went back to his last meeting with the horses and his dramatic ride on one of them. That episode inescapably brought back emotive memories of a girl he lost years ago at a point-to-point.
He stroked the muzzle of one of the animals and whispered, ‘Take care of Laura for me. I don’t ever want to lose her.’
Doreen served a snack lunch in the kitchen where Giles was joined by Isabella and George. After that, he returned to the library, had a look at the Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm and wondered why Laura should be interested in this particular book. The cryptic remark, by Doreen, that Laura might want his help, was hard to fathom. It was another puzzle in a minefield of confusing posers.
He was going round in circles and yet there was always a glimmer that kept shining through on one person.
Dinner that evening was a favourite of Giles. Doreen’s steak pie was something to behold and afterwards, in the lounge with a log fire, Giles was on the verge of sleep.
Isabella prodded him awake.
‘You are very quiet, Giles. Something is bothering you and I have always found that it’s much better to talk about things and bring them out in the open.’
‘You mean a problem shared is a problem halved,’ murmured a sleepy Giles. I suppose you’re right, Isabella.’
‘Well then, Giles?’
‘The quandary, in which I have allowed myself to become involved, is such that although I am unable to put my instinct into play and decide who might be the guilty person or persons, I continually come back to one name. I have faith in my intuition but…’
‘There is nothing wrong in having faith, Giles.’
‘That is so true, Isabella, but I did read somewhere that faith is a belief in something for which there is no evidence. And evidence is a commodity I don’t have.’
‘Perhaps it will come, Giles. And often, when you least expect it. If you’ll excuse me I think I’ll have an early night. Help yourself to a drink, Giles and I’ll see you in the morning. Tomorrow we’ll have Laura back with us.’
‘I’ll certainly drink to that, Isabella. Goodnight and sleep well.’
Pouring himself a cognac, Giles settled down with the fire embers as a cheerful companion. He was speedily coming to the conclusion that he must stop feeling cross with himself. His truculence would have to be kept under control. The outcome at the circus and his relationship with Laura could depend on it.
He looked at his watch and calculated that he might be holding Laura’s hand again in fourteen or fifteen hours. He lifted the glass of cognac to his lips and, before taking a sip, muttered, ‘I’ll certainly drink to that.’
Giles was up bright and early the following morning. He’d slept soundly and was ready for what the day had to offer.
He was just finishing breakfast in the kitchen when George came in with the news that Laura would be ready to come home in the afternoon. The hospital staff said there could be a slight delay as certain papers had to have signatures but any delay would be kept to a minimum.
On the basis that two’s company and three’s a crowd Giles decided to stay and give Doreen any help she needed for the homecoming, thus allowing George to go to Dumfries and collect Laura by himself. George also had instructions from Doreen to do some shopping before going to the hospital.
While the housekeeper made preparations for a roast chicken dinner Giles and Isabella set the table in the dining room for the evening meal. Candle holders were put in place for what was to be a romantic spread even if it became apparent to Giles that Laura might not be able to consume a hearty meal.
Throughout the afternoon Giles was constantly looking at his watch. He shook it on occasions to check if it was still working. There were times when he felt like giving himself a shake to see if he was still working; such was the state he was in.
The noise of the station wagon pulling up on the gravel drive had Doreen and Giles scurrying to the front door.
The wait was over. Giles rushed down the steps to open the car door. Laura almost fell into his arms and as she did so she laughingly said, ‘Yes, you can kiss me, Giles. I’m home once more. And you can be a good Professor and help me up the steps.’
A willing Giles did as he was told, He kissed Laura lovingly on the lips then, putting his arm around her, he escorted her up to the big house while Doreen and George collected Laura’s case and coat. Isabella was at the top of the steps at the front door and hugged her daughter before taking her inside to the warmth of the log fire.
Dinner was served to Isabella Ramsden, her daughter, Laura and Professor Giles Dawson in the dining room at Maskelyne Hall. Doreen Gardner and her husband George had their meal in the kitchen having decided that it might be a fitting start for Laura, on her first night at home, to have the company of only her mother and Giles.
The candle lit feast was a delight for Laura. Her appetite was such that she was unable to eat as much as normal and although conversation centred on her stay in hospital she appeared at ease with her condition.
After the meal was over, Isabella, Laura and Giles retired to the lounge and Doreen said she would bring in coffee when she’d cleared away the dishes.
Mrs. Ramsden settled in her favourite armchair then turned to Laura and Giles who were cosily seated on the sofa.
‘There was a strange look in your eyes, Laura, while you were at dinner,’ Mrs. Ramsden hinted in a slighted worried way. ‘And that same look is still there now. Is there something wrong?’
‘No, no, nothing wrong Mother dear. It was just the candles at dinner and we have them here in the lounge. I was reminded of the time when the lights suddenly went out when Giles was here at the end of October. I think we were all in the dining room then and we had to light the candles. I think we wondered if the lights going out might be the work of…ghosts.’
A shiver went through Laura’s body as she spoke. Giles put an arm round her and held her close to him.
Laura smiled and glanced at Giles. ‘I’m feeling warm and loved,’ she said in a low voice. ‘And the past can look after itself.’
‘You were also very limited in your chat, Giles. Can you explain why?’
‘I’m sorry, Isabella,’ Giles answered with contrition, as if trying to explain to the teacher at school. ‘I have so much to ask Laura but there is a time and a place for everything and, although this may be the place I don’t think tonight is the right time.’
‘I know what you want to ask, Giles,’ a patently understanding Laura said. ‘There’s one question I may have the answer to…I’m just waiting for confirmation and I expect that to arrive any day now. The other question I shall answer when the timing is ri
ght.’ Her coquettish glimpse at Giles sent a tremor of excitement through his body.
At that moment Doreen appeared with the trolley of coffee and said she would take Laura to her bedroom in about half-an-hour.
The final moments of Laura’s first day back at Maskelyne Hall were spent in cheerful chat before bedtime.
The next few days were occupied getting Laura well on the road to a successful recovery. Walks and talks and visits to her majestic horses seemed to work in her favour.
Evenings were enjoyed exchanging views on a variety of subjects. At one of those Giles enquired about Grimms’ book of fairy tales and, to his surprise, was told that Laura had been asked by a theatre company to assist in the production of a stage play based on one of the stories. She’d be required to come up with some stage illusions for a mystery play; a dark rendering of Cinderella and she was hoping to enlist the help of Giles.
By Monday 13th February, Laura seemed ready to answer everything asked of her.
On that day, the day before St. Valentine’s Day, Giles ventured to ask if Laura could make some sense out of the conundrum he’d received at RAF Winkleigh.
‘I imagined the best way to tackle this problem was to take it one lap at a time,’ Laura explained. ‘In the same way as I do in a point-to-point race.’
‘That sounds reasonable to me, as it would to Freddie. So what did you come up with?’
‘I got in touch with the West Highland Museum in Fort William. That, from my point of view, was the best place to ask about the forbidden isle; Fort William being one of the few towns close to where you are going to be on your lecture cruise.’
‘Were they able to help?’
‘It was very interesting. What they said was that, although they couldn’t be adamant about the term, there had been some talk about the Isle of Rum, one of the small isles on the West coast of Scotland, being classified as the forbidden isle.’
‘Why, on earth, would that be?’
‘Something to do with someone on the isle not wishing to have visitors, I think.’
‘Interesting, but strange. Very strange, indeed. Did you ask about the KC?’
‘Yes, I did. They were going to try and make some enquiries and would get back to me. I have a premonition that we’ll have some news before very long.’
‘I hope your vibes are in fine order, Laura. Someone in that circus is playing a game with me and I also have a premonition; more a prediction really. Someone is going to die and the death will not be from natural causes. I don’t know who that person will be and I have no idea why that person will die…or when. And the most horrid thing of all is…I will be unable to prevent it happening.’
The following day, St. Valentine’s Day, was always going to be a day Giles would remember…for several reasons.
When he went into the library, Laura was already there. She had a letter in her hand and Giles looked at her quizzically.
‘Is that from Fort William?’
‘Yes, Giles, it is. And the KC is not the King’s Counsel, as we correctly thought. Nor is it the initials of a person living on the isle.’
‘Well?’ questioned an eager Professor.
‘The KC, it would appear, is the biggest house on the isle. It is the name of the house and the KC, in the riddle, must stand for Kinloch Castle!’
The rest of the day was spent rummaging over the other parts of the conundrum. Kinloch Castle must have some connection with Gatwick if the London cabbie’s inkling regarding the grassland was correct but Giles could not come up with any reason for the two parts of the riddle to be linked.
When Giles and Laura were left alone in the warm lounge after a sumptuous evening meal, they talked small talk for a while until Giles changed tack and became serious.
‘Laura, your father was an inspiration to me. Without his help I would not be the historian I am now. If he was alive today I would be asking him…’
Laura interrupted before he could go any further. ‘He is not here, Giles, and he no longer will be except in spirit. Why don’t you just get a grip and put me in place of my father!’ She was wearing her provocative face as she continued. ‘Get down on your bloody knees, Professor, and pop the question. That’s how my daddy might have said it. Pop the question before St. Valentine’s Day is gone for this year and, perhaps, gone forever.’
Giles tried to get to his feet, stumbled in the process and fell to his knees. He struggled to get his torso to the vertical; Laura grabbing his hands in hers and looking him straight in the eyes, blurted out. ‘The place is right and you’re in the correct position, Giles…you’ll never have a better opportunity.’
The pause was electric; the only sound in the room was the crackling of the logs in the fire and the breathing of two persons who couldn’t take their eyes away from each other.
‘Will you marry me and be my wife, Laura, my love?’
‘Yes, Giles,’ she said as she bent down to kiss him. ‘That wasn’t too difficult, now, was it?’
After being helped back on to the couch, Giles and Laura lay in each others’ arms while the logs in the fire gently hissed and spat their approval.
Chapter 10
POLE AXED
How he got to his bed on St. Valentine’s night Giles never knew. In the morning he was alone between the sheets but he could’ve sworn that there were two in his bed at sometime during the night…much like a previous encounter in the same bedroom.
‘You are like a pussycat with a saucer of milk, Giles,’ Doreen Gardner commented when he came into the kitchen for breakfast.
‘With good reason,’ said a chirpy Professor. ‘Laura and I are engaged to be married, though how I managed to propose is beyond me.’
‘Congratulations, Giles,’ said the cook, with a tear in her eye as she hugged him. ‘I so desperately hoped it would happen. You deserve each other and I hope you’ll both be very happy.’
The weather on the days following St. Valentine’s was not conducive for early Spring walks. There was a drizzle in the atmosphere but the rain that came couldn’t dampen the spirits of two lovers who meant so much to each other.
There was plenty to discuss between Laura and Giles. Decisions had to be made about an engagement ring for Laura and a possible wedding later in the year.
It was decided that no final arrangements for a wedding were to be made until Giles’ business with the circus at RAF Winkleigh was resolved.
There was always the lecture cruise to be considered and the letter from the West Highland Museum in Fort William had stated that the large building on the Isle of Rum was not open to the visiting public. The Nature Conservancy, the body responsible for the Castle, makes special concessions to academics carrying out relevant research. It was agreed that Laura should contact the Nature Conservancy for permission to allow Professor Dawson, as a historian, a brief stay in the Castle to complete some research. If the large building, known as Kinloch Castle, was the KC which was in the circus riddle, he was determined to go and find out why a visit was deemed so necessary.
Plans for Laura to return to her occupation as a choreographer, working with theatre and film clients, were to be put on hold until her health and fitness were no longer in doubt. Giles wanted to know more about the Cinderella production that Laura might be involved in. It was to be a Comedy Thriller, she told him, based on the original story but completely different from the Walt Disney version produced not so long ago as a feature length cartoon. Giles said he would love to help her in planning stage illusions; it would be a pleasant change from the present problem he had with the circus.
The cruise to the Scottish Isles and the next visit to RAF Winkleigh for the public performance of the circus to the North Devon people, were Giles’ priorities for the immediate future.
If there were further accidents at the circus they could escalate out of control and the repercussions might make it impossible for Giles to continue. His reputation would be short-lived and could slide down the scale to absolute zero. That
was quickly put out of his mind. Giles was confident he was on the right road to a successful conclusion. He only had to keep focussed and not be diverted from the task in hand.
The short voyage on the recently built German cruise ship which was to leave Tilbury docks on 17th March was something that could be a pleasant interlude and Giles made all the necessary arrangements to be put ashore on the Isle of Rum. He was convinced Laura’s letter to the Nature Conservancy would bear fruit.
There was a lump in his throat as Giles waved goodbye at Lockerbie’s railway station. He hated goodbyes but was ready to get a grip, as Laura had instructed him when he was about to propose to her. He knew he would have to knuckle down and reach a solution to the enigma he’d become involved in.
On the train to London Giles consulted his diary. He was due to be at RAF Winkleigh for the North Devon residents’ performance in early March. That was to be followed by the trip to Rum starting on the 17th of the month. After that he must be at Lockerbie for Laura’s point-to-point meeting which would take place at the beginning of April; and there was a visit to Aintree, near Liverpool, for the Grand National, shortly afterwards. His diary was very full. Freddie would be at Aintree and Giles hoped Laura would also be there to watch the race with him. The main interest, apart from the excitement of the steeplechase, would hinge on the prediction of Madame Zigana, the circus fortune teller. Her enigmatic forecast of the race result warranted scrutiny.
Before leaving the big house at Lockerbie Giles had made a suggestion that he and Laura might spend a week at York at the beginning of May. The Tropicana Circus was starting their tour at the racecourse and there was an old coach house, where the engaged couple could stay. It would be a good opportunity to enjoy a few days together and, at the same time, keep a watching eye on happenings at the circus.
Gauntlet of Fear Page 11