by Minna Howard
She was ready when Julius rang the bell shortly after.
‘I’d offer you a coffee, only we’d better collect Freddie, Lucy’s got things to do,’ she said as Julius came into the house, quickly followed by Felix.
‘How did you get out, you bad dog?’ Julius turned to him. ‘I thought I shut the Land Rover door.’
‘Don’t worry, I expect he’s hoping Sidney and Philly are back and is disappointed we are still here.’ Anna watched Felix doing the rounds of the flat, and then finding they were not there he lay down morosely in the hall.
‘They’ll be back soon, but he likes you and Freddie really. I think Philly feeds him treats behind my back and it’s that he’s after.’ Julius smiled at her. ‘Let’s get this over. It’s all right, yours is not the only evidence.’ He studied her with concern and she had a ridiculous urge to be held close to him.
‘No,’ she said more forcibly than she might. ‘I… mean, I’d just like to forget about it, but I know it has to be done, though as I was the only person who saw her stealing I still feel rather unsure about it, even though we did find her bag full of stuff.’
‘You’ll be fine, Anna,’ he put his hand on her arm and it felt comforting and safe there. ‘She’s done it before and there are other incidences which were not discovered in time to catch her, so it’s not just your evidence that will convict her.’ Seeing her coat hanging on a peg by the door, Julius fetched it and held it open for her to put on. ‘It’s pretty raw out there so wrap up warm.’
She felt an overwhelming urge to lean against him; she forced herself to move away. ‘I… I’d better take another jersey for Freddie,’ she dashed into his room to fetch one.
Felix reluctantly got back into the Land Rover and Anna got in the front beside Julius and they headed down into the village.
‘So will you miss us, when you leave?’ Julius turned to her, smiling. ‘Are you missing your life… your friends back home?’
She had a feeling that he was asking more intimate things, perhaps if she had a boyfriend, someone special waiting for her. ‘I do miss them, but two of my best girlfriends and Freddie’s godmothers, Daisy and Grania, have been here and I’m waiting for Francy, the third godmother, to appear any time.’
‘They’ll be pleased to have you home though, I’m sure,’ he said. ‘You’ll leave a large gap behind when you’re gone.’ He turned to face her, slowing the Land Rover as they neared Lucy’s house. His look was soft, almost caressing her face, she looked away not knowing how to handle her feelings.
She felt close to him being enclosed together in the car and then she remembered there was a question she wanted answered and everyone she’d asked so far had fudged it. She said, ‘People seem so grateful that I’m here so Philly and Sidney can go to visit his father, but I just feel there’s more to it.’
They’d reached Lucy’s house and Julius pulled over and turned off the engine. He stared out in front of him. ‘Well, yes you’re right, though no one talks of it.’
‘I’m sorry, I’m just being nosy, you needn’t tell me,’ she said, her hand on the door handle ready to get out.
‘I don’t see why you can’t be told, I’m sure you won’t gossip about it, you might hear bits here and there anyway.’ He turned to her. ‘The autumn before last, Sidney fell for a younger woman, much younger in fact, who lived locally. It was all rather sad and embarrassing, and Philly got breast cancer.’
‘Oh, how dreadful, Daisy never told me,’ Anna was horrified.
‘Fortunately I think it was contained, she’s fine now though still taking drugs for it, but she gave him an ultimatum. She loves it here and has lots of friends and interests and she said she would stay here but he must finish with this woman completely, or leave.’
‘So he stayed?’
‘Yes. The woman was not popular, or anyway with the women around here, which was hardly surprising. She seemed to get a kick from seducing other women’s men, made fools of quite a lot of people.’ He looked away and Anna wondered if he was one of them, but she wasn’t going to ask. ‘They decided to take a break from here and to go and visit his father, in the US.’
‘Well, I’m glad I came then so they could go away together,’ Anna said.
‘So am I. You and Freddie, and not forgetting Ozzie.’ Again his glance gentle on her face, she longed for him to kiss her and may have moved fractionally towards him. For a second she felt he’d take her in his arms, then he said briskly, ‘Well, we’d better get on.’ He got out and came round to open her door.
‘How long have you worked at the castle?’ she asked, to dispel the desire she felt for him, wanting to hide it from Lucy.
‘Oh…’ he thought back, ‘eight, nine years now. I used to be in the army and came out twelve years ago and got a job in an office but found it too constricting.’ He smiled.
‘I suppose you would after an exciting life in the army.’ She wondered if he’d been in a battle zone but felt it better not to ask.
‘You’re right and I love it here working among history and the open air instead of being cooped up with masses of other people fiddling with figures, though of course figures are needed here to try and keep us solvent.’
The front door opened and Colin greeted them. ‘Come in both of you. I hear you saved the castle’s reputation, Anna,’ he greeted her.
‘I wouldn’t say that,’ she laughed, hugging Freddie who ran up to her.
‘Did she have a gun and a huge bag of stolen things,’ he asked excitedly.
‘No, it wasn’t nearly so dramatic,’ she ruffled his hair.
‘Dramatic enough,’ Julius said as the whole family crowded round, throwing questions at them.
At last they managed to leave, Benny grumpy at having some schoolwork to do, as he wanted to come to the police station with Freddie. Colin told him it was not possible. Lucy stepped in, reminding them of the invitation to tea later and included Julius too, if he were free, and they would see who found the king and queen in the Gateau des Rois, for today was the feast of the Epiphany.
‘Of course. I forgot the feast of the three kings going to the manager. We’d love to come, thanks,’ Anna said, and Julius said he would pop in if he could.
‘Can I come into the police station?’ Freddie asked as Julius drove them away.
‘You can come in, but your mother must see the police alone to give her statement,’ Julius said. ‘You and I and Felix could go for a walk.’
‘But we can go in first?’ Freddie persisted.
‘Yes, we’ll drop her there and then go back for her,’ Julius smiled at Anna sitting beside him, but she didn’t smile back, butterflies doing a cancan in her stomach.
‘I just hope I don’t make a mess of it, forget something vital,’ she said with concern.
‘You’ll be fine. I gave my statement first thing this morning, we found the stuff on her and she’s admitted it, so it won’t be like those television dramas where they try to trick you.’
She wished he could come with her, sit there by her side, but then what would Freddie do? And anyway, wasn’t she being a bit drippy, she only had to confirm what she saw.
They arrived at the police station in the ancient town of Bury St Edmunds. On the way, Julius had told them the East Anglian king, Edmund, was beheaded and his remains taken to the abbey here.
‘The abbey gardens are beautiful even in winter, though sadly I haven’t time to take you there today, but another time. Now, here we are.’ He parked the Land Rover. Freddie was eager to get out, Anna, less so. Felix disappointed to be left behind while they went into the police station. Julius put his arm round her shoulders as they went, Freddie jumping beside them.
There was not much for Freddie to see inside, just posters and advice about keeping property safe and drink driving and one policeman, who appeared when they rang a bell. Freddie had hoped to see lots of police and perhaps a few criminals too…
The policeman asked Anna to follow her. Freddie was disappointed he cou
ldn’t go with her.
Julius bent over and kissed her cheek. ‘You’ll be fine,’ he said, ‘just tell it how it was.’
It was the third kiss he’d given her, if she counted the obligatory one at New Year. Though that one could be counted as two, even three. She could still feel the warmth of this one on her cheek. He was just being kind, giving her courage, and then all thoughts fled as she was summoned into a room to face a couple of policewomen.
Anna made her statement and it was quite painless, the policewomen easy to talk to. When it was over, Anna went back to the hall and sat and waited for Julius and Freddie to return.
She saw them crossing the road towards her, Julius putting his hand on Freddie’s shoulder to warn him to wait until they were sure the road was clear and then they came. Freddie dancing beside him, looking up at him, excitedly telling him something, Julius looking down at him, listened intently, then laughed, and Freddie caught that laughter, happiness lighting his face. He took Julius’s hand, holding it as if he was part of him, someone to keep him safe.
Thirty-Three
On the way back to the castle Freddie sat happily in the back of Julius’s Land Rover with Felix on the floor at his feet. Still fizzing with excitement about the trip to the police station, he bombarded Anna with questions: had she seen any prisoners, did the policewomen have guns, did they bully her?
‘No, it was very unexciting, I sat in a boring room and answered the questions asked by two nice policewomen, that was all,’ she said. ‘Sorry to disappoint you, Freddie.’
They arrived at the castle and Julius pulled up outside the flat to drop them off, saying he hoped to see them later, but he had quite a lot to do today.
Freddie saw that Simon and Luke were dismantling the arch of flowers and leaves that had been put by the door into the castle to greet the guests at the wedding. He ran across to them, calling to them, ‘Can I help, are you taking it away?’
Anna turned to Julius and saw the exhaustion in his eyes; it had been a tough time with the flood and all the responsibilities that rested on his shoulders as the estate manager.
‘I’m sure you’ll win through,’ she said encouragingly.
He put his hand over hers, it felt warm and strong. ‘Thanks, Anna,’ he said quietly. ‘I feel so bad about people having their homes and businesses destroyed like that, I’m doing all I can to get them up and running again.’
‘And you’ll do it,’ she said.
His smile was like a caress. She got out, her heart full and followed Freddie across the courtyard to make sure he wasn’t in the way of those working there.
Catching up with him, she said, ‘It’s icy, Freddie, and they need to get on so let’s leave them to it. Anyway you need something to eat and don’t forget we’re going down to tea with Benny in a couple of hours.’
Luke said, ‘He can help, if that’s all right with you, can’t you mate?’ He fist-bumped with Freddie, laughing.
‘It’s not that cold, Mum, I’ll be all right,’ Freddie begged. ‘What can I do?’
Simon caught Anna’s eye, saying, ‘Well, if your mother says it’s all right, you can put all these leaves and flowers into the back of the truck, but wear gloves as there might be thorns or prickly bits.’
‘OK, but keep wrapped up as it’s cold enough to snow,’ Anna tucked his scarf tighter round his neck and pulled his woollen hat further down over his ears.
‘Will it?’ Freddie said excitedly, yanking out his gloves from his pocket to help load up the now faded flowers and branches into the truck.
‘It’s forecast in some places in the country, but perhaps not here,’ Simon said.
‘It’s bitingly cold and perhaps he shouldn’t stay out too long.’ Luke smiled at her, ‘He’s a great lad, obviously loves the outdoors, I don’t suppose you get much of this sort of thing in London.’
‘No,’ she said, ‘we don’t.’
Cathie appeared on a bicycle. She was dressed in a padded jacket and bright red skiing hat. She glowered at Anna as she joined the men taking down the arch, pointedly asking Simon what she could do to help.
Anna asked if they’d like a hot drink to warm them up.
‘That would be very welcome, but let’s just finish, then come over, if that’s all right,’ Simon said.
‘Great, see you in a minute then.’
Anna had just got back inside the flat and taken off her coat when her mobile rang. It was Daisy.
‘Guess what, I’ve got a lull in my work, so I’m on my way for a quick visit.’
‘What do you mean, you’re on your way here now?’
‘Yes, impetuous me. You don’t mind do you, or are you too busy?’ She sounded aggrieved, ‘I’ll sleep on the floor, it will only be for two nights.’
‘No, I’m not really busy, it’s just quite… unexpected,’ Anna said. ’I thought you’d be chained to that picture you’re working on for months.’
‘I am, but not this minute,’ Daisy said cheerfully. Then in a rather false voice like a bad actor delivering lines, she said, ‘Umm… will people be working on the estate or is the whole place deserted?’
She was after Simon; Anna remembered that look between them. How would Cathie take it, an attractive woman coming from London hoping to steal away the man she wanted?
‘Are you still there, Anna?’ Daisy sounded impatient. ‘I’ve stopped for a loo break in this depressing petrol place. Will you be in?’
‘Yes, but we’re going to tea with Lucy in a couple of hours.’
‘I’ll be there before then. Francy was going to come but one of the children has got a sick bug,’ Daisy went on. ‘She might come tomorrow for a few days if he’s better.’
‘Let’s see.’ Anna felt overwhelmed, suspecting Freddie’s godmothers were on a mission to grant his Christmas wish. ‘I hope you… and Francy if she comes will promise not to scout around for a dad for Freddie and scare all the men here,’ Anna said firmly, wondering if Grania would turn up here again, too.
‘Of course we won’t,’ Daisy retorted. ‘See you very soon.’ And she rang off, leaving Anna with mixed feelings. It would be good to see Daisy, though she suspected that she was not really coming to see her, but hoped to see Simon instead, but she hoped her friends wouldn’t gang up together and cause havoc among the male population here.
Anna was about to go outside to bring Freddie in for a sandwich and to offer the workers in the quadrangle some hot vegetable soup she’d made when the doorbell rang and Cathie stood there.
‘So sorry, but could I use your… bathroom?’ She did not look at her when she spoke and Anna assumed she was shy about her request.
‘Sure, it’s that door there. I was just coming out to see if you’d all like some hot soup, you must all be getting very cold by now.’
‘Oh… thanks.’ Cathie had a sort of cunning look about her as she darted inside the flat and went into the loo.
Anna put on her coat and boots and went out and saw that the arch had been demolished, remnants of it were in the back of the truck and they were now taking down the extra lights. Freddie was following behind Simon and holding various bits and pieces for him.
Luke said, ‘He’s been a great help and we’ve almost finished.’
‘You must all be cold; would you like to come in for some soup?’
‘Oh… thanks, that’s very kind, but have you enough for all of us?’ Simon asked her, his face pinched with cold.
‘Yes, there’s plenty. Come in when you’re ready.’
A few minutes later they were all in the hall. Freddie’s face was icy, and the bottoms of his trousers wet where they’d come untucked from his boots. She took him into his bedroom to change his clothes, telling the others to make themselves at home.
When she came out, Luke and Simon were in the living room in their stockinged feet, but Cathie was not there, though she’d been hovering about in the hall when they got back.
Anna told them she’d just heat up the soup again and to come i
nto the kitchen to have it, she found Cathie already there but took no notice of her as she sat Freddie down to eat his sandwich.
Simon and Luke were reading the football results in the newspaper that they’d found on the table. Anna handed out mugs of soup and toast she’d made.
‘I support Chelsea,’ Freddie said, blowing on his soup to cool it, ‘who do you support, Luke?’
‘Tottenham Hotspur,’ Luke said.
Cathie, who’d been silent during the meal, jumped up, saying, ‘That was delicious, thanks, let me help clear away.’ She took a pile of soup bowls to the dishwasher, while the two men and Freddie went into the living room, as Freddie wanted to show them the things he’d built.
Anna offered them coffee or tea and went back into the kitchen to make it, finding Cathie hovering. She looked awkward, her eyes skittering away from her.
‘Are you all right?’ Anna asked, but before Cathie could answer, Luke and Simon came back into the kitchen, Freddie tagging behind.
‘I’ll get some spoons out in case anyone wants sugar, ‘Cathie said, pulling open a drawer in the butcher’s block and in a rather fake surprised voice, she said, ‘Whatever’s this?’ She held up a silver cream jug.
The men showed little interest, continuing their conversation. Anna knew that the drawer held clean cloths, napkins and such.
‘I’ve no idea,’ Anna said. ‘It wasn’t there when I got some drying up cloths out yesterday.’ She bustled round, getting out mugs, putting on the kettle and asking who wanted tea or coffee.
Cathie raised her voice in false alarm, ‘It’s from the castle, the same valuable silverware they use for weddings.’ She held it in her hand like a loaded gun.
Simon frowned, ‘Are you sure? Why would it be here?’
‘Why indeed? Perhaps you should ask Anna?’ Cathie turned to her.
Anna felt as if she’d been punched. She’d never seen it before and it certainly wasn’t there when she last opened the drawer.