‘Now just you look here..." I started. Then the door opened and Mrs. Cass came in, bearing a cup of coffee. She must have had her ear glued to the keyhole, bless her!
‘Time for your hot drink,’ she said to me. Then she turned to George. ‘And afterwards Miss Royle must have a sleep. Doctor’s orders.’ She waited, silently ordering him to get up and go.
He rose. ‘See what I mean?’ he muttered. ‘Positively Victorian.’
* * *
Sleep came more easily that night. I guess the shock was wearing off, leaving me just tired. Next morning I felt better, but still not well enough to argue with Mrs. Cass.
‘Another quiet day won’t do you any harm, Miss Royle. No harm at all.’
In the drawing-room the massed rows of my father’s books made me ashamed of my boredom, but I couldn’t settle to anything heavy-weight just now.
I didn’t know whether to be pleased or sorry when Ian Hamilton was announced. If he’d got something to tell me about those stock figures, he’d been a mighty long time about it. If there was something amiss, it was a serious matter for the firm. He had no right to treat it lightly.
But it was more likely the figures had proved him wrong, and he was too proud to admit an error. Oddly, I didn’t want that to be the answer. I knew he could be quick-tempered and rude at times. I didn’t want to discover he was pig-headed as well. So I found myself in the surprising situation of hoping he would tell me that the firm’s stock was being stolen.
‘I was sorry to hear about your fall,’ he began. ‘What a wretched thing to happen.’
‘It was most unfortunate,’ I agreed.
He was carrying a handful of paperbacks, and looked down at them almost apologetically. ‘I brought along one or two books I had at home. I don’t know whether thrillers will appeal to you?’
Eagerly I pounced upon them. ‘How did you guess I was desperate for something?’
He grinned, more at ease now, obviously glad his offering hadn’t been rejected. ‘Well, your father’s books are hardly light reading for an invalid.’
I asked him to sit down. ‘Dr. Gregory said there was nothing to worry about—-no bones broken.’
Ian nodded. ‘He’s a good man.’
‘It’s surprising how much pain I still get moving about, though. I suppose that will wear off in a day or two?’
He looked sympathetic. ‘I certainly hope so. What did the doctor say about that?’
‘He was rather vague. I was hoping you might be more specific.’
‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘Afraid I can’t help there. I’ve had a remarkably uneventful life where accidents are concerned. Touch wood I’ve never had a bad fall.’
The man riled me. ‘But I’m asking your opinion as a doctor,’ I said testily.
He stared at me in surprise, his eyebrows raised. ‘My doctorate was in chemistry, not medicine.’
I felt such an utter loon. It had never occurred to me that he might not be a medical doctor. Father had been, so I just took it for granted that his assistant was too.
‘I ... I’m awfully sorry,’ I stammered, blushing like a school-kid. ‘I wouldn’t have discussed my symptoms like that, if I’d known...."
His gentleness took me by surprise. Up to now he had not struck me as a forgiving man. ‘That’s all right. I can see it was a natural enough mistake for you to make.’
I took time off to digest my thoughts. ‘So this visit isn’t of professional interest?’ I said at last. ‘I was imagining you had come to see if you could help.’
‘Put like that it makes me sound callous to say “no”, doesn’t it? Of course, any help I can give...."
I shook my head, smiling now. ‘No thanks. I was just feeling sorry for myself.’
‘With good reason, I’m sure.’
‘Were those figures I gave you any good?’ I asked, trying to sound casual.
‘Yes, they were indeed. That’s really why I came to see you.’
‘I thought they couldn’t have been any use, as you didn’t raise the subject on Monday.’
‘I didn’t get a chance to. You were tied up in the office, and I wanted to avoid making a point of seeing you privately.’
‘All very cloak and dagger, isn’t it?’
Going cold on me again, he said, ‘I think caution is necessary.’ He was so touchy. The least little thing upset him.
‘Well then,’ I asked, ‘what have you found out?’
‘I confirmed what I suspected. There’s definitely a lot of Physolaria disappearing.’
It was what I wanted to hear. Could I believe him?
‘Have you worked out any theories about it yet?’
He spread his hands out helplessly. ‘None. It beats me where the stuff is going. But I intend to get to the bottom of this business, you can be sure of that.’
Yes, I thought, looking at him sitting there with his chin stuck out aggressively. I’m sure you will, Ian Hamilton. He had been wrongly accused by my father, the man he had admired so much. He wasn’t going to rest until he’d put the record straight. It might only be pride, but it was the sort of pride I didn’t object to—the sort a man should have.
‘I’ll probably be on my feet again tomorrow,’ I said. ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’
‘I don’t know. I’ve got to poke around and keep my eyes skinned.’
‘Can’t you let it be known that you’re keeping a close watch on consumption from now on. Wouldn’t that stop it without any further trouble?’
He shook his head. ‘There’s more to this than simple theft. The value of the stuff that’s stolen is negligible—not more than a few hundred pounds in a year, if that. I’m talking about what it costs us, of course, but I can’t imagine it would have any value at all to anyone else.’
It didn’t make any sort of sense. ‘So... ?’ I asked. ‘Where do we go from here?’
Whether Ian had any ideas at that moment I wasn’t to know, because Max was shown in just then.
With the two men in the room there was an atmosphere I couldn’t handle. Ian glowered, and some of Max’s usual nonchalance wasn’t there. I tried to make remarks that wouldn’t offend either of them, and they fenced around. It was an uncomfortable situation.
After a minute Max spotted the massive box of candies, with the over-ripe señorita sizzling in glorious technicolour.
‘Chocolates! That was nice of you, Hamilton,’ he grunted.
Ian was embarrassed. ‘I didn’t bring them.’
I hurried in with the explanation. ‘They are from George Leeson. He called in to see me yesterday afternoon.’
‘George Leeson,’ Max repeated. ‘Well, well!’
‘What was Leeson doing here?’ Ian demanded angrily. He wasn’t at all good at hiding his feelings, that one.
‘He just dropped in to see how I was.’
We made careful conversation after that.
I wished them further, but the two men hung around. I guess neither of them wanted to go before the other.
In the end they solved the problem by going together.
‘Goodbye, Dulcie my love.’ said Max softly, bending over and taking my hand. ‘Hurry up and get well.’
Ian was too proud to follow suit. Over by the door he bid me good day. ‘I hope you’ll be feeling more comfortable soon.’
Chapter Nine
Malverton didn’t possess such a modern amenity as an intercom phone between the house and the laboratory. Mrs. Cass had to come through to my office to tell me that Mrs. Truscott had called.
My visitor was waiting for me in the drawing-room, full of apologies. ‘I had no idea you’d be back at work already,’ she said. ‘I ran into Ian in Lechford, and gathered from him that you’d had a really nasty fall—he was quite put out about it.’
I admitted that I was still rather bruised. ‘But I feel better when I’m working. It takes my mind off the aches and pains.’
The sun was so warm and bright that we decided to sit on the verandah. Th
ere were a couple of old-fashioned basket chairs with faded linen cushions.
‘I don’t want you to think I’m a nosey old woman, my dear,’ Mrs. Truscott began, ‘but I’m all agog to know whether you’ve decided to stay on here and keep dear Eliot’s business going?’
‘Between you and me, I rather think I shall. I believe it’s really what I want to do.’
She was so pleased. Her oddly ugly face lit up with pleasure. ‘It’s what your father would have wanted. I’m sure you won’t regret it.’
‘Mind you,’ I said, ‘it won’t be all plain sailing for me. I can already foresee plenty of difficulties.’
She hesitated, then asked, ‘Ian Hamilton? Is he one of the difficulties?’
All at once I decided to confide in her. I had to talk to someone who knew the situation, and who better than my father’s old friend?
‘Yes,’ I said slowly, ‘he is. Ian Hamilton is absolutely the key man in this firm, there isn’t any doubt about that. How can I be sure I shall be able to get on with him? He might just decide to up and leave at any time if I upset him.’
‘Oh, but you won’t do that, my dear. He’s a charming young man, as I told you the other day.’
‘He isn’t all charm. He quarreled with my father, I know that for a fact.’
Ruth Truscott brushed this aside. ‘You must remember you are talking about two brilliant men, and brilliant men can be temperamental at times. One thing you must face up to, Dulcie, is that life with Ian Hamilton won’t be easy.’
‘I don’t mind as long as he keeps his tantrums to himself,’ I said. ‘After all, I’ve only got to work with him.’
‘Yes.’ She gave me a steady look. ‘Yes, that’s what I meant, of course.’
‘Anyway,’ I said, ‘he seems to be nicely settled down at the Rectory. All very cosy, it sounds.’
‘You mean Gillian Hayes? Yes, they have been going around together. Poor Gillian....’
‘Why poor? That girl seemed to be doing all right, when I saw her at the cricket match on Sunday.’
‘Can you imagine it working out? Gillian’s got a pretty face, of course, but she’s really a rather simple little thing. Ian will want someone with a lot more fire.’
‘Well, Gillian can have him for all I care. Ian Hamilton’s private life is no concern of mine.’
‘But it will be, my dear, if you settle down here. In such a quiet country district, we can’t avoid living in one another’s pockets.’
Mrs. Truscott went on to ask me over to lunch on Sunday. ‘As you know, your father came to see me every week. I do hope you will keep up the custom—just now and then, I mean.’
‘Why, I’d love to. I enjoyed visiting at your home.’
I noticed that she had been looking out at the garden in a sorrowing way. ‘I’m afraid Eliot let things go badly,’ she said with a sigh.
‘There’s an old chap who comes in once a week, Mrs Cass told me. But he can’t do much more than keep the grass trimmed. If I do stay on here, I think I shall try to pull the garden back into shape. Maybe you’ll help me with some ideas.’
‘My dear, there’s nothing I should like better.’
She seemed immensely keen, and we strolled outside and looked around for a few minutes. Then she said she ought to be going, and we started to walk round to the front of the house. Just as we were passing the laboratory entrance, we met Max Tyler coming out. Involuntarily, I glanced at my watch. It was only four-thirty. Max didn’t notice, but Mrs. Truscott caught my eye.
He joined us, and we all chatted together as we made for Mrs. Truscott’s car. Driving off, she called to me, ‘And don’t forget, Dulcie—about twelve on Sunday.’
When the car had disappeared, Max asked: ‘What was that about Sunday?’
‘Mrs. Truscott has invited me to lunch.’
‘I was going to ask you about the weekend, as a matter of fact. Can’t have you moping around all alone on a Sunday. You might get morbid. Still, you’re fixed up for this week, so that’s okay.’
‘Thank you, Max. It’s sweet of you to have thought of it. But you needn’t worry about me, you know. I can stand my own company.’
He looked at me oddly. ‘You’re a strange girl, Dulcie. Of course, the depth of the country is all very well in mid-June, but just you wait until winter descends upon us. Then it’ll be a different story, you’ll see.’
‘I daresay I’ll survive. I’m not a delicate hot-house bloom.’
Max couldn’t make me out. He couldn’t seem to understand how I could seriously consider chucking the busy and exciting life I’d been used to, and settle for the quiet atmosphere of the country.
I laughed. ‘After all, Max, you choose to live here yourself. What’s to stop you migrating to London, if you’re that keen on the place?’
‘Me? I’ve got to stay here and make a living for myself.’ He must have spotted my sceptical eyebrow.
‘It’s a fact, Dulcie. This is where my work is, so I don’t have a choice.’
I grinned at him. ‘It’s a tough world, isn’t it, Max?’
My own theory was that it suited him better to live here on the proceeds of his inheritance from his father rather than in London, where he’d have more competition to face in the job market. He wasn’t the type of man who liked to work flat out.
‘Mind you,’ he said, ‘Cheltenham isn’t like Malverton, and I do manage the occasional jaunt to the bright lights. As a matter of fact, I wanted to tell you, I’m off on a short trip on Monday—just for a couple of days.’
‘Have a good time, Max.’
He winked at me. ‘Don’t I always?”
Chapter Ten
The Cotswolds were in a less friendly mood on Sunday as I drove to Hatherfield for lunch. Grey clouds raced across the sky and the wind carried spots of rain. Jenner was sitting beside me, Mrs. Truscott having again pressed me to bring him.
As the old dog and I walked up the path, Ruth Truscott opened the door. ‘In you come,’ she cried. ‘What a horrible day! Isn’t it cold?’
A fire was burning in the sitting-room. Mrs. Truscott gave the glowing logs an encouraging poke or two, then held out her hands to the warmth, shivering.
‘I had planned an alfresco meal today, but with this change in the weather it’s quite out of the question. In fact I thought we’d be cosier here than in the dining-room.’
She waved her hand towards the window, and I saw that the round table in the bay was laid with three places.
Ruth Truscott looked a mite sheepish. ‘I really ought to have told you before, Dulcie. I’ve invited Ian Hamilton as well.’
I just gaped at her. I didn’t know what to make of that bit of news.
‘Please don’t be offended, but I realized that you two weren’t getting along very well together, and I thought it might help if you could meet on what you might call neutral territory.’
We both heard the sound of a car drawing up outside. Mrs. Truscott looked at me anxiously. ‘He is really very nice, you know. There’s no reason I can see why you shouldn’t get along beautifully. I mean..." She broke off and almost ran to open the front door.
Ian would have recognized my car parked outside so my presence in the room didn’t astonish him. He gave me a grave nod. ‘I hope you’re feeling better now?’ he said politely.
Considering I had done two-and-a-half days’ work in the office since the accident, and considering he had asked me that very same thing more than once already, the question seemed rather unnecessary. I took it for a sign that he was as uncomfortable as I was.
I assured him once again that I now felt almost my normal self.
The atmosphere was strained as we sipped sherry and made light conversation. But during lunch things improved. In no time at all we were calling one another Ian and Dulcie. It must have been a triumph for Mrs. Truscott that the transition was made quite naturally. I believe Ian was hardly aware of it.
We both gave a hand with clearing the dishes. I was glad to see Ian insi
sted on joining in. I can’t bear helpless men.
While we were sitting round the fire with our coffee afterwards, the weight of the years suddenly seemed to descend on our hostess. She snuggled deep into her armchair and drew a cashmere stole around her shoulders.
‘I don’t know what you two young people think,’ she said calmly, ‘but nothing seems nicer to me than a fire at just this moment. If I were alone, I’d put my feet up and have a doze.’
She looked at us artlessly.
Politely Ian took his cue. ‘You mustn’t let us stop you, Mrs. Truscott.’
‘If it had been a nice day, I’d planned to show you around this very pretty village, and the view from the top of the hill.’ She waved her hand vaguely.
‘We can see it another time, perhaps,’ I said cautiously.
A thought appeared to strike her. ‘Now why don’t you two go out by yourselves?’ she suggested. ‘When you’re young there’s nothing like a nice bracing walk on a windy day."
Jenner stirred slightly, suddenly restless. Mrs. Truscott addressed him directly. ‘How about you, Jenner old friend?’
He raised his head to look at her, his body still limp, tail thumping the floor. She tried again. ‘Yes, that’s what I said, walkies!’
The old dog jumped to his feet and began dancing in excitement, making sharp little muffled barks.
Mrs. Truscott regarded him sentimentally, her head on one side. ‘What a dear he is! You’ve only got to mention you-know-what, W-A-L-K, and he’s up and ready to go.’
Ian looked at me with a doubtful smile. ‘Shall we?’
Shall we indeed! Did the man think we had any choice? We might just as well have been driven out with whips.
I wasn’t for a single moment fooled by this ‘frail old lady’ stuff. Mrs. Truscott might be getting on, but she had the stamina of a camel. Of that I was perfectly sure. But Ruth Truscott was wasting her very considerable energy in trying to pair-off two such incompatible spirits as Ian Hamilton and Dulcie Royle.
Under her directions, we set off through a small back gate that led directly from the garden into open fields.
It was an exhilarating afternoon. The sun was breaking intermittently through the racing clouds. Sunlight and shadows chased one another across the sheep-cropped hillside.
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