* * * * *
Alexia, who normally woke as soon as the sunlight began to filter in through the large windows of the top room, didn’t wake the next morning until Mark stirred beside her.
Smiling and stretching luxuriously, Alexia turned to kiss him, but found he was sitting up, listening. ‘I think I just heard a car pull up,’ he said.
Alexia was still, listening with him. Faintly she heard someone calling. ‘Mark? It’s Iris. Are you awake?’
‘Whoops,’ said Mark. ‘I forgot Iris said she’d bring Bosun back this morning. Better get dressed.’
Alexia didn’t stop to watch him search for his discarded clothes, but got up too. She didn’t want to let him out of her sight. But perhaps she’d better not put the glamorous golden evening dress back on…
By the time she and Mark were dressed, had climbed down the ladder and the stairs and got outside, there was no sign of Iris.
‘Iris?’ Mark called, looking around.
‘Her car’s still here,’ Alexia told him. Then she heard the sound of distant barking, coming from the end of the garden.
‘That’s Bosun,’ said Mark.
‘Down by the chestnut trees,’ Alexia added.
They looked at each other. ‘The foxes’ hole!’ they both said together, and began to run.
‘Mark,’ said Iris worriedly when they found her down beneath the copper beeches. ‘Oh, hello, Alexia; lovely to see you.’
‘Hi, Iris.’
‘I’m afraid Bosun may be a bit smelly. He seems to have –’
Once again Alexia and Mark spoke at the same time. ‘Rolled in fox poo again?’
Catching each other’s eyes, there was just time to laugh before something very smelly hurled itself in their direction. Bosun.
Still, thought Alexia with a smile; it’s good practise for children.
Secret Millionaire Page 20