A Place of Hope

by Anna Jacobs

  ‘Food will be ready when you get back,’ Rachel told him. ‘But don’t expect a fancy meal.’

  ‘I usually warm up a frozen dinner.’

  She grimaced. ‘That’s not my idea of an even half-decent meal. I can do better than that.’

  ‘Great.’ He beamed at them all and hurried across to his car.

  ‘That’s a lonely man,’ Rachel said abruptly.

  ‘I worry that we’re taking advantage of his kindness.’

  ‘Don’t. He’s enjoying being involved with us.’

  ‘I think you’re right.’ And her friend was a lonely woman, Emily knew. But she didn’t comment. If something happened between Oliver and Rachel, she’d be happy, but she didn’t approve of deliberate matchmaking. She’d been the target of it a few times herself, from well-meaning friends, and hadn’t enjoyed being pushed into dating some guy who didn’t attract her in the slightest. Or worse still, set up with a man at a dinner party, with everyone else watching how she got on with him.

  She’d met Chad without anyone’s help and she was hoping something would come of it. If he was free. If she was lucky.

  She hoped Rachel would find someone too.

  After they’d gone back indoors, she locked the front door carefully. ‘Let’s get a cup of coffee then continue exploring the house. We’ll probably run into Toby on the way.’

  Emily relaxed as soon as she entered the flat. It was cluttered and old-fashioned. The whole building was dusty, in need of repairs and not at all like a normal house, but for some weird reason, she felt at home here. Her other house had never made her feel like this. Indeed, she’d been going to sell it and look for somewhere more interesting to renovate once she’d retired.

  Strange, that The Drover’s Hope had fallen into her lap like this. She wasn’t usually so lucky.

  George went to sit in his car to make the phone call, not wanting anyone to overhear his conversation. He struck lucky first time. She didn’t always answer her mobile when she was at work.

  ‘Ah, Sister Pauline. George Pilby here. No, don’t hang up. Can you talk or should I ring you later? You are still interested in certain outcomes, I take it? Good. I’ll ring you in two hours, then.’

  He put the phone down with a smile of satisfaction. He’d hooked her again. Well, she didn’t take much hooking. She was a bitter woman, whose main focus was making money.

  When he went back into the house, Marcia looked at him, an unspoken question in her expression.

  ‘The person I was ringing will be available in a couple of hours’ time,’ he said quietly.

  ‘I don’t know how you do it, George.’

  ‘Do what?’

  ‘Find people willing to bend the rules.’

  He grinned. ‘Bend them? Pauline was smashing every rule she could, even before I turned up.’

  ‘You’re still taking a big risk.’

  ‘It’ll be well worth it this time. There’s far more at stake here than there was with my mother. And Emily’s not as easy to manipulate. Which makes her more interesting to deal with.’

  Liz rejoined them just then and the conversation became general. And boring.

  George sat it out, grateful for Marcia, who seemed able to maintain inane conversations for hours on end.

  Nine

  Oliver came back just as they were about to set off exploring the rest of the outbuildings. They’d already looked at the pub’s kitchens and other service areas, though they’d left the cellar till later. He was clutching a briefcase, from which he pulled out a folder and gave it to Emily.

  ‘Before we start, perhaps you’d look through these copies of recent letters sent on behalf of your cousin Penelope? I’ve put a marker at where she died and we sent a letter to inform you, as the heir. Barton and Halling made an offer for The Drover’s Hope almost immediately after her death.’

  She read them through quickly then looked at him in bewilderment. ‘I didn’t receive any of these earlier letters.’

  ‘They were sent to your home.’

  She pointed to the date. ‘I wasn’t at home then. I was staying with my sister.’

  Rachel leaned across to look at them. ‘I forwarded all your letters to Liz’s for the first fortnight you were away. There were some business letters with Tapton and Associates on the back.’

  ‘No need to ask who got hold of them, then,’ Emily said grimly.

  ‘Intentionally intercepting an individual’s mail is illegal, unless the power to do so has been gained through an interception warrant,’ Oliver said. ‘And the home secretary has to authorize that.’

  ‘George was probably dealing with his mother’s mail and my letters were forwarded with it.’

  ‘Nonetheless, opening someone else’s post is still illegal, even if it has been delivered to your address.’

  ‘And if I accuse him of that, make my complaint official, it’ll upset Liz. He relies on that. He insists he’s only trying to look after her since her husband died.’

  ‘Does she need looking after?’

  ‘I’m afraid so. She’s always been a bit of a weak reed.’ Emily tapped the papers. ‘I need to think about these.’

  ‘And the offer to purchase your inheritance?’

  ‘My immediate inclination is to say no. I know I haven’t been here long, but it feels like home – or as if it could become my home. I was looking to sell my other house and move somewhere anyway.’ She glanced out of the window. ‘I love the views, the feeling of peace, and I’ve always fancied doing a renovation.’

  ‘I think we’d better contact Barton and Halling, then, to let them know that their earlier letters went astray. Shall I do that for you in my official capacity?’

  ‘Yes, please, Oliver. But while it’s still light, let’s go and do some more exploring. We keep getting interrupted and I’m dying to see the rest of the house. Oh, and we must find Toby and reassure him that he’s safe here.’

  In the rear bar, Oliver explained about the three exits from the rear of the pub into the courtyard. ‘There’s an exit from the utility room of the flat, which you’ve already seen, this one behind the bar, and another one from the other side of the old barn, which is at the end of that corridor. There’s a sort of circuit through the outbuildings, which are the oldest parts of the dwelling.’

  He hesitated, then added, ‘I know there are some secret hidey-holes and perhaps even a secret passage, or how else would Toby have managed to stay hidden?’

  A flurry of rain against the rather dirty window panes at the rear of the bar made Emily say, ‘Let’s try the undercover circuit first or we’ll get soaked.’

  Oliver took them past the storerooms and stopped to point to the ground, where there were some large footprints. ‘Toby’s, I should think.’

  ‘Then we’d better rub them out.’ Emily moved to scuff her feet across them. ‘I’m not giving that woman any clues if she comes back with the police.’

  ‘You really shouldn’t shelter him,’ Oliver said. ‘And definitely not if the police are involved.’

  ‘I feel I should. I don’t know why, but it seems important. Do you really think she’ll be back with the police?’

  He shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised. If so, I’ll probably know the officers and can help you deal with it all. After all, Mrs Corrish can’t prove that Toby is here.’

  ‘No, but she seems pretty sure. What about Toby’s social worker?’

  ‘He’s called Kevin and he’s OK. Does his best for the lad but the trouble is, he has too much work on his plate, what with the recession and the cuts in services. And to make matters worse, there are no other facilities in the district to shelter younger people like Toby, who can live fairly independently but still need overseeing. So it’s a choice between Mrs Corrish or lodgings, or even an old folks’ home, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Surely they wouldn’t put a young man like him in an old folks’ home?’

  ‘It isn’t a perfect world and money is stretched thinly. They do what they
have to.’ Oliver unlocked the door at the end of the corridor but didn’t open it. ‘Now, this is a rather special part of the house, so I’ll let you go first.’ He smiled expectantly.

  She moved forward into what had looked from outside like a tumbledown barn. From inside it wasn’t like any barn she’d ever seen. It must have measured twenty metres by ten, and had a high ceiling in the centre. But the walls were only one storey high. Four huge timber posts, arranged in two pairs, stood in the central area and from their tops, big wooden beams were attached to hold up the roof. Daylight showed here and there through the tiles at the far end, and clearly the roof leaked there, but she was awe-struck by the beauty of the place. ‘Are my eyes deceiving me or is this part very old?’

  ‘They’re not deceiving you.’

  ‘Is it a listed building?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘But surely it ought to be?’

  ‘Penelope didn’t let anyone in here unless she trusted them absolutely. She said if it were listed, the heritage people would take it over.’

  ‘It needs a lot of TLC. Perhaps they ought to take it over. Look at the droppings. The birds obviously get in and out at the far end.’

  ‘Yes, but for some reason they stay down there and don’t come to this end, nor do they stray into the rest of the outbuildings.’

  ‘Can’t we do something about that end part to make it waterproof and bird proof?’

  His smile was wry. ‘It’d take a lot of money to set things to rights. You’ve inherited a pleasant amount of money from Penelope, but I doubt it’s enough to repair this place, let alone restore it as the heritage people would insist.’

  ‘Yes. I can understand that. But surely I could make it waterproof without telling them?’

  ‘Using what sort of tradesman? You don’t want someone to do it wrongly and harm the rest of the structure. As Miss Penelope always said, it’s a very special place.’

  ‘Oh dear.’

  Chad moved forward, slowly turning round on the spot to study the barn. ‘I could probably do some minor temporary repairs for you. I know enough not to damage the historic structures.’

  Emily held her breath. Had he remembered something else? She glanced sideways at Oliver, who raised one brow in a silent question. She could only spread her arms slightly to indicate her ignorance.

  Chad didn’t notice their exchange, he was so intent on examining the area. He walked across to the nearest of the four wooden pillars and ran his fingers over the rough surface. ‘Beautiful. It’s oak, of course. Seventeenth century, possibly earlier.’

  He came back to join them. ‘I think Toby’s hiding in the far corner on the right. There’s a low wooden fence, with some stuff stored behind it. I caught a glimpse of his shirt behind them. We’ll have to find a better place for him to hide than that.’

  ‘I didn’t hear you.’ Oliver moved a short distance away.

  ‘I’m definitely going to hide him,’ Emily said. ‘And if I decide to stay here, I’m going to ask the social worker whether Toby can come and live with me.’

  Chad looked at her in surprise. ‘He’s a nice lad, but that’s a big responsibility.’

  ‘Yes, but I think it’s what Penelope meant by giving hope to others, as if this house is a trust. I’d enjoy some young company. I’ve lived alone for too long. And I’m sure he could make himself useful. He seems very strong and I’m not strong, physically. I’m too small. He could help us clean the place up and maybe even do the basic maintenance once it’s repaired and—’ She broke off to gaze at him in dismay. She’d said ‘us’ and that was a bit premature. ‘If you’re able to stay . . .’

  ‘I very much want to stay . . . for several reasons.’

  His eyes caught hers and for a few moments they smiled at one another, important messages passed and understood.

  Chad looked back at their surroundings. ‘I must have had something to do with renovations and old buildings. I can’t remember what, but I knew how I’d start on your roof, knew exactly what to do first to stabilize that back corner.’ He tapped one fist against his temple a couple of times. ‘If I can remember that, why can’t I remember my own surname?’

  Emily couldn’t help giving him a quick hug, he looked so forlorn.

  He pulled her against his chest and didn’t let go for a moment, then drew back and gave her a look that curled her toes and sent heat rushing round her body. He laughed softly, as if he knew exactly how she was feeling.

  Oliver pretended to be examining one of the posts.

  After a moment or two, Chad said in quite a different tone, ‘Come on! Let’s go and tell Toby it’s safe to come out.’

  She slipped her hand into his as they walked across the floor, and their feet beat out a duet of soft echoes on the worn wooden planks. He didn’t take his hand away until they got right to the other side.

  ‘You can come out now, Toby,’ she called. ‘Mrs Corrish has gone. But in case she comes back, we need to find you a better place than this to hide.’

  He peered out from behind some piles of wood and oddments of old furniture, casting a careful glance round the barn before sliding out fully. ‘Hide in secret room? Am I allowed without Miss Penelope?’

  Her breath caught in her throat for a moment. Was there really a secret room? She’d always dreamed of finding one as a child, had loved to read about them in adventure stories and envied the imaginary children who had such adventures. ‘Yes, you’re allowed to hide there, Toby. Can you show me where it is in case I need to hide in it too? We should show it to Chad as well, because he’s going to help you.’

  ‘I’ll wait for you in the flat,’ Oliver said at once. ‘It’s better if I don’t know where the hiding place is at this stage, though later I’d love to see it.’

  Toby gave Chad a wide, trusting smile. ‘This way.’ He took them into what seemed to be merely a derelict outhouse, the sort people didn’t think twice about knocking down. But when she looked at the walls and saw how old the bricks were, narrower than modern bricks and crumbling with age, she realized it was very old.

  The rear room was in a somewhat better state of repair. It must have been a dwelling at one time, she thought, because it had a fireplace.

  Toby stopped to fumble with a wooden bench that was standing by one wall.

  When Emily looked closer, she saw it was attached to the wall. There seemed nothing remarkable about it till Toby’s fiddling caused it to swing outwards at one side, taking some of the wooden wall with it. He beckoned to them then crouched down and vanished inside the opening.

  Emily felt excitement rise in her as she bent to slip into a low-ceilinged space. Even she couldn’t stand upright here and the two tall men looked very uncomfortable in their gorilla-like crouches.

  ‘Stand here.’ Toby moved to one side, then reached up and put his hand into a crack above the entrance. The door by which they’d entered swung slowly shut, leaving them in darkness.

  Emily moved closer to Chad, clutching his arm. She hated being shut in dark spaces, hadn’t taken that into account in her hunger for adventure.

  There was a soft click, like a gently closing door, then a faint grating sound. Opposite them another doorway began to open, letting in enough light to see, thank goodness.

  The new room was narrow and not very big, but at least they were able to stand fully upright again. Daylight and fresh air filtered in through some narrow gaps in the wall near the ceiling and as her eyes grew accustomed to the dimness, she saw a long bench down one side. On it were some neatly folded blankets, plus packets of what looked like biscuits and a metal cup.

  She turned her head to find the source of a dripping sound and in one corner saw a small basin into which water was welling up then overflowing gently, to slide away down a drain hole.

  Toby followed her gaze. ‘It’s a spring. Water comes out all the time.’

  Chad knelt to examine it. ‘Amazing that it’s so clear.’

  Toby sat on the bench. ‘It’s safe here. Mi
ss Penelope said so.’

  ‘I’m sure it is.’ Emily was still feeling jittery and short of breath. She didn’t think she could bear to be shut in here on her own, even to hide from an enemy. ‘How do we get out again?’

  ‘Go back to the wall.’ He showed them how to pull down on another of the rough old planks at the top to activate the mechanism that closed up the secret room. Again they had to crouch in darkness till the inner door shut and the outer one opened again.

  When Chad put his arm round her shoulders, she realized she was shaking. ‘I’m . . . a bit claustrophobic about small dark places. I didn’t expect it to be so . . . cramped.’

  ‘I didn’t like it, either. But you kept control of yourself brilliantly.’

  ‘It was an effort. I don’t like to react in foolish ways when my brain tells me I’m perfectly safe. I’m glad to be out of there.’ She turned to Toby. ‘If you need the secret room, you can use it any time.’

  He nodded solemnly.

  ‘I think that’s enough exploring for today,’ she said. ‘Let’s go back to the flat and have something to eat. I’ve been feeling hungry nearly all the time since we escaped.’

  Toby’s face lit up at the thought of food. So did Chad’s. That felt so blessedly normal.

  Rachel and Oliver were sitting in the living room, looking comfortable together. Emily wished they hadn’t had to interrupt them.

  Her friend jumped up. ‘Secrets revealed?’

  ‘Not all of them, but we were tired and hungry so we came back. We still have to explore the end part in more detail.’

  ‘How far did you get?’

  ‘To a room with a fireplace.’

  ‘The old cottage,’ Oliver said at once. ‘Beyond it are the former stables. Both places are in very poor condition, but they could be renovated and rented out to fell walkers as accommodation, if you felt like making some money from the place.’ He lowered his voice. ‘What about Toby?’

  ‘He’s staying here. Oliver, will you ask the social worker if we can take care of him instead of that horrible woman?’ She knew this was more impulsive than her usual decisions about life, but somehow it felt right. Toby belonged here just as much as she did.