Bulbury Knap (2 page)

He
said nothing. Had he tried to persuade her to change her mind she might have succumbed. As it was she just wished he would go away and leave her alone. When he did, at last, she went at once to bed, glad to hide her head beneath the duvet and give herself up to grief for the loss of someone she thought had cared.

Much later she woke with a start. It was dark now and still windy. She switched on the bedside lamp. She hadn't heard from Mum to say she'd arrived safely at Bulbury Knap. She looked at her watch. Five minutes past midnight.

Maybe Mum had phoned Helen but it was too late now to check. In any case it might not be a
good
idea to worry Helen if she hadn't. No doubt there was some simple explanation.

Early next morning Kathryn telephoned Bulbury Knap. The ringing tone seemed to go on for ever. No answerphone there then. Maybe Mum was working in another part of the house out of earshot. Odd, though. You would think that since bookings would have to be taken for visiting groups that several telephones would be strategically placed throughout the building. Surprising that Mum hadn't got this organised already.

The receiver was picked up at the other end with a crackling sound. No one said anything.

‘May I speak to Mrs Sarah Marshall?' Kathryn said. ‘I'm her daughter phoning from
London,'

A gasp came down the line and the sound of some muttering.

Startled, Kathryn spoke more sharply than she intended. ‘Is everything all right?'

A quavering male voice answered her. ‘Who did you say you were, my dear?'

This was worrying. Unless he was hard of hearing and hadn't picked up what she had said. In that case why was he answering the telephone?

‘I'm Mrs Marshall's daughter,' she said loudly and slowly. ‘Is my mother there? Can I speak to her, please?'

‘Well no, my dear. I'm afraid that's not possible.'

‘Not possible?'

‘I regret I'm not able to grant your request at the present moment.'

The voice on the other end sounded faint now and she had difficulty in picking up what he was saying. With a jolt she realised she was probably speaking to Sir Edwin Hewson of Bulbury Knap himself. She took a deep breath. ‘Is there anyone there who could tell me?'

‘I'm so sorry, my dear. This is a bad line. I'm speaking from Bulbury Knap, Edwin Hewson. How can I help you?'

‘My mother, Mrs Marshall …'

‘We haven't seen Mrs Marshall,' Sir Edwin said, suddenly loud and clear.

The receiver trembled in Kathryn's hand.
‘You
mean, my mother didn't arrive at Bulbury Knap on Thursday?'

‘No, my dear,' he said. ‘Mrs Marshall didn't arrive when she was expected and there was no message.'

Kathryn replaced the receiver. Her instinct was to jump in the car immediately and head for Dorset but there were phone calls to be made first. Should she notify the police?

Early as it was Helen would be having breakfast with young Jamie in far-away Cornwall. She must take care not to alarm her sister too much at this stage.

She tried her mother's mobile again. There was no response.

CHAPTER TWO

Kathryn had memorised the way she should go when it was time to turn off the A35 but somehow the narrow high-banked Dorset lane was bending the wrong way. Her impulsiveness in rushing down to the West Country was likely to get her into trouble if she wasn't careful. She was making a poor show in solving the mystery stuck here in this horribly remote place.

Suppose she hadn't done the right thing, as well, in keeping Helen in the dark? How fair was that? At least she had contacted the police
before
she left even though they hadn't got back in touch with her yet. She had phoned the coach company, too, but no suitcase had been handed in to lost property. Had Mum simply failed to get back on the coach after one of the stops?

She came to a crossroads and slowed to read the unfamiliar place names. They were no help at all unless she consulted her road atlas. She drew into a gateway and pulled the map out. Before she could open it she became aware that a vehicle had pulled up alongside her, a four-wheel drive that completely blocked the lane.

The driver wound down the window on her side and ran his hand through his mop of fair hair.

‘Can I help?' he asked, his voice deep and reassuring.

She opened her window too. ‘I'm looking for a place called Bulbury Knap,' she said. ‘Near Willowdown.'

His eyes narrowed. ‘Bulbury Knap?'

‘Yes,' said Kathryn. ‘Well, that is … I'm looking for my mother.'

‘She didn't give you the precise directions?'

‘She couldn't.' Her voice wavered as she sensed his obvious suspicion. ‘It's … it's not her fault. I'm Kathryn Marshall.'

He nodded and she saw recognition dawn. ‘Ah, Mrs Marshall, the new housekeeper?'

‘You've met my mother?' Hope rose and
then
was as quickly dashed.

‘I've been away for a few days. Are you expected?'

‘I think so. I don't know. She didn't arrive at Bulbury Knap and I don't know where she is.' To Kathryn's horror her lips trembled.

‘But you've spoken to Sir Edwin?' His tone was matter of fact.

She gulped and nodded. ‘I thought the best thing was to come down but now I'm lost.'

He cast a severe look at her. ‘So you've travelled all the way down from London to find her when you know she's not at Bulbury Knap?'

Put like that it sounded irresponsible and she could see that he thought so by his frown. ‘I had to come. I'm so worried. I saw her on the coach on Thursday, you see, and there's been no word from her.'

‘Well follow me. It's not far.'

There was a loud tooting from behind and at once his vehicle sprang to life and he moved on. Letting the car behind pass, Kathryn followed. There was nothing else to do in her predicament. The lane twisted and turned, passing road junctions half-hidden behind high hedges.

At last she found herself driving behind him down a narrow high-banked lane. A sharp turn left took them into an unfenced drive. The expanse of grass on either side was dotted with huge bare-branched oak trees. At the bottom
Kathryn
saw a house of warm stone whose mullioned windows gleamed in the sunshine.

He flashed his lights and indicated she should park in front of the house next to his vehicle. Opening the car door she got out. He had already pulled the chain at the side of the front door and the jangling of the bell echoed inside the house. At last the door swung open and an elderly gentleman stood there looking at her beneath heavy brows.

She felt her rescuer's hand on her shoulder. ‘This is Mrs Marshall's daughter, Sir Edwin,' he said in his deep voice. And to her, ‘I'll leave you now but I'm not far away if any help is needed.'

‘Miss Marshall?' Sir Edwin looked frail as he leaned on his walking stick and she felt a moment's compassion for an old man being thrown into a worrying situation through no fault of his own. His courteous manner was charming as he indicated that she should come inside.

A slight sound made her look round at someone who could only be Lady Hewson. Wispy hair clung to her small head and the sweet expression on her face turned to one of concern as she clasped Kathryn's hand. ‘I'm so glad you've come, dear,' she said simply. ‘Did Edwin tell you that we had a phone call?'

‘From my mother?' Kathryn felt relief flood her like a warm tide.

Sir Edwin cleared his throat. ‘We had a
message
to say that Mrs Marshall has been retained in hospital.'

‘In hospital?' Kathryn couldn't help a little quiver in her voice. ‘But why?'

‘Come into the den, my dear,' Lady Hewson said. ‘And please, don't worry.'

The den was a cosy room off the hall where a small fire burned in the grate in spite of the warm sunshine outside. Several rather battered chairs stood about.

‘Do take a seat,' Lady Hewson invited in a gentle voice.

They were a delightful couple, one so upright and white-haired and the other a little shaky and so thin she looked as if she could be blown away by the slightest breath of air. Sir Edwin made sure his wife was comfortable and then, giving a little grunt, lowered himself into a high-backed chair. ‘We were told that her daughter would be in touch with us in due course,' he said when he was settled.

‘No one has told me anything,' said Kathryn.

Lady Hewson leaned forward and patted Kathryn's hand. ‘That's all we know, dear. Maybe you should telephone the hospital now.'

Kathryn pulled out her mobile.

‘The telephone is along the passage,' said Sir Edwin gruffly. ‘We have no mobile signal here, I'm afraid.'

‘The hills, you see, dear,' said Lady Hewson.
‘You'll
find the number on the pad.'

Kathryn sprang up. ‘Thank you.' Hurrying from the room, she located the phone. A few moments later she was speaking to the staff nurse of Cheney Ward but her heart was thumping so much it was hard to hear.

‘We've been trying to contact you, my dear. We think you should come.'

‘But what happened? Why is my mother in hospital? Did she have an accident?'

‘The car she was in … a collision. She's regained consciousness …'

‘I'll be there as soon as I can.' The room began to spin as Kathryn replaced the receiver. Car …what car?

Sir Edwin struggled to his feet as Kathryn returned to the den.

‘I still don't know what happened,' she said, struggling to keep her voice steady. ‘I'm sorry you've had all this worry.'

Lady Hewson gazed at her with sympathy. Sir Edwin cleared his throat and his hand trembled on his walking stick.

Kathryn's heart went out to them, so proud and trail but so obviously full of concern for her. ‘I must go at once,' she said gently. ‘But where's the hospital? I didn't ask.'

‘A few miles away,' said Sir Edwin. ‘If you wait just a moment I'll arrange some transport.'

‘Edwin will get Michael to take you in,' said Lady Hewson as her husband left the room.
‘He
won't be long.'

Michael Carey? Mum had said something about him and Kathryn wasn't sure about this. ‘I can drive myself,' she said.

‘Nonsense, dear. It's no trouble for Michael.'

On a low table near the window stood a photograph in an ornate frame. As Lady Hewson saw Kathryn glance in that direction she got up from her chair and picked it up. ‘This is Edwin's great-nephew, Andrew,' she said proudly as she held it so that Kathryn could see. ‘Don't you think he's handsome?'

Kathryn stared at the photograph, willing herself to concentrate on what Lady Hewson was saying. The face seemed to be smiling directly at her and the brown eyes sparkled as if at a shared joke. He was wearing an open-necked crimson shirt that set off the mass of dark curly hair that framed his good-looking face.

‘Such a shame you couldn't meet Andrew today,' Lady Hewson murmured as they heard the four-wheel drive drawing up on the gravel drive outside.

Michael Carey swung his long legs out of the vehicle. He had changed the light T-shirt he had been wearing earlier for a deep blue sweatshirt that made his eyes look very blue in his tanned face.

He held open the passenger door for her and made sure she was settled before moving
off.

‘I could have driven myself,' she said as they left the drive and travelled up the lane. ‘But I don't know where the hospital is.'

‘Then it's as well I do,' he said.

Kathryn was silent, unsure of what to say next. This was the man the Hewsons' great nephew wanted out. Bossy, the nephew had told Mum, implying a lot more that a few days ago she had thought merely intriguing. Now it was important to know why. She glanced at his large hands on the steering wheel. They seemed capable, strong.

The cuff of his sweatshirt was frayed in one place as if he'd caught it on a nail or something. Perhaps he'd been putting up some trellis or knocking nails into the garden wall to tie up straying roses. ‘Or honeysuckle,' she said out loud.

‘Honeysuckle?'

‘Sorry, I was thinking.'

‘Nice thoughts to have.'

‘Not at all.'

He shot her a sideways amused glance. ‘Do you often think of flowers?'

‘Flowers?'

‘Coloured things on the end of stems. Sweetly scented some of them.'

She laughed.

‘That's better,' he said. ‘Sir Edwin told me about your mother. She won't want to see you looking so strained when she regains
consciousness.'

All at once she knew she could trust him. ‘I know,' she said. ‘But there's so much I don't understand.'

‘You'll find out very soon.'

She would, of course. Suddenly she needed to talk, to tell this kind man all that had happened since the shock of losing her job and, obviously, her home. Without going into much detail, and keeping Nick right out of it, she told him a little of what had been happening. Stop it. She was babbling too much.

To her relief she saw that they were arriving on the outskirts of town at last. Together they walked in the main door of the hospital. ‘This
way,'
Michael said with authority, leading the way to the reception desk.

Kathryn was glad to have his company as they found their way to Cheney Ward on the first floor.

‘Ah yes, Mrs Marshall,' the young nurse said kindly. ‘Your mother was unconscious when they brought her in on Thursday.'

‘Can I see her?'

‘Of course. But we allow only two visitors and there's someone with her.'

Kathryn gazed at her uncomprehendingly. ‘Someone with her?'

‘I'll go into town and get a bite to eat,' Michael said. ‘I've some business to do. I'll return and wait for you in due course. Sir
Edwin's
orders.'