Bulbury Knap (4 page)

‘Indeed
, my dear,' said Sir Edwin.

Kathryn hesitated. This amazing suggestion would mean that Mum's dream of working and living at Bulbury Knap hadn't come to an end after all. But … herself as acting housekeeper? She glanced around the kitchen. Surely she could prepare and cook meals for them easily enough and do the shopping and the cleaning? ‘But isn't there anyone else you should talk to about this before offering the job to me?' she said.

A shadow flickered across Lady Hewson's face. ‘Jane, our daughter, lives in New Zealand,' she said. ‘Andrew looks after our interests when he's here. Such a dear boy. We're expecting Andrew any day now,' she added, smiling a little.

Kathryn glanced across at the photo on the dresser she knew was of Sir Edwin's great nephew. He looked serious, his dark hair smoothed flat. Mum would be so pleased her position would still be here for her when she was well again.

‘I haven't any other plans at the moment,' Kathryn said, considering. Life here would be so different from Wimbledon, she thought, struggling to ban from her mind the painful vision of Nick and Anna together. ‘You would need references,' she added. ‘I'd be able to sort that out for you.'

‘We mustn't rush you, dear,' Lady Hewson said. ‘Talk it over with your mother when you
see
her today and let us know what you decide. You'll have time to see over the house first so you can see what would be expected of you?'

‘Of course.'

*          *          *

The route through the house was tortuous with so many steps up and down. Kathryn could see that although the furniture was old and beautifully preserved there was an air of neglect about the place. One or two rooms showed signs that someone had tried to make them look lived-in. Sir Edwin threw open a door at the end of a long passage upstairs and then stood aside for the others to precede him.

The bed was a small four-poster with faded cream hangings. A walnut chest of drawers and wardrobe stood against one wall and a writing desk and chair on the other with a door leading into a spacious en suite. Kathryn exclaimed in delight.

Lady Hewson glowed with pleasure. ‘This is Andrew's room, and the room next door he uses as his study,' Lady Hewson said. ‘His computer is in there and all sorts of things we don't understand. It's kept locked, of course.'

*          *          *

Kathryn leaned on the warm windowsill and gazed down from the open window of
Zillah's
studio at the busy harbour scene below. Although late in the season the place seethed with activity. People in holiday gear meandered about eating ice creams. Squawking seagulls added to the din of boats' engines and the salty breeze fanned her hair.

She still felt euphoric from her mother's pleasure in Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson's kind plan and her acceptance of it when she got back from the hospital yesterday. Helen, too, had been delighted. But there was still the question of finding somewhere for Mum since Helen's and Dan's small cottage in Cornwall was overflowing now that Dan's brother was living with them.

‘If only it was more suitable for her here, Zillah,' Kathryn said now, hearing the longing in her voice.

Her friend's chair creaked as she leaned back. ‘So what's wrong with it?'

‘Mum would never get up those narrow steps with her leg in plaster and the room she'd have is higher still, above this one.'

Zillah, in her flapping smock, gazed back at her with the light of battle in her eyes. ‘Are you saying it can't be done?' she demanded as she jabbed a paint-smeared finger in Kathryn's direction.

‘This place is ideal for an artist like you,' said Kathryn, rubbing her arms as she turned to face the over-crowded room. ‘But for Mum I'm afraid it's out of the question.'

*
          *          *

The dread in Kathryn's heart deepened as familiar landmarks began to appear on her drive up the M3 towards London.

Even the flat key in the pocket of her best jeans felt heavier than it should now she was getting near. They had made no contact, she and Nick, but hopefully everything in the apartment was how she had left it.

She felt a lump in her throat. How could he have done this to her, allowing her to find out about himself and Anna in that humiliating way? But she mustn't think of him, wouldn't think of him. Concentrate on the driving, she told herself. She had left Bulbury Knap this morning as the sun was rising still bemused by Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson's amazing offer on her return from Zillah's studio.

‘Naturally your mother will come here to convalesce,' Lady Hewson said in her gentle voice.

‘Here?' said Kathryn in surprise. The torturous staircases and the many uneven steps from one part of the house to the other made it highly unsuitable for anyone on crutches. But Sir Edwin had offered Michael's help in getting the invalid established in her room upstairs.

‘And if you feel you could take the temporary post as housekeeper that would be
delightful,'
Lady Hewson had added.

‘Of course I will,' Kathryn said though she still felt doubtful about how it would all work out.

Another downside was her having to return to London for one night in order to put her affairs in order and to collect all her belongings from the apartment. But it had to be done and she would phone Helen on her return.

Unlocking the door of the apartment and stepping inside was painful, but at last it was done and she shut the outside door behind her and posted the key through the letterbox with relief. Nothing of her now remained in the place that had been home to her all these months.

CHAPTER FOUR

To Kathryn's surprise there were three vehicles already parked there in the large cobbled yard at the back of the house, two of them police cars. Her mouth was dry as she walked round to the front door to ring the doorbell.

The heavy door opened by a woman police constable. ‘Miss Marshall?' she asked. ‘I'm PC Janet Strong. Lady Hewson's expecting you.'

With a pang of shock Kathryn stared at the
pictures
ripped off the walls and the table smashed on the floor. She went into the den and saw Lady Hewson's pale face and anxious eyes. Here at least the room had been left alone.

Lady Hewson struggled to her feet. ‘Oh my dear,' she said. ‘What a welcome back for you.'

Kathryn took her cold limp hand in hers. ‘Please sit down, Lady Hewson,' she said.

‘We've almost finished now and then we can leave you in peace,' said PC Strong.

As the police left Sir Edwin joined them followed by Andrew Hewson who frowned as he took up his stance on the hearthrug. He was as handsome as his photograph but now his eyes weren't laughing. For a moment Kathryn felt a twinge of fear.

‘It's plain they knew it would be worthwhile breaking in,' Andrew said, looking straight at Kathryn.

‘Did the police say how they know that?' said Sir Edwin.

Andrew shrugged his broad shoulders. ‘No need, was there? You say you didn't ask for references? Very unwise, Uncle, in the circumstances, don't you think?'

‘What circumstances?' Sir Edwin asked sharply.

Kathryn felt a flush cover her face as she realised what Andrew was implying. She had checked with the three referees she had chosen and a list of their details was in her
bag.

The laugh Andrew gave sounded hollow. ‘Do I need to spell it out?'

‘Yes, my boy, I think you do.' Sir Edwin moved his weight from one foot to the other.

‘Well then, here goes. You invite a stranger into your home, show her round, no doubt making a point of showing her all your most valuable things. Isn't that true, Uncle?'

Sir Edwin bowed his head slightly in acceptance.

‘It wouldn't take much to suss out the best ways of entering the place. Any fool would see you have no alarm system installed.'

‘But Andrew, you can't mean Kathryn?' Lady Hewson said in bewilderment. ‘Kathryn's not a stranger. She's Mrs Marshall's daughter.'

Andrew looked triumphant. ‘Exactly. And how much did you know about her when she turned up here?'

Kathryn clutched the back of a chair for support. ‘It's outrageous and totally untrue,' she cried. ‘I have the details of three people who will vouch for me.' She struggled to open the clasp of her bag but her fingers felt clumsy.

‘Too late.' Andrew's lip curled. ‘The damage is done. In my view you should be out of here right now, Uncle. I'll book you into a hotel for the night, longer perhaps. What do you say?'

‘We stay here,' said Sir Edwin with a touch of hauteur.

‘Your
daughter has me to act on her behalf,' Andrew said. ‘If you stay at Bulbury Knap I must insist that you ask Miss Marshall to leave immediately.'

Sir Edwin's knuckles tightened on his stick. ‘How dare you, Andrew?' he demanded. ‘I won't have it, d'you hear? You won't darken these doors again until you apologise to the young lady.'

The silence that followed his words sent shivers down Kathryn's spine. Andrew flicked his dark hair back and strode to the door. ‘You'll regret this,' he spat out.

Lady Hewson sat with bowed head and her hands clasped in her lap. Sir Edwin cleared his throat. ‘I'm sorry, my dear,' he said.

Kathryn felt a rush of sympathy for them. ‘It might be best for me to leave Bulbury Knap at once,' she said gently.

Sir Edwin cleared his throat. ‘We need you here now more than ever.'

Lady Hewson struggled to sit upright in her chair. ‘Andrew was shocked and worried for us, that's all,' she said.

‘Thank you,' said Kathryn. She was pleased by their faith in her. She knew that her mother coming to Bulbury Knap to convalesce with the place in its present state was now totally out of the question. She drew in a painful breath.

‘What's missing is of no matter,' said Sir Edwin. ‘They're objects, that's all.'

He
sounded so sincere that Kathryn was touched. But their nephew's false accusations were another matter. From the hard expression in Andrew Hewson's eyes Kathryn had no doubt that he believed that she had tipped someone off to break in.

She would have an important decision to make in the near future but first she must see to their immediate comfort and then set about clearing up the mess.

‘I'll have a word with Michael,' Sir Edwin said as if he could read her thoughts.

*          *          *

Michael Carey heaved the study table back into position. ‘That was heavy,' he said, breathing hard.

Kathryn looked up from replacing books in the bookcase. ‘This room is fairly reasonable now,' she said as she struggled to her feet and brushed the dust from the knees of her jeans. Exhaustion was beginning to get to her too.

Kathryn had looked at the bedrooms in dismay, aware that they wouldn't be habitable for some time. A quick phone call to Helen was all she had time for, but her sister had to know that Zillah's invitation to Mum wasn't feasible either.

A tiny long-disused attic room would be hers for tonight and she had plans to help Michael carry two single beds down to the den
for
Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson as a temporary solution.

Now she followed Michael to the long room at the back on the ground floor where Sir Edwin's treasures had filled the glass-fronted cabinets and display cases. Not any more. Doors hung open and broken glass littered the floor.

‘Something wrong?' Michael asked.

Kathryn turned to him and tried to smile, though it was difficult. ‘Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson don't deserve this and I'm so sorry for them. And now there's my mother to worry about when she comes out of hospital.'

Michael looked at her without speaking for a moment. He had made no comment about the state of things here at Bulbury Knap, but she didn't doubt he felt the desecration as much as anyone. His eyebrows drew closer together as if he was taking his time to sum things up. ‘There's something else bothering you too,' he said at last.

Kathryn shrugged, biting her lip. The knowledge of Andrew's outburst against her was beginning to get to her. ‘I don't like being accused of something that's not my fault,' she said.

Michael looked startled for a moment. ‘Andrew's been getting at you, I suppose,' he said. ‘What's he been saying?'

‘Something totally untrue,' she said. ‘No way was I casing the joint for a gang of thieves.'

A
smile flickered in Michael's eyes and his lips twitched. ‘Is that really what he thinks?'

Kathryn nodded, in no mood for smiling. ‘That's bad enough, isn't it?' To her horror her lips trembled and she was glad he didn't press her to say more though he must have wondered.

They worked silently in the other rooms downstairs. She had the feeling that Michael was slow to judge others and liked to make up his own mind after due deliberation. She found herself wondering how he came to be working here. It must be a lonely life.

*          *          *

‘Andrew wants a word with you when he gets back,' Sir Edwin said when Kathryn tapped gently on the door and went into the den.

Her heart missed a beat. Striving not to let the panic show on her face, she nodded and smiled. At least she now knew that Mum would be going to Helen's to convalesce even though it meant kicking out Iain, her brother-in-law, who had been living with them.

‘You haven't had proper time yet to unpack your belongings and get settled in,' Sir Edwin said. ‘I trust you've located somewhere suitable to sleep tonight?'

‘A small room, right at the top,' Kathryn said. ‘D'you mind if I make another phone call to my friend, Zillah? And afterwards I'll check
the
kitchen and see what can be done about a meal.'