Bulbury Knap (7 page)

‘Back to square one, I'm afraid,' Helen said when she saw them, her voice clipped.

‘How bad is she?' said Kathryn. ‘What
happened?
Is it worse than you thought?'

‘She insisted on going out for a walk by herself and fell off the kerb on the other side of the road. Only a few steps from the house. I didn't know at first. She collapsed you see. Someone rang the door bell. You'll say it's all my fault.'

‘Hey, calm down,' Iain said. ‘No-one's blaming you.'

‘I wanted Mum to come to me,' said Helen, close to tears. ‘I wanted to look after her.'

Kathryn started to say something but was silenced by a warning glance from Iain. Maybe it was too much for Helen having Mum with her at this time, she thought as they walked to the ward. If so something would have to be done to ease the situation. But what?

Fortunately the damage to her mother's ankle wasn't as bad as expected though it would set her back a few weeks. Things could be a lot worse.

They ate a quick meal in a service station near the start of the M5 at Exeter.

‘Zillah phoned last night wanting to know how Mum was,' Kathryn said as they set off again. ‘You've heard me speak of Zillah, best friend … the artist down in Lyme?'

‘The cause of all your mum's troubles?'

‘It wasn't Zillah's fault,' Kathryn said, feeling herself flush.

‘I know, I know. Calm down.' There was amusement in Iain's voice now.

‘Sorry.'
She had been too quick to rise and felt the tension drain out of her as she laughed with him.

‘How's she coping since the accident?'

‘The insurance money isn't enough to replace her old banger, but she's got a big commission on and experts to be paid up front so she's going to be doing something positive about that.'

‘Great. She sounds quite a girl,' said Iain.

They were nearing Lyme now, beginning to descend the steep hill to the harbour with the vision of the sea and the coastline ahead of them stretching into the distance.

‘There's billowing smoke down there,' Iain said, craning forward to look. ‘Right by the harbour by the look of it.'

‘Zillah's studio! That's where it is.'

Iain released his seat belt and half stood to get a better look. ‘Can't quite see,' he said, subsiding again and clicking the belt in position. ‘There's more smoke now. Masses of it.'

The road ahead was blocked but the entrance to the car park on the right was clear. She drove in and parked. ‘I'll have to check on Zillah,' she said urgently. You don't have to come, Iain. You could walk to your place from here.'

He sprang out, shrugging on his jacket as he elbowed the door shut. ‘Of course I'm coming.'

They hurried towards the side exit that led
down
to the Cobb. A fire engine, its siren blazing, was negotiating the cobbles in order to reach the building on the far side of the harbour that housed Zillah's studio. Another burst of smoke rose in the air.

‘Smoke but no flames yet,' Iain pointed out. ‘Come on, let's get round there.'

A lick of flame rose in the air.

‘Let me pass, let me through,' Someone shouted from behind. Kathryn spun round. ‘Zillah!' she cried in relief.

Her friend, with staring eyes and hair awry, pushed her away unseeingly towards them.

‘Stand back, please. It's not safe to pass,' someone called out.

‘It's my place on fire,' she screamed. ‘You've got to let me through.'

Instantly Iain grabbed Zillah's arm to prevent her going farther. ‘Do as they say. It could be dangerous.'

She tried to shrug him off. ‘Let me go!'

‘Zillah,' cried Kathryn again.

‘Kathryn?' Zillah sobbed.

‘It's me,' said Kathryn, holding on to her too. ‘Iain's with me. Stay here with us, Zillah, until it's safe. Let them deal with it. Please, Zillah.'

‘I went out,' Zillah moaned. ‘I didn't know. What are they doing?' She rubbed her arm across her eyes. She struggled free and stood upright. Her purple and orange jacket swung open to reveal a paint-smeared smock
beneath.

Somehow, seeing that, a lump rose in Kathryn's throat. Zillah, for all her apparent strength, was deeply vulnerable.

‘The flames have gone now,' someone shouted.

Kathryn gazed across that harbour at the building. The black pall that had hung over it earlier had subsided a little too.

Beside her, Zillah gasped. ‘What happened? Oh, what happened? I wasn't out long. When will they let me back?'

Much later, seated in the café, from where they could see flickering lights across the harbour, Kathryn leaned back in her seat feeling exhaustion seep through her until her limbs seemed weightless. The likely outcome of the fire seemed horrendous.

Iain yawned. ‘We've had a long day,' he said. ‘My landlady here has rooms vacant. Why not book in there for tonight, Zillah?'

Zillah nodded. ‘I've been selfish, haven't I, keeping you here?'

‘I'll come back with you to your studio tomorrow, Zillah,' Iain offered.

Kathryn smiled at him. No-one would think he and Zillah had only just met. But Iain was like that, friendly and willing to help anyone in a worse situation than himself. When Zillah had refused to leave the scene he had waited with her gladly.

At last Zillah began to realise that she
wouldn't
be able to do anything more until the morning. With a last look across the dark water, she allowed herself to be led to the car and then to the house where Iain was staying.

*          *          *

Iain phoned next morning as Kathryn was clearing away the breakfast things. ‘Zillah's been allowed back in to view the damage,' he said. ‘What a mess. The smell's horrific.'

‘Are all her paintings damaged?' Kathryn asked, concerned. ‘Is it really bad?'

‘They're in a poor state. Most destroyed completely. A few things not touched. The smoke's stained some of the blank canvasses but others are all right. Some of her paints are OK too, I think.'

Kathryn sighed, imagining the scene. Not good then, as she had expected. ‘What are you doing now?'

‘Getting stuff out that can be salvaged. The landlord's here now and some of the other tenants. The place'll be boarded up for the time being.'

A plan had been forming in Kathryn's mind as they were speaking but she couldn't voice it until she had spoken to Sir Edwin. Plenty of space in the derelict cottages across the yard to store any amount of painting equipment.

She found Sir Edwin in the long sitting-room leaning on his stick as he gazed round
the
empty space. He gave a start as she came in. ‘You need me, my dear?'

‘I've a favour to ask, Sir Edwin,' she said.

Hesitantly she told him of her idea of helping Zillah out of a tight spot. He agreed immediately as she knew he would. She hesitated for a moment as she turned to leave. Should she mention Andrew's dislike of the cottages being used? But no. Andrew had objected to them being let out for living in. This was merely for the storage of property on a temporary basis. Surely he couldn't object to that?

*          *          *

Kathryn propped open the cottage door and set to work. Sweeping was no problem or gathering up the dust but without electricity there was no way of putting a heater in here as Lady Hewson wished.

She looked up, startled, as a shadow fell across the open doorway. Michael, his arms full of grey army blankets, stepped inside.

‘Don't look so bemused,' he said with a smile. ‘We keep these stored in the old stable at the back of my place in case of emergency. According to Sir Edward that time has come.'

‘And you brought them over here specially?'

‘My vehicle's outside.'

Kathryn had been so absorbed in her work that she hadn't heard it.

‘I'll
dump them over here where you've swept, shall I?' Michael said. ‘Lady Hewson thought they'd be suitable to spread out on the floor so your friend's belongings won't get dusty.'

‘They'll make a fine carpet,' she said.

He grinned. ‘Making plans to furnish the place?'

‘How did you guess?' Being here with Michael felt companionable because he understood and approved her ideas.

Together they covered half the floor area with the blankets. ‘Hiding the bare boards makes all the difference to the place,' he said.

‘Almost as if it was going to be lived in,' she agreed.

‘Andrew will think the same if he sees it like this,' said Michael.

She smiled, liking the feeling they were in this together. ‘Zillah's stuff will be stored here temporarily. That's all.'

‘How soon will she move it here?'

‘She can't get a van and driver until this evening. But I thought I'd need to prepare the place as soon as I could so it's all ready for her.'

‘She's got a friend in you, Kathryn,' Michael said.

She felt herself flush at the expression in his eyes. ‘Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson are so kind.'

He shrugged, smiling. ‘It's good to see this
place
being made use of. Let me know if you need any help in unloading. The quicker it's done the better.'

She nodded. ‘Thanks.'

‘Finished over here for the moment?'

‘All done,' she said in satisfaction.

Outside in the yard with the early sunlight on her face, Kathryn took a deep breath of pure pleasure. She was glad that through her Zillah had somewhere to store her property while she got her studio sorted out. It would be safe enough here.

The van rattled into the yard as Kathryn was washing up at the sink. She wiped her hands and rushed out to greet it.

The driver's door opened and he leapt out, gazing round him with a bemused expression on his young face. ‘This it?'

Zillah had more difficulty extricating herself. Her smock caught on the hinge as she tried to jump down. She pulled it loose with a ripping sound and gave a snort of impatience. ‘This is Bob,' she said. ‘No room for Iain. He was miffed, I can tell you.' Her hearty laugh rang out across the courtyard.

‘One moment and I'll get some extra help organised,' Kathryn said. A quick phone call and Michael would be here.

‘Where d'you want it put, Kathryn?' Zillah nodded at the open door of the cottage. ‘In here? This is a great place. You've done me proud.'

‘We
aim to please,' said Kathryn, smiling.

The van drove off at last, Zillah leaning out of the passenger window and waving enthusiastically. She seemed to take something with her out of the turbulent atmosphere that had consumed the place while the two men man-handled the larger pieces inside the cottage.

Now, in the sudden calm, Kathryn turned to thank Michael.

He was smiling as he wiped one hand down the side of his jeans. ‘Quite a character, your friend,' he said.

Kathryn nodded. He sounded approving and she was glad of that. Not everyone could cope with Zillah's exuberant personality.

He glanced across at the cottage. ‘All locked up?'

‘Is there a key?'

He frowned. ‘Sir Edwin's not mentioned one?'

‘No, never.'

‘Then there probably isn't one. It's too late now to do anything about it but I'll get into town for a new lock and key first thing. Should be OK anyway for tonight.'

Kathryn nodded. ‘Thanks.' Andrew had left Bulbury Knap and certainly wouldn't be back before morning.

*          *          *

Kathryn
shivered at the chilliness in the air as she came down to the kitchen the following morning. The stone flooring in the passage made it seem colder than it was.

To her surprise she heard voices. Sir Edwin and Zillah were seated at the kitchen table drinking tea. The electric kettle was steaming quietly to itself and on the draining board the brown liquid from a couple of tea bags oozed around them in a gluggy mess. Something was wrong here surely? She had seen Zillah off in the van late yesterday evening on its return journey to Lyme. Her smock was a clean one today and she had combed her hair.

‘What are you doing here, Zillah?' Kathryn switched the kettle off and then put the tea bags into the pedal bin and wiped the draining board clean. Zillah really was the limit. She couldn't have got here this early from Lyme so she must have returned late last night and stayed somewhere on the estate. No prizes for guessing where.

‘This tea is excellent,' Sir Edward said. ‘How glad I am I rose early and discovered you out in the yard, my dear. I trust you had a good night?'

Zillah let out a relieved-sounding sigh. ‘I slept like the dead,' she said.

‘But where exactly?' asked Kathryn.

‘Sit down, Kathryn,' Zillah invited, waving her hand at a vacant chair as if she were the hostess here. ‘It's OK, honestly. This kind man
invited
me to stay when I returned by taxi late last night.'

‘You woke Sir Edwin?'

‘I came downstairs in search of a drink of water,' Sir Edwin said gently.

Kathryn was silent, imagining the scene … Sir Edwin in this thick dressing gown unbolting the back door on hearing a vehicle draw up outside with not a thought of the break-in that had occurred so recently or of any danger he might be in.

‘I couldn't bear to be apart from my things a moment longer, not after what they'd been through,' said Zillah with a shudder.

‘Quite right, my dear,' Sir Edward said approvingly.

Kathryn looked at him questioningly. ‘You mean you don't mind Zillah staying in the cottage until her studio is sorted out, Sir Edwin?'

‘I think it's a splendid idea. I shall get Michael on to it immediately. We'll need to get some furniture down from the attics to make the place habitable.'