Dory's Avengers (48 page)

Chapter Nineteen

The shouts of Lord William's henchmen sounded long into the night, His Lordship himself joining in the search despite the continual rain soaking him to the skin. From time to time he'd return to the Unsponsored White Lion to grill Dory's Avengers – particularly Louis, as His Lordship refused to believe Louis had nothing to do with Theo's sudden disappearance. Every time Lord William re-entered the bar he was increasingly annoyed to find the Unsponsored carrying on with the wedding celebration as if nothing had happened, and when he found the band had started playing again he completely lost his temper.

‘STOP THAT RACKET NOW!' he roared; the music that he'd enjoyed so much earlier in the evening now sounding like mockery. Unplugging the Les Paul from the amplifiers and cutting Alan off in mid-solo, Lord William rounded on the guitarist.

‘PUT THAT BLOODY GUITAR DOWN! I DIDN'T SPEND ALL THAT MONEY FOR SOME QUEEN TO GET HIS HANDS ALL OVER IT. GIVE IT…'

His Lordship tried to snatch the guitar, but Alan was too quick. Leaping from the stage, guitar hugged to his chest, Alan disappeared rapidly into the back rooms of the inn. Turning his attention back to Louis, Lord William once again took his temper out on the young gymnast.

‘WHERE IS HE, TREVELYAN? YOU'VE BEEN PLANNING THIS…'

‘Er, how exactly, Your Lordshit? What with me being up north all the time and Theo being a prisoner in your big house in London…'

‘HE'S NOT A PRISONER, YOU INSOLENT…'

‘So what's the problem, Your Lordship?' asked Philip Lorimer, appearing at Lord William's shoulder. ‘Lord Theodore's an adult, and as you say he's not a prisoner, so what's the problem about him choosing to leave the party?'

‘Theodore's agoraphobic…' began Lord William, lowering his voice out of respect for the head of Europe Logistics UK, who once again interrupted smoothly.

‘I think we can drop the agoraphobia story now, Your Lordship. Lord Theodore appears to positively revel in being outdoors. I don't know the true story of his life, and I don't actually care now he's no longer with Cathie, but my guess is that Lord Theodore wants a break from it. If he is, as you say, free to do as he pleases, he's perfectly entitled to leave whenever he chooses.'

‘Philip,' said His Lordship, reining in his temper with a mighty effort, ‘I am one of the most powerful, influential and stinking filthy
rich
men in the country. Has the possibility that Theodore's been
kidnapped
not occurred to you?'

‘That would be unfortunate, Your Lordship; but judging by the friendliness and hospitality we've experienced here I would doubt that to be the case. Besides, even if Lord Theodore has been kidnapped, I can't see how that's Louis's fault.'

At the mention of Louis, Lord William turned once more in the young man's direction and found him flanked by Lysander and Abi.

‘I'm beginning to wonder if Mortimer was right all those years ago, Lysander,' snarled His Lordship. ‘God help your wretched son if he is planning anything against the Scheme;
I'll have every bone in his body broken. Your boy will make
him
,' Lord William pointed at Gideon, ‘look like the active type.'

‘Won't do too well at the Games then, will I, Your Lordshit?' said Louis, masking his nerves with insolence in a way that would have made Theo proud.

‘Ah yes, the Games…' began Lord William, stopping abruptly as Lee Fellows entered the bar.

‘Fellows!' barked Lord William. ‘What news?'

‘He's nowhere to be found, Your Lordship. We've searched everywhere we can in the vicinity, but he's vanished. Unless he's up on that mountain, I'd say he's far away from here now.'

‘What about that wood? You're not telling me you've managed to search that thoroughly in such a short space of time, Fellows.'

‘We're doing all we can, Your Lordship, but obviously it's very dark and a lot of it appears to be impenetrable…'

Louis and Abi exchanged a secret smile. 'Thwaite's Wood wouldn't be any less impenetrable come the dawn, not when it was protecting Isabelle Farrell's son. Fellows's attempt to reason with Lord William only served to annoy the head of the Sponsorship Scheme more than ever.

‘Use search lights then! I want Lord Theodore found, sooner rather than later. What I don't want is excuses. Get men patrolling the area all night. Guard the roads! Guard the village! Guard this wretched pub! Organise a rota now, Fellows; and I want a thorough search of that wood. Is Stephen Dyer here?'

‘I am, Your Lordship,' said Dyer, stepping out from the shadows and causing a number of people in the room to shudder.

‘Ah, Mr Dyer. Find Lord Theodore for me, and then I'd like you to become his own personal bodyguard. Keep him by your side at all times, watch everything he does, keep him
occupied in your own inimitable way. Would that be agreeable to you?'

‘Oh yes, Your Lordship, very much so,' replied Dyer, licking his lips. ‘I'll find him, I promise.'

‘Good. Marina, we're returning to the Sponsored guesthouse. NOW, please.'

Marina had been enjoying a lively discussion about the eventful day with Catherine, and was reluctant to leave. Adam tried to argue on her behalf that he could see her back to the guesthouse later on, but ended up being dragged away as well.

‘No, Adam. Marina, come on! I'm not letting you out of my sight in light of tonight's unfortunate turn of events. You too, Adam. I'm sure your parents wouldn't want you fraternising with this Unsponsored rabble. Theodore's been nothing but trouble since the day he was born…'

Muttering, Lord William strode from the pub; Marina and Adam shoved through the door behind him by Stephen Dyer.

‘Dyer,' snarled an unusually furious Dex as the vile man continued to skulk by the door. ‘Get out of this bar, right now!'

‘Don't worry, I'm going. Can't stand the Unsponsored stench anymore.' Dyer walked over until he was right in Dex's face, then continued.

‘So glad I'm not a big mincing queer like you, Montfiore.'

‘So glad I'm not in denial about my sexuality,' replied Dex evenly. ‘Like you, Dyer.'

‘ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY I'M A FUCKING POOF?' Dyer yelled, making a grab for Dex's collar before doubling up in pain as Matilda's boot once again caught him in the genitals.

‘Two nil to me,' she said happily, shoving the groaning Dyer towards the door. ‘You really need to learn not to stand with your legs so far apart. Now; my stepdad said get out of the bar, so get out! Get out! Get out!'

Continuing to shove the loathsome Dyer in front of her, Matilda pushed him out of The White Lion and into the rain as the Unsponsored cheered and laughed. Dex was still glowing with pride that Matilda had referred to him as her stepdad when the young lady herself reappeared in the bar.

‘What have you gotten changed for, Matty?' he asked, noticing Matilda was wearing jeans and a waterproof coat.

‘She wants to go to Theo,' said Alan sadly, appearing behind the bar. ‘I keep telling her it's too dangerous…'

‘I'll be fine, Dad,' Matilda interrupted. ‘The wood looks after its own, remember? It's taking care of Theo; it'll take care of me too.' Kissing Alan and Dex briefly, Matilda waved round at everyone else then sprinted off before anyone could argue.

‘Let her go,' said Dex, catching hold of Alan as he tried to follow his daughter. ‘She will be fine. No one in their right mind is going to take on Matilda!'

The following morning the rain had eased up, and the sun was making a feeble attempt to appear from behind the clouds. Lord William was once again seated at the best table in the Applethwaite Guesthouse's dining room, his mood very different to that of the previous day. Laptop open in front of him, His Lordship was sending out messages to his inner circle that they were to attend an emergency meeting in his office the following morning. Emails sent, Lord William turned his attention to Adam sitting opposite.

‘Where's Rosanna?'

‘Still in bed, Lord William.'

‘Go and get her, now!'

‘She's feeling a bit…'

‘NOW, FOSTER!'

Sighing, Adam handed his empty breakfast plate to the passing waitress with a smile of thanks, then did as he was told. Five minutes later, a very fragile-looking Rosanna was propped up in the corner opposite her father.

‘You look awful, Rosanna, and you were a bloody disgrace yesterday,' said Lord William without sympathy. ‘How dare you let me down like that?'

‘Sorry, Father,' mumbled Rosanna, looking at the table and hoping she wouldn't have to rush off to be sick.

‘I suppose you know Theodore's gone? That rumpus you caused took everyone's attention, and off he went.'

‘We'll be better off without him…'

‘WE WILL NOT, YOU STUPID GIRL!' Rosanna wisely shut up, and Lord William continued more quietly: ‘We'll be leaving in half an hour. Get your things ready, Rosanna, and if you're sick in the limousine I'll have you thrown out onto the motorway.'

‘Adam,' snapped Rosanna, turning to her boyfriend who was drinking coffee and chatting amiably to the guesthouse owner. ‘Stop talking to servants and get my stuff together! Give me coffee too, now!'

‘No,' said Adam, turning to Rosanna. ‘Do it yourself!'

‘ADAM!' shrieked Rosanna, pausing briefly as another wave of nausea hit her. ‘Adam, if you want to remain my boyfriend I suggest…'

‘Well, that's just it, Rosanna. I don't want to. I used to think you were beautiful; now all I can see is the nasty, bitter woman you are inside. I've got my own things together, Lord William,' Adam continued, addressing His Lordship who was suddenly very interested in the conversation. ‘But I'm not returning to London right now. I told Mum and Dad I'd watch Louis train for a few days, then I'll get a lift back with the Lorimers.' Lifting his hand to silence Lord William who'd been about to speak, Adam finished what he wanted to say.

‘It's all arranged. I spoke to Philip yesterday and he said he'll drive me home, no problem. Oh yes, and Marina too. She's staying to keep Catherine company, see her through her heartbreak over Theo, that sort of thing.'

‘She will do no such thing. Where is she anyway?'

‘White Lion, Lord William,' said Adam. ‘She ate an early breakfast then went straight up there. Philip's delighted that the girls are such good friends; says he'll be bringing Catherine round to your place as much as he was when she and Theo were together.'

‘Clever boy,' said Lord William, smiling slightly and realising that Adam was right. A close friendship between his daughter and the head of Europe Logistics UK's daughter was as good as a relationship between his son and the girl. ‘Nice try, Adam, but I'm afraid it doesn't alter the fact that Marina's coming back with me. In the light of Theodore's disappearance, I'm sure Philip will understand my desire to see both my daughters home safely. I shall be returning to Applethwaite as soon as I have conducted my business in London, so Marina can resume her friendship with Catherine then.'

‘As you wish, Lord William,' said Adam. ‘Do you need me here any longer, or may I leave? Only I'm meeting Louis and some of the others for a bit of a workout in Gideon's studio.'

‘You may go. Goodbye, Adam. Fellows; go and fetch Lady Marina as we're nearly ready to leave.' As Adam left, Lord William said to his elder daughter, ‘I hope you realise what you've lost, Rosanna; Adam's a good man.' Rosanna was still far too concerned with her nausea to worry about the pain of losing Adam. That would come later.

As Lord William travelled south in his luxury limousine, he couldn't help comparing the miserable journey to the joyful one only two days previously. With one daughter sulking at having been dragged away from Applethwaite, and the other too hung over to speak, there was no opportunity for conversation. Much as he didn't like to admit it, the months since Theo had been released from his bedroom had been the happiest Lord William had known for many years, and he realised that was because of the
irrepressible high spirits of his only son. Lord William found himself getting uncharacteristically misty-eyed as he remembered Theo's delight at his new guitar, Theo laughing uncontrollably at children's cartoons, Theo charging noisily round the big house with his endless energy.

Over the course of the journey, though, Lord William's mood began to change. Affection for Theo's irresistible personality was gradually replaced by anger. He, Lord William, had given his son everything and the boy had thrown it all back in his face. He'd given his son freedom, and Theo had repaid his kindness with ridicule and disrespect. By the time the limousine drew up outside the St Benedict residence, Lord William was in a foul mood. Snapping at his staff to bring the luggage in, he then ordered his two daughters to get to their rooms and stay there until dinner was served, while he went up to his office.

Sitting alone at his desk his eyes fell on a framed photograph, one of the lovely shots of Theo taken just before Christmas. Tall, handsome and relaxed, Theo was smiling merrily for the camera as he leant against the fireplace in the drawing room, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass of wine. Looking at the photo, Lord William's pain and anger collided in his mind. With a roar he picked the photograph up and hurled it against the far wall where the glass shattered. Striding over the room, Lord William ground the glass into the photo under his shoe until the picture of Theo was cut to shreds.

While Lord William was travelling back to London trying to sort out his feelings towards Theo, the young man himself was lying in an igloo tent in 'Thwaite's Wood. The heart of the wood, recently declared impenetrable by Lee Fellows, had welcomed Applethwaite girl Matilda Santiago, and she was snuggled up next to Theo in his sleeping bag discussing what he could do next.

‘The village is crawling with security, Theo,' she told him. ‘Including that Dyer creep. His Lordshit told Dyer to find you and basically gave him free rein to do what he wants with you once you're back in his clutches…'