caviar, smoked salmon, and half bottles of champagne in hers. I wasn’t that fond of caviar, but I had a few tins of pâte and three-bean salad and red wine in mine. We were well stocked up for emergencies or unforeseen events.
I closed my door behind me and leaned against it thankfully. Peace. And quiet. At last. Outside, the storm continued to rage. In here, it was warm and cosy and the soft bed inviting. I flipped on the radio and picked up the mystery I was reading.
A faint mew of protest told me that I had nearly squashed my little chum as I stretched out on the bed.
“Push over, then,” I told her and she obliged. I began to feel drowsy as I settled down next to the warm little body with the comforting purr.
I had intended, I really had, to review the events of the day—with particular attention to everything that had been said or implied. But …
But … the room was warm, the bed was soft, the storm outside closed us into a sphere of comfort and contentment.
Then Classic FM began to play the “Rose Adagio” and the smooth melodic strains wafted me into another world. I stood on a stage I had never known, wearing a costume I had never worn, facing a partner I had never seen before …
Another moment … I promised myself. Just another moment and I’ll pull myself together, open my eyes, and do some serious thinking about the situation.
“Prrr …”a little voice throbbed in my ear. “Prrr … prrr …”
Just another minute . The music swirled and soared and I soared with it.
I’ll open my eyes in just another minute …
“Prrr …”
Just another minute …
Chapter Ten
I awoke to discover that the rain had dwindled from a monsoon to a mere downpour. An improvement, but still nothing one would want to go out in. A quiet evening at home stretched out before me. At least, I hoped it did. Given my personal opinion that Banquo and his crew were all mad as hatters, they might even now be heading in this direction.
I yawned, stretched, and decided I wouldn’t bother to change for dinner. There would just be Evangeline and me and, judging from the finality with which Jocasta had disappeared earlier, I would be the one doing the cooking. Perhaps an omelette and crusty rolls and—
Something wasn’t right. I was awake enough now to notice this. But—what? I inhaled deeply: bacon, eggs, coffee, toast. Morning smells. And the murmur of voices. Jocasta, sounding slightly plaintive, but in a reasonable mood. And lower, soothing, a man’s voice I couldn’t immediately identify. But all the men had left earlier … or yesterday?
I couldn’t have slept all afternoon and all night!
The clock, though, said eight and the sky had lightened as much as the rain would allow. Cho-Cho was nowhere in sight, so the visitor must be friendly—and not Teddy. Not yet.
As I entered the kitchen, a sudden burst of laughter halted me in surprise. In fact, amazement. To be fair, Jocasta looked equally surprised at herself. I realised it was the first time I had ever heard her laugh. I looked around to see who the miracle man could be.
“Good morning, Trixie.” Nigel beamed at me—or, possibly, at his success in amusing Jocasta. “Ready for breakfast? We’re having bacon, but there are sausages, if you’d rather.”
Cho-Cho looked at me hopefully. She liked bacon, but she loved sausages.
“Split the difference,” I said. “A couple of each.”
“Coming up!” He seemed to have taken over at the grill.
“Oh, Trixie—” Jocasta greeted me. “There’s a message from Martha. She won’t be here today. I’m to just go ahead with the next recipes to be tested. Nigel has very kindly volunteered to help me.”
“Good! I mean—” Perhaps I had sounded too enthusiastic. “I mean, it’s a filthy day for her to trail all the way over here. I’m sure you and Nigel will manage splendidly.”
“Martha’s sulking again, I’ll be bound!” Evangeline appeared in the doorway, blinking as she
I closed my door behind me and leaned against it thankfully. Peace. And quiet. At last. Outside, the storm continued to rage. In here, it was warm and cosy and the soft bed inviting. I flipped on the radio and picked up the mystery I was reading.
A faint mew of protest told me that I had nearly squashed my little chum as I stretched out on the bed.
“Push over, then,” I told her and she obliged. I began to feel drowsy as I settled down next to the warm little body with the comforting purr.
I had intended, I really had, to review the events of the day—with particular attention to everything that had been said or implied. But …
But … the room was warm, the bed was soft, the storm outside closed us into a sphere of comfort and contentment.
Then Classic FM began to play the “Rose Adagio” and the smooth melodic strains wafted me into another world. I stood on a stage I had never known, wearing a costume I had never worn, facing a partner I had never seen before …
Another moment … I promised myself. Just another moment and I’ll pull myself together, open my eyes, and do some serious thinking about the situation.
“Prrr …”a little voice throbbed in my ear. “Prrr … prrr …”
Just another minute . The music swirled and soared and I soared with it.
I’ll open my eyes in just another minute …
“Prrr …”
Just another minute …
Chapter Ten
I awoke to discover that the rain had dwindled from a monsoon to a mere downpour. An improvement, but still nothing one would want to go out in. A quiet evening at home stretched out before me. At least, I hoped it did. Given my personal opinion that Banquo and his crew were all mad as hatters, they might even now be heading in this direction.
I yawned, stretched, and decided I wouldn’t bother to change for dinner. There would just be Evangeline and me and, judging from the finality with which Jocasta had disappeared earlier, I would be the one doing the cooking. Perhaps an omelette and crusty rolls and—
Something wasn’t right. I was awake enough now to notice this. But—what? I inhaled deeply: bacon, eggs, coffee, toast. Morning smells. And the murmur of voices. Jocasta, sounding slightly plaintive, but in a reasonable mood. And lower, soothing, a man’s voice I couldn’t immediately identify. But all the men had left earlier … or yesterday?
I couldn’t have slept all afternoon and all night!
The clock, though, said eight and the sky had lightened as much as the rain would allow. Cho-Cho was nowhere in sight, so the visitor must be friendly—and not Teddy. Not yet.
As I entered the kitchen, a sudden burst of laughter halted me in surprise. In fact, amazement. To be fair, Jocasta looked equally surprised at herself. I realised it was the first time I had ever heard her laugh. I looked around to see who the miracle man could be.
“Good morning, Trixie.” Nigel beamed at me—or, possibly, at his success in amusing Jocasta. “Ready for breakfast? We’re having bacon, but there are sausages, if you’d rather.”
Cho-Cho looked at me hopefully. She liked bacon, but she loved sausages.
“Split the difference,” I said. “A couple of each.”
“Coming up!” He seemed to have taken over at the grill.
“Oh, Trixie—” Jocasta greeted me. “There’s a message from Martha. She won’t be here today. I’m to just go ahead with the next recipes to be tested. Nigel has very kindly volunteered to help me.”
“Good! I mean—” Perhaps I had sounded too enthusiastic. “I mean, it’s a filthy day for her to trail all the way over here. I’m sure you and Nigel will manage splendidly.”
“Martha’s sulking again, I’ll be bound!” Evangeline appeared in the doorway, blinking as she
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