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Jonty wasn t sure if he or Orlando was being called silly, or the pair of them.  And after I ve thumped
him one? What next?
 Dr. Stewart, you re in a worse state than I realised. Use your brains. Ariadne took the glass from his
trembling hands and gently clasped them in hers, something she d never done in all the years they d known
each other.  You help him find that family of his. He ll never rest until that s accomplished, so take as long
as you want.
 He won t, you re right. Oh Lord, I ll have to see your brother and explain things.
 Don t waste time on that. I ll be at the lodge another couple of days while my husband is at that
conference of his. I ll square everything with Lemuel. Ariadne let go her guest s hands, with what seemed
a degree of reluctance.  The pair of you come back to St. Bride s happy and healthy and with your minds
entirely focussed on college business and he ll be happy.
 You are no doubt right, as ever. Jonty picked up his suitcase.  And remarkably farsighted to have
thought of this. Mama always says that I d collapse in a heap of unwashed clothes and unpaid bills if I
didn t have women about me to sort me out. She s probably right. He leaned over and kissed Ariadne s
cheek.
 Oh away with you, you ll miss your train. Get yourself to the Blue Bell at Honiton, that s all you
need to know for now. Read the rest of the messages on the train that takes you there.
It was late and starlit when he got into Honiton station but the horse which drew the cab could
probably have found its way there in pitch darkness, or so its driver claimed.
 It s our usual route, sir, up to the High Street. Old Bess could do it in her sleep at a pinch and I dare
say she has some evenings when we ve had a market day s trade to deal with. He twitched his rein and
Bess obliged, taking them from station to hotel at an even, gentle pace.
It was exactly the sort of experience which Jonty usually relished, a journey out in the open under the
stars, but tonight he was too tense to take any pleasure from it. What if he d missed Orlando, if the long
streak of a swine had gone off in search of some red herring or unmissable lead? Yes, he d be able to get
the latest news from Lavinia and he d never be more than day or so behind, but that could translate into half
the length of the country. He had to trust that the guardian angel who put significant photos into shops they
walked past or made inspectors leave Scotland Yard at the opportune moment would look after him now.
www.samhainpublishing.com 105
Charlie Cochrane
Jonty paid off the cab driver when they reached the Blue Bell, although he declined any offers of help
with his luggage. The train journey had seemed agonisingly slow, even though he d used the fastest
services, but now he was reluctant to take this final step, just in case his quarry had already bolted. Or was
it just in case his quarry was there? He was still unsure what he d do when he actually came face to face
with his lover, especially if it was in a public place. Taking a long, deep breath, he braved the entrance and
made enquiries about a room.
 Yes, sir, we have one available. A very nice one with a view to the garden. The host was jolly and
avuncular, everything a host should be and everything Jonty would have appreciated in different
circumstances.  If you ll just complete the register.
Jonty thought he was going to blot the whole page when he saw the name two above his. Dr. O.
Coppersmith, Forsythia Cottage, Madingley Road, Cambridge. At least that was some positive sign; if
Orlando had given his address as St. Bride s that might have suggested he d no intention of returning home.
To their home. Jonty managed to steady his hand and write his parents Sussex address as his own. No
point in encouraging unwanted questions.
 Will you be wanting a bite of supper? His host beamed.  There s one or two other gentlemen taking
a late meal. I ll have your bag sent up if you d like to make yourself comfortable in the dining room.
A low growl in Jonty s stomach reminded him it was a long time since he d had a decent nosebag.
 I d be very obliged to you, landlord. And with any luck Orlando might be one of those gentlemen the
toad couldn t make a scene or storm out in polite company.
Any resolution he d got left departed as Jonty came to the threshold of the dining room. At a window
table, back towards him, sat an unmistakable figure with a very familiar set of curls on his head, ones
which were, as usual, resisting the efforts of brush or oil to control them. Jonty still couldn t decide whether
to go up to him and kiss him, the other people present notwithstanding, or to take an axe and whack him
over the head for having caused such heartache. In the end he could do neither, rooted to the spot with fear
of doing or saying the wrong thing and having Orlando fling everything back in his face.
 Can I help you, sir? A young waiter appeared at Jonty s side, increasing his panic. Orlando had ears
like a hound and would pick up his voice even if he whispered and probably if he attempted some stupid [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]