Heart of Ice

by Sk Quinn

  ‘What are you doing here, Thornburn?’ says Patrick.

  ‘Have I got news for you, Lord Mansfield,’ Regan laughs.

  ‘What news?’

  Regan looks back at Anise in the truck. ‘Should you tell him or shall I?’

  Anise stays quiet.

  ‘Okay. I’ll tell him then.’ Regan grins.

  Anise climbs out of the truck. I notice Regan doesn’t open the door for her. Or help her down.

  She looks limp and frightened – like the old Anise. When Dirk was controlling her.

  ‘You have five seconds to get off my property, Thornburn,’ Patrick shouts. ‘Before I shoot you for trespassing.’

  Regan throws his head back and laughs. ‘Trespassing? How can we be trespassing on our own property.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Your sister and I just got married. Which makes half this castle mine.’

  My mouth falls open.

  Oh good god.

  37

  ‘Come on,’ Regan tells Anise. ‘Let’s get inside.’

  ‘Take one step inside the castle and I’ll blow your head off,’ says Patrick, aiming his rifle.

  Regan laughs. ‘If you want to be thrown in prison, go ahead.’

  ‘I’m defending my property.’

  ‘It’s half my property now, Mansfield.’

  ‘Whether you’ve married her or not, Anise doesn’t own half the castle,’ says Patrick. ‘My father does. I own the other half.’

  ‘Not as of this morning. Your father signed over his half to Anise. If you don’t believe me, ask your sister.’

  Anise nods, looking pale and frightened. ‘It’s true Patrick. Father arranged it. I own half the castle now. And Regan is my husband.’

  A thick line appears on Patrick’s forehead. ‘Anise. How could you be so foolish—’

  ‘That’s my wife you’re talking to, Mansfield,’ says Regan. He takes Anise’s hand and pulls her towards the castle. ‘You’d better be more polite to us in future. I am your brother-in-law now, after all.’

  Patrick tenses, ready for a fight.

  ‘Move aside,’ says Regan. ‘I already told you. This is half my property now.’

  ‘He’s right Patrick,’ says Anise. ‘Please don’t fight over this. Not in front of Bertie. What he’s saying is true.’

  ‘Can Regan do this, Patrick?’ I ask. ‘Is it legal?’

  ‘Apparently so,’ says Patrick. ‘Listen Thornburn. You may have got yourself half a castle. For the time being. But it’s still only half. The West Wing is occupied. You will stay in the East Wing until I find a way to kick you out.’

  ‘The East Wing?’ Regan scratches his beard.

  ‘It’s cold and old,’ says Patrick. ‘And easy to monitor.’

  ‘Supposing I say I don’t want the East Wing?’ says Regan. ‘What are you going to do about it?’

  ‘I don’t have to do anything about it. I already have possession of the castle. Which means I can keep the half I’m already occupying.’

  Regan chews over that for a moment. ‘You and your fancy words. Fine. We’ll take the East Wing then.’

  ‘Anise knows the way,’ says Patrick.

  ‘Right,’ says Regan. ‘Well. Let’s get settled in. You have a housekeeper here, don’t you? Tell her to fetch the bags.’ He slaps Anise on the backside. ‘Come on wifey. Show us the new pad.’

  Anise throws a pained glance at Bertie. But then follows Regan into the East Tower.

  I can almost sense Bertie’s rage though his fingertips.

  He glares as Anise walks away. And then he runs into the entrance way and tears a tapestry from the wall, stamping on it and shrieking.

  I grab him and hold him, but it takes a while for him to calm down.

  Eventually he goes limp in my arms. A little pale rag doll.

  ‘At least she’s here,’ I whisper to him. ‘She’s closer.’

  ‘It’s like before,’ he replies. ‘With grandfather. Just like before. He’s telling her what to do. And she’s too scared to say she wants me.’

  ‘No,’ I tell him. ‘It’s different now. Because I’m here. And I’m staying. Okay Bertie Boo?’

  ‘Don’t leave me Sera,’ he whispers. ‘Please don’t leave me.’

  38

  For the rest of the afternoon, Patrick prowls around the castle putting up security cameras and checking access routes.

  At suppertime, we have two more guests.

  The other Thornburn brothers – Blake and Riley.

  Louise shows them into the great hall. She doesn’t look very happy about it. But she does her best to be polite.

  Patrick, Grey and I are eating Baked Camembert and crusty French bread. Bertie is toying with a bowl of alphabet spaghetti.

  Wila and Danny ate earlier, so they’re playing monopoly in Danny’s room.

  Blake grins when he sees me.

  ‘Well, well, well. Lady Mansfield. Getting more beautiful by the day.’

  Riley glares at the big wooden tables. ‘Where’s Regan?’ he demands.

  ‘Hopefully a long way away,’ says Patrick.

  Riley clenches his fists.

  Patrick stands up.

  I grab him and pull him back down. ‘Patrick. Don’t.’

  Patrick glares at the brothers.

  ‘That’s right Mansfield,’ says Riley. ‘Do what your woman tells you.’

  ‘Happy to.’ Patrick glares at Riley.

  ‘Where’s the food around here?’ Riley clicks his fingers at Vicky in the kitchen. ‘Are you going to bring us something to eat, or what?’

  Grey leaps to his feet. ‘Careful, biker boy. No rudeness. No bad language. Or you and I will step outside.’

  ‘Step outside? I’ll rip your head off right here if I need to.’

  Grey raises an eyebrow. ‘I think we both know you’d only embarrass yourself.’

  Vicky appears at the hatch, frowning. ‘Can I help you gentlemen?’ she says, the words sticky.

  ‘Sure thing love,’ says Riley, slapping the service hatch. ‘Pie, chips, beans twice. And hurry up about it.’

  ‘I think the lady deserves a please, don’t you?’ says Grey, his eyes dangerous.

  ‘She’s not going to get one,’ says Riley, lounging back on the service hatch.

  ‘You have three seconds,’ says Grey, crossing the room at alarming speed.

  ‘All right, all right.’ Riley’s eyes widen.

  ‘One, two—’

  ‘Please. Please!’

  ‘That’s better,’ says Grey.

  Vicky steals a sideways smile at Grey.

  39

  The two brothers eat their meals on a faraway table – Riley tearing up bread and throwing food into his mouth like a starving wolf.

  Blake watches me and smiles.

  I feel Patrick glaring.

  ‘My father has been clever,’ says Patrick. ‘He’s got us right where he wants us. Under siege.’

  ‘But we can leave any time we want,’ I say.

  ‘I’d never leave the Thornburns alone in this castle. My father knows that.’

  Rab comes clattering over and sits heavily at our table. ‘Say the word Patrick and I’ll snap both their necks. I couldn’t care less about prison. I’ve been there many a time.’

  ‘Tempting,’ says Patrick, laying a hand on Rab’s burly forearm. ‘But like it or not, Regan now owns half this castle. So his brothers can stay here.’

  ‘Not if they’re dead they can’t.’

  Patrick laughs. ‘Believe me. I’ve thought about it. But that’s exactly what my father wants us to do. He wants us to compromise ourselves. It will help his case. But I won’t give him the satisfaction.’

  ‘You’re a braver man than me, Patrick. I’ll call in more men, at any rate. Make sure the West Wing is totally secure.’

  ‘Do it carefully,’ Patrick warns. ‘We don’t want the Thornburns to feel outnumbered. They may start bringing in people of their own.’

  ‘Right you are Pa
trick. Right you are.’

  Rab salutes and marches out of the hall.

  I notice that Grey is still hanging around the serving hatch, watching Vicky in the kitchen.

  ‘Do you think Grey could actually be serious about her?’ I ask Patrick.

  ‘Looks that way,’ says Patrick. ‘He had to fall for someone at one point. I’ve never seen him this way about anyone.’

  40

  I put Bertie to bed, then pop my head in to see Wila.

  She’s lying on the bed, still in her ballet costume, watching Patrick’s iPad.

  ‘How’d ballet practice go?’ I ask.

  ‘Difficult.’ Wila frowns. ‘I’m so out of practice.’

  She bites her lip, and I smile – taking a seat beside her.

  ‘Hey,’ I say, tapping her lip. ‘Bad habit. You got that from me.’

  Wila laughs. ‘I know. You do it when you’re nervous.’

  ‘You do too. What are you feeling nervous about?’ I put an arm around her.

  ‘There’s something I want to ask you.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I wanted … I mean, if it would be okay with you … can I go back to school?’

  ‘You want to go back? With that horrible teacher …’

  ‘I don’t want to be anywhere near him,’ says Wila. ‘But I will. If it means doing my ballet. I’m missing it so much, Pheeny. It’s lovely up here, but I’m wasting away.’

  ‘You can’t go back, Lala. Not while that teacher is still there.’

  ‘It’s so embarrassing,’ says Wila. ‘I just don’t want anyone to know. That’s all I want. To just forget it ever happened.’

  ‘Okay, listen,’ I say. ‘I’m going to talk to your headmistress. If you want to go back to school, I need to make sure that teacher isn’t there.’

  ‘Oh please don’t,’ says Wila. ‘Then the head will know. And … no, it’s just too embarrassing.’

  ‘It wasn’t your fault, Lala,’ I say. ‘You were young. Vulnerable. He took advantage. The head will see that. I promise.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Certain. I’ll call her. Explain everything. Get that teacher kicked out of the school. And then you can go back. Okay?’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘You’re right, Wila. You have a talent. You need to express it. You need to be with your friends at school. And do your ballet. You’re amazing, Wila. Just amazing.’

  ‘You are too.’ Wila hugs me. ‘The best big sister in the world.’

  41

  The next morning I call the school.

  Patrick takes Bertie out for a walk, and I sit in the library and phone the headmistress, Mrs Gallant.

  She picks up on the second ring. ‘Hello, Prince Regent Academy.’

  ‘Um … hi.’ I always stumble when someone has a posh accent. ‘It’s Wila’s big sister. Seraphina.’

  ‘Hello there.’ A pause. ‘Is there a problem paying the fees again? Because if there is, I think I’ve already explained—’

  ‘No,’ I say. ‘No problem with that. It’s something else.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘You’ve probably noticed that Wila hasn’t been at school for the past few days.’

  ‘It had come to my attention. Emotional problems, I was told. Although there was another rumour …’

  ‘I hope no one’s been gossiping about my little sister,’ I say, feeling my rage flare up.

  Calm. Calm, Sera. I need to keep my temper.

  ‘Not gossip, exactly,’ says Mrs Gallant. ‘Just … we’re worried about her, that’s all.’

  ‘Oh.’ I didn’t expect Mrs Gallent to say that. ‘Well. Here is the thing. One of the teachers there. He’s been … behaving inappropriately.’

  Silence.

  ‘He and Wila … there’s been a relationship. That’s crossed the teacher student boundary. And … I don’t think he should work for your school anymore.’

  More silence.

  ‘Mrs Gallant?’

  ‘It’s okay. I’m still here. I … yes, there have been rumours. I know the teacher you’re talking about. Wila is a good girl. I know that. She isn’t the sort of girl who lies.’

  ‘No she isn’t!’ I say. A little too loudly. Calm, Sera. Calm.

  ‘I want you to know that we strive to protect our girls,’ says Mrs Gallant. ‘Miss Harper, I’ll be dealing with this very seriously. There’ll be a full investigation. If your sister wouldn’t mind coming to speak with me—’

  ‘Mrs Gallant, Wila doesn’t want that,’ I say. ‘She’s so embarrassed. She just wants to forget all about it.’

  ‘I understand,’ says Mrs Gallant softly. ‘Your sister is a lovely young woman. Kind. Considerate. And a wonderful dancer. I’ve been very sad not to have her here these last few days.’

  ‘She wants to come back to the school,’ I say. ‘She’s desperate to. But I can’t send her back while that teacher is still there. You understand that, don’t you?’

  ‘Indeed I do. This will be dealt with, Miss Harper. I assure you. Wila can come back to school tomorrow. And the teacher in question will be gone by this afternoon.’

  ‘Thank you,’ I breathe.

  ‘I’ll have to inform the police,’ says Mrs Gallant. ‘You do understand that, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, but … could you not mention Wila’s name? She doesn’t want that. And she’s been through enough.’

  ‘It won’t be mentioned.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Oh and Miss Harper?’

  ‘Yes Mrs Gallant?’

  ‘I hear congratulations are in order. I’ve been told about your engagement. To Lord Patrick Mansfield, no less.’

  I laugh. ‘Wow. News travels fast.’

  ‘It was in the newspaper this morning,’ says Mrs Gallant. ‘So I imagine the whole country will know your news by now.’

  ‘Oh great,’ I say. ‘That’s all I need.’

  ‘Well congratulations anyway. When’s the wedding?’

  ‘Patrick says in the next few days.’

  ‘Goodness! That’s rather a rush. For a wedding of that size. I heard you were marrying in the biggest cathedral in Scotland.’

  ‘Yes, but—’

  ‘If that’s not a big wedding, I don’t know what is.’

  I swallow. ‘I suppose.’

  ‘Well. If you need a ballet performance for the reception, just let me know.’

  As I’m heading down to find Patrick and Bertie, I hear a familiar voice in the lounge.

  ‘Yes, yes – but madam thinks she doesn’t need any more treatment. So thank you, and good day.’

  My heart lifts.

  Daphne.

  I poke my head into the lounge, smiling.

  Daphne holds a mobile phone to her ear. But she lowers it and smiles when she sees me.

  ‘Hi Daphne,’ I say. ‘Good to have you back. When did you get here?’

  ‘Not so long ago.’ Daphne is wearing a long, floaty lavender dress – a little bit cold for this time of year, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Her bare feet are tucked under her, and cream ballet shoes lie at the foot of the sofa. ‘It’s good to see you too, Seraphina. And I hear, to my great pleasure and delight, that you and my son will soon be married. So you’ll be my daughter.’

  I blush. ‘Oh. Well, I mean, it’s lovely that you’d see it that way.’

  ‘I do,’ says Daphne, meeting me with her kind eyes. ‘Very much part of the family. And a very welcome addition too. Not like the other new addition I hear about.’

  ‘Are you talking about Regan Thornburn by any chance?’ I say.

  ‘Ugh! I can’t even bear to hear his name. What has he done to our little Anise? I blame myself. I should have been there for her more. To support her. She’s such a fragile girl. I should have known how vulnerable she was.’

  ‘She’s a grown woman,’ I say. ‘Able to make her own decisions.’

  ‘I’m not so sure,’ says Daphne. ‘Grown in the body perhaps. But not in the mind. Dir
k kept her down for so long. Really – she was like a caged bird. She’s never had the chance to grow up. And Regan must see that.’

  ‘You won’t hear me say a good word about Regan Thornburn.’

  ‘Oh? You know him, do you?’

  I realise then that she doesn’t know everything that happened. And I decide I’m not going to tell her.

  It would hurt her – the thought of Anise and Bertie afraid and alone.

  ‘Um … not exactly, but I’ve seen him at the castle.’

  ‘A nasty piece of work, isn’t he? But anyway. They’re married now.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And apparently own half the castle.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Which my ex-husband must have some hand in. Would I be right?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I should have poisoned his tea when I had the chance.’

  I laugh. ‘It’s good to have you here, Daphne.’

  ‘I’d love to say it’s good to be here. But with those Thornburn men, roaming the building …’

  ‘I know. Blake is okay. But the other two …’

  ‘Well ...’ Daphne slaps her knees. ‘Would you happen to know where my grandson is, by any chance? I’ve missed him. I’d like to spend the day with him.’

  ‘He’d like that,’ I say. ‘Shall we all go somewhere together?’

  ‘You will not be going anywhere,’ says Daphne, smiling. ‘Because Hugo Paul is coming here today. To take you wedding dress shopping.’

  ‘He is?’

  ‘Yes indeed. You, young lady, need to hurry up and get a dress. Because the wedding is very soon indeed.’

  ‘Good point. I guess I really should choose it. But … maybe the wedding will be postponed. With the Thornburns here and all the drama … and everything that’s happening with Bertie.’

  ‘Oh no no no,’ says Daphne. ‘The wedding must be soon. For May’s sake. And your public are waiting for you, Lady Mansfield. They want to see Patrick’s new wife. I always think winter weddings are the most beautiful too. New year. New beginnings.’

  ‘This will definitely be a new beginning for me. I’ll go from being common Seraphina Harper to a Lady. And between you and me, I’m scared stiff.’

  Daphne laughs. ‘You know, when I was a young girl like you, I was scared too. Becoming a Lady … it was really quite frightening. Would I say the right thing? Wear the right thing? But you know, in time I learned that being a Lady is about good thoughts and good deeds. I think I deserved my gentry title more than Dirk did, as a matter of fact. Be a good person. And you can’t go wrong.’