Out in the kennels, Lulu regarded the scarred, brindle-coated dog and he lolled back and grinned, as only a bull terrier can.
‘What’s he called?’
‘Debo said he looked just like Bruce Willis, so she wanted to call him Bruce, but Sandy ignored her and named him Dusty.’
‘Just as well if I do have him, because he couldn’t have the same name as my brother!’
‘True, and if you called him Willis, it would end up as Willy, which is more than a bit embarrassing to be calling after your dog.’
‘Dusty it is,’ she agreed.
Hearing his new name, Dusty cocked one ear and then got up in a leisurely manner and came to the wire. I got him out so Lulu could meet him properly.
‘Chris, Debo’s dog expert, says he’s scared of men and that’s why he growls until he gets to know them, but he’s not vicious, he just looks fierce. He’d make a perfect guard dog.’
Dusty rolled over with all four legs in the air, in mute invitation to Lulu to tickle his tummy and she obliged. ‘Poor old thing,’ she cooed. ‘Look at those scars! Who could be so cruel?’
I knew it, it was a match made in heaven! She only promised to think about adopting him, but the clincher was the way Dusty’s tail lost its jaunty angle and his ears drooped as he was returned to his kennel.
‘He deserves a good home and some love,’ I said.
‘I’ll have a word with Mum and Dad and see how they feel about it,’ she conceded, looking back at him as we walked away.
Sandy, who’d been washing water bowls at the nearby tap, gave me a conspiratorial wink.
Lulu rang me later to say that her parents were keen on the idea of having a guard dog who would bark if there were any strangers about in the night.
‘Well, there’s no one quite as strange as Guy,’ I commented.
‘True, and now I come to think of it, he’s not a dog-lover either,’ she agreed. ‘We’ll have to get Dusty’s kennel sorted before he moves in, but Mum and Dad said they’d pay for that and a fence round the caravan.’
‘I could email you the link to the place I’ve ordered our new kennel block from,’ I offered. ‘They’re very reasonable. Or the big pet store has a good range.’
‘I’ll have a look online later. I loved the fabric of that dress you were wearing this morning, did I say?’ she added. ‘Is it one of your own designs?’
‘It is, and I really must get you or Cam to take some photos of the clothes samples for my online catalogue – when you’ve finished doctoring the haunted pics, that is.’
‘That won’t take long. Those Cam took yesterday look good and I already had loads of atmospheric photos of the falls, so we can just superimpose the ghostly image of Rufus on top.’
‘Oh, yes, Cam was going to do the Saxon ones early this morning – I’d forgotten. I wonder how it went.’
‘I don’t know, because he had to go off and teach an art class afterwards, but I suppose we’ll find out later, at the pub.’
Accompanied by my large and inconvenient shadow, Babybelle, I popped up to Stopped Clocks to get a new battery put in my watch and take a look at the haunted grandfather clock, which was tick-tocking away quietly in a dark corner.
When I got back, Judy said I’d missed a call from Rufus, who wanted me to go to Sweetwell after lunch.
‘Did he say why?’
‘No, but I made pecan puffs this morning, so you can take him some of those. We need to keep him sweet.’
‘Maybe you should knit him a dog-hair scarf, too,’ I said, and although I was joking, she took me seriously.
‘Good idea! It won’t take me long and I can finish off your jerkin afterwards.’
So after lunch I walked up to Sweetwell Hall, taking Babybelle and Pearl with me. They seemed to get on well together and Babybelle was clearly intending to go with me, whether I liked it or not. I thought it might be as well to remind Rufus how lovely Pearl was, in case he was getting cold feet.
We went along the drive, past the Fatal Spot in the hollow that was also Howling Hetty’s favourite haunt. Darkened by the interlaced branches overhead it was an eerie place, even in full daylight and without an accident on your conscience.
We didn’t linger, and a little way further came upon Dan, still engaged on the mammoth task of cutting back the encroaching trees and shrubs. He gave me an evil look as I walked past and made a threatening gesture with the roaring brush cutter.
Pearl immediately tried to hide behind me, but Babybelle, who had been plodding after me in her usual sedate fashion, turned and snarled at him, exposing a lot of sharp white teeth. I was really impressed and I think Dan was too because his evil grin vanished and he turned back to what he should be doing.
Sandy was in the yard, hosing down a random collection of ancient chimney pots, but she said I’d find Rufus in his office, where the man from BT had just finished installing the new landline.
When we went in, Pearl went straight to Rufus, looking up at him with soft, trusting eyes, but Babybelle slumped down just over the threshold with a weary sigh.
‘Hi, Babybelle’ he greeted her, amused. Then turning to me he said, ‘You know I think she’s looking a bit trimmer already, so it must be all the exercise.’
‘And less food, though if she can steal anything remotely edible she does. Which reminds me – these are some home-baked biscuits from Judy.’
As I handed him the tin, Belle got up and moved to sit heavily on my feet.
‘Picture of an adoring dog,’ Rufus said, as she laid her head on my knee.
‘I think that expression just means “you’re a soft touch and I want something to eat”,’ I said. ‘And don’t even think about opening that tin of biscuits,’ I added as he clicked on the kettle and reached for it. ‘I’ll be covered in drool from knees to ankles. Eat them when I’ve gone.’
‘Oh, well,’ he said resignedly.
‘How did your stint as a Saxon ghost go this morning?’
‘Hanging about a waterfall at the crack of dawn in a mini dress and leggings isn’t my idea of a fun outing.’
‘I wish I’d seen you!’
‘You will – immortalised in guidebooks, leaflets and postcards,’ he said gloomily. ‘But Cam promised I’d just be a vague image of a superimposed ghostly presence, so no one would know it was me.’
‘That’s what he told me about the pictures he took of me in the pool and Lulu prancing about in a white nightie,’ I said. ‘They’ve probably all just gone viral on YouTube.’
He looked horrified and I giggled. ‘No, not really! Anyway, Lulu will be helping with the photography – it’s her hobby – so she wouldn’t let him.’
‘How are you getting on with Izzy Dane Designs?’ he asked. ‘Nearly ready to launch?’
‘Cam helped me put the finishing touches to my website, so I just have photographs of the clothes to add and then, when my first stock arrives, I can go live.’
‘Every time I see you, you seem to be wearing something unusual but pretty, so I predict it will be a huge success,’ he said, which was a surprise, because Kieran always thought my taste in clothes was weird.
I found myself blushing. ‘Why – thank you.’ Then I changed the subject quickly. ‘I passed Dan on the way here, cutting back the edge of the drive.’
I didn’t mention the gesture with the brush cutter. Maybe I only imagined it was threatening.
‘I hope he was working hard, because he’s got a lot of idle years to make up for.’
‘He did seem to be getting on with it, and it’s clear all up one side from the entrance gates to the second bend now.’
‘You were right about there having been a sit-on mower, by the way,’ Rufus said, gently fondling Pearl’s head so she sighed blissfully. ‘I got round to asking Olly about it and he said he’d loved using it, but Baz had told Dan to sell it, so he’d had to use the old petrol mower again.’
‘I don’t see why Baz would tell Dan to sell it,’ I said. ‘He only bought it beca
use Debo told him Olly was single-handedly trying to keep the garden in order in his spare time. That’s when he told Dan to stop poncing about the grounds and get on with his job, which of course he didn’t.’
‘I asked Dan about the mower this morning and he looked really shifty,’ Rufus said. ‘He told me Baz had told him to sell it, but the man who’d collected it gave him a false address and the cheque bounced, so Baz had had to write it off.’
‘Oh, yeah, pull the other one, it’s got bells on,’ I said sarcastically.
‘That’s more or less how I put it. I asked for the crime reference number from when he reported it to the police, only of course he hadn’t done that.’
‘Because he’d sold it and pocketed the cash?’
‘I presume so, though I can’t prove it. I’ve told him he’s on a final warning and unless he shapes up, then he can start looking for a new job.’
His jaw was set, and if Dan didn’t see that here was a man he shouldn’t cross, then he was an even bigger fool than I thought he was.
‘I’ve promised Olly I’ll get him another sit-on mower and Myra says she knows the owner of a garage near Middlemoss, called Deals on Wheels, who can find me a decent used one.’
‘Oh, yes, Judy got her last car from Dave Naylor, the owner, and it’s a good runner. Cam hired a van from him the other day, too. He’s cheap and cheerful, and he does tractors, too – anything with wheels.’
‘How are you doing with your mission?’ he asked. ‘Have you got any further?’
‘Only in my dreams,’ I said wryly. ‘And whether those are the right answers or not, only Cara can tell me. She and Simon are the last and most important witnesses I need to speak to.’
‘Didn’t you say Simon was working for Cara’s husband at Grimside?’
‘Yes, but I don’t know his phone number, or even exactly where he lives. And Cara hasn’t answered any of my messages, plus she was horrible when I met her the other day.’
‘Unfriendly!’
‘She always blamed me, especially for the scar she got in the accident – though actually now you wouldn’t notice it if you didn’t know it was there.’ I sighed. ‘I’m sure Dan will have warned Simon not to talk to me, but I thought since the herb garden at Grimside is open to the public, I’d go over there and hope to spot him.’
‘If you don’t see him, then you could ask one of the other gardeners to give Simon a letter, explaining what you want and asking him to ring you?’ Rufus suggested. ‘I don’t see why he wouldn’t want to talk to you, even if it does stir up bad memories.’
‘Yes, good idea. He was always too scared of his father to do anything against his wishes, but now I should think he’s his own man, wouldn’t you?’
‘It’s been nineteen years since the accident, so if he’s not, he never will be,’ Rufus said drily.
‘So, why did you want me to come up here today?’
‘Do I need an excuse to want to see you?’
‘Don’t be daft,’ I said.
‘OK, I just wanted to warn you that Fliss might suddenly appear at some point soon. She rang me again and talked about coming down to stay.’
He rubbed his forehead, as if even the thought had given him a headache. ‘I said if she behaved herself and didn’t give Dan any more stupid ideas, she could.’
‘What did she say?’
‘Accused me of being feudal and then said I was letting Debo influence me against Dan, but I said I’d made my own mind up, based on the evidence. I only hope the damned man doesn’t become my father-in-law,’ he added darkly.
‘Has she ever got married?’
‘No, but she’s definitely gone a bit odd since I moved here. Today she said if I’d only get rid of all of you at the Lodge, she could have it as her little place in the country, even though I know she hates the country. So unless it’s to do with Dan, it’s a bit baffling.’
‘She’s mad if she still thinks you can get rid of Debo and Judy, just because she wants the Lodge!’
‘Well, I think we already knew that,’ Rufus said.
‘Let me know if she does appear so I can keep well clear and warn Debo,’ I said. ‘Are you coming to the pub tonight?’
‘Oh, I don’t know … I don’t want to keep butting in.’
‘You’re not, and anyway, if Cam stays late I’ll be glad of the company on the way home. I wouldn’t want to walk through the woods at night on my own and it takes twice as long by way of the road.’
‘I knew you had an ulterior motive,’ he said, and smiled.
I’d updated Rufus on the Guy and Lulu situation and she must have got hold of Cam at some point that day and told him, too, because when we got to the pub he asked her if she’d replied to Guy’s letter yet.
‘Yes, and sent it off. I made it as terse as I could and said there was absolutely no point in his coming over here. I’m sure he doesn’t really still love me, he only wants me back to do all the work, for nothing.’
‘I hope he doesn’t just turn up, because he’s pig-headed and stupid enough to think he can talk you round,’ Cam said. ‘And what if he comes when you’re alone in the caravan?’
‘I was going to tell you, Cam, I’m getting a guard dog, one of Debo’s Desperate Dogs,’ she said, and explained about Dusty. Then Rufus said he was adopting one too and told Cam all about Pearl.
Cam said he was starting to feel left out, with no dog of his own, but Lulu said he could share Dusty and take him out for walks any time he felt like it.
‘I’ve been out visiting local craftspeople who want to exhibit in the gallery,’ Cam said. ‘I’ve already got that ceramic artist who makes the Venus figurines for the Lady Spring, and a silversmith – oh, and a craftsman near Southport who makes bird sculptures out of driftwood – so that’s a good start. I’ve rejected quite a few craftworkers, because I want really top-quality stuff.’
‘Did you hear any more from the seller of those easels and benches on eBay?’ I asked.
‘Yes, and he’s offering me a job lot of all the smaller items he’s got left, like drawing boards and brushes, but I’ll see what they’re like when I get there.’
‘We’ll have to go next week,’ Rufus said. ‘I’m off to a country house sale up near Durham tomorrow and I won’t get back till Friday. In fact, I think I’d better call it a night now and go home, since I have a very early start in the morning.’
Cam said he’d stay for a while, but I elected to go with Rufus and we walked back in the darkness under a velvety, star-studded sky, the conjoined warm glow of our torches showing the way.
Rufus escorted me to my door, as I knew he would, and it was as well he did because I could see the outer gate to the kennels was wide open and a familiar large, dark shape was bounding towards me.
‘I suppose she’s flattened her pen again,’ I said resignedly, getting behind Rufus in case she tried to flatten me, too. ‘But she was in one of the stronger ones, with Pearl – and anyway, the outer gate should have been bolted.’
But it was certainly ajar now, and when we investigated, we discovered poor Pearl curled up in a nervous ball at the back of the pen she’d shared with Belle, with the door swinging open.
‘How odd. Debo or Judy usually check everything when they do the bedtime rounds.’
‘Just as well we got back when we did,’ Rufus said, bending to stroke Pearl and tell her she was a good dog for staying put. Babybelle had followed us in, but when we tried to leave, she immediately started to howl, so I had to let her out before she woke Debo and Judy up.
‘I’ll have to take her into the house with me,’ I said resignedly.
‘And I’ll have to get off. I still have a couple of things to sort out for tomorrow. It’s the first time I’ve left Foxy in charge, too.’
‘She’ll be fine and she can ring or message you if anything comes up, can’t she?’
‘Yes, I’ll have my mobile on all the time. And Laurie, Myra’s husband, is a nice chap and since he’s off work this week h
e said he’d go down a few times to check she was all right,’ he said. ‘When he retires in the summer, he’s going to do a bit of part-time office work for me. He says he’ll need something to keep his mind active.’
‘That sounds like a great idea,’ I said. ‘And I’ll see you … well, Friday, perhaps, when you’re back,’ I added, and then he walked off into the night and I let Babybelle into the kitchen, where she settled down with Ginger and Vic as if that was her rightful place.
Chapter 21: Treasured
‘N-no,’ I stammered, dazed and blushing. ‘But Cara …’
I half-thought he was only teasing, but he looked serious enough. He put his mouth to my ear again, which tickled, and whispered, ‘Cara’s old news – I’m finishing with her tonight. Off with the old, on with the new!’
‘What’s this about Cara?’ a voice imperatively demanded from the back of the car. ‘What are you telling her about me, Harry?’
I was dying to discuss my escalating dreams with Daisy Silver, so it was lucky that today was the day she was calling in for lunch, on her way back from some convention in Liverpool.
At breakfast I reminded Debo that she was officially opening Hidden Hoards on Saturday, at ten, and it was exactly as I thought: she’d entirely forgotten about it.
‘But I’ll make sure she scrubs up and gets there on time,’ Judy assured me.
‘Good, because Cameron’s told the local paper you’re opening it, Debo, and they’re sending a reporter out. You’d better come into the studio and we’ll decide which of my clothes you’re wearing.’
‘OK, but we’ll have to be quick, because Chris is coming over this morning and he’s bringing Snowy back. I want to discuss one of the other dogs with him, too, and then I’ll take Snowy over to Jonas and see him settled into his new home.’
We picked out an outfit and then Judy suggested that it would look wonderful with a set of Indian gold wedding jewellery Debo had.
Creature Comforts Page 21
