by Carl Leckey
Louise and Father Peter with Gunter sitting by his wife Estelle alongside them is Jonah Wilkes and his wife Elizabeth. Mr Humphreys is in attendance organising the maids serving Tea, coffee, chocolate and hot toddies. The maids leave the room Mr Humphreys gives a discreet cough my cue to begin I believe, he then stands by the door.
I present the details as quickly as possible. When I finish talking the questions begin. Gunter approaches and offers to relieve me of the task of answering them. Thank Goodness! Mother approaches me by the door and kisses me and whispers.
“Thank God my Darling you are safe.” I reply with a question. “Mother I thought Luigi was visiting us for Christmas, where is he?” Flustered she explains. He was, he is. When I telephoned his home his Mother informed me he left New Brighton in his Automobile four days ago. I know it’s a long way from here to New Brighton Adam. I am very worried. Surely it shouldn’t be taking him so long?” Mother is right of course but I assure her if he isn’t here by morning I shall get my good friend Sergeant Cranshaw on the job. “Try not to worry Mother. Luigi is a born survivor. I’m sure he will move heaven and earth to be with his beloved.” Mother blushes like a little girl until I give her a hug and a kiss. Taking my Wife’s hand intoxicated by her perfume and her close presence I make my excuses before leading her through the doorway. I am anxious to see our Son and embrace my lovely Wife within the privacy of our own bedroom.
It is snowing even more heavily when through the widow I glimpse the Rolls returning closely followed by another automobile. When they get even nearer I see Toot is actually towing the other vehicle I believe I recognise the fairly new 1920 Lea Francis. Mothers beloved Luigi in his equally beloved automobile is being indignantly towed, Luigi has definitely arrived. He is much later than he promised Mother but he is here at last, thank goodness. As the saying goes, better late than never. I breathe a sigh of relief knowing now that all my family except for Billy and Paul along with close friends are safely accounted for. Selfishly I decide to leave Mother to greet him without my presence I have more urgent things to do right now. I am reminded of someone that has played a major role in my life when I pause in front of my Mother’s favourite sculpture. She admitted during a long talk we had a while ago that when they were children Lady Emily and herself began their nightly prayers every evening as they passed by this figure. The prayer was to protect them from the fearsome picture of the soldier hanging further upstairs. The statue is a winged cherub holding a bow and arrow located in a niche halfway up the stairs. My Wife looks at me in astonishment when I utter a prayer of my own.
“Thank you Guardian Angel, for protecting me through a desperate time yet again.”
I add with a daft grin. “And for guiding my good pal Toot back home through the blizzard. And, and.” I pause for effect. With a mock glare Denise threatens to thump me with a raised fist until I add. “And, for giving me such a beautiful, graceful, understanding, patient, loving, loyal, perfect Wife.” The statue does not reply but the ancient soldier definitely glares at us as we pass by his picture.
Giggling like a couple of silly kids we race up the wide ornate staircase.
The end of book three.
All rights reserved
Copyright © Carl Leckey, 2011
Carl Leckey is hereby identified as author of this work in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
The book cover picture is copyright to Carl Leckey
ISBN : 978-1-78148-021-2 in epub format
This book is published by
Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd
28-30 High Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3EL.
www.grosvenorhousepublishing.co.uk
This book is sold subject to the conditions that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the author's or publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
