Christmas at Wynter House

by Emily Harvale

  'Blimey. He must've loved Pippa very much to go against Olivia.'

  'Pippa? You know her name?'

  'Rafe told me the other day. And about the divorce. Why are you so surprised? Is it hot in here or is it just me?'

  'It's not hot. Perhaps you're getting a cold or something. Shall I get you some tablets?'

  'No thanks. I'm sure I'm fine. But you didn't say why you're surprised.'

  'Oh. Because Rafe never talks about her to anyone. And never as Pippa. Her name's Phyllida. Only people who knew her, or those he trusts, refer to her as Pippa. When was this? When did he tell you about her, I mean?'

  'Um. Yesterday. I was in the library and Rafe stopped to talk. I made some silly remark about him needing a wife to support him, or something like that, and he said a wife was the last thing he needed. Then he told me about Pippa.'

  'Yesterday?'

  'Yes. Not that long after we'd had breakfast. You were all dashing about but Judith said there was nothing I could do to help so I wandered into the library. You've got a fabulous collection. Why have you got such a strange smile on your face?'

  Adam shook his head and gave a little laugh. 'It's not a strange smile. It's a happy one. I'm glad Rafe opened up to you about Pippa, that's all.'

  'Adam?' Dawn leant towards him across the table. 'Does Penny get a day off?'

  'Penny? Our cook? Yes, of course. We're not slave drivers, Dawn.' He winked at her. 'Why do you ask?'

  'Because I've been wondering, what with so many people staying for Christmas and you saying that Rafe had tried to get more staff but couldn't, what will happen on her day off?'

  'I'm sure Rafe and Judith have got that covered. Don't worry. We won't let you go hungry.'

  Dawn tutted, even though Adam still smiled.

  Neva jumped in. 'I think what Mum was asking was whether there's anything we can do to help? She's not worried about us not being served food each day.' Neva laughed and shook her head. 'We're not used to having people wait on us, so Mum was offering, in a roundabout way, to do some cooking, or at the very least, lend a hand.'

  'Yes. That's exactly what I was doing. It doesn't seem fair for all of us to just turn up and expect poor Penny to cook for us, even if Taryn's helping. And bearing in mind there's breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. When does she ever sit down?'

  'I hadn't thought about it. But I'm sure Rafe and Judith have.'

  'Well, I think we should help. Especially as there's the party tomorrow night. Shall I speak to Penny, or do I need to discuss it with Rafe or Judith first? I don't want to cause offence.'

  'Leave it with me. I'll have a word and get back to you by breakfast at the latest.'

  'Mum's an exceptionally good cook, Adam, so you've got nothing to worry about on that score.'

  'That's not what worries me. It's what Olivia will say if she finds out. I was hoping for a quiet Christmas,' he said, screwing up his face.

  'So was I, Adam. But I think that ship sailed shortly after we arrived on Friday.'

  Cecil and Ronnie got up from their seats and sauntered towards Adam.

  'Do you know where Rafe is this evening? We were hoping to have a word.' Cecil had a contrite expression on his face, as did Ronnie.

  'He's ... out.'

  'Oh?'

  They all looked at Neva. She shouldn't have sounded so surprised.

  Cecil continued: 'Do you know when he'll be back?'

  'Not really, I'm afraid. He'll be at breakfast tomorrow. Can it wait until then? Or is it something I can help you with?'

  They exchanged looks and nodded at one another.

  'We wanted to thank him for what's he's done for our Persephone.'

  'OK. I'll pass that on.'

  They exchanged more looks.

  'You have no idea what we're talking about, have you?'

  'Sorry. No.'

  'The lead,' Ronnie said. 'Persephone's a house cat. We don't let her out at the cottage in case something dreadful happens. Like falling in the river.' He gave Neva a meaningful glance.

  'Since we've been here,' Cecil said, 'the poor treasure's had to stay in her basket or sit on our laps. Rafe said we could take her to our bedroom, which we did. But she likes to be with us during the day, too, so it's been difficult.'

  Ronnie beamed. 'Until today. Rafe got us a cat lead in Merriment Bay this morning but felt it needed some adjustment. It was just cotton webbing, which is far too rough for Persephone's delicate skin. He asked George and Ethel and Queenie to work their magic and we're all so thrilled with the result. They made some padding out of red silk and the softest sheep wool and sewed it over the webbing. Persephone loves it! We've been strolling all over the house with her this afternoon.'

  Cecil and Ronnie clapped their hands together in glee.

  'Why didn't you thank him when he gave it to you?' Adam asked, which was exactly what Neva was thinking.

  'Oh he didn't give it to us,' Cecil said. 'Ethel and Queenie did. They said it was an early Christmas present from Santa. But Ethel took us to one side at drinks this evening and told us what Rafe had done. We're so grateful, we feel we owe him an apology, not just our thanks.'

  Ronnie nodded. 'And to think, we suspected him of being a drug dealer. And Sean too.'

  'A drug dealer?' Neva shrieked. 'Where on earth did you get that idea?'

  She shook her head in disbelief. First they'd called him a wife-killer, then they thought he and Sean were thieves, and now, he and Sean were drug dealers. They were truly unbelievable.

  'It's not so far-fetched,' Cecil said, defensively. 'Since we've been here, he's been in and out of that old barn at all times of the day and night. We've seen him.'

  'I'll pass on your thanks, as I said.' Adam got to his feet. 'And I can assure you, gentlemen, neither Rafe nor Sean is dealing drugs. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go and check on Olivia. I'll see you later, Neva.' He gave her a friendly smile and a not so friendly one to Cecil and Ronnie.

  'Well,' Cecil said. 'We were only saying what we've seen with our own eyes.'

  Neva sighed. 'But a drug dealer. That's a bit much even for you two, isn't it?'

  Ronnie tutted. 'You wouldn't be so quick if you'd smelt what we had when we happened to be passing the place this morning. There's definitely something going on in that old barn. And although we're giving him the benefit of every doubt, after what he's done for Persephone, he wouldn't keep it locked if it wasn't something he wanted to hide.'

  'I agree,' said Cecil. 'But we can't stand here gossiping. We need to take Persephone for an evening stroll.'

  They looked like kids at Christmas, which in a way, they were. But it made Neva think, and she knew she wouldn't sleep tonight until she'd had a look.

  'Mum, Dad, everyone.' Once she'd got their attention, she gave them a wan smile. 'I'm getting a bit of a headache. I'm going for a stroll outside. I'll see you in the morning.'

  'But it's snowing, sweetheart. And probably freezing too.'

  'I'll be fine. Good night.'

  She walked slowly until she was on the other side of the door then she raced upstairs, threw off her dress and tights, pulled on jeans and a jumper, put on her boots and grabbed her jacket. She made her way downstairs and dashed out the front door.

  The cold hit her instantly, catching her breath, and fine snowflakes landed silently on her head and clothes. The lights from the house, together with the fairy lights on the bushes and in the trees cast rainbow-like reflections onto the glistening snow. She crunched her way around the side and checked that no one could see her before switching on the torch on her phone.

  She almost lost her footing a couple of times as she ran across the snow to the old barn and darted around the back, out of sight of the house. She could hear a sort of rumbling. And voices. Soft mumbling only but she was certain one was Rafe. She was getting used to the sound of his voice and could even tell if he was cross, or pleased or confused. He seemed to be cross most of the time when he was speaking with her.

 
Using the beam of her torch, she searched for a gap or a hole but couldn't find one. She walked around to the other side but still made sure she was out of view of the house. She was about to give up when she saw it. A small hole, near the ground. She bent down, banging her head against the wood and cursing at the arrow of pain. It felt as if she'd hit something sharp but she had no idea what it could be. Unless he had booby-trapped the place.

  She laughed at her ludicrous notion and got onto her knees, bending her back and resting on her elbows to try to peer through the hole. Eventually, she lay down flat on her stomach. She had a bit of a view but not very much. There was a large copper container with long metal tubes going in and out. To the right of that were large, glass, almost urn-like jars containing various different coloured liquid, to near those, several large carton-type boxes. She spotted Sean, taking a handful of something from one of the cartons. He shook it and it seeped through his fingers like heavy duty green-brown ash.

  Oh my God! Had Cecil and Ronnie been right, after all? Were Rafe and Sean drug dealers? She had never taken drugs in her life, but didn't cannabis look like that? She'd seen pictures of it somewhere. It wasn't as bad as heroin or some of the other drugs on the street, and it had medicinal qualities, or so many people believed. But it was still a drug. And by the looks of all the cartons she could see, and that massive copper container, plus those jars, whatever it was, they had a lot of it.

  'Can I help you with something?'

  She rolled over onto her back and tried to push herself upright but her jacket caught on something and she couldn't move.

  'I didn't hear you coming!' She sounded like a mouse. A frightened mouse.

  'Evidently.' Rafe shone his torch at her.

  Drug dealers killed people. But Rafe wouldn't do that, would he? Although he did have a missing ex-wife. God. Why was she thinking about that now?

  He reached out for her and she instinctively recoiled.

  'I'm not going to hurt you, Neva. I'm going to help you up. You're soaked. You've been lying on the snow. And I think your jacket's caught on a nail.'

  'Oh. Um.' She reached to her side and managed to free herself. 'I was looking for ... my locket. I've lost it. It means the world to me. I thought it might be here because I saw Tempest with something in her mouth earlier and-'

  'Do you honestly expect me to believe that? Apart from the fact you don't have a locket.'

  'How do you know?'

  'Because I would've seen it around your neck.'

  He held out his hand

  'They'll hear me if I scream.'

  He raised his brows. 'I don't doubt it. But why would you scream? There's really no need for that.'

  'I didn't see anything.'

  'I'm sure you didn't. Give me your hand.'

  She backed closer to the side of the barn. Her bottom was freezing but what else could she do?

  'Oh! For heaven's sake!'

  He grabbed her with one hand and lifted her to her feet. She fell against him and caught the faintest scent of lavender. Or sandalwood. Or something else. Cannabis probably. A trickle of warmth ran down her forehead.

  'You're bleeding! You've cut your head.' He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and with one arm wrapped around her back, he pulled her closer and wiped away the blood. 'I don't think it's serious but we'd better get Penny to take a look. She's a first-aider. Come with me.'

  She held back and shook her head. 'I'll go on my own. You go back to whatever it is you were doing. Which I know is nothing bad or anything.'

  He frowned. 'You think I'm doing something I shouldn't in the barn?'

  'No.' She shook her head again.

  'Oh, Neva. It's nothing illegal, I can promise you that. It is something I want to keep a secret for as long as possible though. Especially from Olivia. I can't tell you what it is yet, but you'll laugh about this when you find out. Now please, let me take you to the house.'

  He sounded so genuine, so sincere. Should she believe him? Could she?

  'I can go on my own.'

  'OK. If that makes you feel more comfortable, do that. I'll stay here until I see you're safely back inside. And go to see Penny right away. That was probably caused by the same nail that caught on your jacket, and some of them are ancient and rusty. You'll need the wound cleaned just to be on the safe side. Promise me you'll go to Penny.'

  She nodded. 'I promise.'

  'Good night then, Neva. I'll see you in the morning.'

  'Good night.'

  She ran to the house as fast as she could, without slipping, but she did keep her promise. The minute she got inside and closed the door safely behind her, she went to see Penny. He hadn't killed her so that was a good sign. Although he might when she was alone in her bed.

  'Pull yourself together,' she said out loud. 'If he was going to kill you he would've done it already.'

  Then she laughed at her ridiculous behaviour.

  As if Rafe would be a drug dealer? He'd gone out of his way, not just to buy a cat a lead, but to also make the damn thing more comfortable for the feline. And for two people for whom he had no reason to do anything nice. Was that really something a criminal would do?

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Neva awoke to a winter wonderland and she couldn't quite believe her eyes when she looked outside. A heavy covering of snow weighed down the branches of the trees and she could only just make out the roof of her car. Some of the other cars, like Rafe's and Adam's were more visible but even they were snowed in. It was just as well it was Christmas Eve and that no one at Wynter House had to go anywhere in particular.

  It was also a good thing that, after getting some TCP dabbed on her wound and the all-clear from Penny last night, she had asked Nigel, Rowan and her dad to bring all her hairdressing equipment and stock and her beauty supplies indoors.

  Judith had arranged for her to use the old washroom which was opposite the kitchen and due to its size and position, was no longer used as such. It was clean and fairly bright, thanks to its high windows, and although the floor was old flagstones, Judith had arranged for one or two rugs to be placed here and there.

  There were two large sinks against the wall, thankfully connected to both hot and cold running water and to which Neva could fix her shower attachment. And, more importantly, there was a massive fireplace, which although it was of plain stone, threw out as much heat as the fires upstairs.

  A Christmas tree that looked a lot like the one Neva and her family had installed at the cottage but with decorations that definitely weren't theirs, had even been put in one corner. They had already retrieved their own decorations from the pile of boxes they had helped to move on Sunday.

  There was a small sitting room beside the kitchen, diagonally opposite the washroom and Judith had suggested that if people needed to wait between their treatments, say for colour to develop or for curlers to do their thing, they could use this room. It was a room Penny used, if she needed to put her feet up for a minute or two without having to trudge along the corridor to the main, staff sitting room farther away from the kitchen. But she said she was more than happy to share for the day, especially as she was going to be one of Neva's clients, and also because Rowan and Dawn would be helping her and Taryn and Judith and Wendy in the kitchen.

  Neva showered, dressed and dashed downstairs. She couldn't wait to get started. But first she was looking forward to a hearty breakfast, and to seeing if Rafe said anything about last night. She was feeling a bit embarrassed by her foolish behaviour and hoped he wouldn't bring it up. He was unlikely to do so as he wanted to maintain his secrecy, but she was desperate to know what it was he and Sean were doing in the old barn. And why was it called 'the old barn'? She had yet to see a new one and the only other outside building was the stables-turned-chicken and duck house. But that was by the by.

  Rafe was chatting to her mum and dad when she walked into the dining room and he smiled the moment he saw her.

  'Morning all.' She tried to sound as casual as possib
le as she smiled at Rafe and her parents.

  'Good morning, sweetheart,' Dawn said. 'How's your head this morning?'

  Rafe's smile faltered. He no doubt assumed she had told her parents everything.

  'The headache's completely gone, thanks. I'm glad I decided to go for a short stroll, followed by an early night. But I caught my head on a branch or something and gave myself a little cut. It's fine though. Penny sorted me out with some TCP and a couple of painkillers, just in case.'

  There was a questioning look in Rafe's eyes but his smile was back in place.

  'Dawn and Rowan have kindly offered to make lunch and afternoon tea today, in addition to giving Penny and Taryn help with the catering for this evening. Dennis has offered his services moving chairs and tables into the ballroom, and I've heard several people eager to avail themselves of your skills, Neva. I'm very grateful for everything you and your family are doing to help make everyone's stay here a pleasant one.'

  'It's the least we can do.' Neva smiled at him.

  'Especially as you've said we should stay for the duration of our holiday,' Dennis said, smiling cheerfully. 'That really is going above and beyond, and we intend to do more than cook a few meals and move a few chairs.'

  'We're staying? For New Year too?' Neva looked directly at Rafe.

  'Unless you'd rather not.'

  'Neva loves it here as much as we do,' Dennis said. 'Now please don't take this the wrong way, Rafe, but Nigel and I are builders and I couldn't help but notice there're a couple of things here that need a bit of attention. If you've got the necessary supplies, we'll happily fix one or two of those for free.'

  Rafe looked shocked. But not unpleasantly. 'I couldn't ask you to do that, Dennis. You're here on holiday. Your assistance today will be more than enough.'

  Dawn laughed. 'They don't know the meaning of the word, Rafe. No matter where we go, the pair of them get itchy hands after a few days, and start fixing things. Even if it's just a loose screw. You'd actually be doing us all a favour. They're like bored teenagers if they're not kept fully occupied.'