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Authors: Anna Faversham

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BOOK: Hide in Time
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“I think it is imperative you
stay with Xandra,” the detective looked Laura straight in the
eye.

Matt squeezed Laura’s shoulder
gently and her qualms subsided.

Hide in Time ~ Anna Faversham

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Unfortunately, I must leave you
two alone today,” Matt said as he helped himself to some eggs
and bacon and joined them at the table. “Is there anything you
need me to do for you, Laura? I know you’ll think you should be
at work; would you like your calls redirected? You could set up an
office in the library.”

Laura wasn’t sure she could face
fetching all the paperwork or having post and calls forwarded but
he’d opened up an opportunity and she wasn’t going to
miss it. “Any chance I could be driven over and pick up some
files and other necessities and, oh yes, bring back my own car?”

Laura thought she could see how the
smile lines had developed around his mouth; he had a way of holding a
smile longer than most. Then he took a bite of toast. Still no
answer. “I suppose,” he said finally, “that Rolf
could drive you in the Land Rover. Could you disguise yourself, paper
bag on your head, that sort of thing?”

“I will, don’t worry Matt.
I can see what a nasty bunch they are.”

“Nasty? Laura, people who deal in
concrete boots are evil!”

Laura looked mystified.

Understanding crossed Matt’s
face. “When they said it was ‘boots for Xandra’
they meant they’d set her feet in concrete and throw her in
deep water to drown.”

Oh! Much worse than anything Laura had
imagined. Still a lot to learn.

Matt turned to Xandra. “We’re
here to see that doesn’t happen, Xandra, so relax and tuck in
to some breakfast. I’m sorry to have mentioned it again but
Laura needs to fully understand the reasons for our precautions.”
He leapt up and tugged a bell rope above the sideboard.

“Ah Jeeves, never far away. Ask
Rolf to put the Land Rover and his driving services at the disposal
of Laura for today, will you please?”

“Right away, sir.”

You’d think it was still 1814 in
this house, thought Laura.

Xandra looked at Matt quizzically.
“Jeeves? Is that really his name?”

“He asked to be called Jeeves.”

“Asked?”

Laura watched Xandra’s bemused
expression. It was probably much the same as hers on first hearing
about Jeeves.

“Yes, he asked. He said if he
were to be called Jeeves, it would give him something to live up to.
He then added a little sniffily that I wasn’t treating him like
a proper butler with defined duties but more like a personal
manservant, like Jeeves.”

“What’s his real name?”

“Xandra, it is ‘Wilberforce
Sidebottome’,” Matt said raising his eyebrows. “My
parents called him Billy but when they died,” Matt stalled, “I
found myself having to do much more and earlier than I’d
expected. He was an enormous help and so I was happy to comply. His
family has worked for ours for generations and he is extraordinarily
loyal; it seemed such a small request. Besides, few people want a
proper butler any more. I have ‘Jeeves’ and everyone
knows what I mean. He’s insisted on breakfast being served from
the sideboard just because you are staying.” He took a gulp of
coffee. “Feel free to raid the library if you fancy something
to read, the Foxley books are fascinating. And remember, please don’t
leave the house, Xandra. Sorry to abandon you both, I really am, but
I’ve got matters to attend to, I’m afraid.”
Uncharacteristically, he blew them both a kiss as he left.

Xandra looked at Laura as Matt closed
the door after him. “Does he always disappear on ‘matters’?”

“Runs in the family, Xandra. I’ve
tried not to let it bother me. I’ve learned to trust him. I
made the mistake a long time ago of flouncing off from someone who
disappeared for days on end, only to discover he was one of the
finest men ever to live.”

“Regrets,” said Xandra.
“They are something I’ve not been bothered by so far.”

“Long may it stay that way.
Whereas I… I wish with all my heart I could put that right.”
Matt’s words crashed into her thoughts – he wasn’t
wrong. He was right. It would be the things that you could have done
and didn’t that would cause you most regret on your deathbed.
Laura stood, pushed away her chair, pursed her lips with
determination, and said, “ I’m going to find Rolf. If
there’s anything you need, Xandra, stop me before I go.”
With relief, she almost ran for the door, aware that she had begun to
gabble. She must not lose this chance. Then, unable to resist, she
put her head back around the heavy, white, panelled door and said,
“Xandra, if you could hide in time, in what time would you
hide?” Anyone other than Xandra would have asked what she
meant, thought Laura as she watched Xandra consider her answer.

“I’ve often thought I was
born out of time. I’d love to meet a Regency gentleman with
perfect manners; someone I could respect.” She seemed far away
with her thoughts. “He should also be exciting. Full of
purpose. I’d be happy to hide away with him.” Most of
Laura was now behind the door to the hall, just her Cheshire cat grin
peered back at Xandra.

~

Laura was pleased with herself. A
comforting certainty had crept over her and travelling back to
Torwell Bridge in her own little car, she felt she had made as many
preparations as possible. As she chugged up the Pelburton bypass –
there was no point in putting her foot down with Rolf following in
the Land Rover – she ran over the list of things she had
crammed into the suitcase. Most of her coins – sovereigns,
guineas and a few smaller ones – were stuffed into a leather
pouch. There would have been more had she not discovered her George
III sovereigns were worth more than five hundred pounds each and sold
them all, one by one, soon after her arrival. There was a cream silk
charmeuse satin Empire line dress, a burgundy velvet shrug to serve
as a spencer, and a long petticoat, all easily acquired from the
wedding shop below her office. She’d have to forego the proper
undergarments, Marks and Spencer just didn’t stock
knickerbockers although, thankfully, some winter merchandise was now
in the store. She’d been able to prevail upon Rolf to allow her
to do some emergency shopping unwatched and buy some vaguely suitable
all cotton underwear. She’d bought what she’d thought was
a woollen shawl from the charity shop, then noticed it had a large
hole in the middle. She’d felt so silly when the lady at the
counter had to explain it was to put over your head. “A
poncho,” she’d said kindly, “They’re making a
come-back.” Never seen one like that before, thought Laura, but
it was warm and suitable for travelling, the best she could find;
there was too little time to shop around.

She’d also bought two long
dresses, one in pale pink silk and the other in a blue, patterned
cotton, from the wonderful Laura Ashley shop. They would establish
her credentials as a ‘lady’ and the silk would serve her
well when attending dances at the Assembly Hall. Those occasions,
with their dance cards for different partners, were rather like a
Regency version of speed dating, she thought with a smile. She must
remember to cut all the labels out; imagine the consternation at the
laundry if they found the washing instructions sewn into the lining.
Then she’d bought three pashminas of different colours which
would serve as mantles and shawls. The Golden Boot had a pair of soft
leather ballet pumps; she’d had to guess the size, and that was
about all she’d had time to collect. Most importantly, she’d
picked up the letter she’d written using her quill and sealed
with the wax from her favourite pine-scented candle. She allowed
herself just a few moments to savour the thought that he would open
the letter she had composed amidst tears and heart-breaking memories.
It hurt too much; she must keep going.

As she drew near to “Foxhills”,
she began to worry again. She thought back to when Xandra had first
showed her the bag and she’d thought it was large enough to
hold sufficient gold or jewellery for the plan that seeped into her
mind. But at that stage she hadn’t thought it through. There
was far too much to cram into a handbag, even the large Mulberry, and
any other available case would definitely be far too modern in style,
apart from Matt’s leather holdall and she couldn’t use
that without his being aware that something… Inspiration
arrived. “VacPack,” she announced. As the car veered off
the route and into a side street where she knew there was a
dry-cleaners, the Land Rover behind flashed its headlights. Rolf had
been patient – until now.

Eventually, the little red Nissan,
followed by the Land Rover, pulled up on the drive in front of
“Foxhills”. Laura nodded to the policeman on guard and
turned to see the bulldog build of Rolf just emerging from the Land
Rover.

“Don’t unload or park the
car, Rolf, please; I’ll do that myself later.” Rolf might
wonder at some of the items she’d bought; she was supposed to
be stocking up on day clothes.

She’d find Xandra, explain her
plan, see what she thought and then… Well, perhaps it would be
best to take it one step at a time. Her plan was only urgent if she
was still in danger, surely? But Laura’s certainty had grown
with every day that passed. She was now convinced that Xandra would
welcome the offer of an impenetrable hiding place with a gentleman
who had impeccable manners.

~

Half an hour later, Laura found Xandra
relaxing in her favourite black capris and T shirt, munching
chocolates from her handbag, and enjoying a book and some autumn
sunshine in the conservatory at the back of the house. Outside,
partially hidden, stood an armed policeman. “I could get used
to a life like this,” Xandra said as she offered Laura the box
of chocolates.

Laura, as usual, could not decide which
one to take and she was further distracted by Rolf placing a recliner
behind a rubber plant just a yard or two away; he didn’t look
happy. “Rolf, would a chocolate cheer you up?”

“Rolf thinks I’m sitting in
a conspicuous position.” Xandra offered Laura another chocolate
and casually put the box on the floor beside her chair.

Laura thought Rolf was right. “I’m
just going upstairs for a moment, then I’ll join you, so long
as you promise to sit in an approved position.” They exchanged
smiles.

Rolf walked across to Xandra’s
table and in staccato fashion he spat out, “I am not going to
feel I am doing my job unless I insist you move.” He picked up
the side table and effortlessly placed it nearer the shelter of the
main part of the house. Equally effortlessly he bent over to pick up
Xandra’s chair, with Xandra still in it. Xandra leapt out and
stood against the open conservatory door planting one hand on the
door frame and the other on her hip. “Move away from the door,
please – immediately.”

Xandra looked cross. "Rolf!"
Or had something alarmed him? She looked at him inquiringly.

"You must move. I have
Matt to answer to."

Xandra said, “I’m sorry, I
don’t mean to be awkward; I just hoped to be able to sit in the
sun.”

It was too much to hope. A shot
resounded. She slumped to the ground. Immediately Rolf dragged Xandra
through to the music room. The policeman on guard outside the
conservatory crouched behind one of the large ornamental tubs,
frantically called for armed assistance on his radio, then searched
the hillside with binoculars in one hand and gun in the other.

In her room upstairs at the front of
the house, Laura heard the shot. She could not believe it. How could
she have left it too late to save Xandra? She had a plan; why hadn’t
she put it into action that morning? She ran down and through to the
back of the house pleading with God for Xandra to be alive. Xandra
was. The gunman had taken too long in getting the perfect shot.
Xandra had bent over to pick up her box of chocolates and the bullet
had missed; Rolf had yelled at her to play dead.

When Chief Superintendent Paul Tanner
arrived with Matt soon after the incident, they commended Xandra for
her instant reaction. He thought it might be possible, if an early
trial of some of the thieves could be arranged, for Xandra to give
evidence and then, if she wished, they could give her a new identity
and put it around that she had died of her injuries.

Hide in Time ~ Anna Faversham

CHAPTER EIGHT

It hadn’t been easy to slip away
from “Foxhills” but the Nissan was ready packed with all
Laura thought Xandra would need, apart from her capacious handbag.
Ascertaining that the pouch of diamonds was still in the bag was
simple enough; leaving unseen wasn’t. Yet they had achieved it
and Laura had not had to explain to Xandra why they must escape. Not
until she reached her cottage did she allow herself the luxury of
justifying her plan. Well, as much as was necessary.

“Xandra, I need you to do
something for me. Will you come inside for a moment?” Laura
unlocked the boot and took out her case. “We must hurry.
Everything in this case has to fit in your handbag.”

“Impossible. And why?”

“You’ll need it.” As
Laura said this, she was flinging out Xandra’s purse, a packet
of paper handkerchiefs, a pen and notebook, but she left the diamonds
and some small jewellery tools. She then rammed into the VacPack as
much as she could of what she had bought for Xandra. Using the Dyson
to suck out the air, she was finally satisfied it should fit in the
Mulberry. And it did. Just. She left out the thick poncho and the
bulkiest of the dresses. “Xandra, if at any time you have
second thoughts about what I’m suggesting, you must tell me.
You do understand, do you?”

“Laura, I trust you, but what
exactly are you suggesting?”

“I can’t explain. I thought
I’d be able to, but I can’t. I can only tell you that you
will be safe and it will be impossible for the gang to find you. I
also think that you will have time to enjoy all the things you have
longed for.”

BOOK: Hide in Time
3.88Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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