Aunt Dimity and the Heart of Gold by Nancy Atherton

Author:Nancy Atherton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2019-06-17T16:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

The fog was back on Monday morning, but my indefatigable children rose with the invisible sun. Having hit the sack early, Bill bounced out of bed, singing Christmas carols. Having chatted with Aunt Dimity until midnight, I was a bit less perky.

Bess’s gummy grin revived me, as did the faint but alluring fragrance of maple syrup. By the time she and I joined Bill and the boys in the kitchen, a pancake breakfast was under way. While Bill filled our plates, I filled him in on everything that had happened at Anscombe Manor the previous day. Since Will and Rob had excellent hearing, I left out the parts about hunting, torturing, and killing human beings and described the priest hole as a place where priests could pray privately. I also made it clear to them that the chapel was strictly off limits for the time being.

“I’m sure Emma will show you the priest hole one day,” I said, “but until she does, you’re not to set foot in the chapel. Understood?”

“Sounds dead boring to me,” said Rob. “I’d rather be riding than sitting in a cold old hole.”

“I’d rather be at the stables than anywhere else in the world,” Will added blithely.

“So would I,” Rob agreed.

“Okay, then,” said Bill. “How’s this for a plan? Your mother will take you to the stables, and I’ll take your sister for a ride on the steam train in Winchcombe.”

“The steam train!” the twins chorused, looking chagrined.

“We didn’t know about the train,” said Will, sounding as if he regretted his comment about the stables.

“Santa will be there,” Rob said mournfully, “with presents.”

“And the train will be all lit up,” Will said, toying listlessly with his pancakes.

Bill allowed them to grieve while he buttered the stack of pancakes on his plate, then said diffidently, “I don’t suppose you’d like to ride the train with Bess and me, would you?”

“We would!” the boys answered instantly.

“We can go to the stables tomorrow,” said Rob.

“Kit won’t mind looking after Thunder and Storm for just one day,” said Will.

“It’s settled,” said Bill, pouring a staggering amount of syrup on his pancakes. “We’ll take a train ride and your mother will go to Anscombe Manor.”

I felt a bit downcast myself. Had Bill informed me of his plans, I would have given Emma a rain check. A ride on the steam train was not a thing to miss at Christmastime.

“I have four tickets,” Bill said tantalizingly, “and the train doesn’t leave until half past noon.”

“I’ll be home by twelve,” I said. I reached across the table and squeezed his sticky hand. “You truly are the best of husbands.”

“I’m not half bad,” he conceded.

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