Doctor Who: Grave Matter by Justin Richards

Author:Justin Richards
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: Science-Fiction:Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780563555988
Publisher: BBC
Published: 2000-05-04T10:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Material Evidence

Some time later than Peri was having her milk, the Doctor was drinking tea. He held the cup between thumb and forefinger, his little finger crooked out to the side as he sipped appreciatively.

‘Earl Grey,’ he said as he set down the cracked cup on a chipped saucer.

‘I don’t know,’ Sir Edward confessed. ‘Never could tell the difference.’

The Doctor nodded. They had spent a pleasant few hours walking across the moorland, mainly in silence, enjoying the views and the fresh air. They had skipped lunch by unspoken consent, and the Doctor was slightly upset by what he now had to do. But he did have to do it. ‘It’s not just tea you have problems identifying properly, is it, Sir Anthony?’ he said lightly.

‘Isn’t it?’ The other man sipped his tea without apparent worry. Then he seemed to notice the Doctor’s serious expression and he too set down his cup. ‘What is it, Doctor?

What are you getting at?’ he asked, frowning. Then the frown faded and he cleared his throat. ‘Oh, I see. Yes, very clever.

So you know.’

‘You want to tell me about it?’ the Doctor asked. ‘You’re obviously more comfortable as Sir Anthony Kelso than you are as Sir Edward Baddesley.’

‘I’m not very good at this cloak and dagger stuff,’ Sir Anthony confessed. ‘Never have been. Never will be now, I suppose. How did you find out? Recognise me?’

‘Only from your passport.’ The Doctor nodded towards the desk where he had found the passport.

‘You’ve been through my things?’ Sir Anthony was obviously more annoyed at this than he was that his alias had been uncovered. But after a moment he mellowed again. ‘I suppose you had a good reason for it, knowing you, Doctor.’

‘Evidently,’ the Doctor said. ‘The tea really is excellent, by the way. And it really is Earl Grey.’

‘Thank you.’ Sir Anthony sipped at his own tea. Then he set it down again and steepled his fingers as he settled back into the armchair. ‘Suppose you deserve an explanation.’

‘That depends on the explanation,’ the Doctor said. ‘If you’re fleeing from creditors or persistent lovers then I don’t want to know, thank you very much.’

Sir Anthony snorted. ‘Wish I’d led that interesting a life,’

he said. ‘No, the explanation will probably sound as boring and silly as the so-called strange events we were discussing last night. At least, until - you know.’

‘We’ll see, shall we?’ the Doctor said. As he spoke the door behind him swung open slowly. Footsteps crossed the room towards where the Doctor was sitting.

‘Ah, there you are,’ Sir Anthony said, rising and smiling.

‘You’re just in time for tea.’

‘And for an interesting discussion, I think, Peri,’ the Doctor said without turning.

Peri declined the tea, explaining how she had been to Heather Hill Farmhouse for milk and home-made biscuits.

‘Good sort, Hilly Painswick,’ said Sir Anthony, as the Doctor told Peri they should now address him.

‘Hilly?’ the Doctor asked in astonishment.

‘Don’t ask,’ Peri told him.

‘How are the sniffles, my dear?’ Sir Anthony inquired.

‘Much better,’ Peri said. ‘I think the fresh air has helped.

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