The Treasure of Stonewycke by Michael Phillips

Author:Michael Phillips [Phillips, Michael and Judith Pella]
Language: eng, fra
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042030, FIC042000, FIC026000
ISBN: 9781441229809
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2016-02-03T16:00:00+00:00

38

A Visit to Town

“Ah, Jameson . . . Fraulein Edwards!” exclaimed von Burchardt as they walked in. “We were hoping to meet up with you!”

Behind him stood Logan and Jo, bundling up with overcoats and scarves. “We were just heading out,” said Logan. “If the two of you are game, we thought we’d drive to town and have a look at Emil’s yacht.”

“Sounds like an interesting proposal,” replied Jameson, “although I must admit my feet are nearly frozen. We’ve just been out for a tromp through the fields to the east of the castle—beautiful enough, but covered with snow!”

“Yes, please,” shivered Hilary, hardly noticing the cold until she was now back inside. “Do let us warm up a few minutes first!”

“I’ll go and tell Flora to have some hot tea waiting for us when we return,” said Logan. He left while the others continued with readying and warming. In a few moments he returned from the direction of the kitchen.

“And Mrs. Macintyre?” asked Jameson. “Will she be joining us?”

“I’m afraid not. She went back to her room to lie down. Well . . . shall we?” he said, indicating the door with his hand.

Five minutes later the five were seated in Logan’s gray Mercedes, Jameson, his long legs pulled up in front of him, seated between Hilary and Jo in the backseat, von Burchardt keeping Logan company in the front. Snow still covered the estate driveway, broken only by the tracks made earlier by the viscount as he walked up the hill from town, and Logan inched along carefully. When they reached the highway, however, the road was clear down into the village. Logan parked in front of the Bluster ’N Blow, and the small party made their way toward the harbor. It was obvious immediately which boat was von Burchardt’s.

Pure white, sleek, some eighty feet in length, the yacht boasted the daintiest of little portholes just above the level of the water indicating cabins below, and an upper deck, mostly open, around which a three-foot high rope railing stretched. About two-thirds of the way toward the bow rose the enclosed control room, surrounded on all sides by spacious windows from which the crew could maintain a 360-degree lookout.

“I say, Burchardt!” exclaimed Logan. “Good show! She’s positively stunning—easily the most magnificent craft ever to grace our little harbor!”

“Coming from you, sir, I take that as the profoundest of compliments!” replied the viscount graciously. “Come, I’ll take you all aboard.”

He led the way, offering Hilary his hand, which she took to step up onto the deck. Jo followed, assisted by Jameson, and finally Logan stepped aboard.

“Oh!” squealed Jo with delight, “it’s a shame we can’t take her out!”

“What kind of repairs are you making?” asked Logan.

“Oh, nothing much really,” replied von Burchardt. “In fact, the crew is mostly finished, and I gave them the day off.”

“It looks shipshape enough,” said Jameson. “Why, I don’t see any evidence of work at all.”

“Tut, tut, Professor,” said the viscount. “Merely internal difficulties. Nothing visible to the novice.

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