Peril in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope

Author:Rebecca Tope [Tope, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780749021733
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2017-04-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

It was half past twelve when the inevitable knock came. Thea had known somebody would disturb her uneasy peace, sooner or later. If not Rachel Ottaway, then Mr Shipley, or some concerned neighbour of the Buntings. When she got back, Drew was still conducting Miss Temple’s funeral in the burial ground. The hearse was absent from its discreet parking area, and the phone was set to give its apologetic message to the effect that the call could not immediately be taken, but please be assured that no delay would result, and attention would be quickly forthcoming.

Thea had snuggled onto the sofa with her dog, reading about Charles Ashbee and trying not to feel like an idle Victorian matron. The book was absorbing and had already taught her a lot. There were moments when she found it so stimulating that she wanted to jump up and run around Broad Campden demanding that people wake up and celebrate the fabulous history beneath their feet.

She went to the door expecting Rachel. But a man stood there, with a shaggy dog at his side. ‘Good-oh. This must be the right house?’ he said. ‘They told me it was down here.’

‘Hello, Biddy,’ said Thea. ‘That really is Biddy this time, isn’t it?’ She looked closely. ‘I’d forgotten about you.’ She looked into Ant’s face. ‘How’s she been?’

‘Confused. Scared. Nobody’s told me what I’m meant to do with her. I thought you might know.’

Thea had considerable experience of scared and confused dogs. ‘Poor thing. Has Oscar found you? I don’t remember what he said, but the responsibility must rest with him, to decide what happens to her.’

Ant frowned. ‘You’ve lost me already,’ he said.

‘Come in, then, and we can try to bring you up to date. You know Hilary’s dead, don’t you?’

He followed her through to the kitchen, the dog’s nails clicking on the stone tiles. ‘I feel as if I’ve gone through a portal into a different world,’ he said, his face serious. ‘All I did was find this animal and offer to look after it for a bit. That Rachel woman seemed to think I was the answer to a prayer – which was over-egging it more than somewhat. She asked me all sorts of questions, but I still don’t really understand. Hilary is the dog’s owner, right? And she’s dead? How? When?’

Thea waved at him to sit down. He did so, with the dog between his knees. Hepzie limped up to them, giving an affable greeting to man and dog. Biddy reared back for a moment, before relaxing with a slow wag of her tail. Ant stroked the soft spaniel head, and made no comment on the plastered leg. Then he returned his attention to Biddy, idly fondling her ears and neck, instinctively calming her and maintaining the precarious new bond he had with her.

‘Actually,’ said Thea, ‘her owner was called Caroline, but she’s dead as well. She’s got a son, Oscar, who was supposed to contact you. Now I think about it, I remember he said he couldn’t have a dog where he lives.

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