a deadly mischief-maker and I fear for Edie. I shall see to that immediately. And while I'm making my telephone call, I suggest that you go and wash your face and tidy your hair, and then find my brandy bottle, which is in the dining-room sideboard, and a couple of glasses. We shall both have a cheering medicinal tot and then we shall feel much stronger and much better.'
Virginia did as she was told. While she was out of the room, Violet heaved herself out of her chair and went to her desk. She looked up the number of the Relkirk Royal, dialled, and asked to be put through to Dr. Martin. A little wait while the telephonist bleeped him, and then he came on the line.
'Dr. Martin?'
Violet, at some length, explained who she was, and her connection with Lottie Carstairs.
'You know who I'm talking about, Dr. Martin?'
'Yes, of course.'
'I'm afraid that she is really not fit to be out of hospital. She behaves in a most irrational fashion, and is distressing and upsetting a lot of people. As for Miss Findhorn, with whom she is staying, I think it is really all too much for her. She's not a young woman, and Lottie is too much of a responsibility for her.'
'Yes.' The doctor sounded thoughtful. 'I see.'
'You don't seem surprised.'
'No, I'm not surprised. I discharged her into the care of Miss Findhorn because I thought that maybe going back into ordinary life and living in a regular household would help to restore her to some sort of normality. But it was always a risk.'
'It seems that the risk has not paid off.'
'No. I realize that.'
'Will you take her back into your care?'
'Yes, of course. I'll speak to my Ward Sister. Will you be able to drive Miss Carstairs into the hospital? It might be better than sending an ambulance. And bring Miss Findhorn with you. It's important that she is there, as she is the patient's next of kin.'
'Of course. We'll be with you some time this afternoon.'
'If there's any trouble, let me know.'
'I certainly will,' Violet promised him, and put down her receiver.
Knowing that the dilemma of Edie's cousin had been dealt with and that Lottie was probably being returned to the Relkirk Royal that very afternoon did more than the slug of Violet's best brandy to restore Virginia's equilibrium.
'When are you taking her?'
'Now,' Violet told her. She had already changed her shoes and was buttoning herself into her jacket.
'Supposing Lottie refuses to go?'
'She won't.'
'Supposing she has a tantrum in the car and tries to strangle you?'
'I shall have Edie with me, and she will stop her. I know this will be a great relief to dear Edie. She can't object.'
'I'd come with you, only…'
'No. I think
'You'll give me a ring when it's all safely over?'
'Of course.'
'Just take care.' Virginia put her arms around Violet and kissed her. 'And thank you. I love you, and I never get around to telling you.'
Violet was touched, but had other things now on her mind. 'Dear girl.' Absently, she patted Virginia's shoulder, as she laid her plans for dealing with Lottie and Edie. 'I'll see you tomorrow at the picnic.'
'Of course. And Alexa and Noel will be there too.'
Alexa and Noel. More family, more friends arriving. So many people, so many demands, so many decisions, so much to be resolved. I am seventy-eight tomorrow, Violet reminded herself and wondered why she was not sitting peacefully in a wheelchair with a lace cap on her head. She reached for her handbag, found her car keys, opened the front door. Alexa and Noel.
'I know,' she told Virginia. 'I hadn't forgotten.'
She had feared a terrible scene with Lottie, but at the end of the day it was all quite painless. She found Lottie sitting in Edie's armchair watching television and looking as though butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Violet paused to exchange a few pleasantries with her, but Lottie was far more interested in the fat lady on the screen who was demonstrating how to make a pleated lampshade out of an old piece of wallpaper. Through the kitchen window, Violet spied Edie in her garden, pegging out her daily line of washing. She went to join her and tell her, quietly and out of earshot of her cousin, all that had been decided and all that had been arranged.
Edie, who had been, of late, looking tireder by the day, now looked as though she was about to cry/
She said, 'I'm no' wanting to send her away.'
'Edie, it's getting too much for all of us. It's always been too much for you, and now she's started persecuting Virginia and spreading the most distressing rumours. You know what I'm talking about.'
Of course Edie knew, but between them nothing needed to be spoken.
'I was afraid,' Edie admitted.
'She's sick, Edie.'
'Have you told her?'
'Not yet.'
'What will you say?'
'Just that Dr. Martin wants to see her again. To keep her in the Relkirk Royal for a day or two.'
'She'll be furious.'
'I don't think so.'
Edie pegged out the last of her washing, stopped to pick up the empty laundry basket. She did this as though it weighed a ton, as though Edie were hefting all the worries of the world.
She said, 'I should have kept an eye on her.'
'How could you?'
'I blame myself.'
'Nobody could have done more.' Violet smiled. 'Come. We'll all have a cup of tea, and then I'll tell her what's happening while you put her belongings into a suitcase.'
Together they made their way up the long garden and back to the cottage.
'I feel,' said Edie, 'like a murderer. She's my cousin and I've failed her.'
'It's she who's failed you, Edie. You haven't failed her. Just as you've never failed any of us.'
By six o'clock in the evening, the whole distasteful episode was over, and Lottie was once more incarcerated in the Relkirk Royal under the care of a kindly Ward Sister, and the incredibly youthful Dr. Martin. Mercifully, she had made no objections when Violet told her what was about to happen, simply announced that she hoped that Dr. Faulkner would take a bit more notice of her, and then raised her voice to remind Edie not to forget to pack her best green cardigan.
She had even come to the door of the hospital, with Ward Sister in attendance, and waved them a cheerful goodbye as Violet drove Edie away down the road between the dismally formal gardens that Lottie had thought so beautiful.
'You mustn't worry about her, Edie.'
'I can't help it.'
'You have done all you can. Been a saint. You can always visit Lottie. It's not the end.'
'She's such a poor soul.'
'She needs professional care. And you have more than enough to do. Now you must put it all behind you and enjoy yourself again. It's my picnic tomorrow. No long faces for my birthday.'
Edie, for a little, sat silent. And then, 'Have you iced your cake?' she asked, and they made plans for the picnic, and by the time Violet dropped her back at her cottage, she knew that they were over the worst.
She drove back to Pennyburn, let herself indoors through the back door and heaved a sigh of relief because she was safely home again. The birthday cake still sat on the table where she had left it. Seventy-eight years old. No
