in the kitchen to watch the clock. It seemed to take an incredible time for half an hour to pass, but at the end of it Peter appeared, also in his pajamas. He got some milk from the fridge, heated it slightly and offered it to the hedgehog. Only when Bert was lapping contentedly did he pour some for himself. He didn’t speak, but he looked at his father, and Gavin met his gaze. For a moment the silence changed in quality and became a shared thing, full of mutual understanding. Gavin’s heart beat with hope. At any moment Peter would speak and their estrangement would be over.
“Well, fancy the two of you being down so early,” came Mrs. Stone’s iron voice from behind them.
They both jumped. The moment was shattered. Mrs. Stone began bustling around the kitchen, jarring them both. “You should have told me you wanted to eat early, and I’d have come down.”
“Out of hours?” Gavin couldn’t resist asking.
Mrs. Stone snorted. “I hope I can rise to the occasion.”
They endured breakfast, united by their total lack of appetite for the piles of bacon and eggs she set before them. Rex and Flick, who’d appeared from nowhere, found themselves showered with tidbits. Even Osbert joined in.
“I don’t suppose she’s getting much of a breakfast in prison,” Mrs. Stone reflected.
“She isn’t in prison,” Gavin said smoothly. “It’s a police cell, and she won’t be there long.”
“Well, who can say?” Mrs. Stone mused. Gavin tightened his mouth. Mrs. Stone was relishing the drama.
“
“He’s going to have to move fast to get here before the magistrates’ court opens this morning,” Mrs. Stone pointed out.
The same thought was troubling Gavin. While Peter went out to start feeding the animals, Gavin called the court. Norah’s case was scheduled fifth, but the ones ahead were parking offenses and unlikely to take long. Nervously, he tried Bruce’s London home and found himself talking to Elaine, who informed him acidly that her husband had left an hour ago. He apologized hastily and hung up before she could tell him what she thought of him.
He went to help Peter and they worked together for an hour before getting ready for the court. Gavin started to tell him that it would be better if he didn’t come, but Peter simply looked at him, silently insistent, and Gavin yielded without another word.
There was still no sign of Bruce when it was time to leave, but Gavin didn’t dare wait. Leaving a message with Mrs. Stone, he drove off to the town with his heart like lead within him. He was afraid, dreadfully, sickeningly afraid, though whether he was most afraid of Norah, for Peter if she didn’t come home quickly, or for himself if he failed, he couldn’t have said.
They found seats, and Gavin told Peter to remain there while he went to see Norah. But this time his luck was out. The officer on duty knew who he was, knew he wasn’t a lawyer and refused to let him pass. “But I’ve got to tell her something,” Gavin protested frantically.
“Sorry, sir. I’ve got my duty to do,” the policeman said stolidly.
The clock was ticking away. The first case was taken and dispatched in ten minutes. The next two were even faster. Gavin looked about him wildly. Without advice, Norah would do something mad-like admitting everything and pleading justification.
The fourth case came and went. The usher intoned, “Norah Ackroyd.” With one movement Gavin and Peter turned to see the top of her head appearing as she climbed the stairs. Gavin tried to catch her eye, but she stared straight ahead, her face pale and set.
Suddenly there was a commotion at the back, the sound of a door banging, murmuring voices, and over them the sound of one particular booming voice that made Gavin’s heart leap with relief. The next moment a very large man was sweeping toward the bench, the black silk gown of a Queen’s Counsel flapping behind him.
“Mr. Chairman,” he intoned, addressing the chief magistrate who sat between the other two, “Bruce Havering. I ask pardon for my late appearance-traffic jams-no disrespect to this court…” He elaborated for five minutes while the chief magistrate tried vainly to get a word in edgeways.
“Are you down to appear for one of today’s defendants?” he managed to ask at last.
“For Miss Norah Ackroyd, Mr. Chairman.”
The magistrate frowned. “It’s rather last-minute, surely? Have you had time to study the facts?”
“Quite enough time, I thank you. I don’t intend to waste the court’s time. My client intends to exercise her right to a full jury trial.”
The magistrate’s face definitely fell. It was clear that he’d been looking forward to this case, and the thought of having to refer it on to a higher court was disappointing. Gavin barely noticed. His eyes were fixed on Norah, who’d started forward looking astounded and as if she might be about to say something. At last she looked at him and he placed a finger over his lips.
To his relief she sank bank in silence, although she still looked completely bewildered.
The magistrate was saying the correct things in a slightly irritable voice. “There’s a question of bail,” he observed. “I don’t know-”
“I should like to draw the court’s attention to the fact that my client has never been charged with any previous offense,” Bruce said smoothly.
The magistrate looked at him over half-moon glasses. “There would appear to be gaps in your knowledge, Mr. Havering,” he observed sourly. “However, I’m prepared to grant bail at a figure of ten thousand pounds.”
There was a gasp from the court at the sum, but Gavin was immediately on his feet. “I will put up the bail,” he declared, and was rewarded by a glowing look on his son’s face.
He had to produce a banker’s draft immediately. Bruce insisted on coming to the bank with him. “I’ll drive,” he insisted. “I’ve got some papers for you to read.”
As he drove he explained to Gavin some of the real reasons he’d been delayed. Gavin wanted to cheer at what he heard, and at what he was reading. “This is wonderful, Bruce. Anything I can do for you-”
“Just let me get away quickly today. I’ll give you my number in Italy, but you won’t need it. There won’t be any trial. I’ll leave as soon as she’s free. You can do all the talking and impress her.”
“I keep telling you, I’m not trying to impress her,” Gavin insisted.
“That’s right. You keep telling me,” Bruce agreed imperturbably.
It took an hour for Gavin to get hold of the draft, and it cleaned out every penny of loose cash that he had. The lack of it was going to cause him big headaches, but he was sustained by the thought of Peter’s admiration-and perhaps even Norah’s gratitude. Despite his protestations to Bruce, he was enjoying the warm glow of knight errantry when he arrived back at court and handed over the money.
As soon as the formalities were complete and Norah had been released, she turned to Bruce and said, “I don’t know how to thank you-”
“Don’t,” he begged. “I haven’t time. There’s just time to save my marriage if I rush.”
“I beg your pardon?” Norah asked blankly.
“Ask him,” Bruce said, pointing at Gavin. “I should have been halfway to Italy by now, but he twisted my arm to save you. Said it was a matter of life-and-death, but he wouldn’t admit why. Perhaps you can get him to say it. Or perhaps you don’t need to hear it. Must dash. Bye, bye.” He was in his car and speeding away before anyone could speak.
Peter flung himself joyfully into Norah’s arms and she hugged him back, but her eyes met Gavin’s and they held a puzzled frown.
“Let’s get home now,” Gavin said abruptly.
For the first time Norah wished that Peter weren’t there. There was so much she wanted to say to Gavin, so many questions to ask him. But there were questions to be asked of her own heart, too, such as why Bruce’s hint had caused a leap of joy and hope. For the moment she must appear normal.
As they drove home she asked, “Is everything all right? The animals-?”
Couldn’t she forget the animals for five minutes, he wondered? After what he’d just done for her?
“They’re fine,” he said, trying to sound cheerful. “Peter and I managed everything together. I just followed him.”
“Yes, he’s a real expert,” she agreed.
