At that moment the doctor descended the stairs, smiling and shaking his head when he saw Yarrow. 'You won't be needed after all, Sergeant. No need to put cuffs on anyone this time. Simple explanation. Rattling window woke her up, she came down and tripped on the stairs in the dark. Tried to save herself, grabbed at the mantelpiece and hit her head a mighty crack on the hearth as she fell. Good job she's got a thick skull -'
'There was no burglar?' Yarrow sounded shocked.
'That's what she says,' said the doctor cheerfully, fastening his bag and turning to Mrs Cairncross. 'Told me to say, yes, please, ma'am, she would like her breakfast now.'
'Can we see her?' demanded Yarrow.
'Later. We must keep her quiet for a while.' And to the minister's wife, 'Keep her in bed for a day or two, if you can manage.'
'I'll do my best, Doctor, but she's a very determined lady.'
Dr Brand frowned, looking at the two men. 'I think I'd best be honest with you. I don't think our dear Miss Halliday is speaking the truth.'
'I knew it,' said Yarrow triumphantly. 'She's protecting someone, that's for sure.'
The doctor smiled. 'Only herself, Sergeant.'
'I don't understand.'
'You might if you were her age. She should have retired long ago but she's determined to keep on teaching until she drops - which, candidly, she will do quite soon if she doesn't give up. You see, the fall she took I believe was due to a mild heart attack.'
'A heart attack, oh, the poor dear,' said Mrs Cairncross. 'How on earth will she continue at the school?'
'I suspect the very same thought is troubling her, so she makes light of it, says it was only a bad fall. I've examined her and found no damage, no paralysis of arms and legs or facial muscles, so we can deduce that this was just a warning. A warning that she must take seriously. Like some of my other patients,' he added, darting a significant look at Yarrow. 'You haven't been to see me lately.'
‘I’m much too busy to fuss about aches and pains. They've been with me for a long time,' said Yarrow brusquely, leaving Faro to wonder if the greyness of his complexion was natural or due to some more serious cause, as Imogen Crowe had hinted.
'What about the school, Doctor?' asked Mrs Cairncross, remembering her brood of children and their future.
'She must get help, a younger woman, to take some of the burden -'
He was interrupted by Miss Halliday, calling from upstairs: 'Hell - o - Mrs Cairncross, are you there?'
Mrs Cairncross picked up the tray. 'She's out of bed. I knew it. Once my back is turned. Coming, my dear.'
‘I’ll be back when she's had her breakfast,' said Yarrow.
Dr Brand nodded. 'You come with me, Sergeant.'
When Yarrow protested with a helpless look at Faro, the doctor seized his arm firmly. 'I've got some of my splendid pills waiting for you.'
Faro lingered, waiting for Mrs Cairncross to return. 'Do you think I might have a few words with Miss Halliday? I'm to leave Elrigg shortly. This might be my last chance.'
Mrs Cairncross looked doubtful. 'If you think it will be all right, sir. You won't tire her, will you?'
Miss Halliday was sitting up in bed, her face badly bruised, but otherwise she was remarkably cheerful. When Faro exclaimed sympathetically, she smiled painfully. 'I'm perfectly all right, no bones broken. A silly accident, but I'll be back with my children on Monday. It's good of you to come and say goodbye -'
'There is something else, Miss Halliday. I realise this is an inappropriate time - Sir Walter's letter. I was absolutely fascinated -'
'And you would like a copy. I don't have it, I'm afraid.'
She laughed at his solemn expression. 'Ask Miss Crowe. She looked in after you yesterday and I lent it to her for that very reason.'
And Faro had the grace to feel ashamed.
Miss Molly Gilchrist's visit to Elrigg Castle was to be memorable for its surprises, none of which could have been anticipated by the guests.
The sunny warm weather held and the gardens, with their budding trees laden with birdsong, made a pretty and nostalgic background for the old lady, whose face was a map of her life, of its joys and sorrows. Her eyes, still bright, constantly searched for her beloved pupil, Mark.
'Where is he?' she whispered, as she perambulated the gardens on Faro's arm. 'Dear, dear, I did expect he would be here to greet his guests,' she added anxiously. 'And he did promise me a nice surprise. We share the same birthday, you know. He is twenty-five today,' she added proudly.
'A double celebration,' said Owen. 'No doubt that is what is keeping him.'
And Faro remembered that this day was the day Mark came of age, when all of Elrigg would be his.
'These gardens must be full of memories for you,' said Olivia. 'Is it exciting to come back?'
'It is indeed.' And Miss Gilchrist proceeded to regale them with stories of Mark's childhood. As is so often the case of rich children whose parents had little time for them, motherless Mark had been treated by her more as son than pupil. He had returned her devotion and had kept in touch with her over the years, by letter and by frequent visits.
Suddenly two figures emerged from the topiary surrounding the rose garden. Lady Elrigg walked swiftly towards them, apologising for Mark's absence. This was greeted by an audible sigh of relief from Miss Gilchrist and, as introductions were made, Faro observed that Lady Elrigg's companion Miss Kent stepped back, as if eager for the shadows of the great cypress hedge. She curtsied to the group and then, in an almost imperceptible gesture, touched her mistress's arm.
Still smiling, Lady Elrigg turned to her immediately and together they moved a little distance away. Apparently the talk was brief but urgent, for with a quick glance towards the assembled guests, Miss Kent hurried of
