He looked at the clock. There's a train back to Aberlethie in half an hour. We'll take that one.'
She allowed him to help her into her cape somewhat reluctantly. 'Oh, very well. I suppose I must go. But I've so enjoyed talking to you, Inspector, you have been very kind.'
As he picked up her bag she seized it back from him. 'I'll take that, thank you.'
He wondered what it contained that was so precious, deciding that it was remarkably heavy and solid too, for feminine fripperies. But rather admiring her independence, he said: 'You wait here in the hall, miss. I'll get a carriage.'
A few minutes later they were heading towards Waverley Station. Armed with their tickets, Faro led her towards the platform.
At the barrier, the guard shook his head. 'Not tonight, I'm afraid, sir.'
Faro pointed towards the waiting train.
'Aye, sir, and there it stays till morning. There's been a cloudburst, line is flooded past Musselburgh and there'll be no trains till it subsides.' The porter looked at the grey sky. 'If it stays fine, then you'll get away first thing tomorrow morning.'
Faro regarded Miss Fortescue anxiously as they walked back into the booking office.
'Don't worry, miss, we'll get you back somehow.'
But far from being worried or dismayed, Miss Fortescue laughed, obviously treating this new disaster as a huge joke. 'Here's a pretty pickle. Well, Inspector, how do you solve this one?'
'That's easy, miss. We take a carriage.'
'What an adventure.' She chuckled happily.
It was the kind of adventure Faro could well have done without when he saw that the usual line-up of hiring carriages was absent from outside the station. At last a solitary one appeared and Faro rushed forward.
'Where to, sir?' asked the coachman.
'Aberlethie, if you please.'
'Aberlethie, did ye say?' The man shook his head. 'Not tonight, sir. Just come from Musselburgh, that's as far as we can get. Roads are all under water. You and the missus'll need to wait till morning and take a train like sensible folk.'
And looking at Miss Fortescue's bag, presuming they had come off a train, he said: 'I can take you to a good hotel.'
'A hotel.' Miss Fortescue grasped his arm. 'Oh no, Inspector, I couldn't -1 just couldn't,' she whispered.
'Why ever not, miss? There are some very comfortable establishments on Princes Street. Very respectable too.'
'I'm sure there are. It isn't that, I assure you. I'm just -scared.'
'Scared?'
'Yes. You see, I once stayed in a hotel and it took fire. So I can't.' She shook her head firmly. 'Not ever again.'
He wasn't sure he wanted to let her out of his sight, aware that she might have been followed. 'I'll stay there too, if you wish. Take a room close to yours -'
'No - no - you're very kind. But not even if you were in the - the same room -1 just - can't.'
'Are you wanting this carriage or not?' the coachman demanded.
If it was possible that she had been followed, then Faro could see dangers in the hotel idea. He now had to consider reluctantly the alternative that remained. And that was to keep her under his own roof where he could be sure she was safe till morning.
And as if she read his thought: 'Perhaps you have a spare room,' she whispered.
Chapter 14
The carriage set them down in Sheridan Place and as Faro opened his front door, Miss Fortescue sighed.
'I'm greatly obliged to you, Inspector.'
Faro led the way down to the kitchen. And deploring Mrs Brook's absence, he said: Take a seat by the fire and I'll see what I can do about a room for you.'
Where would he put her? He seldom set foot in the spare rooms and had no idea whether the housekeeper kept beds made up for unexpected guests. He soon discovered that was not the case. The rooms he entered were cold and desolate, beds stripped down to their mattresses.
So where were the sheets and blankets kept? He wasn't even sure he knew how to make a bed properly.
Then he remembered his daughters' room, and throwing open the door, saw that Mrs Brook's proud boast that it was always kept aired and in readiness for their next visit was evidently correct.
Miss Fortescue followed him upstairs and, setting down her bag by the bed, she looked round delightedly at her surroundings.
Thank you so much, Inspector. Yes, I'm sure I'll be most comfortable.'
'Let me know if there is anything you require, miss.'
A few minutes later she returned to the kitchen, where he was spreading the table with some of Mrs Brook's abundant provisions.
'Such a pretty room you've given me. Is it your sister's?'
'No, my two daughters occupy it when they come to stay during the school holidays.' He was ashamed at making those sadly infrequent visits sound so regular.
They are not at school in Edinburgh?'
'No.' He explained to her that he was a widower and it was convenient for his daughters to stay with their grandmother in Orkney.
She was all sympathy. Very sweet, he decided, and a good listener. Splendid appetite, too. She obviously relished Mrs Brook's cooking and begged to be allowed to take over preparation of the meal. Far from being baffled by cavernous pantries and belligerent stoves, she found one of Mrs Brook's vast aprons and was soon in complete command of the domestic situation.
Faro looked on, laughing approvingly. 'I'm glad you came, miss.'
She shook her head, smiled. 'Not miss, please. Roma.'
'Roma,' he repeated. 'An unusual name.'
'My parents spent their honeymoon in Italy.'
As they enjoyed a pleasant and companionable meal together he found himself telling her not only his life story, but his problems at the Central Office and even details of some of his most baffling cases. He found she had a surprising knowledge of the major governmental issues in Britain, as well as a keener understanding than he had ever aspired to, of the boiling-pot of European politics.
Miss Roma Fortescue, he guessed, belonged
