Yet still he had let the boy go with her!
“Mea culpa,” he murmured as he and Bertie drew up outside the front door of Jordan Manor. No sign of life, no dogs, no Antonia, no Sunny. Teddy sighed and said, “Let’s hope someone’s got the kettle on, Bertie.” It was hardly likely to be Antonia.
When she had gone to see to her dogs, Teddy had gone looking for Dominic and found him in the back garden with Bertie and Tinker. The roses were in full bloom—Teddy had several splendid ones against a sunny wall—and Dominic had picked one, a wonderful cerise Belle de Crécy. A “bed of crimson joy,” Teddy had thought when he planted it, and hoped no invisible worm would eat its dark secret heart, even though he knew that was a metaphor on the part of Blake rather than some kind of horticultural caution.
Bertie glanced at the plucked rose and said to Teddy, “Is that all right?” She seemed to be monitoring Dominic rather anxiously, her first flush of enthusiasm at seeing him having worn off. Teddy wondered if she was remembering how unpredictable her father’s behaviour had been when she lived with him. Tinker was sitting alertly next to Bertie, glued to her side, as if he might be called to action at any moment.
“Yes, of course,” Teddy said. “He’s welcome to it. It’s such a beautiful flower, isn’t it?” he said to Dominic, who appeared to be completely captivated by the rose, which he was holding no more than an inch from his face.
“Yeah,” Dominic said, “incredible.”
“It’s called Belle de Crécy,” Teddy said helpfully.
“I mean, look at it, man, really look at it. Imagine if you could get inside it.”
“Inside it?”
“Yeah, ’cos it’s like… a universe in there. There could be whole galaxies hiding in there. It’s like when you travel through space—”
“Do you?” Teddy asked.
“Yeah, sure, we’re all travelling through space. And you go down a wormhole, you know?”
“Not really.”
“The meaning of the rose,” Dominic said. “It could be the clue. Wow.”
“Why don’t you come back inside, Dominic?” Teddy said. Before you disappear inside that rose and we lose you for ever, he thought. It was like listening to the prattling nonsense of an idiot. And still he had let Sunny go with them! “Come and have more cake, Dominic,” he said in the tone of voice you might bribe a rabid child with.
At that moment the patio doors opened (sliding, double-glazed, Teddy had only recently had them installed and was very pleased with them) and three yapping dogs rushed headlong into the garden. Tinker, lulled into a false sense of security by the meaninglessness of Dominic’s conversation, was caught off guard when he found himself suddenly surrounded by a trio of yipping, snarling guests.
“Snuffy! Pippy! Loppy!” Antonia shouted from the patio. Teddy and Tinker exchanged glances and Teddy said, “It’s all right, boy,” in as reassuring a voice as he could muster. He wouldn’t have packed his own dog off with the Villierses, and yet he had sent his grandson.
“I don’t want to go,” Sunny said when they were standing by the car, Dominic putting his small suitcase in the boot. He clutched on to Teddy’s hand and Teddy had to prise himself free as gently as he could. “I’ve got something for you,” he said, reaching into his pocket and producing the little silver hare that had once hung from his cradle, according to Ursula. He put it in Sunny’s own pocket and said, “That kept me safe all through the war. Now it will keep you safe, Sunny. And it’s only for a couple of weeks. You’ll enjoy it when you get there. Trust me.” Trust me! Teddy had betrayed all trust by sending him off with those people. He watched the car drive away with a heavy heart. Bertie cried and Tinker gave her hand a comforting lick. Something was wrong, but the dog had no idea what. Now they were journeying to right that wrong. They were going to rescue Sunny.