‘No.’ Joss clutched at his hand. ‘Stay here. Just tonight.’
He shook his head. ‘Joss, my love. I must go back. I am not going to be chased out of our own house. That is ridiculous. And tomorrow we’ve got to find a way of reassuring you and Lyn.’ He turned to Janet and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ‘Thanks for a wonderful meal. You look after them and keep the hysteria levels down, OK? I think perhaps what we’ll do is get the family to rally round. The christening contingent. Your mum and dad, Lyn and my mum and dad and perhaps Mat as well. And David and Uncle Tom Cobbleigh and anyone else who wants to come. We’ll have a pre-Christmas wassail.’ He grinned. ‘No ghost would dare show its face in a house that full, would it?’ He gave Joss a hug. ‘Now, no more worry, OK? And remember, if Janet doesn’t mind, you promised you’d ring Paul and tell him everything was all right.’
In a moment he was gone. Janet sighed. ‘Men. They won’t be told. Isn’t he scared at all?’
Joss shook her head sadly. ‘I think he’s as scared as hell. He just won’t admit it. Not even to himself.’
Paul was reassuring. ‘He’ll be all right, Jocelyn. He is strong, your husband. But if you want more reinforcement call me and I will come too.’ She could hear his laughter and his affection down the phone.
‘Bless you, Paul, I will.’ When she had hung up she turned to Janet who had picked up her needlepoint and was working by the light of a lamp near the fire. ‘Can I ring David? I want to find out what happened here when he came.’
‘Of course.’ Janet bit off a thread. ‘Get him up here as well.’
‘I don’t think I can. It’s term time still.’ She pulled the phone down off the table and sat in front of the fire near Janet with the instrument on her knee.
David was marking a pile of essays on the Education Act. Nemesis, he thought ruefully as he sat staring at them, listening to a soft background Sibelius. He was far from displeased when the phone rang even though it was after eleven.
‘David? It’s Joss.’
‘Joss?’ His heart leaped at the sound of her voice. ‘Where are you? Are you home?’
‘The boys and I are with Janet.’
‘Thank God you’re not in that house. I suppose you heard what happened.’
‘Some.’ She was conscious of Janet staring at her. ‘Can you tell me exactly what happened?’
It was several minutes before she spoke again.
‘Can you come, David? Can you come, so we can talk?’
He hesitated. His flat was warm and comfortable and above all safe. Staring down at the pile of essays he was tempted to say no, but the edge of panic in Joss’s voice had reached him. Her dumbo husband still did not seem to have caught on about what was happening. She needed someone who understood.
‘OK. I’m free after fifth period tomorrow. I’ll come up then.’ There was a moment’s silence as he mentally questioned his own sanity. ‘Can you stay away till I come?’
‘No, David. Of course I can’t stay away.’
‘Then keep the children away and you be careful. Please.’
She sat for a long time after she had rung off staring into the flames, aware that Janet had put down her embroidery and was watching her carefully.
She looked up at last. ‘So, supposing you tell me what really happened this afternoon. You and Lyn seemed determined to keep it quiet.’
‘We didn’t want to frighten you.’
‘So, frighten me now they’re safe.’ She turned a speculative gaze on Janet.
It did not take long to tell the story.
Joss turned back to the fire. She did not want Janet to see her fear.
‘It can’t have been Tom,’ Janet repeated. ‘He couldn’t have reached the key and he couldn’t undo the baby harness in the buggy.’
‘But you don’t think it was a real person.’
‘Jimbo?’ Janet shrugged. ‘I gather he has a key, but somehow I doubt it. Who else is there?’ She began to fold her work away into her sewing basket. ‘I’ll tell you one thing, Joss. I wish Luke hadn’t gone back there, I really do.’
39
Luke turned off the kitchen light and made his way slowly towards the stairs. In the great hall he stopped and stared round. The room was still warm, though the fire had long ago died, and it smelled nice – wood smoke and flowers and old lavender polish. He stood savouring the moment, his hand on the light switch. It was good to be home again, though he had enjoyed the trip to France; he had liked Paul enormously, as had Joss, and he hoped to see him again. Sighing he turned off the switch and began to climb the stairs.
Flicking on their bedroom light he was pulling off his jacket when he noticed the bed. He stared for a minute, hardly able to believe his eyes, then slowly he walked across to it and bent down to run his hand over it. It was covered in white rose petals. His mouth fell open. They were ice cold, like snow flakes, scattered thickly over the whole area of the crewel work cover.
Lyn or Janet? A practical joke – and not a very kind one – aimed at Joss. Angrily he swept them off the bed, watching as they scattered all over the floor.
In the corner of the room, in the far shadows, the slumbering silence stirred and one of the shadows detached itself and moved a little closer to the bed.