‘Not even one of my grey ones.’
‘I’ve heard Georgie and Sammy, my other brother, and there’s something else.’ She couldn’t hide the slight quaver in her voice.
‘Something else?’
‘Tom calls him the tin man. I think maybe he’s wearing armour.’
There wasn’t a trace of a smile on her face. Simon noted the dark shadows, the pale skin, the trapped dull look behind her eyes.
‘What particularly interests me is how Tom came by these toys. You and he think Georgie gave them to him. Does that mean that a ghost is capable of carrying things? The toys were clearly themselves real.’
‘I don’t think they have any trouble carrying things at all.’ She was thinking of the roses.
‘And that includes people? I gather Tom was taken up to the attic and has also fallen or been thrown from his cot.’
She bit her lip, nodding.
‘Have you asked him who took him up to the attic himself?’
‘He says it was the tin man.’
‘Who you think is a man wearing armour. Do you believe him?’
‘Who else could have done it? Luke and Lyn were in the kitchen.’
‘Joss, you haven’t been suffering from any headaches lately? Dizzy spells? Lapses of memory?’
‘Oh I see. You mean I did it. Of course, we had to come to that didn’t we.’
‘I have to check every possibility. You must see that.’
‘Right. Well, you’ve checked. Have you asked Lyn and Luke the same question? After all, either of them could have slipped out of the kitchen. Either of them could be lying too.’
For the first time he looked uncomfortable.
‘I thought not. I assure you, Simon, I am perfectly sane.’
‘And the bruises, Joss. On Tom. Did Georgie do that? Or the tin man?’
Her eyes flashed dangerously. ‘He fell from his cot!’
‘And you’re sure of that?’
She hesitated. ‘What else can I think? Simon, it wasn’t me.’
He looked at her for several seconds then he shook his head. ‘No, I don’t think it was. Joss, if you are unhappy here, would it be possible for you to go away for a bit – with the children? To stay with friends, or family. Just to give you all a change of scene.’
She shook her head. ‘Luke won’t go.’
‘I’m not suggesting Luke goes too. Just you and the children.’
‘Not Lyn?’
He put his head on one side slightly. ‘Do you want Lyn to go with you?’
She shrugged. The idea of going away without Lyn suddenly seemed very inviting. She looked up at him. ‘I sometimes think it would be lovely to have the boys to myself.’
‘That is not something you need be ashamed of, Joss. It’s perfectly natural to want your babies to yourself. Lyn is an extremely efficient lady, I can see that. Someone you would be very thankful for under normal circumstances, but maybe she has taken just a bit too much on herself and you are feeling a bit left out?’
Joss sniffed. ‘Now you’re playing the psychiatrist.’
He laughed. ‘That’s day two of being a medical student.’ He gave a deep sigh. ‘Listen, I have to go home and have a bath and grab some breakfast before going off to surgery. Think about a holiday, Joss. Give yourself a bit of a break. I think this house and its memories have got on top of you a bit.’ He moved away from the fire reluctantly and Joss followed him back towards the kitchen. Lyn was tidying up when they walked in and Joss caught the look of enquiry she threw towards Simon.
‘I’m afraid they’re not going to section me, yet, Lyn,’ she said.
Lyn shook her head. ‘Of course they’re not. I hope you’ve ticked her off, Simon, and told her to rest more.’
‘Indeed I have.’ Simon grabbed his jacket. ‘Farewell ladies. I’ll let myself out.’
Straight across the yard to the coach house and Luke, Joss noted, as she watched him from the window. She turned to face Lyn. ‘I’m sane, sober and exonerated,’ she said softly. ‘Please don’t suggest anything else in future.’
Lyn raised an eyebrow. ‘If there was no need, I wouldn’t dream of it.’
‘Good. We could manage without you, you know.’
Lyn flushed a deep red. ‘That’s up to you.’
‘Yes.’ Joss looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Yes, it is.’
27
Luke’s office was an old suitcase in which he kept all his paperwork, to be produced once in a while and spread across the kitchen table, held in place by a cup of coffee, an apple and a plate of bread and cheese. An office day was not to be interrupted by any one, but on this occasion Lyn ignored the warning frown he gave her as she walked in. ‘Luke, I have to talk to you. Now, while Joss has taken the children out.’
‘Oh, Lyn, not again.’ With a groan Luke pushed back a pile of bills and reached for his glass.
‘Yes, again. How many times do I have to warn you? Something awful is going to happen and it will be your fault. You can’t see what’s happening in front of your nose.’
‘I can see, Lyn. There is nothing happening. Joss is coping very well. The children are happy – partly thanks to you, partly thanks to their mother who adores them. They are in no danger from her or from anyone else. If you would just let this stupid idea go and let us all relax and get on with life I should be a lot happier.’
Lyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘There were bruises on Tom’s arm again this morning.’
Luke frowned. ‘I helped bath him last night, Lyn. The bruises are what’s left from his fall.’
‘New ones. Luke, for pity’s sake, please, you have to believe me. It’s a plea for help. That’s what they always say when a mother starts knocking her kids around.’
‘Joss is not knocking the kids around, Lyn.’ Luke stood up abruptly. ‘I don’t want to hear any of this, do you understand? I can’t believe you would say all this about your sister.’
‘She’s not my sister, Luke. That’s the point.’ Lyn’s voice was suddenly bleak. ‘She has made it very clear. She is the la-di-da lady of the manor, I’m just an uneducated girl who is no better than a nursery maid in her eyes.’