for generations and he is extraordinarily
loyal; it seemed such a small request. Besides, few people want a
proper butler any more. I have ‘Jeeves’ and everyone
knows what I mean. He’s insisted on breakfast being served from
the sideboard just because you are staying.” He took a gulp of
coffee. “Feel free to raid the library if you fancy something
to read, the Foxley books are fascinating. And remember, please don’t
leave the house, Xandra. Sorry to abandon you both, I really am, but
I’ve got matters to attend to, I’m afraid.”
Uncharacteristically, he blew them both a kiss as he left.
Xandra looked at Laura as Matt closed
the door after him. “Does he always disappear on ‘matters’?”
“Runs in the family, Xandra. I’ve
tried not to let it bother me. I’ve learned to trust him. I
made the mistake a long time ago of flouncing off from someone who
disappeared for days on end, only to discover he was one of the
finest men ever to live.”
“Regrets,” said Xandra.
“They are something I’ve not been bothered by so far.”
“Long may it stay that way.
Whereas I… I wish with all my heart I could put that right.”
Matt’s words crashed into her thoughts – he wasn’t
wrong. He was right. It would be the things that you could have done
and didn’t that would cause you most regret on your deathbed.
Laura stood, pushed away her chair, pursed her lips with
determination, and said, “ I’m going to find Rolf. If
there’s anything you need, Xandra, stop me before I go.”
With relief, she almost ran for the door, aware that she had begun to
gabble. She must not lose this chance. Then, unable to resist, she
put her head back around the heavy, white, panelled door and said,
“Xandra, if you could hide in time, in what time would you
hide?” Anyone other than Xandra would have asked what she
meant, thought Laura as she watched Xandra consider her answer.
“I’ve often thought I was
born out of time. I’d love to meet a Regency gentleman with
perfect manners; someone I could respect.” She seemed far away
with her thoughts. “He should also be exciting. Full of
purpose. I’d be happy to hide away with him.” Most of
Laura was now behind the door to the hall, just her Cheshire cat grin
peered back at Xandra.
~
Laura was pleased with herself. A
comforting certainty had crept over her and travelling back to
Torwell Bridge in her own little car, she felt she had made as many
preparations as possible. As she chugged up the Pelburton bypass –
there was no point in putting her foot down with Rolf following in
the Land Rover – she ran over the list of things she had
crammed into the suitcase. Most of her coins – sovereigns,
guineas and a few smaller ones – were stuffed into a leather
pouch. There would have been more had she not discovered her George
III sovereigns were worth more than five hundred pounds each and sold
them all, one by one, soon after her arrival. There was a cream silk
charmeuse satin Empire line dress, a burgundy velvet shrug to serve
as a spencer, and a long petticoat, all easily acquired from the
wedding shop below her office. She’d have to forego the proper
undergarments, Marks and Spencer just didn’t stock
knickerbockers although, thankfully, some winter merchandise was now
in the store. She’d been able to prevail upon Rolf to allow her
to do some emergency shopping unwatched and buy some vaguely suitable
all cotton underwear. She’d bought what she’d thought was
a woollen shawl from the charity shop, then noticed it had a large
hole in the middle. She’d felt so silly when the lady at the
counter had to explain it was to put over your head. “A
poncho,” she’d said kindly, “They’re making a
come-back.” Never seen one like that before, thought Laura, but
it was warm and suitable for travelling, the best she could find;
there was too little time to shop around.
She’d also bought two long
dresses, one in pale pink silk and the other in a blue,
loyal; it seemed such a small request. Besides, few people want a
proper butler any more. I have ‘Jeeves’ and everyone
knows what I mean. He’s insisted on breakfast being served from
the sideboard just because you are staying.” He took a gulp of
coffee. “Feel free to raid the library if you fancy something
to read, the Foxley books are fascinating. And remember, please don’t
leave the house, Xandra. Sorry to abandon you both, I really am, but
I’ve got matters to attend to, I’m afraid.”
Uncharacteristically, he blew them both a kiss as he left.
Xandra looked at Laura as Matt closed
the door after him. “Does he always disappear on ‘matters’?”
“Runs in the family, Xandra. I’ve
tried not to let it bother me. I’ve learned to trust him. I
made the mistake a long time ago of flouncing off from someone who
disappeared for days on end, only to discover he was one of the
finest men ever to live.”
“Regrets,” said Xandra.
“They are something I’ve not been bothered by so far.”
“Long may it stay that way.
Whereas I… I wish with all my heart I could put that right.”
Matt’s words crashed into her thoughts – he wasn’t
wrong. He was right. It would be the things that you could have done
and didn’t that would cause you most regret on your deathbed.
Laura stood, pushed away her chair, pursed her lips with
determination, and said, “ I’m going to find Rolf. If
there’s anything you need, Xandra, stop me before I go.”
With relief, she almost ran for the door, aware that she had begun to
gabble. She must not lose this chance. Then, unable to resist, she
put her head back around the heavy, white, panelled door and said,
“Xandra, if you could hide in time, in what time would you
hide?” Anyone other than Xandra would have asked what she
meant, thought Laura as she watched Xandra consider her answer.
“I’ve often thought I was
born out of time. I’d love to meet a Regency gentleman with
perfect manners; someone I could respect.” She seemed far away
with her thoughts. “He should also be exciting. Full of
purpose. I’d be happy to hide away with him.” Most of
Laura was now behind the door to the hall, just her Cheshire cat grin
peered back at Xandra.
~
Laura was pleased with herself. A
comforting certainty had crept over her and travelling back to
Torwell Bridge in her own little car, she felt she had made as many
preparations as possible. As she chugged up the Pelburton bypass –
there was no point in putting her foot down with Rolf following in
the Land Rover – she ran over the list of things she had
crammed into the suitcase. Most of her coins – sovereigns,
guineas and a few smaller ones – were stuffed into a leather
pouch. There would have been more had she not discovered her George
III sovereigns were worth more than five hundred pounds each and sold
them all, one by one, soon after her arrival. There was a cream silk
charmeuse satin Empire line dress, a burgundy velvet shrug to serve
as a spencer, and a long petticoat, all easily acquired from the
wedding shop below her office. She’d have to forego the proper
undergarments, Marks and Spencer just didn’t stock
knickerbockers although, thankfully, some winter merchandise was now
in the store. She’d been able to prevail upon Rolf to allow her
to do some emergency shopping unwatched and buy some vaguely suitable
all cotton underwear. She’d bought what she’d thought was
a woollen shawl from the charity shop, then noticed it had a large
hole in the middle. She’d felt so silly when the lady at the
counter had to explain it was to put over your head. “A
poncho,” she’d said kindly, “They’re making a
come-back.” Never seen one like that before, thought Laura, but
it was warm and suitable for travelling, the best she could find;
there was too little time to shop around.
She’d also bought two long
dresses, one in pale pink silk and the other in a blue,
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