already surprisingly comforting to see the squat, ugly cottage standing on the edge of the parkland. Antonia approached it buoyantly, because it already represented a degree of safety even with that patch of dark fear in the kitchen. But let’s not think about that. Let’s enjoy unlocking the front door and coming into the sitting room, turning up the heating against the damp autumnal day and seeing the glow of the electric fire reflected on the windowpanes. Recognizing the house’s scents–old timbers and the occasional drift of woodsmoke from the fireplace.
It was just on one o’clock. She would have some lunch, and while she ate she would read the letters and newspaper cuttings about Thomasina and Latchkill, making notes as she went along. I want to know about you, she said to Thomasina’s ghost. And I want to know about that patch of extreme fear in this cottage. I don’t know if you were anything to do with that–whether you suffered the fear or whether you caused it–but you’re a starting point. A link.
She went into the kitchen, still thinking about Thomasina, rather than about what might be invisibly in wait for her, and stopped dead in the doorway.
Raffles was composedly seated on the table, and between his paws were the remains of Godfrey Toy’s smoked salmon.
The clawing fear leapt out of the room all over again, and it was several moments before Antonia could think or reason.
Let’s take this calmly. There’s a cat on the table, and it’s eating the salmon. Nothing so very sinister about that. Dr Toy said Raffles was a well-mannered burglar, and any cat will trade its virtue and barter its soul for fish. But how did he get in?
The likeliest explanation was that Antonia must have left a door or window open, and Raffles, in the manner of his kind, had come to investigate. He was, as Godfrey Toy had said, being perfectly polite about it.
Keeping a firm hold of this probability, she checked the back door which was locked, and then systematically went round the rest of the cottage, determined not to give way to panic.
Every window was closed. Nowhere was the smallest chink through which even the most accomplished feline thief could have got in. But there must be a chink somewhere.
Although how had he opened the fridge door, removed the salmon from the foil wrapping and then closed the fridge door behind him?
CHAPTER SIX
Forrester Benevolent Trust
Friday 17th September
In attendance: Miss Thomasina Forrester, Matron Freda Prout, Reverend Skandry, Dr Daniel Glass.
Nurse Bryony Sullivan taking notes of proceedings.
Matron Prout proposed the closure of Reaper Wing, on the grounds that it was costly to maintain, and a large proportion of the nurses did not like dealing with the inhabitants. There was a certain biblical superstition.
Dr Glass strongly opposed this. Said the inhabitants of Reaper Wing had, in the main, been cast off by squeamish or snobbish families, and must not be cast off by people dedicated to helping the sick. Added that there was nothing in the least biblical about Reaper Wing patients, and offered to talk to the nurses in question.
Reverend Skandry was of the opinion that we should be charitable to those less fortunate than ourselves. When Dr Glass said that this remark did not further the meeting’s purpose, Rev Skandry said he would pray for the poor souls in Reaper Wing.
Matron Prout then proposed that funds be diverted from the Forrester Benevolent Trust to help with treatment of Reaper Wing patients, who often had to be sedated. By way of support for this proposal, she passed round bills, pointing out that items such as sulphate of quinine (frequently given as an infusion in carbonate of ammonia), were becoming very costly.
Miss Forrester asked if any of the patients in Reaper Wing could be regarded as men or women of quality, which is a particular requirement of money from the Trust being paid out. Matron Prout said, they were people of quality, and appealed
It was just on one o’clock. She would have some lunch, and while she ate she would read the letters and newspaper cuttings about Thomasina and Latchkill, making notes as she went along. I want to know about you, she said to Thomasina’s ghost. And I want to know about that patch of extreme fear in this cottage. I don’t know if you were anything to do with that–whether you suffered the fear or whether you caused it–but you’re a starting point. A link.
She went into the kitchen, still thinking about Thomasina, rather than about what might be invisibly in wait for her, and stopped dead in the doorway.
Raffles was composedly seated on the table, and between his paws were the remains of Godfrey Toy’s smoked salmon.
The clawing fear leapt out of the room all over again, and it was several moments before Antonia could think or reason.
Let’s take this calmly. There’s a cat on the table, and it’s eating the salmon. Nothing so very sinister about that. Dr Toy said Raffles was a well-mannered burglar, and any cat will trade its virtue and barter its soul for fish. But how did he get in?
The likeliest explanation was that Antonia must have left a door or window open, and Raffles, in the manner of his kind, had come to investigate. He was, as Godfrey Toy had said, being perfectly polite about it.
Keeping a firm hold of this probability, she checked the back door which was locked, and then systematically went round the rest of the cottage, determined not to give way to panic.
Every window was closed. Nowhere was the smallest chink through which even the most accomplished feline thief could have got in. But there must be a chink somewhere.
Although how had he opened the fridge door, removed the salmon from the foil wrapping and then closed the fridge door behind him?
CHAPTER SIX
Forrester Benevolent Trust
Friday 17th September
In attendance: Miss Thomasina Forrester, Matron Freda Prout, Reverend Skandry, Dr Daniel Glass.
Nurse Bryony Sullivan taking notes of proceedings.
Matron Prout proposed the closure of Reaper Wing, on the grounds that it was costly to maintain, and a large proportion of the nurses did not like dealing with the inhabitants. There was a certain biblical superstition.
Dr Glass strongly opposed this. Said the inhabitants of Reaper Wing had, in the main, been cast off by squeamish or snobbish families, and must not be cast off by people dedicated to helping the sick. Added that there was nothing in the least biblical about Reaper Wing patients, and offered to talk to the nurses in question.
Reverend Skandry was of the opinion that we should be charitable to those less fortunate than ourselves. When Dr Glass said that this remark did not further the meeting’s purpose, Rev Skandry said he would pray for the poor souls in Reaper Wing.
Matron Prout then proposed that funds be diverted from the Forrester Benevolent Trust to help with treatment of Reaper Wing patients, who often had to be sedated. By way of support for this proposal, she passed round bills, pointing out that items such as sulphate of quinine (frequently given as an infusion in carbonate of ammonia), were becoming very costly.
Miss Forrester asked if any of the patients in Reaper Wing could be regarded as men or women of quality, which is a particular requirement of money from the Trust being paid out. Matron Prout said, they were people of quality, and appealed
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