‘Where exactly are we?’ I’m scuttling to keep up with Tom’s long strides, which isn’t easy when you’re wearing a pair of slightly damp flip-flops. Instead of heading back towards the woods, we’re skirting around the edge, following its curve.
‘We’re still technically on Durban’s grounds. The castle’s on the other side of the woods.’ Tom points towards the thick cluster of trees to our right. ‘But it’s safer to go around the outside in the dark.’ He arches an eyebrow at me and I fight the urge to stick out my tongue. ‘It isn’t far.’
Good, I think. The sooner we get back, the sooner Tom can stop treating me like a silly schoolgirl and bog off back to his cottage.
‘Are you warm enough?’ Tom stops suddenly, giving me the chance to catch up. ‘I didn’t think to lend you one of my jackets. I could nip back and grab one?’
I shake my head, not bothering to break my stride. ‘I’m fine, thanks.’ I really am eager to get back to the castle. Besides, I’ve warmed up now I’m wearing dry clothes. ‘Did I even thank you for lending me your wife’s clothes? I am grateful.’ Even if I still think he’s a grumpy sod. ‘She won’t mind, will she?’
‘Not in the slightest.’ Tom is striding again, already several paces ahead of me. ‘And she isn’t my wife.’
‘But it says…’ I look down at the slogan on my T-shirt.
‘Lydia bought it when we got engaged.’
So, he isn’t married yet. I wonder what his fiancée is like; is she as cranky as her betrothed?
‘You’ve got exciting times ahead, then.’ I’m not sure why I’m still talking. It isn’t as though Tom is the chatty type, but I can’t seem to stop myself. ‘A wedding and a baby. Sounds like most people’s idea of perfection.’
Tom stops again, wheeling around with such force I come to a stop myself and take a couple of steps back. His eyes are dark, his mouth a mean, narrow line.
‘What was that?’ His voice is booming in the quiet night and I take another step back. ‘A wedding and a baby? I never said anything about a baby.’
Jeez, talk about moody!
‘I saw the scan photo. In the drawer.’
Tom’s face is thunderous as his eyebrows pull down low. ‘You were snooping?’
‘Not at all.’ I’m carrying my damp clothes in one hand, but I clamp the other down on my hip. ‘I was looking for the brush – as directed by you – but chose the wrong drawer. It’s an easy mistake to make.’ I don’t add that I picked up the scan photo for a good old nosy in case it makes his head explode. I still need him to lead the way back to the castle.
Tom watches me for another moment through slightly narrowed eyes before turning and setting off again. We make the rest of the journey in silence, Tom striding purposefully while I practically jog to keep up. We end up at the back of the property, with the pool room lit up nearby, and Tom opens a door, holding it so I can step inside.
‘Will you be okay from here?’ Tom’s tone suggests the only acceptable response would be ‘yes’, but I may be about to annoy him. Again.
‘Um…’ The door leads to a corridor, which is identical to every other corridor I’ve seen in the castle so far. I have no idea which part of the castle I’m standing in, nor the route to take to my room. ‘It’s just, I don’t really know my way around the castle.’
Tom sighs, but steps into the castle and leads the way with his usual stride. ‘Do you know which room you’re staying in?’
‘Um…’ I bite my lip, wracking my brain for the number on the door. ‘It was on the first floor.’
Tom sighs again. ‘Well, that narrows it down. Do you even know which wing?’
I don’t have a scooby. ‘It was overlooking the orchard, if that helps?’
Tom doesn’t answer, simply continues to stride.
‘We went up the stairs in the big entrance hall,’ I say as Tom starts to climb a narrow staircase.
‘This is a shortcut.’ He continues to climb the stairs and I hurry after him. We end up on yet another identical corridor.
‘I’m sorry about the scan photo,’ I say as I scurry along. Can’t he slow down just a little bit? ‘It really was an accident.’
‘It’s fine.’ Tom rubs at the back of his neck. ‘Sorry for snapping. I shouldn’t have. It’s just…’
‘You’re a private person?’ I get this. It isn’t as though I’ve never bitten somebody’s head off for probing too much into my private life.
‘I guess.’ We turn on to another mirror-image corridor and Tom finally slows down. ‘Anything look familiar?’
I look up and down the corridor and spot a window seat at the far end. I sat on that window seat earlier, overlooking the village down the hill, to give Alice a bit of privacy while she Skyped Kevin.
‘Yes! We’re in one of the rooms down here…’ I start to move in the opposite direction of the window seat, but Tom doesn’t follow.
‘I’ll leave you to it then,’ he says, already backing away.
‘Thanks for your help,’ I call, but he’s already disappeared back around the corner.
Alice pounces on me as soon as I open the door, throwing her arms around me and trying her hardest to squeeze the life out of me.
‘We’ve been so worried about you!’ She kisses me on the cheek and I’m forced to wriggle free from her grasp. This is getting way too touchy-feeling for my liking.
‘I’m so sorry, Emily.’ Archie is perched on Alice’s bed, hands clasped tightly together. ‘I don’t know what happened. One minute we were together and the next I was on my own. I was so worried about you. I looked everywhere for you and kept calling your name, but I couldn’t find you. I hoped you’d found your way back here, to Alice, but you weren’t here.’
‘He was all ready for going back out to look for you.’ Alice sits down next to Archie and leans her head against his shoulder. ‘But luckily Lilianna was still in the office when Tom phoned and she ran up here to let us know you were safe. We were so relieved, weren’t we, Archie?’
Archie nods and takes hold of Alice’s hand, giving it a squeeze. ‘So relieved. You could have frozen to death out there! I’m truly sorry, Emily. You must let me make it up to you.’
‘There’s no need, really.’ I kick off my flip-flops and sink down onto my own bed. ‘I’m fine. Nothing bad happened, unless you count having to spend time with Tom. What is his problem?’ I massage my feet where the flip-flops have rubbed.
‘I really don’t know.’ Alice kneads her forehead with her fingers, as though she can smooth out the frown lines that have formed. ‘He was one of my best friends, someone I trusted and confided in, and now he’s like a stranger. I guess it’s my own fault for not trying hard enough to keep in contact, but I sort of tried to forget about this place and everyone in it after the necklace thing.’
‘And don’t we know it?’ Archie nudges Alice. ‘It’s like you fell off the face of the earth. Even I didn’t get to see you and we’re practically related.’
‘Sorry,’ Alice says in a small voice.
‘Don’t be.’ Archie presses a gentle kiss to the top of her head. ‘But please don’t disappear again.’
‘I promise.’ Alice takes a deep breath and rallies, sitting up straighter. ‘Anyway, I think it’s time for bed. It’s been a long day.’
I yawn in agreement, suddenly exhausted by my woodland escapades. I could quite happily curl up on the end of my bed and sleep right now, but I’d also quite like to change out of my borrowed clothes as quickly as possible.
‘I’ll let you sleeping beauties get some rest then.’ Archie crosses the room but pauses before reaching for the door handle. ‘How about we meet up for breakfast tomorrow? Say, nine o’clock in the dining room?’
I start when I realise he’s addressing me and not Alice. ‘Oh. I’m not sure…’
‘She’d love to.’ Alice widens her eyes at me before turning to Archie with a wide smile. ‘She’ll be there.’ She waits until the door has closed behind Archie before she says, in a tinkly voice, ‘Remember our deal?’
I groan and flop back on the bed. Remind me why I agreed to this nonsense again?
I wake alone the next morning, Alice’s bed neatly made with Hubert sitting on the pillow. I’m about to roll over and go back to sleep when I remember my breakfast date with Archie. Ugh. I suppose I must turn up – my life wouldn’t be worth living if Alice got wind that I’d stood him up – but first I must shower as I’m sure I still stink of chlorine and my hair, despite running a brush through it at Tom’s cottage, will resemble a rat’s nest. Sure enough, a quick peek in the bathroom mirror confirms my suspicion. I have the worst bedhead known to man (or woman).
The shower is an enormous walk-in affair with frosted glass panels and chrome fittings and a mosaic of tiny tiles in cream and beige shades. Definitely not a period piece. I step under the warm stream, sloughing away the smell of pool water with the zesty products I found in a chrome basket next to the sink. I’m feeling almost human by the time I emerge from the bathroom. Once I’ve dried my hair (sneakily using Alice’s hairdryer, which is a million times better than my own and cost five times as much) I pull it into its usual ponytail and dress in a navy and white printed jumpsuit and a pair of flat sandals. It’s a suitable breakfast-date ensemble and I can always stick on a bit of make-up and change into heels if I need to dress the outfit up later, though I’m sure it won’t meet Francelia’s high standards enough for a dinner outfit.
Alice still hasn’t returned to the room by the time I’m ready, so I venture out on my own, determined to find the way to the dining room myself. I try to retrace our steps from yesterday as we went down to dinner, but my mind is a blank. I need a map. And a map reader.
I eventually find my way down to the entrance hall, following the sounds of chatter until I locate the dining room. I step inside feeling pretty damn smug. Why couldn’t I have been this resourceful in the woods last night? Or during those horrid outdoor learning trips the headteacher makes me chaperone? I bet I could fashion a tent out of plastic carrier bags and a couple of lengthy twigs right now.
The tables in the dining room have been stripped of their centrepieces and candlesticks from last night, though the crisp white tablecloths remain. I spot Archie immediately as he lifts a hand in greeting and beckons me over. My spirits lift when I see he’s sitting with Alice, but plummet again when I realise they’ve yet to organise their breakfast. This stupid date is probably still on, then.
‘Good morning!’ Archie jumps to his feet, pulling me in to kiss me lightly on the cheek before I can leap away. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve asked Alice to join us. I didn’t want to push you into anything you didn’t feel comfortable with. This isn’t a date. It’s just two people getting to know each other, okay?’
I have to press my lips together really tightly to stop the grin from spreading across my entire face. This isn’t a date. This is definitely okay with me!
‘That’s very sweet of you. Thank you.’ I just about manage to stop myself from doing a jig on the spot. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Shall we…?’ I indicate the long buffet cart sitting at the end of the room. It’s filled with hot breakfast foods that are making my stomach growl, while cereals, yogurt and fruit sit on a neighbouring sideboard.
‘Good idea.’ Archie places his hand on the small of my back as he guides me towards the food. I can see Alice grinning manically out of the corner of my eye but I ignore her and help myself to a hearty breakfast of bacon, sausage and egg, two slices of fried bread and a cup of strong coffee. As much as the shower refreshed me, I’m going to need a good dose of caffeine this morning.
Our table is near the window, so we can look out at the beautiful grounds while we eat. From here I can see out into the courtyard and the fountain Alice and I fooled around on yesterday. I push away the thought that somebody could have been sitting here watching us and dip the corner of my fried bread into my egg yolk. Tom the gardener is already out there, trimming the already trimmed-to-perfection lawns.
‘I really wanted to apologise again for last night.’ While I’ve been tucking into my breakfast, Archie has yet to touch his food. He looks pained, his face all lined with concern. ‘I dread to think what might have happened.’ He gives a slow shake of his head. ‘It was a foolish idea to go out there so late at night.’
‘What were you doing out there anyway?’ Alice raises her eyebrows at me before she bites off the corner of a piece of toast.
‘I took Emily out to see the umbrella tree,’ Archie says, failing to mention the real reason we were in the woods. I open my mouth to explain the Francelia situation, but Archie throws back his head to laugh, temporarily disarming me. ‘We had some fun times in there over the years, didn’t we? Hiding out from the grown-ups, plotting pranks…’ Archie leans in close to Alice and lowers his voice. ‘Playing spin the bottle.’
‘Oh God.’ Alice groans and covers her mouth with her hand. ‘I totally forgot about that.’
‘So, you two kissed then?’ This breakfast get-together is looking up. The mortification on Alice’s face makes this whole week worthwhile. I shall replay the image of a red-faced, uber-cringing Alice every time she attempts to matchmake.
‘Only ever as part of the game.’ Archie is lightning-quick to clarify. ‘There was never anything more between us.’
Alice shakes her head vigorously. ‘Never.’
If they’re trying to convince me the path is clear for an Emily/Archie dalliance, they may as well save their breath.
‘Oh, look. There’s Tom.’ I point out of the window before scraping back my chair. ‘I should go and say thank you for last night. I probably would have frozen to death without his help.’
‘But what about your breakfast?’ I hear Alice call out as I make a dash from the dining room.