The story of the theft of the silver went round the party like wildfire. Although at first people thought a few knives and forks, even if they were silver, were not worth stealing, Tessa soon put them right by explaining that, depending on the period and the provenance of the item, silver could be quite valuable.
‘I’d say on a good day, she could make quite a bit, especially if she managed to lift any jewellery. I’ve often found rings sitting by the basins before now where people have taken them off to wash their hands and, perhaps not used to wearing them very often, or maybe chatting to a friend, have forgotten to put it back on.’ She smiled as people looked at her horrified, some even embarrassed as though they had done that themselves.
The unfortunate bride and groom were mortified that one of their close family and friends should do such a thing. Though, fortunately, Julius was soon able to reassure them that the woman was not on the guest list. She’d been recognised by one of the police called out to arrest her.
At the bride and groom’s request, Julius made an announcement. ‘I’m so sorry this happened here today, but fortunately the thief was caught. This person, and sometimes her partner in crime who was not here today, makes quite a good living from gate crashing weddings and other parties. They dress smartly to blend in, which makes it more difficult to catch them, lifting jewellery and presents bought by the guests. But she’s been taken away by the police, so please continue to enjoy yourselves,’ he finished to clapping and the room buzzing with incredulity.
‘Well thank you so much for catching her, Anna,’ Gaynor, the bride, hugged her when Julius introduced her. ‘It would have been awful… mortifying, if we or our guests were thought to be responsible or if our presents had been stolen.
‘It was just luck I was in there, but I had a scary moment when I thought I was mistaken, she had such a clever handbag.’ Anna explained what had happened.
‘Well,’ Steven, the groom, said, ‘I hope when we get back from our honeymoon we can take you out for a slap-up meal to thank you.’ He beamed at her.
‘Thanks, but there’s no need, in fact I’ll probably be back home in London by the time you return from your honeymoon.’
‘We’ll think of something,’ Gaynor said, ‘I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you caught her and we know who she is, I’d hate to have any suspicion hanging over our friends.’
‘I think you can go home now, Anna, after all this,’ Julius said quietly to her as they left the bride and groom to their guests. ‘You must be feeling exhausted after such an ordeal.’
‘Oh… no, I’d rather stay,’ Anna insisted. She’d hate to be alone now in the flat without Freddie for company. Even if he were asleep, he’d be there, a familiar presence.
‘If you’re sure,’ Julius said gently, his hand on her arm. ‘You really saved the day, Anna. Goodness knows what a meal the insurance companies would have made of it, after the flood damage and all.’
Simon and Luke joined them. ‘Well done Anna. Thank goodness you went into the dining room and caught her. You were very brave insisting you’d seen her nick something,’ Simon said. ‘You ought to get a medal or something.’
She laughed, ‘It was just luck, any of you would have done the same.’
Luke frowned, ‘What a sneaky thing to do, her creeping in and nicking valuable stuff, Nell said that sugar thing was worth about £3,000.’ He looked incredulous. ‘I take my sugar straight from the packet,’ he joked. ‘Julius, do you think the trustees, insurance or whatever might stop us using the castle if they hear about it?’
Julius looked grave. ‘We’ll have to always be sure someone is in both rooms at all times. The door to the dining room is always closed until supper is served and the catering staff are up and down the other staircase, so she took a risk one of them might have caught her, though I suppose she would have heard them coming.’
‘Such a wicked thing to do at a happy event,’ Simon said.
‘Did she have an accomplice?’ Luke asked.
‘I don’t think anyone else was here today, she said not, although she’s not to be trusted. The people in the hall said no one has left and Pete and I stayed with her until the police came; one of them knew her so she confessed that she has done this before,’ Julius explained.
The party were now sitting down in the dining room enjoying Jenny’s cooking, though their minds were far more occupied on discussing the theft.
‘You’re certainly a star, Anna,’ Simon said warmly.
‘We must not let this happen again, and tomorrow,’ Julius turned back to Anna who was standing among them, ‘I’ll take you down to the police station to make a statement.’
‘Will you have to go to the trial?’ Cathie joined them, standing close to Simon protectively, jealousy pinching her expression having heard Simon’s words of praise for Anna.
‘Oh, no, will I have to?’ Anna turned to Julius in dismay; this was the last thing she wanted, if the woman was known to the police surely that and finding the silver on her was enough evidence they needed to convict her?
‘Don’t worry about that, I’m sure giving a statement is all that’s necessary,’ Julius reassured her. ‘You were wonderful today, Anna, so only stay on here if you want to.’ He touched her arm, his face tender, before leaving them.
Simon came close to her. ‘Are you sure you’re OK, Anna? I can take you back to the flat if you want to leave.’
‘No, I’d far rather stay here with all of you, but thanks for suggesting it.’ She smiled at him, aware that Cathie was scowling at her, moving in, but she didn’t care, she wanted to feel protected after her ordeal.
Luke said, ‘I bet when Philly and Sidney hear about this they’ll be awestruck, and Freddie too.’ He grinned before frowning, ‘Do you think you should tell him, it might scare him, make him think this thief will come after you.’
‘I’m sure he won’t if he knows the police have got her, he’d probably be excited, think you’re a hero,’ Simon said warmly.
The rest of the evening passed in a whirl, there was dancing after the dinner, a floor put down in part of the drawing room and a band appeared who were friends of the groom.
Simon and Luke went back to their job of mingling with the party, though they kept checking that Anna was all right and for that she was grateful. Julius came over from time to time to enquire how she was and she felt warm and protected by them all.
She was aware that Cathie was watching her, prowling round the place among the guests as if she were tracking her. She stayed close with Nell and Tessa and a couple of their friends, watching the dancing.
At last it was over, the bride threw her bouquet into the crowd of well-wishers and everyone clapped when one of the older women, her face pink with excitement, managed to catch it.
The ‘happy couple’, after insisting on taking her address and promising her a wonderful night out when they returned, left in the camper van, driven by a friend, to a hotel before they started on their mammoth trip round Europe. Everyone stood outside in the cold and saw them off with much cheering and ribald comments.
Julius appeared beside her and said he’d walk her home across the quadrangle, but she refused, laughing, saying he could watch her from here to her door as the lights festooned about for the wedding were so bright.
‘We are all walking across as our cars are parked near your door, so we will all see you home,’ Simon linked arms with her. As if on cue, Cathie moved closer to him, perhaps fearful that Anna might lure him into the flat. The sky was black above them, pierced by orbs of golden lights throwing shadows on the castle walls.
They all stopped when they reached the cars. Tessa and Nell hugged her and got into their car to drive home, Simon hugged her too, saying how brave she was, before he, Luke and Cathie got in a car together, and she watched them all drive away.
Now only Julius was left and she turned to say goodnight, her key already in her hand, he gently took it from her and opened the door. She’d purposely left the hall light on, hating going into a dark house, especially if no one else was there.
He handed her back her key. ‘You’re sure you are all right? Won’t have nightmares?’ His smile was gentle, his eyes on her mouth and she had a ridiculous feeling that he might kiss her again and she would kiss him back. She pulled herself together – he surely had a girlfriend somewhere.
‘I’m fine, thank you Julius; I’m going to have a hot bath and then bed. I’m exhausted and I’m sure you are. You have so much to keep tabs on.’
‘It’s my job, a job I love, in a place I love,’ he said, ‘but I must say we’ve never had anything like this before. Once we had a woman go into labour, but catching a thief is a first. Anyway, it’s late, I’d better go.’ He paused. ‘Sleep well.’ He stepped back from the door as if he felt he was intruding on her space. ‘See you in the morning, I’ll let you know about making a statement to the police.’
‘Oh… yes, if I have to. Thanks, sleep well too.’ She was tempted to stretch out and pull him to her, have him kiss her like he had at New Year, but she shut the door quickly to stop herself, locking it from the inside. She waited in the hall to hear his car start up and drive away. How foolish she was being, but there was something about him that drew her in. When he was standing close to her it felt so right, as if he should be there, but maybe she was mistaken. There was romance in the air in this castle, and that should not be surprising, as it was so old and so many people had lived there over the centuries who must have loved… and also lost. She’d read of people picking up vibes of long-ago events in ancient places, people from other times leaving their emotions like footprints in the atmosphere, but she didn’t really believe it. She was tired, a little scared and anxious after her ordeal this evening and a wedding, well, didn’t all weddings promise so much. A leap of faith, she remembered Gary calling them.