A Crowded Coffin(43)
‘Shh, this isn’t the time to discuss it.’ Rory grabbed her hand as Edith opened her mouth. ‘Come on, let’s go and rescue her.’
Harriet had been leaning back in her chair, her hand to her head, and wondering whether her throbbing headache would ever go away. At Edith and Rory’s approach she opened her eyes and managed a smile of greeting.
‘I’m fine, Edith, don’t make a fuss, just—’ Her eyes widened as she saw John Forrester hurrying into the day room accompanied by the staff nurse on duty. ‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ she muttered and caught Rory’s eye. ‘Follow my lead,’ she hissed, to his bewilderment, reaching for his hand and shutting her eyes.
‘I came as soon as I heard,’ John told them, bending over to look at Harriet. ‘How is she? Hasn’t she come round yet? Has she said what happened?’
The staff nurse fluttered round him, and Edith eyed her with distaste. Is that how I was last night? she wondered, and frowned at the idea. The frown deepened as she spotted the undeniable interest in his eyes as he smiled down at the nurse. Never looked at another woman indeed, she fumed.
‘She can’t remember much,’ Rory said firmly, glaring at Edith as she turned to him in surprise. ‘Except that it must have been a drunk going too fast.’ There was an approving pressure on his hand and he glanced down at Harriet. ‘Of course, she’s getting on, and at her age, memory loss is quite terrifying,’ he added, deciding to embroider the story. ‘And it’s very upsetting for her not to recall anything about her accident.’
‘Whenever she’s ready.’ The nurse nodded coolly to Edith and turned to the vicar. ‘Can I ask you to come and talk to one of our other patients?’ she suggested. ‘He’s very agitated and I’m sure he’ll calm down if you have a word.’
John nodded goodbye and followed in her train, leaving Edith puzzled, Rory amused, and Harriet torn between laughter and annoyance.
‘How dare you suggest I’m going senile,’ she snapped, opening her eyes and tapping Rory lightly on the hand. ‘That wretched man will patronize me now for the rest of my days.’
‘I’m sorry, Harriet.’ Rory was contrite. ‘It was the best I could think of at short notice when you did your dying swan act. But what’s this about someone driving at you deliberately? The nurse said that’s what you claimed when they brought you in here.’
‘Quite true.’ Harriet gathered up her handbag. ‘I’ll tell you about it later, not here, though.’ She thought quickly then, ‘Edith, do me a favour, will you? Rory will drive me home, I’m sure, but I’d be really grateful if you would run after the vicar and ask him to give you a lift to my cottage when he’s done here. I’ll need some clothes.’ She made a face. ‘Sam’s been on to me and the nurse was adamant that I’m to go to the farm till he’s able to look after me. Yes, thanks, Edith,’ she grinned as her former pupil spoke eagerly. ‘I’ve rather taken it for granted, I’m afraid, that I can cadge a bed from you for tonight and I’ve written a list of things I’ll probably need. Here you are, and please, not a word about what I just said, to the vicar or anyone else. Keep to the story that it must have been a drunk driver. I don’t want anything else to get out.’
She and Rory watched as Edith disappeared after the vicar.
‘So?’ He looked at her. ‘Were you deliberately pushed into the quarry?’
‘Yes,’ she sighed, looking weary. ‘I’ll tell you about it when I’ve gathered my wits, but just now I really want to get out of here.’ She glanced at him with a speculative eye. ‘Can I persuade you to take me back to my place?’ she asked and made a face as he shook his head. ‘I thought not. The farm’s the best bet really; my closest friend in the village has just set off on a family trip to Cornwall and Sam is in the throes of packing up his flat. I suppose I can’t really stay with him among the tea chests but I’ll try to persuade him to move in with me. He’s due to do that next week. No,’ she rubbed her eyes, ‘I’m getting confused, it’s tomorrow the sale is due to be completed, so he can do some decorating in his new place. Meanwhile he’s got to report back to the office today on his Belfast trip, so a night or two at the farm will have to do.’
‘So, Harriet.’ Rory packed his cargo tenderly into the front passenger seat. ‘What is it that you want to talk to me about that you don’t want Edith to hear?’