A Crowded Coffin(53)
He waved aside Rory’s indignant denial and Harriet’s sudden, anxious frown. ‘If you must know, I didn’t actually see who it was but I did have a kind of intuition, some sixth sense. I felt sure it was the four-by-four that belongs to Gordon Dean.’
To Rory’s intense irritation Edith interrupted at that point, full of something she’d just remembered. She had clearly not overheard the exchange between the two men.
‘Grandpa, when you had your accident—’ She looked haughtily at Rory and Walter who had burst out laughing. ‘I’m sorry? I didn’t realize it was something to laugh about. Anyway,’ – she could never bear a grudge – ‘I was thinking about it earlier on. You were very cagey about it. Did you see something? Or someone?’ She looked suddenly confused and a little shamefaced. ‘I mean, you didn’t see Lucius, did you, Grandpa? Lucius Sextus Vitalis?’
This was greeted by gasps and Rory was about to make some sarcastic remark when he glimpsed his elderly relative’s expression.
‘You mean … you really think you did see him?’ He goggled at the old man in disbelief.
‘I don’t know.’ Walter Attlin sounded defensive but he went on, ‘I don’t honestly know what I saw. I wasn’t going to mention it, and if either of you breathes a whisper, I’ll skin you alive. That goes for you too, Harriet. I refuse to be branded a senile old dodderer.’
He took a deep breath. ‘It was at the moment I realized that the noise I could hear was actually a car. I half-turned and managed to jump out of the way, and I’d have been fine if I hadn’t gone and tripped, which is how I broke my damned collarbone. I thought I saw someone in the distance, over by the angel stone.’
Edith and Harriet stared wide-eyed, while Rory tried to maintain his scepticism in the face of the old man’s level voice and evident sincerity.
‘It was the briefest possible glimpse, an impression of a figure standing there; and there was a flash of something silvery.’ Again he shook his head, something defiant in his attitude. ‘I know it sounds insane but it made me think of armour, of a Roman breastplate.’
chapter ten
Edith had snatched a brief conversation with Harriet just after tea, but when she looked in on her an hour or two later, hoping for a further discussion, Harriet was drowsing comfortably, already tucked up in bed.
‘It’s bliss, sometimes,’ she admitted. ‘Just giving in to whatever is getting on top of you. You were right, Sam was right. I’m better off here tonight while I’m still so woozy. But tomorrow,’ she looked defiant, ‘tomorrow I’m going home. Sam will either be next door in his own house, or in mine – or more probably pottering between the two. I’ll be fine.’
‘’Course you will,’ Edith nodded. ‘Tough as old boots, aren’t you? Did you know we used to call you Boudicca at school?’ As Harriet nodded, looking smug, Edith shrugged. ‘I might have known we’d never have got anything past you. But listen, Harriet,’ she suddenly sobered. ‘What about what Grandpa said? I know the farm is supposed to be haunted but he’s never mentioned seeing anything before.’
‘Well,’ Harriet’s tone was bracing, ‘for a start I don’t think you need to panic about Walter losing his marbles. Maybe he did see a ghost. Who are we to argue with him? Although,’ she gave it some consideration, ‘I’m more inclined to think it was the clouds parting and a shaft of moonlight briefly glancing on a tree trunk or something.’ She closed her eyes for a moment before she added, ‘I wouldn’t dream of contradicting him, though. If it was the family’s tame Roman he’s not going to cause trouble for his descendents, is he? Although,’ her eyes snapped open, ‘I felt I’d better not rile Walter by wondering why Lucius would have felt the need to wear his army breastplate long after he’d become a civilian.’
She snuggled down and waved a languid hand at her visitor. ‘You’d better go back to your guests,’ she said. ‘Whatever those pills are that I’m taking, they’re pretty strong and I’m almost asleep as it is. Off you go; if it’s anything like that lunchtime do at Gordon’s, you’ll spend your time fending off unwanted advances. Have they all turned up yet? The vicar and Brendan, et al?’
‘I expect they’ll be there,’ Edith told her as she turned to go. ‘I think they were just bored at Gordon’s party, and I was a novelty. I’ll fight them off, no worries.’ She picked anxiously at her thumbnail. ‘I don’t know what to think now, though. Not after seeing them—’ She broke off in mid-sentence. Harriet was in no state to be worried, even though Edith was more and more confused about the supposed treasure-seekers and their activities.