Page 35 of Reckless Kiss

“The Mistress will cope,” Bailey said.

“I’ll have to return to my other home in Scotland to pack up the rest of my belongings.”

“Your old bedroom in the east wing,” Maggie said. “You can’t get any further from Miss Turner’s room if you tried. I wonder what she’s up to?” Maggie said.

Bailey had sorted the post as he spoke, shuffling them into an order only he knew was correct. One day Bailey and Maggie would retire, and new staff would replace them. Archer put those thoughts out of his head. He needed to focus on the here and now.

Bailey left to deliver the letters to Aunt Cynthia, and Maggie returned to the stove to stir the large pot.

“Maggie, is there still a tide timetable in the study?”Archer asked, getting up from the seat. Teddy jumped up from his bed by the large stove and came to Archer’s side.

“Yes, it’s tacked to the notice board behind your grandfather’s desk. Do you want me to fetch it for you?”

“No need, I’ll go. I haven’t been across to Stuart Island since I’ve been back and don’t want to get caught by the incoming tide.”

“Do you want a picnic?”

“Not today, but I’ll let you know if I need one.”

“Fancy a walk?” Archer spoke down to Teddy. He was rewarded with a yap. Archer hadn’t gotten around to a lead for the dog and hoped he could train the dog without having to put him on a leash. “Come on then. Let’s go and find you a mummy.”

Archer glanced to Maggie, who had her back to him, wishing he hadn’t said the words aloud. Hoping she hadn’t heard, he left the kitchen and went up the stairs to the main foyer. He strode across the floor to the study and turned the round door handle.

It was locked.

“What’s the point of putting a tide timetable in a locked room?” Archer said to the solid wooden door.

Archer turned to the sound of a bunch of keys jingling. Bailey was striding towards him, searching the dozens of keys on a large keyring.

“It had become a habit to keep this room locked since your grandfather passed away. No one comes to the house anymore, but it was his sanctuary when he was home and his father’s private room. Let me open the door, and I’ll get you a key.”

“Thanks, Bailey,” Archer said, stepping aside for the man to open the door.

“Take this key, and I’ll pick up the extra downstairs. Was there anything you were looking for in particular?”

“The tide times. Maggie said a copy was in here on the notice board.”

“It is. You must think me old-fashioned to keep these habits alive for people who have long passed.”

“The opposite, in fact, Bailey. I find comfort in the old ways. It’s how we all grew up. Good reminders of our childhood. We all spent so much time in here when dad was home and with grandad when dad wasn’t home.”

Archer saw Bailey get misty-eyed. “I’ll leave you to it, Sir,” Bailey said, turning on his heel and striding away.

Archer pocketed the key and looked down at Teddy, giving him a stern look. “Best behaviour, okay?”

Teddy yapped.

As soon as Archer walked into the room, Teddy scampered in. The puppy jumped up and kept missing the edge of the battered leather sofa. Teddy gave big eyes to Archer with a soft whine and then back to the couch.

“How about the chair?” Archer asked the dog.

Archer pulled down the old brown blanket thrown over the back to the large armchair in matching battered leather and arranged it on the seat. He then picked up Teddy and placed him on the blanket. After a few twirls, the puppy sat down with his head on his paws, watching Archer move about the room.

“We’re not staying long,” Archer told Teddy over his shoulder, “so don’t get comfy.”

Going straight for the bookcase, Archer picked out one of his childhood story books. The yellowed pages of Roald Dahl’s novel smelled familiar as if he was still sitting on his mother’s lap in the armchair Teddy was lounging. Archer flashed back for a few seconds, feeling his brother movingabout in his mum’s belly while she read him a story. It was a couple of days later that Luke came into the world. Snapping the book shut, he placed it back in its place on the shelf and strolled the shelves noting that nothing much had changed in the room since he was last in there six years ago. Then, clearing his throat to rid him of the sadness of attending his grandfather’s funeral less than a year after his father’s funeral, Archer untacked the tide timetable.

An idea formed, and he smiled.

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