Page 59 of Last Letter Home
‘Robyn? Possibly. I don’t know that she likes me asking questions.’ Briony was hesitant, remembering the sense she’d had that Robyn was holding back. Was it simply some matter that she wished to remain private, or was she shielding someone? It was impossible to say.
‘Just go gently, Briony. Explain it’s for your own peace of mind. Tell her about Italy, if you like. About Mariella and how you were given Paul’s letters.’
‘I promised Mariella that I’d try to find out what happened to the soldiers at the villa, and to Sarah.’
‘It is all linked, isn’t it?’ Luke said carefully. ‘Like Aruna said. What was it . . . ?’
Briony waited, looking at him enquiringly and, as she did so, some light dawned in his expression.
‘What did she say?’ she asked, anxious, but he shook his head.
‘Something about unfinished business. She didn’t like the Villa Teresa at all. Told me later that while we’d been there, when she was waiting outside, a man arrived in a flash car and spoke to her in Italian. He was pretty angry. She thought he wanted to know what she was doing there and was careful not to say she was waiting for us. She was worried he might have come storming in after us, that he might be violent.’
‘She didn’t say anything about this to me!’ Briony felt surprised and not a little let down. Why hadn’t Aruna mentioned any of this?
‘Didn’t she? I don’t know why not. Perhaps she forgot or didn’t want to scare you.’ There was distance in Luke’s tone, as though for an instant he’d forgotten she was there beside him in the car. They came to where the road curved, then the familiar descent through the tunnel of greenery, but as Briony slowed down, searching for the great gateway to appear to their left, the gloomy lane filled with blue light.
‘What the . . . ?’ Luke said as she braked to allow the ambulance to pass in front of them and under the arch. They watched it speed silently up the drive to the Hall, its light flashing, and stop outside the entrance. By the time Briony had parked, the paramedics had gone in.
She was alarmed. ‘Perhaps we can help.’
They hurried across, and Briony tiptoed up the steps of the Hall and peeped into the gloom. There was no one on reception, but from beyond, along the corridor, came sounds of activity. She retreated to where Luke was waiting outside.
‘It’s Robyn, I think,’ she said in a sober tone. She wanted to stay, to find out what had happened.
‘We’d better go,’ Luke said sternly. ‘I’m sure she’s being looked after. We don’t want to get in the way.’
Just then her attention was drawn by a movement in the darkness within and soft footsteps on the carpet. ‘Kemi,’ Briony cried, seeing her appear, head bowed, shoulders hunched. ‘What’s happened? Is Mrs Clare all right?’
When Kemi looked up, her eyes were bright with unshed tears. ‘I found her lying on the floor,’ she whispered. ‘It’s like she’s had a stroke or something. The dog was barking in a funny way so I got the spare key and . . . They’re taking her to hospital. I’ve got to call her son.’
‘Can we do anything?’ Briony said, but Kemi shook her head.
‘Avril’s just come. She’s packing a case for her.’
‘Briony,’ Luke whispered, touching her arm. ‘I think we should go.’
Before she could reply there was the sound of commotion from along the corridor, and they stood back as two uniformed paramedics wheeled a stretcher out into the hallway then over the threshold. On it, swathed in blankets, lay the narrow figure of Robyn Clare. Her eyes were open, but clouded with confusion. Briony followed and looked down at her from the top of the steps.
There were a short few seconds while the stretcher was tipped at an angle to fit it into the ambulance and Briony and Mrs Clare locked glances. Alarm leaped into the older lady’s eyes and her lips moved in a soundless appeal. Then the stretcher slid forward and the contact was broken. Avril and the suitcase were handed in after and the doors closed tight.
Briony, Luke and Kemi stood forlornly in a line as the ambulance set off down the drive, then Briony insisted on staying while Kemi rang Robyn’s son. She was shaking when she finished the call, but told Briony that Lewis Clare was coming down straight away.
From the muffled recesses of the house, a dog began to howl, a ghastly, mournful sound. ‘Poor old Lulu,’ Briony said. ‘I’ll take her if you like.’
‘If you could for now, that would be great. I suppose I ought to stay here.’
‘Will you be all right?’ Luke asked her and Briony murmured that she could come back to Westbury Lodge with them, if she wanted. Kemi was still so young, though she had managed the emergency splendidly.
The girl looked uncertain. ‘I’ll call my mum. And Greg, to tell him what’s happened. I’ll be fine. Come on, let’s find Lulu.’
Towing the animal, which puffed and snorted, Luke put his arm through Briony’s and steered her down the path to the cottage. Her distress was apparent as she fumbled for the key. He took it from her and got them indoors and he bid her sit while he made tea quickly and efficiently. Then he sat down opposite her at the kitchen table, forearms folded, shooting her anxious glances. Lulu gazed up at them from the floor, tongue hanging loose and panting.
‘Poor lady,’ Briony sighed, circling the rim of the mug with her finger. ‘I hope she’ll be all right.’
‘I’m sure someone will tell us and at least her son will be with her. I think you’ve done all you can. When does this dog eat, do you think?’ A plastic carrier bag containing Lulu’s pink bowl and a couple of exotic-looking food sachets lay on the floor.
‘She seems hungry now. Are you hungry, Lulu?’ Lulu obligingly licked her lips and appeared interested as Briony bustled about, but when she set the food bowl on the floor, Lulu simply sniffed at it and turned her back.
