Page 13 of The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge
‘It’s waiting for its next meal to come by. Then it’ll pounce.’
They watched, but the heron did not oblige and Stef’s attention was caught by a more distant movement on the water. ‘What are those over there?’
‘Teal with the striped heads. And the geese are greylags,’ Nancy said. ‘Try using those things, if you want.’
Stef reached for the pair of binoculars on the windowsill and raised them to her eyes. The birds sprang into closeness. The teal were pretty ducks, dabbling for food. Twogeese with orange beaks floated motionless, like children’s bath toys.
When she lowered the binoculars, she saw that the cat was struggling in Nancy’s arms. Nancy leaned down, crooning, to release it. It went to a dish on the floor next to a fridge, crouched to eat a few mouthfuls, purring, then sauntered out to the hall.
‘Poor thing. Tabitha was old when I was given her a couple of years ago. I only kept her because her hunting days are well over.’
‘I was going to say, a bird reserve is not a great place to keep a cat!’
‘I’m given all sorts of animals. Come and see.’ All talk of Stef leaving appeared to be forgotten.
Nancy shoved open the wooden back door, which was swollen with damp, and Stef followed her careful progress out along a flagged path to one of the stone-built outhouses that adjoined the cottage. Inside, it smelled musty, but the room was dry and lined with cages. Several long, low ones on the floor contained hedgehogs. Small birds fluttered and tweeted in an aviary. A number of smaller cages and tanks, some full of greenery, stood on shelves. Stef, touched to see her tender care, watched as Nancy moved from cage to cage, topping up a hedgehog’s water bottle, sprinkling sunflower seeds into a bird feeder attached to the outside of the aviary, occasionally offering Stef useful comments.
‘The chiffchaff I found injured on the path. An owl had dropped it maybe. Oh, there’s a chrysalis in there. I’m hoping something will emerge, but no sign so far. People from thevillage are always bringing me hedgehogs. This one had a strimmer injury – very common at this time of year – but it’s recovering well.’
They left the outhouse and Stef cried ‘Oh!’ as she saw the heron spread its great wings and take off awkwardly. It flew over the water towards the far shore.
‘We disturbed it, I fear,’ Nancy said. Stef saw her smile and watched her walk down to the fence, where she stood to look out over the Broad. She glanced about, thinking how close the cottage was to the water. The ground was raised, but still…
‘Has there ever been a flood here?’
‘Nothing serious. The occasional high spring tide has had its effects on the Broad, but the levels have never given me more than wet feet.’ Nancy was more relaxed now than she’d been over coffee, less wary.
Stef glanced at her watch and saw that it was half-past twelve.
‘I should go.’
‘Of course. Is it lunchtime? I lose track. I ought to get on. Aaron’s coming back later. He’s staying with friends locally, but he’s here for supper.’
‘That’s nice.’ Stef felt a stab of discomfort at the mention of his name. ‘What about the little girl?’
‘He took her back to her mother last night.’ Something about the way this was phrased made Stef wonder if Livy’s parents were together, but it would be rude to ask. Instead, she said, ‘School today, I suppose. Is she an only child?’
‘Yes. Aaron’s my only grandchild and Livy’s my only great-grandchild.’
‘I should think she loves it here.’
‘Oh yes, coming here is a great adventure for her.’
Nancy’s goodbye was friendly and cheerful. ‘I enjoyed our conversation. I stand by what I said about your book, but maybe I’ll see you again sometime. You know where I am.’
‘Thank you. I’d like that.’ They smiled at one another. Nancy might not wish to be interviewed, but Stef felt that they might be friends.
‘Do you know the way back?’
‘I think so.’
She walked back up to the main path, then followed signs back to the visitors’ centre. Nancy intrigued her. It was wonderful how she lived out in the wilds, leading a tranquil life apparently, but what was it that made her retreat from the world? There was something vulnerable and defensive about her, as though, like the wildlife she rescued, she was nursing a deep wound. Something or someone had hurt her.
The visitors’ centre was deserted apart from Jackie behind the counter and an elderly couple browsing the bookshelves.
‘Did you see the school party on the reserve?’ Jackie asked her.
‘No.’ Stef realized she’d forgotten about them. ‘They’re out there somewhere, are they?’
