‘You read my mind. I was wondering if they needed any help with the party as well.’
We started walking down the grand staircase.
‘I shouldn’t have thought so,’ said Coco, looking at her watch. ‘According to what Dad said, the party organisers should be here any minute now. We’ll probably be better off in the kitchen.’
I followed her into the Great Hall.
‘I didn’t realise the party tonight was such a big deal. I was imagining washing up a few glasses or something.’
She laughed.
‘Dad loves hosting, but he hates doing anything towards it, other than telling the organisers it’s a Bond theme and handing them a guest list.’ We went through the chilly corridors and into the welcoming kitchen. ‘It’s a pretty good way to do it; he gets to enjoy himself without worrying about the details. I suppose you’re used to being on the other side.’
‘Absolutely. Luckily, I enjoy all the behind-the-scenes stuff. Clients can never believe it, but we’re all different.’ I suddenly noticed a small figure curled up on the armchair in the corner of the room. ‘Oh, Theo, hello. How are you doing?’ His reddened eyes slid away from mine, and he seemed to shrink back into the cushions.Oh no, I hadn’t wanted to upset him. Feeling awkward, I changed tack. ‘I can see that Runcible has had a lovely afternoon with you, so thank you for looking after her. She looks very content curled up there with you.’ I was rewarded with a small nod. ‘Has she been out for a wee? We could take her now if you like. I’ve been working all afternoon, and I could do with some air.’
The boy sat silently – had I been too pushy? All the same, my little dog probably could do with going outside, if she hadn’t already. It was Coco who spoke up next, more briskly than I had.
‘Good idea. Come on, Theo, up you get. I’m putting the kettle on, and we can all have a drink when you come back.’ She picked up his coat from where it had been draped on the back of a chair and held it out to him. ‘You’d better put this on, it’s freezing out there.’ Slowly, and still clutching Runcible like a life ring, he uncurled himself and took the coat. Coco smiled. ‘Good boy. Look, Fallon, Alexander’s left his coat here. Put that on rather than going all the way back to the front for yours.’
I took the wool overcoat a little shyly and pulled it on. There was an intimacy to wearing Alexander’s clothes, and I caught a whiff of his aftershave. Refusing to allow myself even a hint of giddiness, I strode towards the back door and opened it, letting in an icy blast of air that soon put paid to any flickers of feeling beyond gratitude that I had a coat at all.
‘Come on, hurry up, you two,’ chivvied Coco. ‘Don’t let all the heat out. I’ll see you in a minute.’
We stepped outside and Theo hesitantly placed Runcible on the ground.
‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘We won’t be out for long. She doesn’t like the cold much, but she’ll be fine for a few minutes, especially if we get moving.’ I started walking. ‘When I take her out for any more than a few minutes in the winter, I put her in little knitted jumpers. She looks so sweet.’
‘Really?’ asked Theo, and I felt a rush of pleasure that I had succeeded in getting him talking.
‘Really. She has a few different ones. Maybe we can take her out tomorrow and she can model one for you.’ He didn’t answer, but turned towards a small pathway which led through some large bushes. I persisted. ‘Of course, she does have a special one for Christmas Day, but we’re saving that. Runcible absolutely loves Christmas. Her favourite thing is playing in the wrapping paper, but she doesn’t like crackers much.’
‘Neither do I,’ said Theo. ‘They make me jump.’
‘Her too. One year I pulled all the snaps out before I put them on the table and everyone was a bit disappointed, but at least she didn’t get upset. I should have got her something to wear tonight – she’d look good in gold sparkles.’
Theo looked up at me and his worried face broke into a brief smile.
‘Or a bowler hat,’ he said. ‘She could totally carry that off.’
‘She could. Are you going to join the party at all?’
He shrugged.
‘Dad said I could come for a bit if I wanted to, but I don’t know. I don’t want to spoil it.’ I was about to ask him why he thought he might, when he stopped by a fence. ‘There’s someone for you to meet,’ he said, then started calling what sounded like ‘Heath, Heath, Heath!’ and banging his hand on the fence. Then, making me jump, a large and very hairy donkey appeared and nuzzled at the boy, evidently pleased to see him.
‘Who’s this?’ I asked, taking a step back and checking to see that Runcible was all right.
‘This is Heathcliff,’ he replied, pulling a carrot out of his pocket and giving it to him. He crunched it up greedily and started looking for another.
‘Is he yours?’
‘Mine and Dad’s and Aunt Constance’s. She’s coming to stay soon too. I like her.’
Much as I wanted to hear about the new addition to the household, I was still intrigued by the donkey.
‘I like the name Heathcliff. Who named him?’
‘Aunt Constance.Wuthering Heightsis her favourite book. He was being badly treated and she rescued him. He can’t live with her, so he’s here and she comes to visit him. And us, I suppose, but mostly him. You can stroke him if you want to, he won’t bite.’ I reached out my hand and touched the donkey’snose. He immediately responded, pushing up into my hand. Encouraged, I stroked one of his long ears.
