Free Bulbury Knap by Sheila Spencer-Smith Page A

path to the lake. The moonlight on the water was magical.
    The figure, standing motionless on the other side might have startled her if she hadn’t known at once that it was Michael. His tall frame was leaning against the solid trunk of an oak tree. She gazed across at him, thinking he hadn’t seen her. Somehow the light on the water and the scented dusk seemed a fitting background for the person who shared her deep concerns about the place and who understood exactly how things were.
    Oh yes, he had seen her. He raised his hand in greeting and called across the water to her in his deep voice. ‘Hi there, Kathryn. I thought you were a wood nymph appearing so suddenly.’
    She watched as he walked round to join her, bending low every now and again to avoid overhanging branches. In the distance a dog barked.
    â€˜I needed to come out,’ she said breathlessly. ‘It’s so beautiful here. I had to think.’
    He regarded her in silence for a moment. ‘When does he come?’ he asked at last.
    â€˜He’s in Harrogate,’ she said. ‘He’ll leave tomorrow morning, as soon as he can.’
    â€˜Early evening then?’
    She nodded, imagining Andrew’s arrival. She saw him drive into the yard, ram on the handbrake as he caught sight of the open door of the cottage with Zillah leaning against the door frame so obviously at home. ‘There’s bound to be a fuss,’ she said.
    She was aware of a slight movement from Michael and knew that he frowned. ‘Sir Edwin will stand firm about your friend,’ he said. ‘He’s stronger than you think.’
    â€˜Mentally perhaps,’ she agreed. ‘But not physically. And Andrew in a temper is not a pretty sight.’
    Michael gave a deep-throated laugh and to her surprise she found herself joining in. ‘It’s not funny,’ she gasped.
    â€˜There’s nothing we can do about it, you and I,’ he pointed out, the amusement still in his voice. ‘Except prevent them coming face to face until the first flush of anger is past. And we’re not even sure that it will come to that.’
    This was more than Kathryn dared hope even though Michael sounded almost as if he believed it. ‘I’ll explain the situation to Zillah first thing tomorrow and ask her to lie low,’ she said. In normal circumstances her friend would relish a fight. No way would Zillah skulk away indoors hiding from anyone. But, more subdued because of what had happened to her studio , she might just listen to her. It was worth a try.
    â€˜There’s not much that Andrew can do, you know,’ Michael said. He seemed to hesitate for a moment as if he wished to say more. The silence was disturbing.
    â€˜He can make life very uncomfortable for his uncle and aunt,’ she murmured, conscious of the man at her side as she had never been before.
    â€˜As long as he doesn’t try to stop the next Garden Club visit,’ Michael said.
    â€˜Three days’ time,’ she murmured. ‘Sir Edwin is buoyed up about it already.’
    â€˜A club from Somerset,’ Michael said. ‘They come every year.’
    There was nothing more to be said about it really. They would have to wait and see what happened. She raised her face, aware of the silence around them and trying to gain some comfort from it.
    Michael took a step towards her and then she was in his arms, his lips pressing so hard on hers she could hardly breathe.
    For a stunning moment she relaxed against him. Then, realising what was happening she broke free with a gasp. ‘No, no, please. I can’t … ’ She saw Nick’s face in front of her, saw his features harden. Thinking of him had broken the moment.
    She looked at her hands and found they were trembling.
    Michael was her friend, her confidante, the only person here at Bulbury Knap who understood how important it was to her to make things possible for her mother to take