Oolong.
Pip was aware there was something wet on his hand.He held it up.It was blood.And it wasn’t his, because the dragon bite had not broken his skin.
“Mam!”he shouted.
Chapter nine
Ormdale
WhenUnaregainedconsciousness,she was on the floor of the muniments room, in a circle of lamplight and worried faces.
Kneeling on the floor beside her were Janushek and Pip, and higher up she could make out the craggy features of their estate manager, Alfred Dugdale, and his wife.
Una felt groggy but strangely calm.She turned her head and saw there was a dark stain on the floor beside her.
“I did need rescuing, after all, Janushek,” she said, with a mouth that felt woolly.
“This blood is not yours, little one,” said Janushek.
“Oh.Ididhit him, then,“ she concluded, amazed.
“There, you see?What did I tell you?”Janushek’s tone was light, but it had a grim edge to it.“Do you have any tightness in your chest?”
Una often felt tightness in her chest, but at the present… She shook her head.
“The reliquary!”she gasped.“Did he take it?”
They all looked at each other.
“You were attacked with chloral,” said Janushek.“We found the bottle.Did you see the person who did it?”
“I didn’tseehim, exactly, but he spoke to me,“ said Una slowly.“It was James Anderson.At least—that’s what he said his name was.I don’t suppose he was.He didn’t care about the quetzalcoatl, and he knew far too much about scones, and didn’t drink cordial.I think he was from Devon.And I think he’d been in Africa, and got hurt there.Perhaps that’s where it all went wrong for him.But I don’t know why he cared about Saint George so much.I don’t suppose he was devout after all, since he did that to me.”
It was all sensible, but it came out in such a way that everyone exchanged worried looks.
“Shall we move her now, gentlemen?”said Mrs Alfred.“I think it is quite safe, and she will be more comfortable elsewhere.”
“But the relic!”Una insisted.“Please!”
“Where is it kept?”Janushek asked.
Una pointed to the box.
“It’s locked,” Janushek said.“Thatis what he was after?“ He looked puzzled.
Una put a hand to her head.Nothing made sense at all.
Janushek slipped an arm under her shoulder.
“Dugdale should carry me,” Una protested, for Janushek was not a tall man.“I am heavier than I look.”
Janushek laughed.“Still telling us all what to do?”
“I’ll carry her,” said Pip, and Una was whisked up in her half brother’s arms.It was surprisingly comforting.
Why hadn’t she told him she cared more for him than she’d ever cared for her own brother?Perhaps she should do it now.But she was very dizzy and not sure if this would be the right thing to say.
“You ought to rest, dear,” said Mrs Alfred, arranging the coverlet over Una.“You ought to stay very quiet until we’ve had the doctor here.”
