About to pour her herbal concoction into their cups, her hand froze as a piercing scream echoed through Doireann Vale.
With Mrs. Trimmer right behind her, Hecate rushed up the kitchen stairs to see Dal running down from upstairs. They all ended up in the hall looking at Winnie Trimmer, who was holding a small whisk broom and looking white as a sheet.
“A-a-a-man, Miss. In there…” She pointed to the room Hecate used as an office. It was small, but convenient. And it had a French door out onto the back garden.
The door was open when Dal looked in, with Hecate right behind him. Footsteps showed in the soggy ground outside. This wasn’t anything imaginary; the intruder had been quite real.
“Are you all right, Winnie? Did he hurt you?” Hecate touched the young woman’s arm.
“No, Miss. I was goin’ in t’do some dustin’, an’ I turns round an’ there ‘e is. All covered in dark clothes, an’ a scarf round his face. I screamed an’ ‘e ran out the door.”
“I will track him down, Miss Hecate,” snarled Dal.
“No, no don’t,” she urged. “Look it’s starting to rain again. Any tracks he leaves will vanish within a few minutes.” And the downpour that followed her words did indeed start the process right before their eyes. “It would be a waste of your time. Shut the door and let’s see if we can uncover his purpose.” She touched his arm. “Please, Dal. Let him go.”
“A sound piece of advice.”
The voice from the door made them all jump. It was Mr. Finn, quite fetching in his improvised garments.
“My quilt looks well on you, sir,” commented Hecate.
“Er…yes. Well, needs must, you know.” He lifted his chin and tugged the quilt around his body more tightly. “What’s a man to do when a woman screams?”
“Since you’re not only awake but have managed to come downstairs, please sit here.” She pointed at the couch. “Winnie, could you light the fire? We’ll see if Mr. Finn might like a change of surroundings for a little while, but he must keep warm.”
“I will fetch an appropriate garment for him, Miss Hecate.” Dal moved from the now-closed glass door.
“And I’ll bring that tea up ‘ere, Miss.” The cook hurried off.
Hecate smiled. Her little household brigade proved itself to be flawless and in very little need of direction.
Finn caught her eye. And he smiled too, a warm and appealing flash of blue eyes and white teeth from his pale face.
He was, she realised, a very attractive man. Very attractive indeed.
