‘It was such a terrible scream,’ Isaac said. ‘I should have done more.’
‘Oh, Isaac, but if you hadn’t caught her, it could have been so much worse. What was she doing climbing up to the hayloft at this time of night?’
‘I gather there was a disagreement with Christabel earlier in the evening and Tasha ran off.’
Eliza had gazed through the fronds of the tree, across the garden and the field to where the moon seemed to hang impossibly low in the summer sky.
‘Why is it,’ she whispered at last, ‘that some people who are mothers don’t deserve to be and others…?’
She gave herself a little shake.
‘It is not the first time that Tasha has disappeared.’
‘But this time she didn’t return. I was taking my usual stroll around the farmyard, albeit a little later than usual. I was checking on the chickens, guiding Scattihen to a safe place when Rita came out to look for Tasha. That is why she was investigating the hayloft.’
‘Tasha was here, Isaac. She arrived soon after you set out for your walk. Jules found her on the doorstep. She was upset, but safe.’
‘I know that now,’ he replied. ‘I think she is going to be in a lot of trouble, Eliza. I fear for her state of mind.’
Eliza was silent for a moment before standing up.
‘I must go to her and to Rita.’
‘I think we should stay here, away from the commotion. It is not our place. There’s nothing we can do.’
‘Maybe not,’ Eliza replied, ‘but I’m still going.’
Isaac sighed.
‘In that case,’ he said, ‘I’ll come with you.’
Which is exactly what she expected him to say.
FIFTEEN
Carrie turned up at ten o’clock the following morning.
‘Jules,’ she said, putting her arms around her. ‘What an awful thing to happen. Are you okay?’
‘Yes, just tired and a bit shaken.’
‘Guy’s grandmother spoke to Alastair first thing and Rita’s okay. They’re operating on her knee later, but thankfully that seems to be the main damage. Everyone’s very grateful for what you did, Jules. Al said you were a beacon of calm.’
Jules sank onto a kitchen chair.
‘I didn’t feel it, but thank goodness she’s going to be all right. I’m partly responsible. She was obviously up there looking for Tasha who was safely ensconced here.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Carrie replied. ‘Rita doesn’t just go up to the hayloft looking for Tasha, she takes herself off up there sometimes to get away from everyone and I don’t blame her. It’s where she and George used to go for a bit of quality time together in their courting days as she herself so delicately put it! Later, when the farm and family began to get a bit too much, she said they’d take a flask of coffee and some homemade cake or sometimes a bottle of wine and go and get everything inperspective. To be honest, it’s surprising she’s not fallen off that ladder before.’
Jules knew Carrie was trying to be kind, but it didn’t make her feel much better.
‘Come on, get dressed and I’ll take you to the beach. You look as if you could do with a gentle walk.’
Carrie took a left turn and steered the car down a narrow road bordered by a clear rippling stream and a neatly mown grassy area dotted with benches. She pressed hard on the brakes as a couple of ducks waddled across in front of them.
‘The Pearl Centre is just a couple of miles in the other direction,’ Carrie said as they reached a junction. ‘We’ll pay a trip before you go. They have some very pretty things.’
‘I can’t afford to treat myself. Gavin took most of my money, remember?’
