‘Where are we going to put our luggage?’ asked Meg. ‘It’s only big enough for the three of us.’
‘I’ll put your bags in one of the stables,’ said Vanessa. ‘You can pick them up when you bring thecar back. I’ll try and be here. I want to find out how you managed.’ Vanessa looked worried suddenly. ‘You won’t crash the car, will you? It’s my cousin’s pride and joy!’
‘Of course not,’ said Alexandra with dignity. ‘I’m a very careful driver and there won’t be much traffic.’
‘Supposing we get stopped by the police?’ said Meg.
‘Alexandra will talk her way out of it,’ said Lizzie, who was anxious to get going. ‘It’ll be all right, I’m sure.’
‘OK,’ said Meg. ‘Do you mind if I go in the front, Lizzie? I get a bit car sick.’
‘No, no, that’s fine. I’d rather hide in the back. I’m not a natural rule-breaker.’ Lizzie smiled and then turned to Vanessa. ‘Can I ask you the most terrific favour?’
‘Of course. What is it?’
Lizzie produced her letter, now rather crumpled. ‘Can you give this to Hugo for me? It’s only a letter thanking him for rescuing me. But I don’t want Electra knowing about it. She’ll be vile to him about it, I know. And he risked his life to save me, and it wouldn’t be fair.’
Just then there was the sound of a window being opened, making Lizzie jump. ‘Do you think we could go?’
‘Yes, of course,’ said Alexandra. ‘Jump in.’
Once her passengers were installed, Alexandra made the car inch forward. ‘It would be lovely to shoot off in a shower of gravel,’ she said, ‘but we are sneaking away. We don’t want to make a noise.’
‘No, we really don’t,’ said Lizzie. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to get away from anywhere as much in my entire life!’
Alexandra continued to go extremely slowly. Lizzie, huddled in the back, convinced they would be spotted from the house and instantly arrested, kept her eyes shut. She would open them again when they were safely out on the road.
‘I know you’re being careful, Alexandra,’ she said when they seemed to have covered about a yard. ‘And I appreciate that, but could you go a little bit faster?’
‘I will in a minute,’ said Alexandra. ‘I’ve just realised how different this car is from David’s Citroën. I’m just trying to get a hang of the gears. Agh!’
There was a huge sound of metal on metal which made everyone wince. ‘Sorry,’ said Alexandra. ‘Second gear wasn’t where I was looking for it.’
As neither Lizzie nor Meg understood what she was talking about, they didn’t comment. Lizzie, in the back, tried to hunch down into an even smaller shape, convinced discovery was imminent.
Lizzie kept her eyes shut, wondering if her system could cope with two near-death experiences within twenty-four hours when the car bounded forward.
‘Sorry again! Kangaroo petrol!’ said Alexandra, not sounding all that apologetic. ‘That’s what David calls it. But don’t worry, I’m getting the hang of things. We’ll soon be home.’
‘Just off the premises would be a good start,’ muttered Lizzie, careful that Alexandra didn’t hear her. She knew she was being neurotic.
But at last, the crashing and bouncing ceased, they reached the end of the drive and were out on the open road. Lizzie uncurled and began to look around her. It was cold without the roof on the car, but the feeling of the wind on her face was exhilarating. It was spring, the leaves were coming out and bluebells could be seen like lakes in the woodland. Although in some ways she felt her world had ended, she still felt herself uplifted by the beauty of the morning.
Her feelings were so mixed about what had happened with Hugo, she didn’t know if she felt truly awful about having made love to him or deliriously happy. It was a dreadful thing to have done. But it had made her so happy at the time. It had felt right, being in his arms, feeling his skin against her skin; it had been thrilling and comforting at the same time. No, she refused to regret it. It would never happen again but she was happy that it had happened once. Even though the fallout might be disastrous.
‘Does anyone remember if we came in from the left or the right here?’ Alexandra asked, bringingthe little car to a graceful halt at a junction. She’d got the hang of the mechanics now and was obviously enjoying driving a sports car.
‘No, I’m afraid not,’ said Meg.
‘Nor me,’ said Lizzie from the back.
Fortunately, Vanessa’s cousin had an AA map in his car. ‘Meg, can you map-read for me?’ Alexandra said, having studied the map for a while.
Meg shook her head. ‘Sorry. I’m OK if I look out of the window and sit in front, but if I even try and look down …’
‘It’s all right,’ said Lizzie. ‘I’ll do it. Hand me the map.’
After that, navigating took up all Lizzie’s concentration. She knew she had packed all sorts of emotions away to be examined later, but now she had to focus on tiny road numbers and signposts.
