‘Consider it done,’ he cut in. ‘I’m happy to play the part of knight in shining armour.’
She suspected that was a role to which he could more than live up to if given the chance. ‘We’re here now,’ she said, leaning forward and pointing out of the windscreen. ‘That’s Winter Cottage on the right.’ The thatched roof of the house was hidden by a thick layer of snow.
‘How very aptly named,’ he said as with another crash of gears he slowed his speed and came to a juddering stop in front of the small gate.
She pushed the passenger door open and was instantly met with a blast of icy wind and snow. ‘I’ll be back in a jiffy,’ she said.
‘Shall I come with you?’
‘That’s all right, no need for you to get cold again. You’ll want to turn the car around so we can go in the direction we’ve just come.’
‘Right you are.’
With great care, Romily negotiated the path, which was lost beneath a good six inches of snow, crunching it underfoot with each cautious step of her sturdy gumboots. Before she’d made it to the front door it opened and Allegra stood there in her coat. ‘I was getting worried,’ she said. ‘I telephoned again and Hope said you’d left ages ago. Oh, what have you done to your head? You have a bump the size of an egg on it.’
‘I’m sorry, I had an accident on the way and a stranger came to my aid.’ Romily pointed back towards the car, which was now in the process of being manoeuvred by its driver. ‘Have you got everything you need?’
Allegra indicated the case at her side. ‘I think so.’
Romily reached for it. ‘Good,’ she said. ‘Lock up and then let me help you to the car. It’s lethal underfoot.’
Despite her instruction, Wing Commander Anthony Abbott had now stepped out of the car and was coming towards them to help. If truth be told, Romily would have been disappointed in him if he hadn’t, and she smiled at him gratefully as between them they assisted Allegra to the car. Once they were under way and Romily had given directions to Island House, she introduced their good Samaritan to Allegra. ‘We’re very much in your debt,’ she then went on to say. ‘You must let us repay you for your kindness.’
‘Not necessary. Not necessary at all. Only too glad to be of service.’
‘At least stop for a hot drink when you drop us off.’
‘I’d like nothing better, but I ought to get back to Larkshall. Another time maybe, if the invitation is open-ended. And if I’m passing this way again.’
‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say that man has taken a fancy to you,’ remarked Allegra after they’d waved him goodbye from the front door of Island House.
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ said Romily. ‘The snow’s addled your mind. He was merely being chivalrous.’
Allegra snorted. ‘Take it from me, he’ll just happen to be passing here again before the week is out.’
Chapter Fifty
It was a bitterly cold afternoon two days later, with the village deep in snow and more on the way, when Hope answered the door to Wing Commander Anthony Abbott.
She had heard a much-embellished account of the wing commander from Allegra, who, knowing how thoroughly it was exasperating Romily, had inflated her description with each telling of the tale to the point that when the unknown man on the doorstep introduced himself, Hope was almost disappointed, having half expected a combination of Rudolph Valentino and Errol Flynn to come calling.
Nonetheless, while Allegra might have exaggerated matters, the man staring back at Hope was certainly not without charm or looks. He was tall and slim, with a head of thick dark hair swept back from a broad forehead. He had an open and engaging face, but it was difficult to pin an exact age on him; his apparent youth seemed to contradict his being a commanding officer. Yet what struck Hope most was his hands; they were artistic hands; with long slender fingers and clean nails cut short.
‘Come in,’ she said. ‘I’m sure my stepmother will be delighted to see you. My cousin also.’ She couldn’t resist adding, ‘Presumably you were just passing?’
He hesitated, but only for a fraction of a second. ‘Well, yes,’ he said, ‘that’s right. I thought I’d call in and check all was well.’
‘How kind of you,’ she said. She took his cap and coat and hung them on the stand, then led him through to the drawing room.
‘Look who’s here, Romily,’ she announced gaily.
Romily turned around from her desk, where she was working at her typewriter, a distracted look on her face.
‘I do hope I’m not intruding,’ their visitor said, ‘only I was just—’
‘He was just passing,’ Hope finished off for him, keeping her expression deadpan as Romily flashed her a look of irritation.
‘I thought I’d call in to see if you’d managed to have your car rescued,’ he said.
