‘He’s definitely leaving,’ agreed Theo.
They reached the edge of the picket fence just as Horace stepped back from Pete and adjusted his bag over his shoulder.
Pete spotted them first. His gaze flicked from Theo to Pippa and then back again, and his eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise.
‘What a lovely morning,’ Theo called out cheerfully.
Horace looked in their direction and smiled. ‘It is a lovely morning,’ he said, before turning back towards Pete and shaking his hand. Pete held it firmly, giving his friend a steady nod.
‘Are you leaving?’ asked Pippa, as they approached the side of the taxi.
‘Yes,’ Horace replied, turning towards Theo and stretching out his hand. ‘It was good to finally meet you, and I’m sorry you’ve been splashed all over the news because of me. It wasn’t my intention. You are a credit to your grandfather.’
‘Thank you. We were hoping to speak to you before you went.’
‘I’m sorry, I have a train to catch.’ Horace checked his watch.
Theo gave a sideward glance towards Pippa, then took his chance. ‘What was the point of the interview, Horace, after all this time?’
Horace glanced out towards the puffins waddling on the clifftop. ‘Come back to my roots, enjoy the stage one last time, talk about clocks to an audience that has followed me for years.’ Horace paused, the bag strap still clutched in his hand, and the expression on his face shifted. ‘I need to go. Thank you, Pete, for letting me stay.’
‘We’ll talk soon,’ Pete replied, opening the back door of the taxi.
Pippa could see the look on Theo’s face, and she knew they only had a split second to stop Horace from leaving.
‘I’ve read Andrew Wetherby’s book,’ Theo declared, looking directly at Horace. ‘There’s a lot of things that don’t make any sense, and I’d love some clarity, if you’re willing to talk about it.’
‘Andrew Wetherby’s book was a slur on us because he was caught stealing from us. He was prosecuted and would do anything to save his own reputation.’ He narrowed his eyes at Theo. ‘My lawyers managed to stop distribution of that book. How have you managed to get a copy?’
Theo glanced towards Pippa, who didn’t hesitate. ‘I found a copy in The Story Shop, but it didn’t belong to them. It wasn’t on their records. So someone left it there to be found and…’ She stopped, the thought clicking into place as the most likely person came to mind– Sebastian.
‘Sebastian feels passionately that Andrew Wetherby was framed,’ Theo continued.
‘The guy who tried to sabotage my interview? He was just after his fifteen minutes of fame.’
‘Believe me, I’m not fan of Sebastian, but?—’
Theo was interrupted by the taxi driver murmuring through his open window, ‘I have another fare waiting for me. Would you like me to arrange another cab for you?’
‘I’m coming,’ replied Horace.
Theo was clearly thinking fast on his feet. ‘Sebastian wasn’t after his fifteen minutes of fame; he’s after the truth. We know about the secret commission, we know about?—’
Horace’s face began to turn purple. He looked angry. ‘I’m not listening to this.’
Pippa felt her heart begin to race and she panicked. Her gut feeling was telling her to stop him from going even if he was an untouchable icon in her world. In a moment of madness, she blocked the door of the taxi.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’ Horace was not impressed.
Pippa felt her stomach tighten as she looked at him. This wasn’t how she’d imagined any of this would go.
‘Sebastian Worthington-Frost,’ she said carefully, ‘the man you think is just after attention… he’s Andrew Wetherby’s grandson.’
Horace stopped completely.
His eyes widened, and the shock on his face was instant. He didn’t say a word. He just stared at her, and for a moment Pippa had no idea what he might do next. Her heart thudded a little faster as she waited to see. He looked at the open passenger door of the taxi. Then at Theo. Then back at her.
For a second, Pippa thought he might just go. He didn’t need to give them any explanation.
