37

“The fire started up there.” Evan pointed to a door that opened to nothing on the third floor. “That’s what you were about to step through when I stopped you. The fire began on the first anniversary of the flooding of the villages.”

“What used to be here?” Lou moved a step closer to him.

“The kitchen was on the ground floor—about right where we’re currently standing. Above that was the library, the dining room, and a few guest rooms. The entire top floor was the nursery, so the nanny had her quarters there. As did the nursery maids.”

“Who died?”

Evan sucked in a deep breath. He glanced around the ruins they stood amongst and shuddered. “The housekeeper was checking the house after the fog rolled in. The baby was in the nursery along with the nanny and Mabel, my great grandmother.”

“Was the baby your grandfather?”

Evan nodded. “Yeah. Anyway, the housekeeper headed to the west wing. She got to the outer doorway, the one I keep locked. She could smell smoke. She opened the door. She said the smoke floated along the floor of the hallway like mist at first, swirling around her feet.”

Lou wrapped her arms around herself.

“She could see a glow around the edge of the far door and could hear screams. She opened the door to find an inferno. A figure stood in the centre of the room, flames all around her. My great grandfather, alerted by the gardener, stopped her from going in. Instead he ran inside to save his wife and the baby. He got the baby out, handed him to the housekeeper and told her to run outside, to get the baby to safety. He went back in for his wife.”

Evan led her to another part of the ruin. “The floor collapsed under him. He was found here, his wife in his arms. They were both badly burned. She died later that night; he died a year or so later.”

“That’s so sad.” Lou rubbed her sleeve over her eyes. “Do they know how the fire started?”

“No. It could have been a candle left alight in the library. Or it could have been a careless maid in the nursery. I guess we’ll never know. Anyway, apparently my great grandfather never forgave himself.”

“Why were the caves so important to your grandfather if he never went there with his parents?”

“I don’t know. I want to go and find out, but…” He paused, gazing up at the sky. “We should go inside. It’s getting dark, and the fog will come down with it.”

Lou followed him inside. “This doesn’t make sense.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I saw it. I was there. I—”

“It happens. That’s why it’s locked; aside from the fact it’s dangerous. I keep meaning to have the ruins demolished and rebuilt, but what with one thing and another...”

Lou stopped. “What’s up there?”

Heart pounding, Evan turned to study her. “Where?”

Lou pointed. “There. Tell me I’m not seeing things again.”

Evan followed her finger and swallowed. He hadn’t wanted to explain this at all. Not now, not ever. Light blazed from the only remaining part of the west wing. “No, you’re not seeing things.”

“Is there someone there?”

“Yeah. Lilly.”

“Let me guess.” Her gaze went from worried to angry. “You’re married. She’s your wife, but she’s quite insane, so you keep her locked up in the tower.”

“You read way too many romance novels,” Evan retorted. “No. I’m not and never have been married.”

“Well, what’s up there then?”

He sighed, his heart heavy. “OK, I’ll show you.” He walked slowly into the house, Lou beside him.

Jack met them in the kitchen. “Where did you get to?” he demanded.

“Me?” Lou retorted. “You said you’d stay right outside the room. I was talking to you the whole time. Then when I came out, you’d vanished.”

“I vanished?” Jack scowled. “You went quiet and when I broke the door down, you weren’t there. The only person I found was Zach. He’s still searching the grounds looking for you.”

“Can’t we do this later?” Lou tapped her foot. “Evan is introducing me to the other woman in his life.”

Jack turned on Evan in disbelief. “What?”

Evan sighed. “Let me let Zach know we’ve found Lou, and then I’ll show you.” He sent a quick text, then put his phone away. “This way.” He led them up the familiar back staircase to enter the remaining part of the west wing. “This is the only safe way up here now. Lilly’s in here.” He tapped on the door. “It’s Evan.”

The door opened. Dr. Carter stood there, Ira by her side. “I was about to send Mr. Miles to find you.”

His heart sank further and his whole body went cold and numb.

The village vet smiled at him. “No, it’s nothing like that. Come and see for yourself.”

Evan took a step into the room then paused. “Lou, this is Maggie Carter. She’s the village vet—multitalented as she does large and small animals. Maggie, this is Dr. Fitzgerald. I’m sure you’ve heard all about her by now from the news. Ignore it, none of it is true.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Lou muttered.

“OK, well most of it isn’t true. And this is her father.” Evan’s gaze flicked past Maggie. “Lilly?”

Three short barks came from the other side of the room. A golden and white collie pushed herself up to stand, tail wagging. No longer wearing a bandage, she stood tentatively on four legs, as if testing her own weight.

He strode over. “Hey, Lilly. How are you doing, girl?”

Lilly sniffed and licked his fingers, barking loudly.

Emotion welled up within him. He wasn’t sure how he felt. “You look so much better. Yes, you do.” He glanced up at Lou. “I thought I’d lost her. She got her leg caught in a nasty trap in the woods—a poacher’s trap that had been there for almost half a century…” He broke off, amazed as Lou turned and ran from the room, tears running down her face. “What did I say?”

Jack’s face contorted. “Excuse me.” He followed Lou from the room.

Evan refused to let his concerns cloud his joy at Lilly’s recovery. He buried his face in the dog’s fur, making a fuss over her. “Well, I’m pleased to see you. Yes, I am. Does this mean you’re up for a w-a-l-k in the morning, huh? Only a short one, maybe around the top garden?” He glanced up at the vet. “You’re a miracle worker. How can I ever thank you?”

Maggie Carter chuckled. “Pay the bill—that’s all the thanks I need.” She packed up her things. “Lilly should be back to normal in a couple of days, but she’s to take it easy. She can go outside tomorrow.” She paused. “But, yes, she can leave the room now and have free reign in the house. But no more running off unsupervised.”

Evan beamed. “You hear that? Lilly is a free dog again. Shall we go? Shall we?”

Ira laughed from the doorway. “If only your colleagues could hear you now. They’d tease you for being childish.”

Evan poked his tongue out. “That’s me being childish. Otherwise, I’m talking dog. Can you see Maggie out, please?” He pushed upright and tapped his thigh. “Come on then, girl. Let’s go find the others.”

The corridor was empty, so Evan headed down to the lounge, hoping to find Lou there. What had upset her so? Was it him? Had he done or said something while explaining about the west wing? Surely, she wasn’t jealous of a dog?

Jack stood by the window, coffee cup in his hand, watching the swirling fog from between a gap in the curtains.

“Where’s Lou?”

“She’s gone to bed. She’s tired. She took the notebook with her rather than leave it in your safe down here.”

Evan could hardly bear to ask, but he had to know. “Did I upset her?”

“When she was a teenager, she had a dog very much like yours. He died saving her life. It took her a long time to get over it.”

“Oh.” His stomach dropped as if it contained rocks.

“She’ll be fine. She needed time on her own. I’m calling it a night as well. I ought to check in with the wife and find out how the ballet recital went.” He paused. “Just so you know, I’m sleeping with the connecting door between my room and Lou’s open tonight.”

He balked. “Don’t you trust me?”

“I’m keeping an eye on her, like you asked. Besides, it’s that or her bedroom floor.”

Evan grunted. “Makes sense, I suppose. To be honest, if you weren’t here, I’d probably do the same thing. I need to ring the dam and get an update. See you in the morning. ’Night.”

“’Night.”

He gazed at Lilly as Jack headed out. “Just you and me then.”

Lilly barked and flopped in her bed under his desk. She rested her nose on her paws, sighed contentedly, and closed her eyes.

“Then there was one.” Evan picked up the phone and called the dam but only heard the engaged tone. He set the receiver down. He had to go and find Lou, make sure she was all right. It didn’t matter that Jack would be in the adjoining room with the door open. He wouldn’t be able to rest without seeing her; he needed to explain, needed to make sure she really was all right. He padded upstairs and paused outside Lou’s bedroom door. He glanced at Zach who stood in the hallway. “Call it a night. We’ll make sure she’s fine from here.”

Zach nodded. “Good night, sir.”

Evan leaned towards the bedroom door. Sobs came from the other side.

He knocked. “Lou?”

“One minute.” Even if he hadn’t heard the sobs, her emotion-laden voice told him something was very wrong.

After a brief pause, she opened the door. Her eyes were red and brimming with unshed tears, her cheeks wet, and shoulders shaking.

“Come here.” He folded his arms around her distraught figure.

Lou clung to him as she struggled to regain her composure.

He didn’t let go, but murmured quietly to her. He glanced up at Jack standing in the doorway between the two rooms and mouthed, “I’ve got this.”

Jack nodded and pulled the door, leaving it open a tad.

Evan could hear him talking on the phone again.

Finally Lou pulled back. She accepted the clean hanky he offered. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, love. Jack told me you had a dog like Lilly once. Do you want some cocoa? We could go sit in the kitchen. Eat all the biscuits Mrs Jefferson made yesterday.” He tilted his head.

He was rewarded with a faint smile.

“OK.” He paused. “And, yes, I‘ll make it myself.”