Chapter 75

Emma was being pulled along by David, in partial shock at what she had just witnessed. Her thoughts were confused. David was telling her to watch where she was going. How could she when she did not know where they were walking and, she was uncertain whether she wanted to go wherever she was being led.

It seemed futile to resist. David had over-powered Archie and the women in the underground room were reliant on David coming back to them. All she could do was take in the proceedings that she was unwillingly a part of, to allow her to be in the best possible position for whatever lay ahead.

David had picked up the pace and was virtually dragging her along. In order to avoid a scene, his voice was low and cold, but reminded Emma that she was directly influencing the welfare of the Woodcutter’s wife and daughter, and of Archie. David reminded Emma that Archie needed medical help but he would only receive what he needed if she hurried up and did exactly what he said.

Skirting the university buildings, David and Emma passed by the Student Union, the library and one of the lecture halls. As the couple walked past the library, Emma willed there to be students looking out of the windows who might notice that she was walking with this man against her will. There were normally students looking out of the windows, straying from their studying. It was early but why were there not any students gazing in their direction today? Sod’s law, she decided. Opportunity one was gone.

They were now walking on the cobbled pavements of Old Portsmouth and about to pass a couple of the oldest pubs in the town. The Duke of Nelson was flying its colourful flag, enticing passers-by into its restful interior. The flag provided a marked contrast to the black and white of the exterior dark wooden beams with the whitewashed plasterwork in between. There were more people about and David whispered a word of caution to Emma, “If you say anything,” he muttered, “they will be hurt.”

Emma refrained from making a show of her predicament. She did not know what to do. She felt like a rabbit in the headlights. Keep thinking, Emma told herself. There had to be a way round her current situation. Nothing was obvious so, for the moment, she would have to continue being an unwilling pawn for a while longer.

The Cathedral loomed ahead and Emma was surprised when David drew Emma closely to him. “Now Emma, you are going to follow me and pretend to be a part of a wonderful and loving Christian couple.” He giggled at Emma’s look of pain and kissed her tenderly on the side of the cheek.

As they approached the Cathedral side path he clasped her hand more tightly. The daffodils were coming out in the manicured lawned areas on either side of the walkway, with their strong yellow buds forcing themselves out of the tall green shoots. Emma and David arrived at the body of the Cathedral itself. David opened the side door which led directly into the main nave and stepped to one side for Emma to walk through.

David walked Emma up the wide stone staircase situated to the side of the body of the Cathedral, close to the main entrance. They turned an immediate left at the top of the stairs and went slowly past the organ. The organist was due to be stroking the ivory keys of the fine instrument in the next thirty minutes and David did not want to disturb him as he was going through his music books. David softly pushed open the small, wooden door that led to the ringing chamber, and let Emma climb up the small stone staircase in front of him.