The room was busy, bustling, warm. Kate took another sip of her whisky. She was beginning to feel lightheaded. Had none of them heard it? Or had the voice, somehow, come from Greg?
Suddenly she realised that he was standing in front of her. He put out his hand for her glass. Come. Let me take you in to dinner, he said, extending his arm.
She scrambled to her feet. Thank you. He was about her height, broadly built and solid; she could smell his aftershave. With a sudden feeling of shock she realised he was really a very attractive man. Strangely conscious of the firm touch of his hand beneath her elbow she let him escort her to the table, where she found herself seated between him and his father.
If there are ghosts, then there are two of them. Kate was enjoying herself. And they are Roman, she added as Diana laid a dish of paté on the table in front of her. One would be your Marcus Severus Secundus, and the other, the one I think I saw, might have been perhaps his wife, Augusta.
Roger laughed. He dug his knife into the butter and carved himself off an unfashionably large corner. Good lord! How on earth have you come to that conclusion?
Kate turned to Greg. You said Marcus haunted Redall Cottage, she said. I went to the museum and saw the exhibits about him and his wife. That is how I know her name.
Greg grinned. He reached for the butter himself. I think there must have been a beautiful villa here in their day. Its strange. You make him sound almost approachable. I cant say Ive ever been on first name terms with him. I dont think he was at all a pleasant character.
Why do you say that? Kate hadnt taken her eyes off Gregs face, trying to read his expression.
Greg. Diana reproved her son from the end of the table.
Im sorry, Ma, but I think Kate should be warned. She is, in a way, Marcuss guest, after all. And if he and his wife have introduced themselves, it would seem that they are going to seek a closer acquaintance with her.
There was a moments silence.
The dagger belonged to him, Alison put in softly. He used it to kill people.
Kate glanced at her, in spite of herself giving a little shiver of apprehension. Alison was staring down at her plate. Her headache had come back.
Im glad to be rid of it then, Kate said. She forced herself to sound cheerful. It will be safer here out of his reach with you looking after it. I was talking to a friend in the States on the phone this evening and telling him about it, she went on, determined to show that she was in no way upset by the sudden atmosphere in the room. They dont have Roman ghosts in America. He was quite jealous. Were they in it together, Greg and Alison? Were they all having a good laugh at her expense? In what way is he unpleasant? she pressed Greg. She watched him closely. If he told her at least she would know what to expect.
He shrugged. They say that on certain nights, when the tide is high and the moon is full, you can hear the screams of his victims
He shrugged. They say that on certain nights, when the tide is high and the moon is full, you can hear the screams of his victims
Greg, that is enough! his father put in abruptly. You are frightening your sister.
Rubbish. Allies as tough as old boots. It would take more than that to frighten her, Greg retorted. He turned to Kate. And Im sure our lady historian is not frightened by ghosts. They are, after all, her stock in trade. She should be very pleased to be able to rent a couple so reasonably.
So there you had it. The barb which had betrayed him. Kate smiled. Suddenly she felt more cheerful. She could handle Greg Lindsey. Taking another mouthful of Dianas delectable home made paté she turned back to him. Why should they haunt the grave on the beach? They werent buried there, and Im fairly certain that its not a Roman burial.
How do you know its a burial at all? Patrick put in another of his rare remarks. Allie hasnt found a body has she?
No, I havent! Again the panic. Unexplained. Sudden. Overwhelming. Alison clenched her fists against the sudden pounding behind her eyes.
And she probably wont. The sand dissolves bodies, Kate put in. She hadnt looked at Alison. Like at Sutton Hoo. Although that is a Saxon burial and therefore probably much later, it must be the same principle. The salts in the sand dissolve everything except the shadow. And archaeologists can only find that if the site has been undisturbed. She caught site of Alisons strained look and hastened to add: The trouble with Redall beach is that now it is right on the edge of the sea. The tide and the wind have already damaged the site beyond any hope of finding that kind of evidence.
The peat. The peat strata in the dune. The words floated into her mind as she stared down at the paté on her plate. The peat was newly exposed, only the edge was crumbling, smelling of sweet garden earth
She dropped her fork. The others were looking at her. Im sorry. She smiled, scrabbling for it. Its all this talk of ghosts. I think you are at last making me nervous.
And that is unforgivable, Diana put in firmly. Ill have no more of this nonsense. I have known that cottage for most of my life. It is not haunted. It has never been haunted and we will not discuss it any more.
Kate stole a glance at Greg. He had meekly turned his attention to his plate.
At the end of the meal as the others made their way back to the fire Diana put a hand on Kates arm. Stay and help me make the coffee. I havent had the chance to talk to you properly yet. She smiled as she lifted the kettle from the hob and carried it to the sink. Neither woman spoke as the water ran into the kettle, then with a glance over her shoulder Diana beckoned Kate nearer to the stove. There was a hiss of steam as she put the dripping kettle onto the hot plate. I think you have gathered that Greg is trying to scare you away from Redall Cottage, she said quietly. I am so sorry he has decided to be childish like this. He cant forgive me for making him move out. Its got nothing to do with you. It is me he is angry with.
Kate turned to the table and began to stack the plates. She glanced at the far end of the room where Roger was choosing a CD from the pile on the stereo. Greg was bending over the fire, coaxing some fresh logs into a blaze.
I had guessed that was what was going on, she said after a moment. He and Alison are both in it, I think. Dont worry, I can handle it.
Youre sure? Diana frowned. It seems so feeble to say I cant do anything about it, but whatever I say to them, they will go on if they think its working. She banged two of her dishes together crossly and carried them over to the sink. I hate to think of you out there on your own. Its so far from anywhere.
You dont think they would harm me? Kate looked at her in astonishment.
No. No. Of course I dont think that. Neither of them would hurt a fly. But they might think it amusing to frighten you. She shook her head. Oh, my dear, I am so sorry. I feel dreadful about this. Greg is not an easy person Her voice trailed away helplessly.
Kate felt a surge of anger. Impulsively she put her hand on Dianas arm. Please, dont upset yourself. I told you, I can cope. She grinned. It was real ghosts I wasnt sure about. I can deal with imposters. I expect I can play them at their own game. Diana looked at her gratefully and Kate smiled again. Just so long as I know its them. And just so long as I know you and Roger are there a touch of sanity at the end of the phone.
You can be sure of that.
Then theres no problem. She picked up the coffee jug and carrying it to the sink ran some hot water into it to warm it. Greg and his father were sitting down now, one of either side of the inglenook. The two younger Lindseys had vanished. Quietly, the sound of music floated through the long, low-ceilinged room.
It was nearly midnight when reluctantly Kate climbed to her feet and announced that she ought to go home. Roger had been asleep in his chair for the last twenty minutes and Diana, for all her animated conversation, looked exhausted.
Greg stood up immediately. Ill drive you back. You dont want to walk up through those woods on your own at this time of night. He grinned.
Kate glanced at Diana and she smiled. The implication was clear. More ghosts. Thanks. I wouldnt say no to a lift. Its surprising how long that path can be when youre tired.
The sky had cleared. It blazed with stars and there was a fine layer of frost on the windscreen. Greg opened the door for her then he fumbled about under the drivers seat for a scraper. It wont take a moment. Did you leave the stove banked up?
She smiled. I think Im getting the hang of that beast at last. Its voracious in its appetite for attention, isnt it?
It is indeed. A small circle cleared in the frost apparently all he required to see the narrow track he climbed in beside her and slammed the door. The engine started reluctantly, revving deafeningly in the silent darkness. Shoving the gearstick forward Greg turned the vehicle around and headed for the trees. A sheen of frost lay on the damp ground and the spinning wheels shattered crazy patterns into the thin veneer of ice on the puddles between the ruts.
Kate hung on grimly as the Land Rover slithered around.
The friend you mentioned in the States, Greg said suddenly, out of the silence. Your boyfriend?
He was.
What happened? He hauled at the gear lever as the tyres spun.
People grow apart.
But you keep in touch.
She looked sideways at the handsome profile, trying to interpret the cryptic tone and she felt a small shiver of excitement. Yes, she said firmly. We keep in touch.
To her surprise he did not speak again until they arrived. Jumping down from the high seat she leaned in to thank him, but he was already climbing out.
Youd better let me check everything is all right, he said. The least I can do.
Theres no need. Im sure the ghosts have gone. She smiled at him, but she gave him her key. Buoyed up with the knowledge that Diana and Roger were on her side she was curious to know what he would do next.
The lamp in the living room was still alight as they went in, and so, to Kates relief, was the woodburner. Greg glanced at it almost approvingly and she saw him take note of the huge pile of logs next to it. If he was amused by her foresight he gave no sign. It all looks OK to me. Do you want me to check upstairs?