CHAPTER FIFTEEN
They wound their way back through the trees towards the lake, drew deep breaths of the fresh air.
‘This is so much better,’ Trisha said, climbing right down to the little shingled beach rimming the lake. She stared at the reflection of the sky. ‘Who do you think that horrible thing back there in the trees belongs to?’
Michaela wasn’t looking toward the lake. She nodded over to her right. ‘At a guess, babe, I’d say it belongs to them.’
Trisha straightened and climbed back up the small bank to where Michaela stood. She was looking at yesterday’s hunting lodge.
‘It’s a bit of a gloom box too isn’t it?’ Trisha said.
‘Looks pretty old, doesn’t it. We’re going to have to walk past it to get back,’ Michaela added.
Trisha had shaded her eyes, still looking at the old place. ‘Its lawn comes right down to the lake here. We’re going to have to do a bit of trespassing.’
Michaela reached out and tugged on one of Trisha’s curls. ‘Lead the way then Trisha. You’re the expert on trespass I reckon,’ she said, laughing.
Trisha gave a mock scowl and they started walking again. Michaela looked back into the trees, wondering if the folly could be seen. It was hidden by the trees. She turned away, glad.
‘There’s someone there,’ Trisha said.
Michaela looked over Trisha’s shoulder. ‘Has she seen us?’ she asked.
Trisha shrugged. ‘Let’s go introduce ourselves, shall we?’ She moved over the lawn before Michaela could think up an objection.
‘Good morning,’ Trisha called out, waving to the woman sitting at a small table on the veranda.
Michaela followed and watched as the woman straightened and waved back. Trisha bounded up the steps to the veranda but Michaela couldn’t hear what was being said. She picked up the pace.
The woman was old and delicate as a bird. She sat in a wicker chair with a blanket tucked over her knees. Her eyes were bright though, and her smile wide as Trisha turned on the charm.
‘We’re staying a few days at the cabin over that end of the lake,’ Trisha was explaining.
‘Goodness me,’ the old lady said. ‘Then you must sit and share a cup of tea with me. It isn’t often I get a company.’ She gestured them to the empty chairs. Trisha sat down.
‘Are you sure we’re not intruding,’ Michaela asked, giving Trisha a surreptitious poke in the back. Trisha just turned and grinned.
‘Sit down, Sherlock,’ she said and turned to the woman, who was prodding at the teapot with bent fingers. ‘It’s very nice to meet you. We thought at this time of year we would be the only ones here on the lake.’
The old lady cocked her head to the side, looking more and more like a dainty little bird. ‘Oh, we’re not usually here this time of the year either. It’s not warm enough for me.’ She gave a dainty shiver and smiled over the table at Michaela. ‘Sherlock, was it?’ she asked. ‘A strange name for a girl, dear.’
Michaela forced a smile. ‘Please, I’m Michaela. This is Trisha. I do hope we’re not disturbing you.’ She turned to Trisha. ‘We should leave this lovely woman to have her tea in peace.’
The woman in question leaned forward and patted Michaela’s hand. ‘Nonsense,’ she said. ‘This old woman would enjoy the company of two pretty girls.’ She shifted round in her chair and called out toward the house. ‘Henry! We have visitors. We need more cups.’ She frowned at the glass doors. ‘I don’t know if Henry would have heard me,’ she said.
‘Oh it’s all right,’ Trisha said. ‘Let me pour your tea for you. We don’t need anything.’ She filled the tiny china cup and smiled at the woman. ‘Is this your place, ma’am?’ she asked.
The woman took a sip of her tea. ‘Oh please, call me Selena. It’s so seldom I get to make new friends now. Let’s not stand on formalities.’ She looked confused for a moment. ‘I’m sorry, dear, what did you say your name was?’
‘Trisha,’ Trisha said, ‘and my grumpy friend here is Michaela.’
Selena leaned forward and peered at Michaela. ‘Why is she grumpy?’ she asked. ‘Why are you grumpy, dear?’
Michaela rolled her eyes at Trisha. ‘I’m not grumpy at all, Selena. Trisha here likes to make things up.’
Trisha leaped into the rescue. ‘Oh no,’ she said. ‘We’ve just had the most horrible experience.’
Selena put down her teacup and leaned forward. ‘She does look at little peaky,’ she said, looking at Michaela. ‘What on earth happened, child?’
Michaela turned to Trisha. ‘Perhaps you ought to continue the story,’ she said. ‘I’d be interested to hear it too.’
Trisha turned back to the old lady and smiled. ‘We went for a walk,’ she said. ‘And there’s this awful little building back there in the trees. Michaela said it’s folly or something silly and we couldn’t resist going closer for a look.’ She gave a theatrical shudder. ‘The door wasn’t locked, we didn’t mean to trespass or anything. It’s a pool house or something. Or was once. Do you know it?’
The old lady was staring at Trisha round-eyed, mouth open. ‘That is supposed to be locked,’ she said. Her voice was high, squawking. ‘It’s supposed to be locked.’ She turned toward the house and struggled out of her chair. ‘I don’t know what’s going on,’ she said, opening the door. ‘Henry!’ she called. ‘Henry, where are you?’
Trisha looked at Michaela, gave a quick shrug. Michaela stood up, picked the blanket up from where Selena had let it fall. ‘I’m sorry Selena, we didn’t mean to upset you,’ she said. ‘The door was open, it was unlocked. We didn’t go in.’
But the woman wasn’t listening. She stood, supporting herself against the door. ‘Mother?’ A voice inside the house. ‘Mother, what’s the matter?’ A middle-aged man came to the door and stared at Michaela and Trisha. Selena tottered on her feet and he turned to her and held his arms out. ‘Mother, who are these people?’ He looked down at his mother. ‘You’re shaking,’ he said. ‘Let’s get you inside.’ He moved to support her back into the house. Glaring at the two women he shook his head, his face flushed red. ‘I don’t know what you’ve said or done, but you can leave right now. How dare you come here and upset my mother. Can’t you tell she isn’t well?’
Trisha shook her head. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘We didn’t mean to upset her; we were having a lovely time. Then I mentioned the old pool house in the trees, and she became upset.’
The son stopped still and stared at them. Michaela could have sworn she saw the blood drain from his face.
‘Get away from here,’ he hissed. ‘You’ve no right to come here snooping around and upsetting old ladies. You leave my mother alone; she’s old and not very well.’ He poked a finger at them. ‘Get out of here,’ he said. ‘We don’t want your type around here.’