Richard parked his black Mercedes in front of Langston Castle. John and McGowan pulled in beside them in the Escalade. Donna looked up in awe at the huge stone slab facing her. It was the first time she’d been near a real castle.
Donna and Richard walked up the steps to an impressive iron-studded oak door. Donna turned to John and McGowan. “Aren’t you coming?”
“We’ll wait out here to guard the ah – the threat.” John responded. It’s safer out here. The real threat is already in the castle.
Just as Richard reached for the door-pull, the door swung open revealing a well-dressed frail looking little lady with silver hair. “At last we meet!” Lady Triplet said to Donna and glanced out at John and McGowan. “Why did you bring the Reavers?”
Richard softly chuckled. “Grandma, you’re looking well.”
“Come on in Donna. Let’s get acquainted. Ricky you can come too. Leave the lumps outside.” Lady Triplet took Donna’s arm and despite the cane in her other hand, practically yanked her inside.
Lady Triplet led them through the huge entrance hall to a door at the right-hand wall. Beyond the door was a large, impressively decorated parlour. “You can sit by me, my Dear.” Lady Triplet led Donna to the sofa in front of a huge fireplace.
Donna still hadn’t had a chance to speak. Lady Triplet rattled on. “Now I know you’re American, Dear, but I won’t hold that against you. You’ve only been here since - let me see - the fifth. Yes, that’s right. Now tell me, Dear, what do you think of England?”
“How should I address you? Lady Triplet or Lady Annabelle?” She’s exhausting me just listening to her. Is she ever going to take a breath?
“Grandma will do nicely, but whatever you prefer is fine. Will you take some tea? Ricky ring the bell for Vera. Stop standing there gawking lad. Give Donna a chance to speak. Now Donna, tell me, what part of Louisiana were your family from? Were they Creole? They’re such interesting people. It was very hot when I visited New Orleans. I had a wonderful time. I was just a bit disappointed that I didn’t get to see a cotton plantation.”
How did she know my parents weren’t alive? This woman must have a wound-up spring in her somewhere. Wonder where the off switch is – if she even has one. “Well there really aren’t that many cotton plantations until you get to….”
Lady Triplet interrupted her mid-sentence. “I don’t know how you stand it being so hot there!”
Vera wheeled a tea cart next to Lady Triplet.
“Oh! Our tea is here. Vera just put it down on the table here, and I will serve. Cream, milk or lemon - Do you take sugar Donna - one lump or two?”
Richard chuckled. “Grandma, slow down. You’ve hardly let her say a word.”
“Oh nonsense Ricky, we’re having such a nice chat, aren’t we Donna Dear? Don’t interrupt. Go tell Vera to take some tea out to those goons. No! Wait a minute, you take it and leave us ladies to get to know each other. And tell the ‘Sherriff of Nottingham’ that if he breaks my china I’ve got a new rack in the dungeon that I’m just itching to try out.”
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Richard shook his head and smiled. He went into the kitchen, prepared a tea tray and took it out to John and McGowan. He gingerly sat the tea tray on the bonnet of the Escalade.
John suspiciously looked at his tea. “What kind of mood is she in today? Is it poisoned?”
“I really don’t know what sort of mood she’s in. As for the tea, it’s alright. I poured it myself, but I have to warn you, she threatened you with the rack if you broke her china.”
“What was Donna’s reaction?” Bet she’s ready to run. Richard, you never should have brought Donna here! After this, she’ll run straight to Sam’s arms and won’t look back!
“I’m not sure. She’s hardly had a chance to say anything.”
At that moment, there was a loud smack as a series of water bombs fell around them. Most hit the ground, apart from a few that had been precision-aimed. One hit Richard square on the top of his head. He was not happy.
Cackling laughter and giggles rang from the turrets. Donna called out from the top of the castle. “Did we get you?”
Richard looked at John in disgust as the green water dripped down his face. He took out his white handkerchief and started dabbing it off.
John attempted to wipe his drenched head with his sleeve and slowly looked up. “Just a lot!” He shook his fist at Lady Triplet. “You evil old witch you’ve led her astray already!”
Peals of laughter echoed from the turrets. “Come on up, you boys. I couldn’t resist that. I’ve been itching to try these water bombs since the scouts left them here,” Lady Triplet chortled loudly.
Vera met them with towels as they climbed the castle stairs. “She has a pretty good aim for a lady nearing her centenary. You should have seen her running up the stairs. It was all Miss Donna could do to keep up with her.”
Donna fought to keep a straight face, but it wasn’t easy with bits of algae matted in Richard’s hair. From the incredibly innocent look on Donna’s face, he wondered whether she’d hit him on purpose or if it were just a lucky shot. “I see you’ve had the roof repaired,” Richard commented.
“Well, I guess your father is good for some things. She dragged him by the arm. “Now Ricky,” she said pointing to a cell phone tower about half a mile away, down the valley. “I want you to look over there at that awful monstrosity that we can see from the ramparts.”
Richard shielded his eyes with his hand and tried to focus in the direction Lady Triplet was pointing. All he could see was something about the size of a pencil, if that big.
“Did you know they had the cheek to ask me if they could put one on top of here? Awful, ugly things. I told them if they had to have one of those things, they should put it in the church steeple and not spoil the look of the place, but no, they said it was too expensive to do that and everyone wanted their cell phones to work - dreadful things.” She glowered at John.
John sheepishly put his cell phone back in his pocket. She’s just a little old lady. Why does she intimidate me?
“You know you two make a lovely couple. Ricky, why haven’t you got a ring on this girl’s hand?”
Richard coughed into his fist and cleared his throat. God I’m going to kill her! “I’m… working on it Grandma.”
“Well get up the nerve Lad, before somebody like that gigolo of a doctor at the Centre beats you to it! Ricky is so sweet, Donna, and he would make a lovely father to your children. Don’t you agree?”
Donna’s eyes widened. “Um… yes, Lady Triplet. I suppose he w….”
“Now all we have to do is decide on a date! I think sooner is better. I’ve never been one for long engagements. Sometimes people just have to do what they have to do and get on with it. Isn’t that right Donna Dear?”
Donna frowned. “I suppose if you’ve made your mind up to….”
Lady Triplet rattled on. “I know just where you could have the ceremony. In my chapel. Did Ricky tell you I had a chapel in the castle, Donna? Would you like to see it? What about your wedding dress? Have you picked one out? You know you’re welcome to use mine. It might need a nip and a tuck here and there, but I’m sure it would fit.” Lady Triplet giggled. “I was quite the dish in those days. Oh you’d look so lovely in it.”
Donna was feeling trapped. She and Richard hadn’t even talked about the baby yet, and now his grandmother had them practically engaged. Richard noticed she looked a little apprehensive.
“Grandma,” Richard interjected, “Donna is a lot taller than you. The dress would be up to her knees! Besides, we haven’t even talked about getting married. Stop putting words in her….”
“…Nonsense Ricky! It was too long on me, and there’s a two-inch tuck just under the bodice, we could let that out and….”
Richard groaned at her persistence. “Even with it let out two-inches it would still be too short! You’re not listening to me. Donna and I aren’t even engaged. At this rate, we never will be!”
“Oh well, then, never mind.” She patted Donna’s hand. “I’m sure you’ll be lovely in whatever you wear. It’s just getting to the altar that counts, isn’t it Dear?”
God! Talk about overbearing and eccentric. Richard, they’re understatements. Why does she keep looking at me that way? “Yes… I suppose it….”
“Well Ricky, I want you to know I approve of your young lady here. You’ve made a wonderful choice, unlike that father of yours. Now if he’d married a girl like Donna - come to think of it - he almost did marry a girl who looked just like you Donna. Well that’s a long time ago. We won’t go into that.” Lady Triplet stood and glanced at her watch. “Well you really must excuse me Dears. Ricky, why don’t you take Donna up and show her your apartment. I need to check on the farm. It’s been so nice to meet you Donna. We’ll talk again later on. Where you sleep is entirely up to you, but the apartment has three bedrooms. It’s on the third floor. I’ve had it prepared since Ricky’s twenty-fourth birthday. It’s yours for the duration of your stay here. Jack has moved all your things in there. Oh! You might need this.” She handed Richard a key. “Away you go Dears! If you don’t mind, I’ll go down in the lift. These old bones of mine aren’t getting any younger. Vera, let me know when my son arrives.”
Donna turned to Richard. “Where’s the farm?”
Richard waved it off and led her to the stairs. “I’ll explain later.”
“You didn’t tell me you had an apartment in the castle.”
“After you and Jared got together, I didn’t expect to ever use it. I must say, I’m pleased for the opportunity. By the way, I’d like to apologise for Grandma’s match-making session. At times, she can be blunt. She obviously approves of our being together here. Now you understand what I meant when I said it’s better to appease her than trying to argue her down.”
Donna laughed. “Yes, I do, but, all-in-all, I thought she was nice – eccentric, but nice.”
Richard stopped in front of an oak door, similar to the one at the entrance of the castle. “Brace yourself and bear in mind, I had nothing to do with the design of this apartment.” Richard pushed the door open and scooped Donna into his arms.
Donna narrowed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “What are you doing?”
“Following tradition,” Richard grinned and carried her across the threshold. Setting her on her feet, Richard tenderly kissed her and took her hand. “So, do you think you can stand living here, for a while?”
Donna softly smiled and studied his eyes. “I can if you’ll do me a favour.”
“What’s that?”
“Take a shower. You smell like a stagnant pond.”
Richard grinned wryly. “That would be your fault. You could always take a shower with me.”
Donna sighed and lowered her head. “I’m sorry, Richard, but not this time.”
Richard lifted her chin. “It’s OK. I was teasing. Do you mind if I show you around before I shower?”
“I guess I can hold my nose that long,” she teased.
The third floor of the castle had been converted into a fully furnished apartment. It had three en-suite bedrooms, one with a dressing room. There was a lounge; dining room; fully equipped kitchen; study and plenty of room for storage. Even the refrigerator and cupboards had been stocked with food and drink.
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A couple of hours later, Sir Richard’s helicopter landed on the grounds at Langston Castle. He, Jason Howard and Joe Islington got out. John met him outside. “So what did she do to you this time, John?”
“Only stood on the ramparts and threw water bombs at us, but this time she didn’t just get me. She got Ricky too. Or, better yet, Donna got Ricky.”
Sir Richard sniffed John’s hair. “How old was the water? You smell as if you just crawled out of the duck pond.”
“I have no idea, but it was green with algae.”
“If Donna hit Ricky with the same stuff, I hope he took a shower. Where are they?”
John grinned. “In Ricky’s apartment. They haven’t come down.”
“So, I guess Donna is going to stick it out, then.”
“Yes, Sir. I’d say they both are. They spent about two hours with me and Missy in our quarters at the complex. They seem as chummy as they were in the States before we left.”
“What about Jared? Did she see him?”
“No, Sir. He decided to stay out of sight until she left. That man has more willpower in his little finger than Sam has in his entire body. I don’t know how he does it.”
“Well, let’s get inside before Mum sends out a search party.”
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Forrest’s doctor came in to check on him. The IV solution containing the harvested stem cells was almost empty. Checking his vitals, he noted Forrest had stabilised. He turned to Liu, who was sitting in a chair in the corner, casually reading his newspaper. “He should start responding, soon,” Dr. Phorrestson informed.
Liu impassively glanced over the top of his paper. “Has everything been set up? I’m tired of guarding a corpse.”
Reaching into his pocket, Dr. Phorrestson produced a bottle of clear liquid and a hypodermic syringe. “This mixture should do the trick,” he said, holding out his hand.
Liu took the bottle, read the name and put it in his pocket. He motioned to the bed. “When do you expect him to come round?”
“It’s hard to tell, but possibly by morning. His vitals have stabilised faster than I’d expected. If he takes it easy, he should be able to return to his normal duties, within a month or so.”
Liu clenched his teeth and nodded. Dr. Phorrestson left. He stood and leaned close to Forrest’s ear. “Time to wake up, old man. You wouldn’t want to miss your grand finale. I’ll be glad when you’re gone. You pathetic shell of a man. I’m going to enjoy your fortunes and your women.”
As if it were only a reflex, without opening his eyes, Forrest’s hand shot up and grabbed the front of Liu’s shirt, yanking him forward and choking him. You need to be careful what you say to a dying man, John Liu. Before you put me in my grave, perhaps you should wait until I’ve stopped breathing.