Doctor Who_ Wolfsbane - Jac Rayner [57]
The Doctor smiled. „I rather think that not believing yourself such is one of the qualifications for the job,‟ he said.
After which Harry didn‟t like to bring up the fact that he‟d held the alleged Grail too, because it seemed rather like fishing for compliments.
Emmeline came and stood in the corridor outside the room.
She had dressed herself again, this time in a green tweedy outfit. She obviously got through a lot of clothes. „Well done,‟
the Doctor said to her, although Harry wasn‟t quite sure to what he was referring. „All right, this is the plan. I think we must consider this a siege situation, at least until it‟s light and we can assess it better. Emmeline, you must stay where you are. Godric will stay with you, nearby. It‟s not because we don‟t believe you or trust you,‟ he added, as she looked aggrieved, „but I think it‟s in everyone‟s best interests. Harry, go and wake the servants, if they‟re not awake already, send the women up here to safety, and get Trelawny to help you find wood and nails, so we can reinforce some of the windows. I‟ll fetch George and his mother.‟
But when they reconvened, both the Doctor and Harry had the same report to make: there was no one in the house but themselves.
„Five people,‟ said the Doctor. Hester Stanton, George Stanton, Trelawny the butler, Mrs Miller the cook, and Jane Jones the maid.‟
„I did think it rather odd that no one seemed to hear our comings and goings,‟ said Harry.
„They‟re connected to this business in some way,‟ the Doctor said.
„What, all of them?‟ said Harry, who thought that rather a leap of logic.
„No no no, not necessarily. But someone around here is responsible for all of this, and it‟s someone who knows there‟s a werewolf in town. Someone in this house is indicated.‟
They turned as one at the sound of the front door slamming below.
The Doctor charged down the stairs, followed by Harry.
Trelawny, the elderly butler, was moving slowly through the hall, supporting Lady Hester. Trelawny‟s face was scratched and bleeding. Splashes of blood also showed up clearly on Hester‟s pale grey medieval-style robe, now torn, and her long loose hair was tangled with leaves and twigs. Harry took over Trelawny‟s burden, and escorted the lady to a seat in the nearest room, the dining room. She didn‟t seem to notice the new arrangement of the table and chairs, or even the smashed windows. Harry kept half an eye on those, hoping against hope that the trees wouldn‟t resume their attack.
When Hester had regained her breath, they would take her upstairs where it was safer.
Trelawny, although obviously longing for a seat himself, nevertheless kept to the dignity of his position and busied himself with glasses and brandy. He could not, however, keep to the usual silence of the well-trained servant. „Such a terrible thing, sirs. Another young girl, they‟re saying. Ezekial Perry‟s daughter from Red Gate Farm, young Rose, that is.‟
The Doctor turned to him abruptly. „Are you saying she‟s been killed?‟
„Yes, sir, by this terrible wolf.‟
„When?‟
„No more than half an hour back, they reckon. Still warm when they found her, she was; reckon they scared the beast away.‟
The Doctor and Harry exchanged looks. They knew exactly where the wolf had been during the last half hour. Harry had to acknowledge what he‟d really known since they‟d examined Lucinda‟s body, that much as he disliked Emmeline Neuberger, she was not the killer.‟
„What were you doing out there, Trelawny?‟ asked the Doctor.
The man looked half proud, half sheepish. „Well, sir, I was fond of Miss Ryan. A very pleasant young lady. I wanted to be out there searching for the creature that took her from us.‟
The Doctor nodded, smiled at the old man to show he understood, and turned to Hester Stanton. „Surely you weren‟t out seeking revenge too, Lady Hester? Didn‟t you trust the men to find the wolf?‟
She stared up at him through the curtains of her tangled hair. „I was worried about