Page 41 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
Halfway up, I’m feeling quite sick, partly because of theexertion but mostly because I’m dreading what I might find at the top. I keeppassing dark entrances to what must be rooms on either side, but there’s nosign of the light I spied from the outside. That doesn’t mean the plague doctor– or some other being – isn’t here, in the tower, though.
They could be lying in wait for me...
I stop, my heart racing, wanting to turn and run back downthe stairs and carry on running – all the way back to Moonstone Cottage.
But I can’t go back. Not now. I need to solve the mysteryfor Bee and Jodie, and it’s this thought alone that spurs me on. As I near thetop, my pace slows and I creep up the steps, my heart in my mouth, trying to beas quiet as I can.
And then a breeze is ruffling my hair and I realise there’snothing but sky above me and I’m nearing the very top of the tower, which isopen to the elements.
My heartbeat goes into overdrive.
What will be waiting for me at the top?
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Stepping into the circular space, the first thing Irealise is that there’s no one here, and relief surges through me. Kneestrembling, I walk towards the curving, crenellated wall – to the side that Iknow will have a clear view over the whole of the village. And peering throughone of the gaps, I gaze out over the houses and the beach and at the moonglinting on the sea.
Realising I still have Hudson’s binoculars strung around myneck, I raise them to my eyes and sweep around, looking for any signs of life.But all I’m seeing is a blur of grass and rooftops. Finding Clifftop House byaccident, I stop for a second, stunned by its dramatic setting on the headland.
Abandoning the binoculars, I scan the area below the tower,and that’s when I see the cloaked figure – a pinprick of light dancing in frontof it – gliding down the path towards the main street.
Grabbing the binoculars again, I make a frantic and – atfirst – futile attempt at capturing the figure in my view. At last, I see it,hurrying along the promenade towards the far end of the bay.
Where’s it going?
The shops and the houses peter out at that point and eventhe promenade comes to an end. There’s only Clifftop House, sitting proudly onits rocky promontory with its magnificent views across the bay.
Dropping the binoculars, I start down the spiral stone stepsas fast as I can go without risking falling headlong. But on seeing theentrance is in sight, I look up and somehow misjudge a step. Missing it outaltogether, I land awkwardly on my right foot and lose my balance completely,tumbling down the last few steps and landing in a painful, awkward heap at thebottom.
Stunned for a moment, I lie there, panting.
And then suddenly, I find myself being swept up by a pair ofstrong arms and held aloft, and the binoculars swing back and hit me sharply onthe chin.
‘Ow!’
‘Sorry.’ It’s Hudson. ‘Are you all right?’ He sets me downgently on the grass and I feel my ankle gingerly.
‘Does it hurt?’
‘A bit.’
‘Right. Come on. I’m getting you out of here.’ He sweeps meup more gently this time and starts down the hill at a fair old pace.
‘But what about the plague doctor? It was heading offtowards that end of the bay.’ I try to point and nearly poke Hudson’s eye out.‘Oops. Sorry. Look, we need to follow it. The plague doctor.’
‘Weneedto get you home so we can look at thatankle,’ he says firmly, barely out of breath.
I sigh and give myself up to his care, my arms around hisneck.
There are worse fates, after all, than being carried homeby the man of your dreams, whose handsome face is looking ruggedly fiercebecause he’s worried about you.
For a blissful moment there, I even forget about thesinister plague doctor...
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Next day, Hudson is up early, ready for his drive backto Sunnybrook with Joanna. She pitches up at eight to collect him, lookingsuper-cute and efficient in mint green wide-legged trousers, silky white shirtand expensive-looking heels. Her tiny jewelled bag is big enough to hold alipstick but not much else.
‘Did you bring the printout of the costings?’ Hudson asks,sliding the sandwiches I made up for them into his briefcase.
