Instant Father

Chapter Eleven

Gavin was up with the dawn. Still in his pajamas, he made himself some coffee and settled in the kitchen to watch the clock. It seemed to take an incredible time for half an hour to pass, but at the end of it Peter appeared, also in his pajamas. He got some milk from the fridge, heated it slightly and offered it to the hedgehog. Only when Bert was lapping contentedly did he pour some for himself. He didn’t speak, but he looked at his father, and Gavin met his gaze. For a moment the silence changed in quality and became a shared thing, full of mutual understanding. Gavin’s heart beat with hope. At any moment Peter would speak and their estrangement would be over.

“Well, fancy the two of you being down so early,” came Mrs. Stone’s iron voice from behind them.

They both jumped. The moment was shattered. Mrs. Stone began bustling around the kitchen, jarring them both. “You should have told me you wanted to eat early, and I’d have come down.”

“Out of hours?” Gavin couldn’t resist asking.

Mrs. Stone snorted. “I hope I can rise to the occasion.”

They endured breakfast, united by their total lack of appetite for the piles of bacon and eggs she set before them. Rex and Flick, who’d appeared from nowhere, found themselves showered with tidbits. Even Osbert joined in.

“I don’t suppose she’s getting much of a breakfast in prison,” Mrs. Stone reflected.

“She isn’t in prison,” Gavin said smoothly. “It’s a police cell, and she won’t be there long.”

“Well, who can say?” Mrs. Stone mused. Gavin tightened his mouth. Mrs. Stone was relishing the drama.

“I’m saying,” he replied firmly. “I’ve got the best lawyer in London.”

“He’s going to have to move fast to get here before the magistrates’ court opens this morning,” Mrs. Stone pointed out.

The same thought was troubling Gavin. While Peter went out to start feeding the animals, Gavin called the court. Norah’s case was scheduled fifth, but the ones ahead were parking offenses and unlikely to take long. Nervously, he tried Bruce’s London home and found himself talking to Elaine, who informed him acidly that her husband had left an hour ago. He apologized hastily and hung up before she could tell him what she thought of him.

He went to help Peter and they worked together for an hour before getting ready for the court. Gavin started to tell him that it would be better if he didn’t come, but Peter simply looked at him, silently insistent, and Gavin yielded without another word.

There was still no sign of Bruce when it was time to leave, but Gavin didn’t dare wait. Leaving a message with Mrs. Stone, he drove off to the town with his heart like lead within him. He was afraid, dreadfully, sickeningly afraid, though whether he was most afraid of Norah, for Peter if she didn’t come home quickly, or for himself if he failed, he couldn’t have said.

They found seats, and Gavin told Peter to remain there while he went to see Norah. But this time his luck was out. The officer on duty knew who he was, knew he wasn’t a lawyer and refused to let him pass. “But I’ve got to tell her something,” Gavin protested frantically.

“Sorry, sir. I’ve got my duty to do,” the policeman said stolidly.

The clock was ticking away. The first case was taken and dispatched in ten minutes. The next two were even faster. Gavin looked about him wildly. Without advice, Norah would do something mad-like admitting everything and pleading justification.

The fourth case came and went. The usher intoned, “Norah Ackroyd.” With one movement Gavin and Peter turned to see the top of her head appearing as she climbed the stairs. Gavin tried to catch her eye, but she stared straight ahead, her face pale and set.

Suddenly there was a commotion at the back, the sound of a door banging, murmuring voices, and over them the sound of one particular booming voice that made Gavin’s heart leap with relief. The next moment a very large man was sweeping toward the bench, the black silk gown of a Queen’s Counsel flapping behind him.

“Mr. Chairman,” he intoned, addressing the chief magistrate who sat between the other two, “Bruce Havering. I ask pardon for my late appearance-traffic jams-no disrespect to this court…” He elaborated for five minutes while the chief magistrate tried vainly to get a word in edgeways.

“Are you down to appear for one of today’s defendants?” he managed to ask at last.

“For Miss Norah Ackroyd, Mr. Chairman.”

The magistrate frowned. “It’s rather last-minute, surely? Have you had time to study the facts?”

“Quite enough time, I thank you. I don’t intend to waste the court’s time. My client intends to exercise her right to a full jury trial.”

The magistrate’s face definitely fell. It was clear that he’d been looking forward to this case, and the thought of having to refer it on to a higher court was disappointing. Gavin barely noticed. His eyes were fixed on Norah, who’d started forward looking astounded and as if she might be about to say something. At last she looked at him and he placed a finger over his lips.

Trust me, he was pleading silently. Forget all the antagonism there’s been between us and just trust me.

To his relief she sank bank in silence, although she still looked completely bewildered.

The magistrate was saying the correct things in a slightly irritable voice. “There’s a question of bail,” he observed. “I don’t know-”

“I should like to draw the court’s attention to the fact that my client has never been charged with any previous offense,” Bruce said smoothly.

The magistrate looked at him over half-moon glasses. “There would appear to be gaps in your knowledge, Mr. Havering,” he observed sourly. “However, I’m prepared to grant bail at a figure of ten thousand pounds.”

There was a gasp from the court at the sum, but Gavin was immediately on his feet. “I will put up the bail,” he declared, and was rewarded by a glowing look on his son’s face.

He had to produce a banker’s draft immediately. Bruce insisted on coming to the bank with him. “I’ll drive,” he insisted. “I’ve got some papers for you to read.”

As he drove he explained to Gavin some of the real reasons he’d been delayed. Gavin wanted to cheer at what he heard, and at what he was reading. “This is wonderful, Bruce. Anything I can do for you-”

“Just let me get away quickly today. I’ll give you my number in Italy, but you won’t need it. There won’t be any trial. I’ll leave as soon as she’s free. You can do all the talking and impress her.”

“I keep telling you, I’m not trying to impress her,” Gavin insisted.

“That’s right. You keep telling me,” Bruce agreed imperturbably.

It took an hour for Gavin to get hold of the draft, and it cleaned out every penny of loose cash that he had. The lack of it was going to cause him big headaches, but he was sustained by the thought of Peter’s admiration-and perhaps even Norah’s gratitude. Despite his protestations to Bruce, he was enjoying the warm glow of knight errantry when he arrived back at court and handed over the money.

As soon as the formalities were complete and Norah had been released, she turned to Bruce and said, “I don’t know how to thank you-”

“Don’t,” he begged. “I haven’t time. There’s just time to save my marriage if I rush.”

“I beg your pardon?” Norah asked blankly.

“Ask him,” Bruce said, pointing at Gavin. “I should have been halfway to Italy by now, but he twisted my arm to save you. Said it was a matter of life-and-death, but he wouldn’t admit why. Perhaps you can get him to say it. Or perhaps you don’t need to hear it. Must dash. Bye, bye.” He was in his car and speeding away before anyone could speak.

Peter flung himself joyfully into Norah’s arms and she hugged him back, but her eyes met Gavin’s and they held a puzzled frown.

“Let’s get home now,” Gavin said abruptly.

For the first time Norah wished that Peter weren’t there. There was so much she wanted to say to Gavin, so many questions to ask him. But there were questions to be asked of her own heart, too, such as why Bruce’s hint had caused a leap of joy and hope. For the moment she must appear normal.

As they drove home she asked, “Is everything all right? The animals-?”

Couldn’t she forget the animals for five minutes, he wondered? After what he’d just done for her?

“They’re fine,” he said, trying to sound cheerful. “Peter and I managed everything together. I just followed him.”

“Yes, he’s a real expert,” she agreed.

In her agitation she’d almost forgotten Jake Morgan, the man behind her troubles, but as the car turned the corner of the drive she saw him standing outside Strand House, a look of black fury on his face. “I wondered why he wasn’t in court this morning-” she said.

“Say nothing,” Gavin ordered her. “Leave this to me. I’m about to enjoy myself a great deal.”

He was hardly out of the car when Morgan pounced on him. “What the hell do you think you’re at?” he raged.

Gavin regarded him coolly. “If those papers in your hand are what I think they are, you know perfectly well what I’m at,” he responded.

“This woman stole my property, and you dare to try to turn the law around and make me look like a criminal,” Morgan shouted.

Gavin eyed him with distaste. “If the state of that bird is anything to go by, you are a criminal,” he said coldly. “You’ll never get it back, and those papers tell you why.”

“What papers?” Norah asked.

Morgan made a lunge at her, but Gavin got between them. “Don’t force me to repeat what I did to you before,” he snapped, “even though you deserve it and it would give me a lot of pleasure.”

Morgan addressed Norah. “You think you’re very clever, but you won’t get away with it,” he shouted.

“Get away with what?” she asked, bewildered. “What is this masterstroke I’ve pulled without knowing it?”

“You got your lawyer to serve a restraining order on Mr. Morgan, keeping him away from both you and the bird,” Gavin explained.

“Bird? What bird?” she said quickly.

“Exactly,” Gavin said. “You don’t know anything about any bird. But even if you did, that order prevents this nasty specimen troubling you about it.”

She brightened. “Did I really do that? How clever of me!”

“You were even cleverer than that. You issued a summons against him for ill-treatment of this nonexistent bird. What’s more, I dare say a little research would show that he himself acquired it illegally.”

“Certain to,” Norah said at once.

“So it looks as if he’s going to have rather more trouble with the law than you are.” Gavin gave Morgan a freezing smile. “I shall enjoy your trial, Mr. Morgan.”

For the first time Morgan looked uneasy. “What are you talking about? I’m not going to have any trial.”

“Actually you’re going to have two-one for ill-treating the bird, and another for ill-treating Miss Ackroyd. Assault is a serious offense, and she’s got the bruises to prove it.”

“And the cracked rib,” Norah piped up. “Don’t forget that.”

“You don’t fool me, either of you. Why didn’t you go to the police at the start? That’s what they’ll want to know.”

He’d addressed Norah, but she-realizing that only Gavin really knew what was going on-smiled sweetly and said, “You’ll have to ask Mr. Hunter. He’s handling my affairs.”

“Thank you,” Gavin said politely. He was becoming exhilarated by the way he and Norah were passing the buck back and forth between them, their minds working in perfect harmony. She was following his lead without clearly knowing where it was headed, because she trusted him. “None of us wanted to involve the police then,” he told Morgan. “After all, the bird didn’t exist, then.”

“Now look-”

“But you involved them, so that restraint is off. You’re facing jail.”

“You don’t scare me,” Morgan bawled.

“Yes, I do. That’s why you keep licking your lips. But Miss Ackroyd is going to do you a favor.”

“Don’t bank on it,” Norah put in darkly.

“Ah, now that’s a pity. I was hoping a little bargain might be arranged to suit both sides.”

“Get lost!” Morgan snapped.

“Willingly. And as Miss Ackroyd seems to feel the same way, we’ll see you in court, Mr. Morgan.”

“We’ll look forward to it,” Norah confirmed.

Morgan looked uneasily from one to the other. “You’re bluffing.”

“Why should we be?” Gavin asked smoothly. “Miss Ackroyd has everything to gain from having you charged with assault and nothing to lose. In fact, as you heard, she’d rather not make a deal. She’d prefer to see you in the dock-wouldn’t you?”

“Definitely,” Norah said. “I don’t suppose it’s the first time you’ve been charged with assault.”

“You’ve got no right to say that,” Morgan howled. “And anyway, it makes no odds-they’re not allowed to say-”

“It can’t be mentioned in court,” Norah conceded, “but the magistrate will probably recognize you, so it’s goodbye to that advantage.” She’d recovered her cool by now and was enjoying the sense that she and Gavin were conspirators.

“Right. We’ll leave it there, then,” Gavin said affably.

“Now wait, I’m not an unreasonable man. A bargain, you said?”

“He said, not I,” Norah pointed out.

“What kind of a bargain?” Morgan persisted.

“Charges dropped on both sides,” Gavin said.

“Hey, that’s not fair,” Norah objected. “My charges are bigger than his.”

“They’re not,” Morgan snapped.

She squared up to him. “Yes, they are.”

“No brawling, you two,” Gavin said sternly, and was startled by a noise from the direction of his son. It had sounded incredibly like a giggle. He looked quickly, but Peter’s face was blank and angelic. He turned back to Norah. “My advice is to make the deal and get rid of this scum.”

“Hey, who are you calling scum?”

“Shut up,” they told him in one voice. Morgan relapsed into furious silence.

“Okay, I’ll deal,” Norah said. “Charges dropped on both sides.”

“Then you both sign these papers and the matter is over,” Gavin told them, producing a pen.

Morgan swore under his breath, but snatched the pen. Gavin watched him sign the documents that would make Norah safe and silently blessed Bruce Havering. It was less pleasant seeing her make Morgan safe, but it had to be done. He countersigned both documents as witness. “Now get out of here,” he said to Morgan. The man gave them both a look of loathing, but scuttled back into his car without a word and drove away.

Nobody moved or spoke until he’d vanished. Then, with one movement, Gavin and Norah turned toward each other and cried, “Yes.” The next moment they were in each other’s arms while Peter did a dance of delight around them.

Gavin held her as firmly as he dared, mindful of her ribs, but he longed to pull her hard against him and never let her go. She was his recovered treasure, and from now on he’d keep her safe where nobody could harm her. He wanted to say all this, but it would have to wait for later when they were alone. For now it was enough that she’d come spontaneously into his arms.

Mrs. Stone appeared on the steps and for once her bleak features were relaxed in a smile. “Welcome home, miss,” she said. “I’ve got supper ready. It’s your favorite.”

“Thank you,” Norah said eagerly. “I’ve hardly been able to eat a thing and I’m famished.” She took hold of Peter’s hand on one side and Gavin on the other and let them lead her into the house. Gavin exchanged a look of delight with his son, and his heart soared. They’d done it. They’d done it. Together. Soon everything would be all right.

It was a joyful meal. Peter didn’t speak, but he smiled and nodded vigorously as his father described how they’d cared for the sanctuary together. Norah demanded to know where Bruce Havering had come from, and Gavin told the story briefly. Later, when he had her to himself, he would tell it to her again in more detail. He might even tell her how Bruce had joked that he was in love with her, and the look on her face would tell him what to say next. Or perhaps he wouldn’t need to say it. She knew his financial situation and would surely guess that he’d put himself at risk to raise the bail money and free her. She’d understand the truth from that.

But he couldn’t say the things he wanted to with Peter here and Mrs. Stone hovering in the background, and he began to long for time to pass.

At last Peter began to yawn, and Norah said, “It’s been a long day for all of us. I’ll just take a look around outside, then I’m going to bed.”

Peter went out with her. Gavin resisted the temptation to go too. Let them be alone together. His time was coming. He went upstairs and at last he heard them come into the house and to Peter’s room. When he went in to say good-night to his son, Norah had already left. Peter was in bed, reading. He looked up when his father came in and smiled at him.

Gavin had wondered what he might say, but suddenly no words were needed. He held out his hand to Peter. “Put it there,” he said. And in perfect understanding Peter did so.

He hesitated before knocking on Norah’s bedroom door, listening to her moving around inside. Finally, while he was waiting with his hand raised, the door was opened and she was standing there in her robe. “Snap,” she said. “I was just coming to find you.”

“Yes, we have a lot to say, don’t we?” he asked, going past her into the room.

“There’s certainly one very important thing that must be done before I go to bed,” she told him, yawning. “Oh, I’m looking forward to a decent night’s sleep. You’ve no idea how hard that cell bed was.”

“What was it you wanted to say?” he asked, his heart beating.

“It’s not only ‘thank you’. For one thing, I’ve already said that-and for another, no words are adequate for what you’ve done for me.”

“I didn’t do anything that I didn’t want to do with all my heart,” he told her.

“I know. You’ve been wonderful.”

“What was it you wanted to do?” he asked, sure she was going to kiss him, and tensing in readiness.

“Oh, that. Yes. I wanted to give you this.” She reached over to her bedside table and took up a piece of paper, which she handed it to him.

Gavin looked at it, smiling. Then his smile faded. It was a check for ten thousand pounds.

“It was marvelous of you to rush out and get my bail money,” Norah said, “especially since you’re broke. I dread to think what you must have had to do to raise it so quickly. Gavin, whatever’s the matter? Isn’t it the right amount?”

“Yes, yes,” he said, collecting his fragmented wits. “It’s just that-it’s a funny thing-until this moment I hadn’t given a thought to the money.”

“That’s because you’re generous. But I had to think of it. After all, I can afford it more easily than you can.”

“Yes, you can, can’t you?” he said with an effort. He felt sick, stunned. He’d galloped like a knight errant to her rescue, and her response was to offer him money. Did she think he cared about the money? Didn’t she know he’d have gladly impoverished himself for her sake? To have his gesture ruined was almost more than he could bear. Everything he’d hoped to win tonight now seemed like a fool’s delusion.

He pulled himself together. “Thank you,” he said. “There was no need to rush to repay me tonight.”

“But I wanted to. I didn’t like to think of you going to bed worrying. Not when I owe you so much.”

The truth, of course, he realized bitterly, was that she didn’t want to be in his debt a moment longer than she had to be. Well, there was a way he could relieve her of that burden. “How conscientious of you,” he said, with a blank smile. “And it’s nonsense to suggest that you owe me anything. I did it all for Peter. I know that will please you.”

He was too preoccupied with his own suffering to notice the light fade from her eyes. “Of course, it pleases me,” she said. “It means you’re gaining some understanding of him, and that’s the most important thing of all.”

“It is, isn’t it? You’d never believe how close he and I managed to become last night.”

“I’d love to hear about it, but not just now. Suddenly I’ve got a splitting headache.”

“You must be very tired,” he said quickly. “I’ll go now and let you get some rest. Good night, Norah.”

“Good night,” she said quietly.

He left her room quickly and stood breathing a sigh of relief. For a moment he’d almost revealed his innermost feelings, but he’d avoided disaster just in time.

As for the pain in his heart-well, that was another matter.