The Blood-Dimmed Tide (46 page)

She collected herself.

‘I must put these in water. Come inside, if you like, or stay and watch the sun go down. I love the way the colours of the trees change as the light dies. John will be here in a moment, but I warn you he’ll be busy. As soon as the girls come down he’ll have to read to them. Lucy’s trying to teach Hana English and she thinks having her listen to The Wind in the Willows will do the trick. I believe Mr Toad is about to set off in his motor car, so the proceedings might get noisy. But come in soon. I want us all to be together.’

He waited until she had gone inside, then turned to look out once more over the deserted garden, his mind full of what she had said. The day was nearly over and only the topmost trees of Upton Hanger still glinted in the dying light. The rest of the long wooded ridge was already plunged in Stygian gloom, and the chief inspector was not disposed to linger. As he stood there a wash of light fell about his feet from the lamps that were being switched on in the drawing room and he heard the high-pitched cries of the children.

Drawn by the thought of the warmth inside and the many dear faces around, he hesitated no longer, turning his back on the end of the day.

And on the dark night that was coming.