Chapter 23 #2
“I had forgotten she was engaged to Leofric,” he added musingly.
“I could never account for his liking her, though she is my own cousin. Do you know, the most astonishing thing is, ’twas she who cried off!
He only came to the mortal world after, but I don’t believe the two things were connected, for it is my belief he intended to leave Fairy all along.
He was always a great one for insects, and we haven’t many in Fairyland—they have a dashed peculiar habit of growing minds, and turning into fairies. ”
Damerell said dangerously, “Rollo, you may not have observed that Zacharias is striving to contain a fireball, and I am in imminent danger of having my best pair of top-boots ruined by a hex. We are not at leisure to discuss your family’s eccentricities.
If you are so well acquainted with the lady, however, may I suggest that you ask her to desist?
She might take it better from her cousin than from any of us. ”
“She never liked me above half,” said Rollo, unconvinced. “The only reason I was not ate was because I was too old and tough, for I am sure I broke half a dozen of her dolls.”
Still, he spread his wings and flapped up towards the upper air where Mrs. Midsomer’s head was shrouded by mist and rain. His uncertain voice could be heard through the clamour of the storm:
“Lorrie? I say, Lorrie!”
“Rollo Threlfall?” boomed Mrs. Midsomer, in a voice mingling the crash of the waves and the howl of the wind. “What business have you here?”
“Go for her throat, Rollo!” bellowed Prunella, galloping along on her sea-horse. “Rip it out and ha’ done with it!”
Rollo gave Prunella a look of terror.
“I shan’t pay her any mind, of course,” he said earnestly to Mrs. Midsomer.
“Dashed unpleasant way of carrying on. It don’t seem quite maidenly to be so bloodthirsty, does it?
Is it a mortal thing, do you think, or are the modern females of Fairyland like that too?
Leaving aside lamiae, of course. Not but what I have known some very agreeable lamiae in my time.
There was a good sort of girl who used to live near my father’s cave, Delphyne her name was, I think—unless it was Daisy? ”
“Robert,” said Mrs. Midsomer, “I am engaged in very important business at the moment, and if you have nothing better to say than to ask me whether I ever knew a lamia named Daisy . . .”
Rollo had been turning loops in the air, sunk in thought.
“Now I think of it, her name was Sybaris,” he exclaimed. “But she terrorised the town of Delphi, of course, which accounts for the confusion. Aunt Georgiana could never stick her.”
“Cousin Georgiana?” Mrs. Midsomer stiffened. The turbulence of the waves subsided. “Is she here?”
“Good God, no!” said Rollo, horrified. “I was only recollecting that she did not like Sybaris, which is as good a testimonial as anyone could desire. Though to be sure, Aunt Georgiana does not like you above half either—but never mind all that! What I meant to say, Lorrie, is that you ought not to be rampaging about like this. It ain’t good ton!
We are not in Fairyland, you know, where everyone enjoys a good magical fisticuffs.
In the mortal realm there are things like ships and fishermen and picnics to think about. ”
“What have picnics to do with anything?” said Mrs. Midsomer.
“I am surprised at you, Lorrie,” said Rollo. “It stands to reason no one can have a picnic if it is raining cockatrices and dragons. A hugeous mermaid don’t improve the view, either.”
“Do you really mean to defend your friend’s villainy to me by such shifts?” roared Mrs. Midsomer. “That mortal murdered my Leofric!”
“But if you would only listen, I am sure Zacharias would be able to explain himself,” pleaded Rollo.
“What excuse could there be for such faithless conduct?”
“I am not altogether sure,” Rollo admitted. “But Zacharias is a vastly clever fellow, and I am sure he could explain everything to your satisfaction if you would only be so good as to allow him ten minutes—”
Rollo was not allowed to finish his own explanation, however, for Mrs. Midsomer, losing patience, swatted him away. With a piteous yelp, Rollo vanished into the clouds.
“Rollo!” shouted Damerell.
“Pray come out,” said Prunella’s voice through the storm, “for you are needed.”
The storm clouds heaped in the lowering sky merged together to form the shape of a man, large and powerful, and lying prone upon the horizon. He rose, opening eyes of yellow lightning, and said in a rumbling voice:
“If it isn’t that blasted girl again!”
“If you are annoyed to see me, that is all the more reason to do your work quickly,” said Prunella. “I should be excessively obliged if you would kill this mermaid for us. Once that is done you may go back to being insensate clouds as soon as you wish.”
The thunder-monster gave Mrs. Midsomer an unimpressed look.
“It will require a tempest,” he said.
“Go to it!” said Prunella.