Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
An hour later, they were on their way to see Horace, though Pippa wasn’t convinced this was a good idea. But Theo had been very clear about it the moment they’d finally made it out of the cottage.
‘You’re coming with me,’ he said, lacing his fingers through hers as though that settled the matter completely. ‘I need backup.’
‘Backup?’ She laughed as they walked along Lighthouse Lane. ‘I’m hardly security.’
‘You’re moral support,’ he corrected. ‘I think you’ll be good at asking questions I don’t think of.’
Pippa liked the thought that he wanted her there.
Still, as they approached the start of the cliff path, she felt a small knot tighten in her stomach; she didn’t know how Horace would react or how any of this was going to play out.
‘I’ve got an uneasy feeling about this,’ she admitted.
‘This is someone I’ve admired, looked up to, and aspired to be like…
I’m not sure I’m ready for this conversation.
He might find it confrontational, or say that we’re questioning his integrity, or that it’s got nothing to do with us. ’
Theo stopped walking. ‘I hear you, and I feel exactly the same. I’ve been obsessed with his creative genius ever since I was a little boy, hearing my grandfather’s stories about him – his friend.’
They started walking again. ‘Had you met Horace before the interview?’ Pippa asked. ‘And did you ever meet Walter when he was alive?’
‘No, I’d never met either.’
‘Do you not think that’s a little strange, if your grandfather and Horace were such good friends? Not to mention the fact that you’re obsessed with clocks and that the Vale Brothers were your idols.’
‘I was always aware he’d taken himself out of the public domain, so I suppose I never really expected my grandfather to make an introduction.’
‘Why did he take himself out of the public domain? Yes, the partnership was over, but that didn’t mean he had to hide himself away. Unless…’
‘Unless?’ Theo took a sideward glance at her.
‘Guilt?’
‘Or maybe he’d just had enough of the speculation about why the partnership came to an end. He didn’t want to fuel the fire; he just wanted the rumours to die.’
‘Maybe,’ replied Pippa, but she wasn’t convinced.
They started their climb towards Cliff Top Cottage.
The sunshine was bright and the air smelled of grass and seaweed.
They could hear puffins before they saw them, little grunts and moos coming from the burrows at the edge of the cliff.
Then there they were. Three puffins came waddling across the path in front of them, moving with quick little steps like they were late for something important.
Pippa marvelled at the beauty of the island. ‘Look at them. They’re adorable.’
They watched one hop over a tuft of grass. ‘Here’s a fun fact for you: puffins usually stay with the same partner for life. That could be twenty years or longer. They basically pick their person and stick with them.’
Pippa raised an eyebrow. ‘Twenty years? How do they even know their partner? They all look the same.’
‘Maybe they just … know,’ Theo said with a shrug. ‘Some things don’t need to look different to feel right.’
She nudged him gently. ‘Maybe that’s the secret. Find someone who doesn’t mind if you wobble your way through life.’
‘Maybe,’ he said, giving her hand a squeeze. ‘As long as you’re wobbling in the same direction.’
Pippa tried not to grin, but failed. ‘Well, good thing we’re on the same cliff path.’
Theo shook his head with a soft smile. ‘Careful, Pippa Bell, that almost sounded like a long-term plan.’
‘Only if you’re a puffin,’ she shot back, grinning.
The sea shimmered below them, and the wind carried the sound of waves hitting the rocks far beneath the cliffs.
As they reached a bend in the path, they heard another sound: a car engine coming up the track behind them.
They turned and saw that a taxi was making its way slowly up the incline, tyres crunching on the gravel.
Pippa and Theo stepped to the side to let it pass, exchanging a quick glance.
‘A taxi heading to the cottage. Do you think…’ Theo began, watching as the taxi pulled up outside Cliff Top Cottage and stopped. The driver switched off the engine and waited.
‘I think Horace is leaving,’ Pippa murmured.
They walked the final stretch to the cottage and watched the front door open. Pete appeared in the doorway first, holding the handle and leaning back inside as if giving last-minute instructions. Horace then followed him outside, wearing a jacket and carrying a small overnight bag.
‘He’s definitely leaving,’ agreed Theo.
They reached the edge of the picket fence just as Horace stepped back from Pete and adjusted his bag over his shoulder.
Pete spotted them first. His gaze flicked from Theo to Pippa and then back again, and his eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise.
‘What a lovely morning,’ Theo called out cheerfully.
Horace looked in their direction and smiled. ‘It is a lovely morning,’ he said, before turning back towards Pete and shaking his hand. Pete held it firmly, giving his friend a steady nod.
‘Are you leaving?’ asked Pippa, as they approached the side of the taxi.
‘Yes,’ Horace replied, turning towards Theo and stretching out his hand. ‘It was good to finally meet you, and I’m sorry you’ve been splashed all over the news because of me. It wasn’t my intention. You are a credit to your grandfather.’
‘Thank you. We were hoping to speak to you before you went.’
‘I’m sorry, I have a train to catch.’ Horace checked his watch.
Theo gave a sideward glance towards Pippa, then took his chance. ‘What was the point of the interview, Horace, after all this time?’
Horace glanced out towards the puffins waddling on the clifftop.
‘Come back to my roots, enjoy the stage one last time, talk about clocks to an audience that has followed me for years.’ Horace paused, the bag strap still clutched in his hand, and the expression on his face shifted.
‘I need to go. Thank you, Pete, for letting me stay.’
‘We’ll talk soon,’ Pete replied, opening the back door of the taxi.
Pippa could see the look on Theo’s face, and she knew they only had a split second to stop Horace from leaving.
‘I’ve read Andrew Wetherby’s book,’ Theo declared, looking directly at Horace. ‘There’s a lot of things that don’t make any sense, and I’d love some clarity, if you’re willing to talk about it.’
‘Andrew Wetherby’s book was a slur on us because he was caught stealing from us. He was prosecuted and would do anything to save his own reputation.’ He narrowed his eyes at Theo. ‘My lawyers managed to stop distribution of that book. How have you managed to get a copy?’
Theo glanced towards Pippa, who didn’t hesitate. ‘I found a copy in The Story Shop, but it didn’t belong to them. It wasn’t on their records. So someone left it there to be found and…’ She stopped, the thought clicking into place as the most likely person came to mind – Sebastian.
‘Sebastian feels passionately that Andrew Wetherby was framed,’ Theo continued.
‘The guy who tried to sabotage my interview? He was just after his fifteen minutes of fame.’
‘Believe me, I’m not fan of Sebastian, but—’
Theo was interrupted by the taxi driver murmuring through his open window, ‘I have another fare waiting for me. Would you like me to arrange another cab for you?’
‘I’m coming,’ replied Horace.
Theo was clearly thinking fast on his feet. ‘Sebastian wasn’t after his fifteen minutes of fame; he’s after the truth. We know about the secret commission, we know about—’
Horace’s face began to turn purple. He looked angry. ‘I’m not listening to this.’
Pippa felt her heart begin to race and she panicked. Her gut feeling was telling her to stop him from going even if he was an untouchable icon in her world. In a moment of madness, she blocked the door of the taxi.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’ Horace was not impressed.
Pippa felt her stomach tighten as she looked at him. This wasn’t how she’d imagined any of this would go.
‘Sebastian Worthington-Frost,’ she said carefully, ‘the man you think is just after attention … he’s Andrew Wetherby’s grandson.’
Horace stopped completely.
His eyes widened, and the shock on his face was instant. He didn’t say a word. He just stared at her, and for a moment Pippa had no idea what he might do next. Her heart thudded a little faster as she waited to see. He looked at the open passenger door of the taxi. Then at Theo. Then back at her.
For a second, Pippa thought he might just go. He didn’t need to give them any explanation.
Instead, Horace slowly reached out and shut the car door before leaning down to the driver’s window. He spoke quietly and the driver nodded before pulling away down the clifftop track.
Horace gestured towards the cottage. ‘Is this okay with you, Pete?’
Pete nodded.
‘Let’s hear what you think you know,’ said Horace as they followed him inside.