Page 101 of Fire Must Burn

‘I still think the choice of a petrol bomb was meant to send Tony a message,’ said Gwen. ‘We should make it back to Paddington Station by mid-afternoon. We can go directly to the hospital and ask him.’

‘Do you think this was about Bruce?’

‘I’m beginning to,’ said Gwen. ‘We haven’t spoken to his family yet.’

‘That may present some difficulty,’ said Iris.

‘Why?’

‘They won’t speak to me. His parents came to visit at Cambridge several times and were quite clear about me not being good enough to consort with the likes of them. And when I attended the memorial service for him a few years later, they completely cut me dead.’

‘Hmm. If it’s merely a matter of upper-class snobbery I should be able to pass,’ said Gwen.

‘Good for you, milady,’ said Iris. She glanced at her watch. ‘Breakfast soon. I don’t think any of our commandment-breaking fellow guests will be attending church, but maybe the twins will be going and can take you. Let’s get packed now. Wait!’

‘What? Did you think of something?’

Iris squatted down and gently plucked a tiny round-bodied creature from the edge of a pond, then held it out for Gwen to see it crawling across her palm.

‘Simplocaria semistriata,’ she said. ‘The semi-striated pill beetle. That’s a life-list find for me.’

‘Good,’ said Gwen, peering at it cautiously. ‘I’m glad the trip hasn’t been a complete waste of time.’

Their breakfast was augmented with lardy cakes and Bath buns, two local delicacies that they found on their plates, offered with a shy smile by Pamela. Then Gwen attended services with the twins while Iris wandered through the outbuildings and made friends with the animals.

When the time came for their departure, Pamela appeared in their doorway to carry their bags downstairs. Before she picked them up, she quickly stepped forwards and embraced Iris.

‘I cannot thank you enough,’ she said softly.

‘These are all the thanks I need,’ said Iris.

Timothy was waiting outside with Barney harnessed to the trap. He said nothing during the ride to the station, but after bringing their suitcases to the platform he solemnly shook their hands before leaving.

The local train came twenty minutes later. After they transferred to the London-bound train, Gwen once again placed her bags on the overhead shelf, then stood back to let Iris heave hers beside it.

Only this time, the bag caught the lip of the shelf and tumbled back. Iris frantically caught it, hugging it to her chest with both arms.

‘I am losing my touch,’ she said with chagrin.

She tossed it again, this time with success, then stared at it thoughtfully.

‘What?’ asked Gwen.

‘An idea,’ said Iris.

‘This must have been what it was like when the apple conked Newton,’ said Gwen. ‘I am honoured to be present at the occasion.’

‘You know he was a Cambridge man, don’t you?’

‘Oh, we are so lucky that a Cambridge man discoveredgravity!’ cried Gwen. ‘Why, if it had been an Oxford man sitting under that tree we’d all still be floating about, untethered to the earth!’

‘I’m fairly certain that’s not how it works,’ said Iris.

‘Well, what do I know? I’ve never been to university.’

‘Another thing that’s not my fault,’ said Iris.

‘Are you going to tell me your idea?’