Page 60 of Fire Must Burn

‘Don’t worry, alcohol sterilises everything,’ said Kevin. ‘Even Sauce.’

‘Good thing we brought plenty,’ said Sauce, settling back against him as the car pulled back onto the road. ‘And good thing you had your arms around me, darling. You saved my life.’

‘I will expect your gratitude to be expressed throughout this weekend,’ said Kevin.

They passed through the town of Kimbolton, driving by the castle in the centre. Bruce slowed down and thumbed his nose at it as they passed by.

‘You know them?’ asked Sparks.

‘Cousins,’ he said. ‘The Montagu family. A noble lineage fallen into disrepute as their castle falls into disrepair. The recent lords established a new tradition of marrying heiresses, spending their fortunes, then cheating on them with young, marginally talented actresses. Yet they get to keep the title, and are stuck with that historic monstrosity. I spent many wretched holidays there, pretending to be nice to them.’

‘That’s where— which one of the wives was it?’ began Kevin.

‘Catherine of Aragon,’ said Sparks and Tony simultaneously from the back.

‘Right, her,’ said Kevin. ‘That’s where she finally ended up after the divorce. Died there, too. Ridiculous, all the fuss she caused.’

‘She caused?’ sputtered Sparks. ‘How do you figure that?’

‘She should’ve just quietly got on with her life once the king found someone younger and prettier,’ said Kevin. ‘She was lucky he kept her around for as long as he did.’

‘Right, turn the car around,’ said Sparks. ‘I must protest on behalf of all the wronged women in the world. Especially the short ones.’

‘You haven’t been wronged by anyone,’ said Kevin.

‘But the night is young,’ Tony murmured into her ear, and she smiled.

‘How much longer?’ asked Sauce as they reached the open road going west.

‘Another twenty minutes,’ said Kevin. ‘Barring any detours through farmland. Think you can manage to keep on the road the rest of the way, Catey?’

‘This part I can drive with my eyes closed,’ said Bruce. ‘Watch.’

He squeezed them shut. The Morris kept going.

‘Yes, that’s enough now, Bruce,’ said Sauce.

He kept them shut, with the car inching ever closer to the ditch running alongside the road.

‘I said enough!’ she shouted.

‘Come on, old chap,’ Kevin said quietly.

Bruce opened his eyes and made a slight adjustment with the wheel, bringing them away from the brink.

‘I told you,’ he said.

Sparks looked over at Tony. He was grimacing in pain. She realised she had grabbed his hand and was squeezing it tightly. She relinquished it, and he made an exaggerated gesture of wiping his brow in relief.

They drove on in silence, passing farms and forests on both sides. Then an impressive gate came into view on the right.

‘It’s open,’ said Tony. ‘They anticipated our arrival.’

‘It’s been rusted open for years,’ said Kevin. ‘Maintenance is not the Pickard family’s strong suit.’

The tree-lined drive was three-quarters of a mile long, ending in a circular gravelled driveway, beyond which was a mansion which Sparks and Sauce goggled at.

‘So that’s where all the bricks in England ended up,’ said Sauce.