Author's note: all usual disclaimers apply. Life is a tad hectic at the moment as I have had my elderly mother in the hospital and no time to scratch myself. This story, however, is the product of my insomnia... It lends itself to more, but it might take a while as we have a family wedding next week, uni exams to follow... sigh.

Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers grabbed a beer from the fridge. Six days off was very welcome after three weeks of fourteen-hour days. They had their murderer safely behind bars, and deserved their break. She turned on the television and found the trashiest show she could, an American soapy that amused her because of its completely ludicrous storylines.

She had taken only two sips of her beer when her mobile buzzed. "Bloody hell."

She glanced at the number. It was her boss. She groaned. What the hell did he want so soon after dropping her home? "Havers," she answered in her usual manner.

"It's Tommy." He paused.

"I know."

"Barbara, I... need a favour."

She sighed. Of course he did. "Mmm?"

"It's complicated to explain, but would you be able to stay here for a couple of days and help me with a... situation?"

"What situation?"

"I have to mind a four-year-old girl, and... I am not equipped for the job."

Barbara frowned but smiled at his statement. "She's probably weaned, you won't have to breastfeed."

"What? Of course she's weaned. I... her parents just died in a horrific accident and... they have listed me as her guardian."

Barbara sat up. Tommy Lynley, 8th Earl of Asherton sounded genuinely frightened. "Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, of course. Why you?"

"It's complicated. I can explain when I pick you up. We have to drive to Cambridgeshire to collect her and formally identify the bodies. Could I pick you up in about half an hour?"

"Yes, of course you can, Sir."

"Great. Thank you for this, Barbara. I am sorry to ruin whatever plans you had for this week. I don't know how I will ever be able to repay you."

He rang off before she had a chance to respond.

When Tommy knocked on her door, he looked exhausted. "Are you okay to drive?" she asked.

"Yes, I think so. Aidan's death was a shock."

"Sir, if she's only four, she'll need a children's car seat. Do you have fixing points in that?"

He looked back at his car and sighed. "See I know nothing about any of the parenting nonsense."

"Let's take my car. I have the fixing points courtesy of the previous owner. We can get a seat from somewhere."

He nodded. "You drive then."

Barbara had not realised she had offered an alternative. "Sure."

After ten minutes of discussing the traffic, Tommy finally began to talk about the situation. "Thank you again for this."

"It's okay, Sir. What happened?"

"Aidan and Inga, she is... or was... his wife. They went riding on his super bike. He always liked fast bikes, even when we were young. When they didn't return for lunch, the hotel sent out a search party. They found they had skidded on an oil patch and... plunged into one of the fens. They believe they drowned."

"Oh, how awful. But what's someone your age doing in a super bike?"

"We're not exactly ancient, Barbara."

"I'm sorry. How do you know the family?"

"Aidan was a friend of mine from Eton. Aidan Hibernicus..."

"Hibernicus? Wasn't that a horse?"

"No... well yes, probably... but it is the Latin word for an Irishman. Aidan adopted the name because he did not know his family's name."

"Why an Irishman?"

"He had red hair and his only possessions on him when he was abandoned in a church were a silver St Kevin's cross and a St Christopher medal on a chain."

"Right... so how does an orphan like that go to Eton?"

"He won a King's scholarship."

"We don't have a king."

"They were established by Henry the Eighth. Anyway, that's irrelevant..."

"Hang on, is he that shoe guy?"

"Yes, Aidan and his wife ran Hibernicus Footwear. He married Inga, the designer of that shoe whatever it's called."

"The Irish Rockhopper. They are great for wet environments apparently, stick to anything. Kids love them for adventure sports. He must be... have been, loaded."

"He was. Far richer than me."

"So why are you this girl's her guardian? By the way, what's her name?"

"Henrietta."

"Henrietta Hibernicus? Wow, poor kid."

"She was named after the king that changed his life."

"Is her middle name Octavia?"

Tommy stared at her. "I hope not."

Barbara grinned at him. "Well, you don't know with your lot. Strange senses of humour. So why you?"

"His wallet contained a card giving guardianship of their daughter to me. The Cambridge police confirmed it with his solicitor, who is also driving up. I received their call just as I got home. With Mother in Cornwall and Judith in York, I... thought you would be better placed to help me."

She smiled at him. "Sure, no problem."

"You're wonderful with children. I... I have no idea what to do or say."

"Just be yourself. Does she know you at all?"

Tommy nodded. "I see them every couple of months. She's a very bright girl, but... she was daddy's girl. I have no idea how I will tell her about her parents."

Barbara frowned. "Hasn't she been told?"

Tommy shook his head. "No, they asked me to do it because Henrietta knows me."

"Oh, Sir, that's rough."

He shrugged. "Not as hard as it will be for her."

"Would you like me to be with you?"

He looked across at her. "Yes, if you would," he said quietly.

"Of course." They sat in silence with their thoughts for several minutes before Barbara spoke. "Where are Inga's family?"

"Her mother died when she was young, and her father was killed in a skiing accident in Denmark a few years ago. She was an only child, so there is no other family that I know of."

Barbara nodded. "How do you feel about being Henrietta's guardian?"

Tommy stared out of the window. "I don't know. At the moment I feel numb and somewhat terrified. Then I feel guilty for being so selfish. I have to think about what is in her long-term interests. I... don't think that is having me look after her."

"Don't make any rash decisions, Sir."

Tommy ran his hand slowly through his hair. "I won't, I promise."

The hotel was on a narrow road a few miles out of Ely. In the gathering dark, Barbara had trouble seeing the road so she drove very slowly. On one side there was water, but on the other, it looked like boggy marshland. "I don't know how people live here."

Tommy looked across and frowned. "Why not?"

"Too wet. And it smells like compost."

"I'm sure the hotel will want to use that as their new advertising slogan."

Barbara glanced across at him. "I thought I was supposed to be the sarcastic one?"

He shrugged. "What on earth do I say?"

"Huh?"

"To Henrietta. How do you tell a child you barely know that her parents are never coming back and that they decided I should take care of her?"

Barbara shook her head. "I don't know, Sir, but I do know that at the time the right words will come."

He raised his eyebrows. "Thank you for the vote of confidence, but I fear your faith in me is misplaced."

"No. It's not. You're the most compassionate man I know. The words will come." Ahead was a brightly lit driveway. "I think that must be it."

Beside her, Tommy sighed heavily.

The hotel was modern and featured a lot of glass and polished concrete. Barbara had expected something old and creaky. Above the spacious foyer, a void rose the full three-storey height of the building. It was glass on three sides and Barbara wondered if that would make it too hot.

Tommy was shifting his weight from foot to foot. Normally her boss was calm in these circumstances. She reached over and put her hand on his arm and smiled. For a few seconds they looked at each other, then Tommy returned the smile. He nodded slightly then took a little breath. His face transformed into what Barbara called his 'Eton look', neutral and unreadable. Barbara removed her hand and noticed a millisecond of disappointment in his eyes.

"Ah, Lord Asherton?"

They turned. A debonair man in his late forties walked towards them with casual grace. With his salt and pepper hair immaculately groomed, a well cut but slightly trendy grey suit, and eyes that seemed to sparkle despite his serious face, Barbara almost expected him to introduce himself as Cary Grant.

Tommy extended his hand. "Yes, and this is my colleague... friend, Barbara Havers."

"James Heatherington, Aidan and Inga's solicitor." The man accepted Tommy's hand.

Barbara felt her face blush as two handsome men, cut from the same toff cloth, smiled at her. "Pleased to meet you," she squeaked as she reached out to accept James' handshake. She noticed a confused and slightly jealous look flash across Tommy's face. She looked at him reassuring him she was just caught off balance by James and did not fancy him. It was a slight lie, but her boss was feeling insecure enough. For reasons she would never understand, he was very protective of her with other men.

"Come this way. I've only arrived myself a few minutes ago. Henrietta is upstairs. She's been asking for her parents I believe. I don't think anyone has said anything, but she must suspect something is wrong.

"Yes. I have no idea how to tell her."

James shook his head. "I'm concerned she will not understand. I suggest you both stay here tonight. I have booked you a suite. I was hoping you would look after Henrietta. She shouldn't be left alone."

Tommy nodded. "Barbara is excellent with children. I am hoping... to utilise her skills. "

James nodded at Barbara. "That sounds suitable. Child welfare officers are also upstairs. They will need to interview you both and observe you with Henrietta as you are a single male and are not a relative."

Barbara saw the anger flash across Tommy's face, but they both knew paedophiles lurched everywhere, even in the best circles. Tommy nodded. "I understand."

When they entered the room, Henrietta was sitting on the bed looking at her two minders from under a lock of dark hair that tumbled over her left eye. She swept it back as she looked up. Brown eyes latched onto Tommy and she jumped down and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his legs. "Unc Tommy!"

Barbara froze. She swallowed her anger to focus on the girl. It was not her fault that any of this had happened. Tommy knelt and hugged Henrietta. As angry as she was about him not telling her the truth, she was touched by the sight of them together. She surreptitiously wiped away a tear.

Tommy turned to her. "Henrietta, this is my friend, Barbara."

The girl smiled at her and stuck out her hand. "Hello, Babra."

Barbara shook her hand. "Hello, Henrietta."

The girl turned back to Tommy. Crouched on his knee, he was only marginally taller than her. "Mummy and Daddy aren't here," she told him. Barbara could hear how scared she seemed.

"No, I know."

The girl stared at him. "Why are you crying Unc Tommy?"

Tommy lifted her onto the bed then took her hands. "I'm sorry, Henrietta, but Mummy and Daddy had to go to Heaven today."

Henrietta frowned. "Oh? When will they be back?"

"Not for a very long time. They wanted me to look after you."

"And Mitty?"

"I'd forgotten about Mitty. Yes, and Mitty." Tommy turned to Barbara. "That's Henrietta's cat."

"Is Heaven far away?"

Tommy nodded then picked her up and carried her to the window. "See those stars up there? Heaven is just beyond them. From there, Mummy and Daddy can look down on you and make sure I am looking after you."

The room was silent as the girl stared up at the stars. "Why did they leave me?"

Barbara's heart broke for both of them. Tommy had tears in his eyes. She wondered how he would answer.

"They didn't want to leave you. They didn't have a choice."

Henrietta ran her hand through her hair. "Are they dead?"

The whole room seemed to breathe in. Several seconds of silence went by. Tommy finally nodded. "Yes, Henrietta. They fell off Daddy's bike."

The girl looked down. "Are they with Billy?"

"Who's Billy?"

Henrietta looked at him as if he was an idiot. Barbara knew that expression only too well. "Our hamster."

"Yes. Billy would have been waiting for them."

"Are they in the ground? Daddy put Billy in the hole in our backyard."

Tommy looked desperately at Barbara. She shrugged. "Not yet. Did Daddy say a few words when he buried Billy?" Henrietta nodded. "We will do the same for Mummy and Daddy."

"In our backyard?"

"No. We can talk more about that tomorrow. Right now you need to sleep."

Henrietta looked around. "Can I have ice cream?"

Barbara smiled at Tommy's reaction. "No," he said gently, "it's too late tonight but what about some chocolate?"

"Okay."

Tommy went to the minibar and found a chocolate bar. "Only two pieces," he said breaking it off. "Now we have to go and talk to some people. Why don't you climb into bed and try to sleep?"

Henrietta nodded. "Will you tell me a story?"

Tommy looked at Barbara. She nodded. This might be interesting. He screwed his face up then carried the girl to her bed and tucked her in. "Once upon a time there was a... a little brown dog who liked to surf..."