Usual disclaimer
Chapter Fifteen
The next morning, I was up quite early, about nine-ish, I think. Hopping down to the breakfast table I found Aunt Dahlia, Angela, and Uncle Tom. Aunt Dahlia was munching toast in such a moody fashion that it was like she'd been trained. Old Uncle Tom was reading the paper, and Angela was waving a sausage to and fro on a fork in an absent manner.
There was no trace of the resident personification of sweetness and light, so I tucked in. When, after I had finished, Emily still hadn't put in an appearance, I felt worried.
"Aunty dearest, do you know where the heavenly vision is?"
"If you mean the unfortunate girl Emily, she's gone off to the town."
"Why unfortunate? What's happened?"
"Oh nothing. She's only unfortunate because she's got you hanging around like a persistent puppy."
I strode off, feeling put out. Passing by my room to gather hat and jacket, I headed for the open spaces.
I reached the town of Market Snodsbury in good time. It's really only a village masquerading as a town until somebody builds a church big enough to fit the entire 'Snodsbury population without crushing them.
I soon found my hearts desire, loitering by the pond. Or rather, she hovered. Angels have a distinct inability to loiter.
"Oh, hullo Bertie."
This lukewarm greeting lacked sparkle. I wrapped the old arms about her and was about kiss her lightly on the cheek before asking what her troubles were, when she turned her head away.
"What is it, light of my life?"
Emily sighed worriedly, and looked about with a hunted look in her eye.
"It's nothing Bertie, really."
I was instantly suspicious. Her manner was of a girl who was trying to make light of a tricky situation.
We wandered back to the house, Emily deep in thought and self-wondering what on earth she was deep in thought about. As we ambled in through the gates, a strange scene was unfolding before us. Several members of the constabulary were milling about on the front lawn. One voice rose above the rest. It belonged to the copper at the open door, with Aunt Dahlia.
"Good Morning, Madam."
"Good Morning Officer."
"I have reason to believe that a young lady by the name of Miss Cooper is here. Is that correct?"
By this time, Emily and I were in hiding inside a large bush of sorts, with sticks and leaves all over the place. By an amazing stroke of luck, Aunt Dahlia saw Emily waving her hand inside the bush. With a frantic gesture, Emily began shaking her head, causing all kinds of debris to cascade down my neck.
Aunt Dahlia is a sharp woman. She got the message in a flash, and before one could say, "Emily and I were in a bush," she had told the copper to buzz off and leave us alone, as Emily Cooper was not about.
As the men in blue stomped off, I untangled myself from the bush, and was just tugging out Emily, when a resounding shout rang out;
"Unhand my daughter, Wooster!"
Needless to say, my blood froze in it's tracks.
Chapter Fifteen
The next morning, I was up quite early, about nine-ish, I think. Hopping down to the breakfast table I found Aunt Dahlia, Angela, and Uncle Tom. Aunt Dahlia was munching toast in such a moody fashion that it was like she'd been trained. Old Uncle Tom was reading the paper, and Angela was waving a sausage to and fro on a fork in an absent manner.
There was no trace of the resident personification of sweetness and light, so I tucked in. When, after I had finished, Emily still hadn't put in an appearance, I felt worried.
"Aunty dearest, do you know where the heavenly vision is?"
"If you mean the unfortunate girl Emily, she's gone off to the town."
"Why unfortunate? What's happened?"
"Oh nothing. She's only unfortunate because she's got you hanging around like a persistent puppy."
I strode off, feeling put out. Passing by my room to gather hat and jacket, I headed for the open spaces.
I reached the town of Market Snodsbury in good time. It's really only a village masquerading as a town until somebody builds a church big enough to fit the entire 'Snodsbury population without crushing them.
I soon found my hearts desire, loitering by the pond. Or rather, she hovered. Angels have a distinct inability to loiter.
"Oh, hullo Bertie."
This lukewarm greeting lacked sparkle. I wrapped the old arms about her and was about kiss her lightly on the cheek before asking what her troubles were, when she turned her head away.
"What is it, light of my life?"
Emily sighed worriedly, and looked about with a hunted look in her eye.
"It's nothing Bertie, really."
I was instantly suspicious. Her manner was of a girl who was trying to make light of a tricky situation.
We wandered back to the house, Emily deep in thought and self-wondering what on earth she was deep in thought about. As we ambled in through the gates, a strange scene was unfolding before us. Several members of the constabulary were milling about on the front lawn. One voice rose above the rest. It belonged to the copper at the open door, with Aunt Dahlia.
"Good Morning, Madam."
"Good Morning Officer."
"I have reason to believe that a young lady by the name of Miss Cooper is here. Is that correct?"
By this time, Emily and I were in hiding inside a large bush of sorts, with sticks and leaves all over the place. By an amazing stroke of luck, Aunt Dahlia saw Emily waving her hand inside the bush. With a frantic gesture, Emily began shaking her head, causing all kinds of debris to cascade down my neck.
Aunt Dahlia is a sharp woman. She got the message in a flash, and before one could say, "Emily and I were in a bush," she had told the copper to buzz off and leave us alone, as Emily Cooper was not about.
As the men in blue stomped off, I untangled myself from the bush, and was just tugging out Emily, when a resounding shout rang out;
"Unhand my daughter, Wooster!"
Needless to say, my blood froze in it's tracks.