DAY FIVE
"It's just the three of us again for breakfast," Lady Penelope remarked as John and Ruth came into the dining room. "Just as it was before that dreadful business took place and spoiled your visit."
"I was thinking about taking Grandma out for a drive today in the Land Rover," John told his hostess. "Just to a local tourist spot, not very far. Can you suggest anywhere suitable?"
"Well there's a small zoo at Swallowdene. It's about eight miles away. They have nice gardens, too, where you can walk around and admire the flowers and plants, there's a shop, too, where you can buy the plants on show. I have some from there in my garden. I'm usually invited to open their annual flower show in June. I would come with you but I'm expecting a call from the police about my antiques," Lady Penelope answered.
"Would you like to go there, Grandma?" John asked. "Then the three of us can go up to London tomorrow and see some more sights."
"Yes, thank you, John, that sounds just right," his grandmother replied.
"That's all settled then," Lady Penelope replied. "There's a map in the Land Rover, John. After our trip up to London tomorrow I intend to hold a small party in the evening before you leave us the following day. I've invited some close friends and also invited Charles Leroux and his family, just as a token of thanks for his help in catching those thieves."
"Hear that, Grandma? You're going to a party!" John asked Ruth. "You'll love that."
"Oh my, I'll look forward to that, too," Ruth smiled. "A party in a stately home in England. I never expected to be going to one of those."
John found Swallowdene Zoo and Gardens without too much trouble and both he and Ruth were enjoying a rest in the café after looking at the animals. John was studying the visitors guide book while drinking some tea. "The gardens sound okay, Grandma. They have some rare species and plants for all climates and soils. You could buy some in the gift shop and take them back home with you for the garden. Kyrano would like that better than anything else."
"Oh he would," she agreed. "It was so difficult to find something suitable for a gift for him in London. I would like to buy him something extra."
After spending about two hours touring the vast exhibitions of plants both outside and under various glass domes that simulated different climates. John and his grandmother went into the shop. Plants that were hardy enough to grow in most climates were on sale and for those of a more delicate nature a catalogue was available for purchases by mail order.
"Take a look at this, Grandma. If you can remember the names of the plants you liked, look under the Tropical Section," John told her as he opened a catalogue.
After choosing some colourful tropical lilies and some orchids, John placed the order and chose a few plants for himself to buy from the shop to keep some in his room and the rest on Thunderbird Five. "We'd better be going now, Grandma. By the time we get back to Penny's place it will be time for dinner. Then you can rest before your next trip to London tomorrow."
"Yes, all that walking around has made me tired," she answered as they went back to
the Land Rover, now parked amid a sea of vehicles.
"This place must be popular," John said as he helped his grandmother into her seat. He carefully loaded the plants into the boot of the Land Rover then got in and began the return journey to Foxleyheath.
"I've enjoyed today, John," Ruth told him. "It was good of you to take me. Thank you, darling."
"My pleasure, Grandma," John told her. "After what happened the other day, I wanted to give you a day out to take your mind off it."
She looked at his clear blue eyes and she suspected he felt if he'd been there, she might not have been abducted. She smiled at him and tried to relieve his anxiety. "I suppose I can add France to the list of places I've been to now. I'm sure your Grand-daddy would never have believed that I'd swap sitting in a farmhouse in Kansas to one in France. I just wished we'd had the time or the money to travel together on vacations the way people do now."
"Would he have enjoyed going to a party in a stately home?" John asked.
"I think not, he was just a hard working farmer," Ruth replied. "He'd probably feel uncomfortable and out of place amongst fancy folk. Lady Penelope may have made him feel comfortable and welcome though. She is not like most fancy folk, is she?"
She changed the subject by saying, "You never told me how your visit to your friend went, John?"
"I enjoyed it, Grandma," John answered. "Steve and his wife made me welcome. They have two little boys now. The place where he works is fantastic and the students were really interested in what I had to say."
"That's nice, sweetie, I'm pleased you enjoyed it, "Ruth told him. "I hope you plan to go again and stay a little longer next time."
"I hope to. Steve's asked me back." John replied. "I don't know when it will be though. I have to relieve Alan in the space station when I get back and the others are all due some leave next."
Ruth looked at him and thought how much she hated having two of her grandsons so far away for so long. She was enjoying having this blonde haired, quiet young man all to herself. Ever since she had come to live with Jeff and his children she'd hardly ever had the opportunity to spend this amount of time with just John
"I expect your friend Steve, was wondering if you intended to settle down and get married so he could visit you," she remarked. "You're a handsome boy, John. Its time you or one of your brothers did. There's only Alan that's giving me hope of seeing great-grandchildren so far."
"You know how Dad feels about us getting involved with anyone," John answered. "Security has to come first, that's what's instilled in us"
"Yes, well one of these days your Daddy is going to have to listen to me telling him just what I think of his security." Ruth told him. "Your father needs to get his head down from the moon and do some real thinking for a change."
They arrived back at the manor and Lady Penelope instructed Parker to put the plants John had bought into the conservatory until they left to go home.
"I'm pleased you both had a nice day," she told her guests. "Dinner will be served soon if you'd like to get ready for it."
"We ordered some tropical plants to be delivered to the island," Ruth told her as she watched John and Parker unload the Land Rover. "There were so many to choose from, it was hard to make up my mind which ones to order."
While they were having dinner Lady Penelope told them the latest news about her stolen antiques. "They've been photographed for evidence and listed as mine. I'm so pleased none of them were damaged. They told me I can expect them back within the next few days."
"That's good. Everybody else that had theirs stolen around the same time can expect theirs back, too," John answered. "I just wish I'd known about that tunnel when I thought I heard mice scratching about. I could have caught them red-handed."
"Never mind, John, dear," she told him. "The workmen are coming to brick that tunnel up now, so we won't have that little problem anymore."
Parker cleared away the dishes for the main course and put them in the dumb waiter to be returned to the kitchen. Lil sent the dessert course up and Parker smiled to himself as he served out apple pie and fresh cream to those sitting at the table.
"H'I'll just get the coffee now, M'Lady," he told his employer after he finished serving.
"Oh my, this apple pie tastes different to the ones I make," Ruth remarked.
"What's up, Grandma?" John asked. "It tastes good to me."
"It does taste good, John. I admit that, just different that's all," Ruth told him as she ate another spoonful. She sat thinking a while then said, "I know what it is. Your cook's added a little cinnamon to the apple instead of sugar. I could never get that right and always made them too sweet. I stopped using it years ago. She's got it just right. I'll have to try that again when I get home."
"Lily always makes her apple pies this way," Lady Penelope smiled. "Parker, be sure to let Lily know how much we all enjoyed it."
"H'I will, M'Lady, just h'as soon h'as h'I get cleared h'up h'in 'ere." Parker replied and tried to imagine how Lil would react to the news.
After dinner they retired to the lounge and discussed what they planned to do in London again the next day.
Down in the kitchen, Parker had relayed the news about the apple pie to Lil, "So she liked it, did she?" The cook asked him. "I thought she may 'ave 'ad something to say about it not being as good as 'ers or something."
"She's not bad once you get to know 'er," Parker told her. "She just h'enjoys cookin' h'a lot."
"Well even if she does, I don't like 'avin' strangers in my kitchen," Lil replied.
"One day h'I might just tell 'er that you win prizes for your h'apple pies h'at the village show," Parker said. "That'll surprise 'er.
"I'll surprise 'er even more when I make the party food tomorrow," Lil smiled. "I'm pleased they're all going out for the day, gives me plenty of time to work at it."
Later that evening John was in his room looking out once again at the stars. He thought about the conversation he'd had with his grandmother on the journey home from Swallowdene Park.
"If you can get through to Dad to do something about his security rules, Grandma, you'd be the only one that can," he said out loud to whichever star was nearest. He'd enjoyed today and having his grandmother for company, strange though it may have looked for a man his age to do. He hadn't been out with his grandmother like that for years and after what happened to her while he was away, he was glad he'd got the chance to do it.
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DAY SIX
After breakfast, Parker drove Lady Penelope, Ruth and John up to London as arranged. He parked the Rolls as close as he could to the tourist attractions in Greenwich that John wanted to see. It was close enough, too, to get to the pier for the planned boat trip later.
"Thank you, Parker," Lady Penelope said, once all the passengers were out. "We will take the monorail home later. You can go ahead with making arrangements for the dinner party this evening."
"Very good, M'Lady," Parker replied. "H'I've got to see to the builders coming, too. Just let me know when you h'all need picking h'up from the station later."
John saw a tourist sign that pointed the way to the buildings that were open to the public and Greenwich Park. "I don't think Grandma will be very interested in going around the Old Observatory," he remarked. "Perhaps she'd like to see the Queens House. That way we can save time and I'll meet you over there later."
"You're right, John," Ruth told him. "I'd much rather see the Queen's House."
"Good idea, John. Astronomy is a little above my head, too. If you pardon the expression," Lady Penelope agreed. "We'll admire some nice old furniture and antiques instead."
They parted company and John headed straight for the series of buildings that made up the Old Royal Observatory. He enjoyed going through the house in which John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal lived and also his successor Edmund Halley. He marveled at the early telescopes they had used and mentally compared them to what was used now. 'They did the job though,' he thought to himself. 'I haven't discovered a comet with mine … yet.'
Not far away, Ruth was also enjoying her tour around the Queen's House with Lady Penelope. "I think your house is bigger than this one," Ruth remarked.
"Oh but this one is more impressive than mine and it has the distinction of being the first Italian style building in England," Lady Penelope told her. "There used to be a rather large palace here in Greenwich in medieval times. It tells you all about it in this guide book."
They walked through the rooms admiring the paintings and furniture. "I think it's a shame it's not lived in now," Ruth said. "All of these pretty things not being used, at least yours is still lived in. I've been meaning to ask you about that picture in my room, the one above the fireplace of Lady Ann Kerr-Doulton. Who was she?"
Lady Penelope thought hard for a while. "Oh Lady Ann, she's an ancestor of mine. She married Sir Henry Creighton-Ward. He was the son of the first Creighton-Ward that bought the house. She was a tragic figure. She had ten children and six of them died young, as was often the case in those days. She died after falling from a horse while out riding. Her youngest children were twin girls less than a year old. Luckily her eldest son survived to inherit the estate."
"Oh my, how sad," Ruth answered.
"Yes, she left two sons and two daughters. Her husband was so distraught at her death they feared for his sanity. He never remarried like most men in his position would have done in those days," Lady Penelope told her. "He rarely left the estate and dropped out of society. All he wanted to do was devote himself to raising his remaining children and his wife's memory. She loved roses and he designed the Rose Garden and planted and cared for the roses himself. They say he spent many hours there just sitting reading by himself or with his children."
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John was still mingling with other tourists in the Old Observatory and had joined a guided tour. He took some photographs of the meridian line standing like many other visitors before him, with one foot in the eastern hemisphere of the earth and the other in the west. Then looking at his watch, he thought it was time to go and meet the others. He hoped they would have finished their tour of the Queens House by now.
He couldn't see any sign of his grandmother or Lady Penelope when he reached there. So he had a quick look inside the Maritime Museum next door and was pleased to see another huge telescope on display amid an exhibition of clocks and other old instruments used by sailors. He was particularly interested in the first radios used on ships. By the time he had finished it was getting on for lunch time and he hoped his two companions were outside and waiting for him.
Emerging from the building, he was pleased to see that they were there and sitting in the sunshine in the park. After getting reunited they went for some lunch and then down to the pier where a brightly coloured boat was waiting for them to take them for sail up the Thames.
"I hope I enjoy it and don't feel sick like I did on that boat going to France," Ruth said. "I'm not used to sailing."
"You'll be fine, Grandma," John assured her. "This isn't like being on the sea."
"We can see so many things to keep your mind off being ill," Lady Penelope told her to give her extra re-assurance. "You can see so many of London's sights from the river."
"Let me know if you want me to take any photographs for you," John said.
The tour guide on the boat pointed out the many historic and modern buildings on both sides of the river. The cruise lasted for about two hours before the passengers were brought back to their starting point at Greenwich. "I feel like I've really seen London now," Ruth said. "It's just so big."
"Glad you enjoyed it, Grandma," John said as he helped her off the boat first and then Lady Penelope. "You said you always wanted to see London."
"I think it's time for afternoon tea and then we ought to be getting back to get ready for the dinner party," Lady Penelope stated. "It just doesn't do to be late for one's guests."
Parker was waiting for them at Foxleyheath Station when the monorail drew to halt. "H'I 'ope you h'all 'ad a good day," he said to them as soon as they were all comfortably seated in FAB 1.
"Thank you, Parker we have all had a wonderful time. Is everything arranged for this evening?" Lady Penelope asked.
"Yes, Madam, h'and the builders 'ave been to 'ave a look at the tunnel," Parker told her. "They thought h'it best to block h'it from both h'ends b'tween the 'ouse h'and the h'estate wall. They h'also said h'it would be best to brick h'up the h'entrance be'ind the bookcase panel, too."
"Good heavens, that is a lot of work!" Lady Penelope exclaimed.
"It makes sense though, Penny," John told her. "You'll be much more secure that way."
"You're right, John, of course I will," She agreed. "I do hope they don't make too much of a noise or a mess either."
"H'I'll keep h'an h'eye h'on the cleaners this time h'if they do." Parker added.
After arriving back at the mansion, it was nearly time to get ready for the dinner party. The first guests were expected to arrive within the next hour and a half, giving them just about time to get showered and changed in preparation for meeting them.
John was pleased he had remembered to put something to wear for a formal occasion in with his luggage. He had anticipated that Lady Penelope may have wanted to give them a little send off with a party of some sort. He checked himself in the mirror to see if his evening suit looked okay. It was, but his tie that was supposed to be fastened in the shape of a neat black bow was anything but straight or neat.
"Darned stupid thing," he said out loud as he flung the offending item on his bed. "I hate ties."
Usually it was Scott who came to his rescue, and had done for as long as he could remember when it came to putting a tie on. John took to wearing casual shirts or tee shirts as often as he possibly could to avoid the trouble of wearing them. He had long since resigned himself to the fact that his fingers were just incapable of tying them properly, no matter how he tried.
He sat thinking about his predicament, 'No Scott now, Johnnie boy, so you're going to have to do it yourself or find another tie fixer.'
After another failed attempt he draped the tie around his neck and went up to his grandmother's room. He had arranged to meet her in case she got lost again. His hope was that she might just be able to help him.
He knocked on the door and called for her. "Come in, darling, I'm just about ready," she told him.
He found her finishing tidying her hair when he entered. She was wearing the dress she had worn for the show in the London theatre earlier that week.
"Hey, you look nice, Grandma," John told her. "I haven't seen you wear that dress before."
She turned around and smiled at him, "Thanks sweetie, it's not that often I get paid a compliment by a handsome young man, or get the chance to dress up in something fancy. There's not much call for it living on a secret base in the middle of nowhere. Not that I'm complaining about that, there's nowhere else I'd rather be living now than with my family and friends."
"Grandma, I've got a bit of a problem," John began. "Scott's not here and----."
Ruth smiled, "John, darling, you've always had that problem. Sit down! I can't fix your tie for you if I can barely reach your neck. You boys are all so tall now."
She tied it into a perfect bow for him, and gave him a little hug, "There now, you look quite smart."
"Thanks, Grandma," he said. "I just hate ties. I wish I didn't have to bother with them."
"You can't help it darling, you're a Tracy through and through. The only one out of the five of you boys to inherit your Grand-daddy's tie tying affliction. He was just no good at it either," Ruth gently stroked John's cheek. "Every week I had to make sure his tie was on straight before going to church, or if he had to go to the bank to do business with the manager. Good thing he was a farmer and not an office worker or he'd have been late every day for work."
"We're going to be late for the party, Grandma," John reminded her.
"I wasn't expecting this party. I hope there aren't a lot of fancy folk there," Ruth told him. "I just won't know what to say to them."
"Don't worry, Grandma, Penny is a good hostess," John reassured her. "She'll look after you. Come on let's go down and meet them."
They waited to greet the guests in the Library. Parker had tidied it and put a few ornaments from other rooms on the side tables and mantelpiece until the others were returned from the police. Soon the guests began to arrive. Sir Jeremy Hodge and his wife were the first to be introduced to Ruth and John. Then Charles Leroux and his wife entered the room with their son, Pierre. John was pleased to see him as he had not had much of a chance to speak to him when they met earlier. Pierre was the same age as Virgil so John was relieved he had somebody from his own generation to speak to.
Parker served pre-dinner drinks while the guests chatted about the recent events that had taken place.
"Such a dreadful business, dear lady, "Sir Jeremy Hodge said to Ruth. "I'm pleased those bounders didn't hurt you."
"There all safely locked up now," Lady Penelope told him. "Thanks to Charles and the police and International Rescue of course."
"I propose we give a toast to all of them," Sir Jeremy said. "Let's raise our glasses to all of them."
Lady Penelope didn't want to dwell on the subject for too long and began asking about other matters. Parker announced that dinner was served in the Banqueting Room upstairs. Ruth was surprised and nervous when she saw the table set with such beautiful crockery kept for such an occasion. She was equally surprised to be formally led to her seat by Sir Jeremy Hodge and looked anxiously as John had the task of doing the same for Sir Jeremy's wife. However once they were seated, the guests all seemed to relax while the meal was served. Lady Penelope had the technique of entertaining her guests and keeping the conversation flowing down to a fine art.
Ruth was surprised at both the presentation and the taste of the food served. 'That girl must be a genius to have made all of this by herself,' she thought as she began to eat the most delightful salmon dish in front of her.
After dinner the women retired to the drawing room to continue their conversation. John was happy to accompany the men to the games room next door to play pool and get a chance to speak to Charles Leroux and his son. He'd learned that Pierre was a chemist working in a government research laboratory. He and John had a shared interest in athletics, so the two young men found something in which to have common ground to talk about by comparing their own experiences on the running track and those of the sports stars they both admired.
At the end of the evening Ruth was feeling very tired after being up early to go to London and seeing the sights there. The after dinner drinks coupled with missing her afternoon nap made the drowsy feeling worse.
Fortunately the guests were also getting a little tired. Sir Jeremy Hodge and his wife departed for their home in London. The Leroux family was going to stay overnight and Parker showed them to the guest bedrooms they were occupying.
"Come on, Grandma," John said to Ruth after the rest of the guests had gone. "You look tired and we have to travel home tomorrow afternoon."
"I've had such a nice day in London and the dinner party, too, I am a little tired," she admitted. "But I've enjoyed it Lady Penelope, your cook is just wonderful."
"I'm pleased you enjoyed it," Lady Penelope answered. "Now if you need a hand with your packing tomorrow just let me know."
"Thanks, dear," Ruth replied. "I did a little packing yesterday to save some time. Goodnight."
John showed her to her room and said goodnight as he left her to go his own. She went in and got ready for bed. Then her eyes caught the portrait above the fireplace once again and she remembered the story that Lady Penelope had told her earlier that day about Lady Ann Kerr-Doulton.
"You poor dear, losing your babies like that," she told the picture. "Then you having that terrible accident and your poor man left heartbroken. My own son feels the same way now after his wife has been dead over twenty years. He never re-married either."
She got into bed and thought how much she had enjoyed her visit here in spite of what had happened to her. Now she was looking forward to going home again.
Unknown to her though, she was not the only member of her family looking forward to returning home.
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