The Night of the Absentee Agent

Chapter 10

The Eagle's Nest

Artie was lying in bed, propped up against a heap of pillows in what Marsh had wittily named 'The Eagle's Nest'. Artie presumably was the eagle in question. Despite that, he was really glad of Marsh's unselfish devotion to his more basic needs while he waited for the swelling in his leg and ankle to go down. On the fourth day the doctor had decided it was time to apply a plaster cast that reached from Artie's toe to the middle of his thigh. He hated it but, mercifully, it would improve his ability to get about. That meant he was free to leave "the nest" and return to Mayberry's house, which had one drawback in particular. He would miss the daily visits from the daughter of the house, Catherine Masters (nee Oakley), known to her friends and family as Cat. She was a beautiful young woman, with grey eyes and chocolate-brown hair, who had been widowed early in her married life and was now an independent woman, in her late twenties, who was staying with her father for the summer.

There was a small knock at the door and Cat came strolling in.

"You ought to wait until I invite you," Artie said. "You could have caught me in an embarrassing position."

"Fiddlesticks, I've seen it all before," she stated, seating herself on the edge of the bed and leaning over to kiss him on the forehead. "How is my eagle with the broken wing today?"

"I keep telling you that's inaccurate, it's my leg, not my arm."

"Yes but you have to admit it sounds more romantic. I must say, Marsh was awfully witty to have called this room 'The Eagle's Nest', especially as your feathers appear to be ruffled this afternoon. Why is that and where's Marsh got to?"

"Marsh has gone to fetch me a cup of tea. If I know him, he'll have added an extra cup in anticipation of your visit. As to my feathers, I've been told I have to stay another night and I'd hoped to be out of your hair today."

"Well, that's not very polite. If you've had enough of my company I'll be off," she said, standing up.

Artie grabbed her hand and pulled her back down. "As a matter of fact, I shall very much miss your visits but I was hoping they might continue once I move back in with Mayberry," he said.

"I shouldn't be allowed to visit you in your bedroom over there," she said. "We'd have to be polite and restrained in the withdrawing room," she said, with a twinkle in her eye.

"You, restrained?" Artie exclaimed. "You seem to act exactly as you please, as far as I can tell."

"That's a consequence of having been a married lady," Cat replied. "But you should see me at father's soirees. I'm the epitome of the respectable widow."

"I should like to see that," Artie said, "in fact I'd have to see it before I believed it."

Cat laughed and it was a clear, joyous, totally unaffected sound.

The door opened and Cat sprang up to help Marsh with the tray he was carrying. As Artie had predicted, it held three china cups and saucers, along with a teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl.

"Earl Grey," Marsh announced cryptically.

"My favourite," Cat replied. "And cook's special madeira cake too. Let me pour."

So saying, Cat took charge of the tray, making sure that both men had a slice of the cake to go with their tea. She watched Artie raise his cup to his lips and take a small sip of the scalding hot liquid.

"I'll turn you into an Englishman yet," she said.

Artie smiled at her. "Not me," he said, "unless you're proposing marriage," he added, teasing her. "Then of course I might consider it," he said, taking another sip of tea and smiling at her over the brim of the cup.

"I hate to disappoint you, Artemus, but I am never getting married again. I love my freedom too much," Cat replied.

"I'm devastated," Artie replied, "you have stricken me to my heart. I shall say nothing of the blow to my financial prospects. I thought you were going to support me in the manner to which I have become accustomed, since I've been in England."

"Maybe, I would insist on returning to America with you and expect you to support me," Cat pointed out.

"On second thoughts, I don't think we would suit," Artie said.

Cat and Marsh laughed as much at Artie's expression as at his words.

Cat leaned over and took Artie's hand in hers, to playfully tap him on the knuckles.

Marsh looked at his two new friends and it dawned on him that they made a delightful couple.

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Kate had stayed at the hotel for three days but, when no word came from either Sam or Marsh, she had left for her parents' home in New York, where she'd been for the past six weeks. Both men knew the address, so, she decided to stick around, in the hope they would get in touch. Keeping a lid on her fears was a much harder thing to do. She had tried to keep busy by taking on a part-time job at a nearby restaurant. It meant she could give something to her mother for housekeeping as well.

"Kate, Kate, there's a letter for you," her mother said, one day, when she returned from work.

Kate grabbed the envelope from her mother's hand and tore it open. She instantly recognised Marsh's handwriting and, as she read what he had written, her heart sank down to her boots. Sam was being held by the Government, in Washington, and Marsh was in England. He wanted her to join him and bring Clara with her. But what of Sam, had Marsh abandoned him? She read on. He was confident Sam would escape and join them later. If not, he would return, as soon as he had the women settled in England, and rescue him. He couldn't return yet because of a complication. She wondered if he was hurt. He didn't mention it but she assumed that he wanted her to bring their funds with her. That amounted to quite a large sum. She would need a man to help her with that part of the plan, for protection. She decided to contact Clara and then head for Washington.

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