Chapter Forty-Nine

Driving Into The Twentieth Century

Carolyn went to get up from her chair to greet her. But Madame Tibaldi hurried across the room.

"Oh, my dear Mrs Gregg. Please do not get up on my account," she said quickly, putting a restraining hand on Carolyn's arm. "We don't want you overexerting yourself."

She looked around the table, assessing each of them in turn as Daniel followed her into the kitchen. "We must make sure there is no excitement or concerns for our dear little lady," she cooed. "It's not good for the babies."

She frowned significantly at Emily. "You do understand, of course."

Elroy materialised at Daniel's elbow. "See, told ya…" He preened.

"Thank you, Elroy," Daniel muttered. "That will be all…"

The seaman pulled a face, but he did as he was bid and faded away again.

"Now, just who do we have here?" Madame Tibaldi smiled brightly, waving a hand at the table's occupants.

"These are my parents, Emily and Brad Williams," Carolyn introduced them quickly. "And this is Martha…" She turned to the housekeeper for form's sake.

"Oh, excellent…" Madame Tibaldi slapped her palms together as she beamed happily. "You never know when I'll need an extra pair of hands."

"That's why I'm willing to stay and help," Emily offered, watching the medium closely. "I am Carolyn's mother, after all. I looked after her with both our grandchildren."

"Of course, of course…" Madame Tibaldi cooed, turning her head to secretly wink at Carolyn. "And she loves you for it. Of course, she does."

She looked back to Emily, her expression becoming serious. "But you're also her mother, where I am a professional. I have found in my long career that a lying-in often needs a firm hand."

She flourished one hand dramatically. "You, my dear, would seek to cosset where I would command."

Carolyn had been watching the little woman with awed fascination. She managed to stop herself from laughing at her mother's startled expression.

"Well, I…" Emily floundered.

"It'll be for the best, Mother, you'll see," Carolyn rushed to say.

"Oh, my dear, if you really think so," Emily asked plaintively. "Do you really think it's at all wise to employ a stranger?"

She turned quickly to her husband, seeking his support. Bradford looked deeply uncomfortable. "I'm sure Carolyn knows what she's doing," he replied quickly. "And we do have things we need to be getting back to at home."

"That's as may be," Emily huffed. "But I still don't like it."

"I have heard quite enough," Daniel said sharply, advancing to stand behind his wife's chair. "I must remind you once again that it is no longer your place to like or dislike any decisions I might make regarding my own family."

He inhaled deeply. "I do not wish to argue with you, but I will if you persist in perpetuating this foolishness."

"Ohhh…" Emily stared at him in wide-eyed shock.

"Yes, yes, of course. We both completely understand, Captain," Bradford waded in manfully, nodding his tacit agreement to his daughter's scowling husband. "We'll say no more about it."

"Thank you, Bradford." Daniel nodded, but his expression remained hardened. "But never forget I am in sole command within this family. No one else."

"I love you, Mother," Carolyn added quickly, not wishing to upset Emily further, but standing her ground. "I know I'll be fine with Nurse Tibaldi to take care of me."

She took her husband's hand in hers. "We must be allowed to get on with our own lives."

"If you're sure. But I still do not like it…" Emily looked at each of them in turn.

"I think it best if you do not linger here any longer than needed," Daniel replied.

"Oh yes, yes, of course…" Bradford hurried to agree, taking his wife's hand. "Now, we can be packed and ready to leave in the morning. There's nothing more to keep us here. We do not wish to outstay our welcome and I do have things I really must be getting back to."

"Do you really think it will be all right?" She looked past her husband's shoulder to her wrathful son-in-law.

She opened her mouth to comment further then shut it again quickly when she saw the warning look in his eyes. Finally understanding her opinion was neither sought nor wanted, Emily gave up the battle and subsided into silence.

"Thank you…" Carolyn got up to kiss her father's cheek and then her mother's. "I knew you would both understand. I don't want you to worry."

"We just hope it'll all turn out for the best." Bradford kissed her back.

His eyes dropped to her burgeoning waistline and he sighed.

"I know…" Carolyn hugged him tightly. "We'll phone you the moment our babies are born. You'll be the first to know."

Daniel came up behind his wife. "Carolyn is in the best of hands. I could never allow any harm to come to her."

"Of course, I know that, young man. I always have since the day we first met." Bradford accepted his son-in-law's hand in a firm handshake. "I expect nothing less from you."

He shook his head sadly as he linked his wife's unresisting hand through the crook of his elbow. "Come along, Emily Charlotte Williams. Let's go for a walk. It's a fine morning. We'll take the children down to the beach." He escorted her firmly from the room.

Carolyn stared after them. "Well, that went better than I expected…" she breathed cautiously.

"They needed to be told who is in full command of this vessel." Daniel looked after them. "I doubt they will seek to be so interfering next time they come to stay. Which will not be for some time if I have anything to do with it."

"Well, I do think they know that now." Carolyn went up onto her toes to kiss his bearded cheek.

She turned to Madame Tibaldi and smiled. "I don't think I've ever seen my mother so totally at a loss for words."

The medium patted her hand comfortingly. "The stars are all aligned in your favour, my dear. The spirits have also assured me all will be well. They are never wrong."

She twinkled brightly. "You disposed of George Turner's evil, in a very fitting way. It was a very elegant doing."

"How did you know what happened?" Carolyn marvelled, as she took the older woman's hand between her own.

"I know everything…" The medium smiled as she laid one finger alongside her nose. "I have come prepared to stay and I'm totally at your command, my dear."

"I don't know if we need you to stay," Daniel replied with a frown. "But we do appreciate your help."

"Trust me, you do need me and you will need me," the medium replied comfortably. "The stars and my spirits are never wrong. Time will tell."

She sighed happily. "Now that we've settled the matter of your mother, what more do we need to do to prepare for the arrival of your sweet darlings? We must make sure all is ready."

She shook her head. "Nothing can be left to chance."

Carolyn and Daniel looked at each other and sighed. Both shook their heads. "Claymore…" they said in unison.

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"I love you…" Carolyn hugged her mother closely before turning to her father.

"We love you, too…" Emily replied, inhaling deeply. "We'll be waiting for your news." She smiled mistily, seeming to wait for her daughter to ask her to stay after all.

"You'll be the first to know…" Carolyn nodded as she stepped back.

She waited as they both got into the cab that would take them to the airport. She turned from watching it drive away. Daniel was standing behind her, watching her make the decisions that were right for them.

"I still feel guilty," Carolyn sighed.

"Don't…" Daniel pulled her close and kissed her temple. "You know your mother can only be here for small amounts of time. Any longer and she may see something we cannot explain. It's better this way. For everyone."

Yes…" Carolyn nodded. She raised one hand to trace the line of her husband's string jawline. "A cup of coffee would be very welcome right now."

They left the gate and walked up the front path. "Candy and Jonathan," she called to the children playing with their dog. "Let's go inside. I know you two have homework to finish before school tomorrow."

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Claymore looked up from preparing his lunch as Carolyn and Daniel walked into his office. He grimaced sourly, putting aside the boiled egg he was peeling.

"Why are you here?" he asked nervously.

"We're here to see about Daniel's driving test," Carolyn replied as she sank gratefully into the chair before the desk.

His eyebrows crawled up to his hairline as he wiped his hands on his handkerchief. "You two were actually serious? You want to pass the test?"

"Of course," Daniel replied impatiently. "And it is a matter of some urgency. How soon can you accommodate us?"

Claymore looked hunted. He turned to Carolyn. "As I said before, he would have to pass every single examination. No funny business or spooky looking up the answers as soon as my back's turned. All fair and above board."

He straightened in his chair. "It's the law." He waved a hand. "And no sending that other spook to try and scare me."

He glanced nervously at Daniel. "There will be no more threats to end my life or talk of impaling me on your marlinspike if you fail to complete the examination to my satisfaction."

"And as I said before, I will not fail," Daniel ground out. "I will pass with flying colours on our very first voyage.

"It's not a ship…" Claymore complained.

Daniel shrugged. "The vessel goes where it's guided and is propelled by something unseen. It's a ship."

"Have it your way…" Claymore grumbled, leaning forward in his chair to extract his bright red eyeshade from the drawer.

He replaced the green one over his eyes before he pulled forward a large ledger. He opened it, running his finger down the list of appointments which were few and far between. "Um, ah, would tomorrow at two o'clock in the afternoon be too soon?" he asked, his face settling into a morose expression.

"I will see you then," Daniel promised evenly. "And you will apply the rules fairly or I will keel-haul you the moment we return."

Claymore swallowed tightly, easing one finger around inside the collar of his shirt. "Fair enough…" he croaked. "I'll see you tomorrow."

He sucked in a long breath. "And my fee?"

"You'll get your blasted fee!" Daniel snapped, as he opened the door for Carolyn to leave the office before him. "When I have my licence to drive the confounded machine!"

Claymore sighed as he looked after them. "I knew I should have stuck to real estate…" he moaned.

He turned to the filing cabinet behind him and opened it. He took out a small bottle of brandy and a glass. He poured himself an unusually large measure and swallowed it in one gulp, which made him cough helplessly as it burned its way down his throat to his empty stomach.

He glared at his untouched plate of food. He pushed it aside. His appetite had fled. Sighing dramatically, he poured himself a second measure dreading the afternoon to come. But knowing there was no escape.

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The next afternoon, Claymore settled nervously into the passenger seat of Carolyn's car. He adjusted his seat and cleared his throat noisily before he opened his official clipboard, taking a pen from behind his ear.

Sweat stood out in beads on his forehead and his face was pale. His pen trembled as he tried to tick off the first box on his list.

"Are you ready to proceed?" he managed to ask Daniel in an official tone that shook with nervousness.

"Let's get on with it," Daniel commanded shortly, turning the key in the ignition. "I don't have all day."

"Be safe," Carolyn said through the open driver's window before she stepped back to retreat to the Gull Cottage front gate.

Martha, the children and Madame Tibaldi were their interested audience. Even Elroy and Mr Peabody had appeared to watch. Claymore managed a weak wave of his hand as the car started off.

Drawing a long deep breath, he began to give directions which Daniel followed implicitly. The car turned and weaved its way through the countryside before turning back toward the town.

Claymore ticked box after box off his list, trying to find a fault, any fault, with his great-uncle's driving ability. But there were none that he could uncover.

"You're very good at this," he admitted finally, grudgingly.

He directed Daniel back toward Gull Cottage, where the whole family were still waiting for them to return. There was a mixture of trepidation and nervousness in their various expressions.

"I said the spirits told me all would be well," Madame Tibaldi predicted softly.

"I hope so," Carolyn replied. "I truly do."

"You now have me as a backup," the medium assured her stoutly. "Should it come to that."

"All will be well," Martha chipped in, watching the car draw to a smooth halt. "The Captain is in command."

She chuckled. "It's Claymore I feel sorry for."

"Yeah," Candy added. "He sure looks a bit green."

"But he always looks like that whenever the Captain's around," Johnathan added with a grin. "He looks like he's gonna pass out," he continued ghoulishly.

The car pulled up smoothly and stopped behind Claymore's soft-top Ford. Daniel sighed as he turned the engine off. Silence settled in as the whole family waited for Claymore's verdict.

He opened his door and got out. Daniel followed him, walking around to his side of the car. "Well?" he demanded impatiently. "What do you say?"

"Wait a minute…" Claymore waved one hand as he busied himself with his paperwork, checking and rechecking his results.

His face settled into an even deeper look of moroseness. He sighed.

"Well?" Daniel asked again, planting his fists on his hips belligerently.

"We might have to go fetch the marlinspike," Jonathan confided to Candy behind his hand. "I know where it is."

"And you'll leave it right where it is," Martha told them, overhearing. "The Captain's got this. You'll see."

"I just wish Claymore would hurry up and say something," Carolyn muttered impatiently.

"The spirits assure me all is well in hand," Madame Tibaldi replied, patting her hand where it rested on the top of the gate. "They have not let me down yet."

Daniel raised a threatening hand in Claymore's direction. "I swear if you do not speak soon, you will never speak again!"

"All right, all right…" Claymore grumbled crossly, completing one final double-check. "I can inform you that you have passed with full marks."

He sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know how it's even possible."

"I do!" Jonathan declared, climbing up onto the top of the stone wall to grin at his stepfather. "My Dad can do anything!"

"Yeah…" Candy joined him gleefully. "He surely can do anything! Anything at all!"

"I'll complete the paperwork when I get back to my office." Claymore shook his head.

He slanted Daniel a nervous look. "And there is still the small matter of my fee…" His tone rose with fear.

"You will never change," Daniel predicted, pulling a small bag from his hip pocket.

He tossed it to his great-nephew who caught it deftly. He stood weighing it expertly in his open palm. He nodded slowly. "Yes, that feels about right."

"Begone, you snivelling codfish!" Daniel pointed a commanding finger toward Claymore's own vehicle.

"All right, all right. I'm going…" Claymore scrambled for his car. "Come to my office tomorrow…"

He got in and drove off before his great-uncle could threaten him further.

※※※※※

"So now you're licensed to pilot that infernal, horseless machine of yours," Lucius mused, shaking his head. "I suppose if needs must…"

"There is a need, so I must." Daniel leaned across the desk to refill his friend's wine glass. "You asked to see me. Do you have any news?"

"Some news, yes," Lucius replied slowly. "I was forced to expend some monies and call in some favours owed. A few were reluctant to speak until they saw the colour of my coins."

"You will be repaid in full for all expenses," Daniel assured him. "What is the news you have?"

Lucius raised his brows. "Mitford gave his new wife a rather fancy diamond engagement ring?"

"He did. Hazel didn't hesitate to show us when they arrived out at the island. What of it?"

"Did you get a close look at it?" Lucius puffed on his cigar.

"No…" Daniel admitted slowly. "She was too far away and I was not about to step closer."

He grimaced. "I might have been tempted to put an end to her and throttle her scrawny neck before I ran Mitford though."

"Just say the word…" Lucius grinned.

"What of the ring, then?" Daniel shook his head as he leaned back in his chair.

"If you'd gotten a good close look at it you would have known it was nothing but a bare-faced fake. A good fake but a fake, nonetheless."

Daniel frowned. "A fake, you say." He puffed on his cigar, deep in thought. "It can be confirmed?"

"That woman's short-tongued, long-nosed sister remarked unfavourably upon it, while I was monitoring their goings-on. Looking for any clues." Lucius shrugged. "Her sister denied it. I took the ring while the Harriet slept."

He smiled thinly. "I asked the shade of Louis-François Cartier for his opinion, and he confirmed that it's nothing more than a cleverly disguised piece of cubic zirconia. Louis-François commanded that I immediately remove it from his workshop. It deeply offended his precious French sensibilities."

"How interesting…" Daniel stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Mayhap a good fake for an insurance fiddle?" He raised his brows. "Mitford urgently needed extensive funds for his defence. I had hoped we'd sunk him then."

"I would say there is a very real possibility of such underhanded dealings. The man prides himself on his slippery nature. He thinks himself untouchable now."

Lucius lay back in his old rump-sprung armchair. "I now have my eye on what the charlatan has been claiming as a genuine Van Gogh. Mitford prides himself on his collection of expensive artworks. I intend to ask the man who's credited with the painting of it, about its actual authenticity."

"Oh, ho…" Daniel shook his head. "I wonder what else in that confounded con man's life is also fake apart from his snakelike smile and ingratiating manner?"

"I'm sure I'll soon find out," Lucius assured him keenly, puffing contentedly on his cigar as both men saluted each other with their wine glasses.

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