Silent, The Car Journey (2)

Two Years Earlier, Lucy

'None of my adoptive family know I'm here,' she blurted out to Arthur. 'My adoptive parents think I'm on a walking holiday with a group of friends. But I'm not a runaway, you know. I've got somewhere to stay and a job.'

In the driver seat, Arthur maintained a neutral expression. 'A job at the House serving meals?'

'I thought you already knew about it.'

'Know about what?  None of this is making any sense to me.  You haven't told me anything yet and I haven't seen you for nine or ten years.’

‘Agnes Harlesden.

'Would you please explain?'

'Agnes must have told you about the job. That's why she returned unexpectedly.  She heard I'd returned, so she came back.'

Arthur Harlesden burst out laughing. 'Lucy, is that what you really, really think?  That Agnes, dear Agnes, came back from overseas simply because she heard you were in the area - and at such short notice.  Believe me, luv, nothing could be further from the truth.  I promise you that. Agnes returned unexpectedly to deal with a crisis of sorts, but she didn't return because of you. I'm afraid she came back for entirely different reasons. Quite serious ones, in fact. But as far as I'm concerned, none of the family know you're here.’

Really?  She thought of the intrusion earlier, someone coming into her room in the bungalow, snooping through her bag and leaving the bag on the bed, unzipped, so that she would know someone had gone through her belongings.

‘Certainly, no one has remarked on you to me,' Arthur went on. ‘I hadn't a clue that you were back. I'm curious about one thing, though. How did you manage to get the job at the House? Surely, Brendon would have seen the name and known straightaway.’

'I used a different name.'

Arthur's lips tightened.  'I see. Different name, not your own?'

'Yes.'

'And why's that, Lucy? Did you have a quarrel with your adoptive parents?'

'No. We get on really well.'

'Yet, your adoptive parents don't know you're here. They think you're on a walking holiday.’

'I dont want them to know.  They're abroad anyway.’

'So you've taken advantage of their absence, if I'm correct. Am I?'

'Yes.'

'Fine - but why have you gone to these extraordinary measures?  If you wanted to spend some time at Lyme House, you should have just phoned one of us and arranged to come as our guest. Why all this secrecy and conundrum?'