The Warrior’s Princess

Dan phoned Ty Bran as Jess was eating a bowl of cereal. ‘I’m in Hay. I wondered if you would like to drive over and join me for lunch.’

She rescued the slice of toast that had leaped from the toaster, juggling it with her bowl of muesli. The door was wide open and the blackbird had forgiven her enough for her nocturnal intrusion on its sleeping place to sit on the top of the studio roof, singing gloriously into the sunshine. Her depression had gone; the peace of this place was working its magic at last. After the noise and dirt of London it was balm to her soul.

‘You’re in Hay?’ She frowned. ‘What are you doing there?’

‘Shopping for books. What else?’

‘But you never told me you were coming over this side of the country.’

‘Didn’t I?’ He laughed.

‘No, you didn’t. Are Natalie and the kids with you?’

‘Not this time. Bookshops bore them, sadly. I’m on my way to join them in Shropshire in a couple of days. They’ve gone up to stay with Nat’s parents. Oh come on, Jess. It wouldn’t take you much more than an hour to get here.’

Jess glanced over her shoulder at the open door. She was, she realised, already surprisingly reluctant to leave this peaceful place in spite of its uneasy echoes. On the other hand she needed to do some shopping and perhaps a change of scene would do no harm.

They met in the bar at The Kilvert at twelve thirty. There were no outside tables left by the time she got there so they settled for a table inside by the window.

‘So, are you feeling better about things now?’ He put a glass of wine down in front of her, sat down across the table and studied her face for a moment. ‘You look tired.’

She grimaced. ‘I’ve been having some rather spectacular nightmares.’ It was a relief to have someone to confide in but she hadn’t intended to come out with it quite so bluntly or so soon.

‘What about?’ He looked away and took a gulp from his pint.

‘A little girl.’ She paused, wondering if she should go into any detail. ‘Two little girls. Steph’s house seems to be haunted by them.’ She glanced up to gauge his reaction.

‘Haunted? Really?’ He was looking down into his glass. He seemed amused. He pushed the bar menu across the table towards her, still without meeting her gaze. ‘Would you like to choose something? So, what form does this haunting take?’

She shrugged. ‘As I said, nightmares and I think I may have seen them.’

‘Wow.’ He was still looking at the menu. ‘Has Steph seen them too?’

‘She says she suspected there was a ghost.’

‘And so what happens in your nightmare?’ His brown eyes were twinkling as he finally looked up at her.

‘One of them is raped.’

She saw the shock on his face as he put down the menu and turned to stare out of the doorway where the sunlight was beating down on the umbrellas over the crowded tables around the front door. ‘Raped?’ he echoed.

She nodded. ‘By Roman soldiers.’

‘That must be a scary dream.’ He still wasn’t looking at her.

‘It was.’ Suddenly she was regretting telling him.

There was a long silence. They both went back to perusing the menu. Abruptly Dan stood up. ‘I’d better order. Have you decided yet?’

When he returned to the table he had brought her another glass of wine. ‘Has Will been in touch?’

‘He’s phoned my mobile a few times.’

‘And?’

‘And nothing.’

There was a pause. When she didn’t elaborate he went on. ‘And Ashley? Has he phoned you too?’

She sighed. ‘Ash broke into my flat just before I left. He brought me some flowers to say thanks for teaching him.’

‘Broke in?’ Dan echoed. ‘What do you mean, broke in?’

‘I found the flowers on my coffee table. I suppose I could have left the door open but I don’t think so.’

‘You weren’t there?’

‘No.’

‘And he’d gone when you came back?’

She nodded. ‘I was only gone about ten minutes, Dan. He must have been watching for me. It scared me.’

‘But you’re safe now.’

She nodded. ‘Do you know what he is going to do this summer while he’s waiting for his results?’

He shook his head. ‘He’s convinced they will be good. He’s a cocky lad, our Ash. He thinks the drama schools will be queuing up for him.’

‘And he doesn’t even need A levels to apply for those.’

‘No.’

They both glanced up as their food arrived. ‘It would be a shame to spoil his chances. It would destroy them if he ended up with a prison record,’ Dan said quietly as he picked up his knife and fork. He looked up at her at last. ‘Don’t think about him, Jess. Or Will, for that matter. Forget about them. Enjoy your summer.’ He took a mouthful of food. ‘So, what are you planning to get up to in that old farmhouse of Steph’s?’

‘I’m painting.’ Jess was looking down at her plate.

‘On your own?’

She nodded.

‘And you’re happy with that?’

‘I’m fine with that, Dan. I like being on my own.’

‘With a ghost?’

She gave an uncomfortable smile. ‘They are not frightening ghosts. Just little girls.’