‘It was you that I came to see.’
She forced a smile. ‘Goodbye.’
Madeleine closed the door after him then went back upstairs.
‘Is there anything I can get you, Father?’ she said.
‘A pair of crutches.’
‘The doctor told you to stay in bed.’
‘I’ll die of boredom if I’m trapped in here much longer.’
‘You’ve had plenty of visitors,’ Madeleine reminded him. ‘Frank Pike came yesterday, so did Rose. Today, it was Gideon’s turn.’
‘He’d be here every day if he had some encouragement.’
She inhaled deeply. ‘You know how I feel on that score.’
‘Give the lad a chance, Maddy. He dotes on you.’
‘Yes,’ she said, sadly, ‘but I do not dote on Gideon.’
‘Your mother didn’t exactly dote on me at first,’ he confided with a nostalgic sigh, ‘but she took me on and — God bless her — she learnt to love me in time. I think I made her happy.’
‘You did, Father. She always said that.’
‘I miss her terribly but I’m glad that she’s not here to see me like this. I feel so helpless.’ He peered up at her. ‘Gideon will be a driver one day, Maddy — just like me. You could do a lot worse.’
‘I know that.’
‘So why do you give the poor man a cold shoulder?’
‘I try to be polite to him.’
‘He wants more than politeness.’
‘Then he wants more than I am able to offer,’ she said.
His voice hardened. ‘Gideon is not good enough for you, is that it?’
‘No, Father.’
‘You think that you are above marrying a railwayman.’
‘That’s not true at all.’
‘I brought you up to respect the railway,’ he said with a glint in his eye. ‘It served me well enough all these years, Maddy. Your mother was proud of what I did for a living.’
‘So am I.’
‘Then why are you giving yourself these airs and graces?’
‘Father,’ she said, trying to remain calm, ‘the situation is simple. I do not — and never could — love Gideon Little.’
‘You’ve set your sights higher, have you?’
‘Of course not.’
‘I’m not blind, Maddy,’ he told her. ‘Something has happened to you over the past few days and we both know what it is. Run with your own kind, girl,’ he urged. ‘That’s where your future lies. Why look at a man who will always be out of your reach?’
‘Please!’ she said. ‘I don’t wish to discuss this any more.’
‘I only want to stop you from getting hurt, Maddy.’
‘You need rest. I’ll leave you alone.’
‘Stick to Gideon. He’s one of our own. Be honest with yourself,’ he said. ‘No man in a silk top hat is going to look at you.’
Madeleine could take no more. Her feelings had been hurt and her mind was racing. Holding back tears, she opened the door and went out.
Superintendent Tallis did not even bother to knock. He burst into Colbeck’s office in time to find the Inspector poring intently over a copy of the Illustrated London News. Colbeck looked up with a dutiful smile.
‘Good afternoon, sir,’ he said.
‘Where have you been, Inspector?’
‘To the Kilsby Tunnel and back.’
‘I know that,’ said Tallis, leaning over the desk at him. ‘Why did you not report to me the moment that you got back?’
‘I did, Superintendent. You were not in your office.’
‘I was in a meeting with the Commissioners.’
‘That’s why I came back here to do some work.’
‘Since when has reading a newspaper been construed as work?’
‘Actually,’ said Colbeck, turning the paper round so that Tallis could see it, ‘I was studying this illustration on the front page. I suggest that you do the same, sir.’
‘I do not have time to look at illustrations, Inspector,’ rasped the other, ignoring the paper, ‘and neither do you. Now what did you learn of value in Northamptonshire?’
‘That it really is a charming county. Even Victor was impressed.’
‘Did you establish how the tunnel was damaged?’