Chapter 3 (Some Nights...)
The man had introduced himself as Norman Hunter - the grounds man at Happerby Orphanage. He had worked there for the last couple of years. The house had been bought by its new owner when it’s old owner - Sydney Rook - had come into financial difficulties. Rook had sold it to the new owners and he had been given a small area of the house to live in.
“It’s beautiful,” said Holly as they rounded to the front of the house.
The front lawn spread out in front of them and disappeared into the darkness beyond. There was a pathway that led from the darkness towards a terrace that led up to the great, white house. In the middle of the pathway was a fountain with a statue of a child holding a suitcase.
The large windows were illuminated from within by warm and inviting yellow light and Holly couldn’t help but smile at her surroundings.
“Don’t get used to it, Dangerfield,” said Lilly, keeping close to her friend. “We won’t be staying here long.”
“You’re still worried about the Doctor, aren’t you?” said Holly.
Lilly shrugged. “I guess we’ve been in worse situations.”
“Like almost being torn to shreds by a pack of dogs?” said Holly, making a point to look at Norman.
“I’m sorry about that,” said Norman, looking a little guilty, “but you were trespassing.”
“Bite first, ask questions later,” said Holly.
“Or in our case,” continued Lilly, “fall in stream and ask questions later.”
Holly smiled. “Will the owner be mad?”
“No,” said Norman. “He’s a pretty affable chap actually. Always has his mind on something else, though. He‘s been away for a few days but he‘s due to return later tonight. You can stay in one of the rooms for the night and then you can meet him in the morning.”
“In the mean time,” said Holly, as they headed up the steps to the front door, “the Doctor may decide to put in an appearance.”
Norman unlocked the front door and a small woman with mousey, curly hair appeared holding a candle. She was wearing some kind of cross between a maid and matron uniform and looked confused.
“These are the intruders, Hazel,” said Norman.
“They don’t look like intruders,” said Hazel, looking Holly and Lilly up and down.
“Looks can be deceptive, lady,” said Lilly dryly.
“They say they got lost and accidentally wandered through a hole in the fence on the other side of the river.”
“Reginald hasn’t mentioned anything about a damaged fence,” said Hazel.
“Well I’ll pop up there and see him tomorrow. Isn’t Eleanor supposed to be here now?” said Norman as he guided the ladies inside.
“She’s got the evening off, sir,” said Hazel. “Olive and I can cope, don’t you worry.”
“I’m not worried, Hazel, but something about that young woman isn’t quite right.”
“Holy caped crusaders!” said Holly in wonderment.
A staircase led up from the hall and curved onto a balcony that overlooked the large, open space. Along the balcony were doors leading off to other corridors and rooms. In the main hall - or what the owner liked to call "the meeting hall" - there sat a box of toys and a rocking horse. This room was wood-panelled and decorated with red-flowered wallpaper. The floor was wooden but large rugs had been placed down for when the children wanted to play. On the right side was a door leading to the kitchens and the left door led back the way Hazel had come - to the dining room. Other doors led off to studies and living rooms.
“I could live here. Easy,” said Lilly, nodding her approval.
“What’s a caped crusader, miss?” asked Hazel.
“A little too soon for you,” said Holly.
“Hazel, will you take these young ladies to a double room and get them a change of clothes? I’m going to make sure the grounds are secure, and then I’m going to have a warm cup of cocoa and put my feet up.”
“Right you are, sir.”
“But our friend -” said Lilly.
“It’s too late to go looking for him now,” said Norman, shaking his head. “As soon as the sun’s up I’ll speak to Reginald and we can go and look for him.”
“But-”
“There’s nothing more I can do, young lady,” said Norman. “Now, be thankful that I’m letting you stay here the night.” He sniffed and then looked at Hazel. “Take care of them.”
“Yes, sir,” said Hazel, nodding her head.
Hazel led them towards the bottom of the staircase when something caught Holly’s eye. It was an large oil painting hanging above the fireplace on the far side of the room. It was a picture of a young woman with dark hair and brown eyes. She was sat amongst what looked like stars.
“Who’s that?” asked Holly.
“Never you mind, miss,” said Hazel, looking a little sad. “If the master wants to tell you in the morning then he will tell you.”
Holly waited until Hazel’s back was turned and then rolled her eyes at Lilly. Lilly managed a smile and thwacked Holly on the arm to follow the woman up the stairs.
The Doctor had managed to find his way to the little stone bridge that arched over the river and then made his way back in the direction of the TARDIS. He took a quick look around him and then unlocked the TARDIS doors.
In hindsight he wondered if maybe they should have just headed back into the TARDIS. It would have saved all of this messing about, but then he still needed to get to the bottom of what had caused the time bumps in the vortex.
He walked into the console room and then flicked a few switches. He growled at the console as it refused to reveal their location and tutted. He needed to get out of his wet clothes and then go and find Lilly and Holly.
The river wasn’t deep enough for them to drown in, but they could still be injured.
A few moments later he re-entered the console room, this time wearing a black suit and yellow shirt with a spotted black and white tie.
He stroked his beard, made a mental note to have a shave later on, and then headed back outside.
He was just locking up the TARDIS when he became aware of something back towards the trees. He turned, and just for a fleeting moment thought he saw a light amongst the trees.
It was there - just for a very, very quick moment - and then it was gone.
He took his screwdriver out of his pocket and aimed it in the general direction, but if there was anything there it was now gone.
He sighed, put his screwdriver in his pocket and then made his way towards the house.
“How do I look?” asked Holly.
Lilly was stood facing the window, looking out towards the dark grounds of the orphanage. She thought she had seen a light towards the trees, but it had faded as quickly as it had arrived. She couldn’t even make the TARDIS out in the gloom.
Lilly turned around to face Holly and stifled a gasp.
Holly was standing in a long, cream dress lined with golden patterns. It seemed to fit her almost perfectly.
“Well?” said Holly, looking a little embarrassed.
“You look…beautiful,” said Lilly. She then opened her mouth, her eyes wide. “For a Dangerfield I mean.”
“For a Dangerfield?” said Holly with a laugh. “What’s that meant to mean? Are you saying my family can’t scrub up?” She laughed.
“No, no, not at all,” said Lilly. “I mean, I’ve never met your parents. Just your sister. She was a kid though. Cute.” Lilly was gibbering.
“I can’t believe it fits me really,” said Holly, twirling around in the dress. “Hazel said it belonged to one of the ex workers here. She died a few months ago.”
“Creepy,” said Lilly. “You’re wearing a dead woman’s dress.”
“What about you?” said Holly, nodding towards a slightly smaller dress laid on the bed.
“I ain’t wearing that,” said Lilly.
“Ah, go on,” said Holly. She picked it up. It was similar to Holly’s, but blue and cream. “It belongs to Hazel, doesn’t it?”
“She can keep it,” said Lilly. “This dress will do just fine,” said Lilly, indicating the black and white spotty affair that she was wearing.
“Not in this era,” said Holly. “You’re showing too much leg.”
“Eyes front, Dangerfield,” said Lilly.
Hazel knocked on the door and entered timidly. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” said Lilly. “I’m almost dry now.”
Holly rolled her eyes. “She won’t get changed.”
“I’ll be fine,” said Lilly. “I’ll wear the nighty though,” said Lilly.
“I can hang your wet clothes up for you. They’ll be dry in the morning.”
“Cheers, sweetheart,” said Lilly with a sarcastic smile.
Hazel frowned at her.
“What?” said Lilly bluntly.
“Forgive me, miss,” said Hazel, her arms folded, “but you remind me of someone.”
“Well I’ve never had relatives in this time - I mean…in this area,” said Lilly.
“No, you don’t look like anyone, but both of you have a way about you. Like you’re not from around here. I used to know someone like that.”
“Someone not from around here?” said Holly, sitting on the bed and looking at curiously at Hazel.
“Yeah. She was a traveller. But she dressed like you two - all un-lady-like.”
“What was her name?”
“Oh,” said Hazel, suddenly getting a bit flustered, “well it’s not for me to say.” She started backing out of the door. “Just leave your clothes outside the door and I’ll make sure they get dried. Goodnight, miss,” she said to Lilly. “Goodnight, miss,” she said to Holly.
“Goodnight, Hazel,” said Holly.
“That was weird,” said Lilly.
“Just a bit,” said Holly.
The Doctor reached the door of the house. He looked up at the impressive building and nodded his approval. He’d seen plenty of large, impressive mansions before, but this was certainly one of the most beautifully kept.
He reached out his fist to knock on the door when suddenly his arm froze. He frowned as he looked down at his balled-up fist, his arm shaking.
“What…?” he said.
He tried to pull his fist away, but he couldn’t.
And then he began to shake, his whole body shuddering as if he had been hit by a current of electricity. He tried to cry out, but he couldn’t.
Then, as if knocked away by an invisible force, he flew backwards, flying a few metres away and rolling down the terraces onto the pathway below.
He cracked his head on a step and blacked out.
Holly opened her eyes.
The sun was streaming in through the open curtains, illuminating her white bed sheets. She could feel it’s warmth. It was a summers morning, but it must have been early. She had no way of checking the time. She suddenly felt a little worried. Her phone was drying out with her modern day clothes. She crossed her fingers that Hazel hadn’t found it.
She turned to Lilly who was sleeping soundly in the bed on the other side of the room. She turned her body to the right and continued to look at her. She looked so peaceful and still, but she knew that inside Lilly there was a raging, aggressive young woman. Lilly had softened somewhat since their first meeting, but it was still in there somewhere.
Illithia - the Master’s daughter.
Lilly opened her eyes, concentrated on Holly for a moment and then frowned.
“Morning,” said Holly.
“Morning,” replied Lilly.
“I’ve been thinking.”
Lilly groaned and rolled onto her back. “It’s too early to be thinking, Dangerfield.”
“No, listen a moment,” she said, propping herself up on her elbows.
“Knock me out,” said Lilly, turning her eyes to face her.
“Do you wanna know what I find strange?”
“How you can wake up with perfect hair every morning and I always wake up looking like a scrawny, blonde rat.”
“What?” frowned Holly, laughing. “No, seriously.”
“Okay, go on then.”
“This is an orphanage, right?”
“Apparently.”
“Well why haven’t we heard any children?”
“Quiet children?” suggested Lilly.
“Oh, come on,” laughed Holly.
“They’re all dead?”
“Lilly!” said Holly, throwing her pillow at the Scottish girl.
“I don’t know, Dangerfield. Maybe we’ll find out today. Let’s just ask.”
“I was just thinking. That’s all.”
“Put your deerstalker away and get dressed, Sherlock,” said Lilly, throwing the pillow back to her.
The two woman got dressed and made their way downstairs where they were met by Hazel. She greeted them warmly.
“Did you sleep well?” she asked.
“Not bad actually,” said Holly, stretching and cracking her back.
“I’m glad,” said Hazel. “And I have some good news.”
“The Doctor?”
“Your friend?” Hazel smiled. “Yes. Mr Hunter found him this morning. He was out cold at the bottom of the terraces.”
“Jesus!” said Lilly, her eyes wide. “Is he okay?”
“He’s sleeping at the moment,” said Hazel. “But I’m sure Mr Hunter will wake him soon.” She looked from each of the woman and then straightened herself up. “And I’m pleased to say that our master has returned.”
Lilly looked at Holly. “So this is where we take a visit to the police then?”
“Not exactly, young lady,” came a man’s voice from towards the dining room. He looked to be in his late 30’s, handsome and with a neatly trimmed beard and neat, combed down hair.
“This is your orphanage?” said Holly.
“Indeed it is,” said the man. He extended his hand. “I’m William. William Fieldgate.”
Across the grounds and back towards the woods Reginald and Eleanor stood watching the house, their eyes narrowed.
“The Doctor is inside,” said Eleanor.
“Indeed he is,” said Reginald. He sniffed the air. “His time machine is near to us as well.”
“We should take it. Escape this place.”
“No. We must wait.” He turned and smiled at Eleanor.
Eleanor nodded and then licked her lips. “Stick to the plan. Stick to the plan.”
To be continued....
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