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(aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2121 by Angharad Copyright © 2013 Angharad
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I felt myself awakening from what had been like a bad dream. I was still sitting next to Paul’s mother who was sleeping. Trish was standing in front of me pulling on my hands and talking excitedly.
“Hello, darling,” I said to her and he flung herself at me giving me a hug which must have equalled that of a young grizzly bear.
“I thought you were dying,” she said holding back the tears.
“Why d’you think I had you there to support me?”
“I don’t know, Mummy.”
“To keep me safe, which you did beautifully.”
“Only because the old lady told me what to do.”
“You saw her then?”
“Yes, shouldn’t I?”
“I asked her to tell you to come and help me, I’m glad she did.”
“Who was she, Mummy?”
“She’s know as the Grey Lady of Stanebury...”
I was interrupted by Paul’s mother, “She’s reputed tae be the wife o’ a laird who didnae do her job properly and there wis a famine or some ither catastrophe and many people died. On her death bed, they say she vowed to makes sure that her successors would do better or she’d pester them until they did. If she’s appearing tae ye, then ye must be connected tae Stanebury and be close tae thae laird.”
“How d’you feel?” I asked her still cuddling Trish.
“Much better thanks tae ye.”
“I think we’re both indebted to this young lady, she’s the one who came and got us.”
“Aye, she’s certainly connected tae the estate, isn’t she?”
“What does that mean, Mummy?”
“It means that for the Grey Lady to appear to you, you have to be well connected.”
“Well that’s through you, isn’t it? You’re Daddy’s wife an’ he’s the boss.”
“So, you’re the Lady Catherine?”
“Yes,” I glared at Trish. I was hoping to be gone before she woke up and without her knowing who I was, though I suppose the nurses might have told her.
“Did you know, you’re the third Lady Catherine.”
“No I didn’t, but it’s a common enough name.”
“No it isn’t, there are always a few about, but it’s not usually common.”
“There might have been more in previous days.”
“No, it’s not that a popular a name, but each one has been special.”
“Well of course,” I puffed myself up and she smiled.
“The first was two hundred years ago and she helped save loads of Jacobites who would have been persecuted by the English.”
“I see. Wasn’t that just being helpful to one’s countrymen?”
“No, because she was a fervent supporter of the Hanoverians.”
“So why didn’t she turn them in?”
“History didn’t say, but dozens if not hundreds were saved by her.”
“What about number two?”
“She perished on the Titanic.”
“Poor woman.” I commented hoping it didn’t sound patronizing.
“Poor in wealth she wasn’t, nor in spirit. She gave up her place in a lifeboat for some children from third class. Her husband was going to die and she chose to die with him rather than live without him, and in doing so helped several children.”
“A very brave lady.”
“Yes.”
“So, unlike them, I’m a trifle ordinary.”
“Anything but, I doubt either of them could have battled as you did to rescue my soul.”
“That’s a bit on an exaggeration,” I suggested.
“It isn’t, those demons had me and weren’t going to let go until they’d taken me for keeps–when you turned up and fought to save me. You’re a veritable angel.”
“Mummy’s always being called an angel,” said Trish dropping me in it once again.
“I’m sure she is.”
“Me an’ my sisters think she is.”
“I suspect they may be richt.”
“Me an’ Livvie usually are,” she said without a hint of self consciousness.
“I can well believe that.”
“I’ll ask Paul to come later on,” I offered.
“Oh do, he’ll be so surprised, thanks to you. You were here when they had the problems with the mafia, weren’t you?”
“Yes we were,” said Trish. “Mummy caught the leader of the baddies.”
“No I didn’t.”
“You did, I seen it. You saved her life when she’d been shot.”
“Did I?” I lied casually, “I don’t remember.”
“An’ you made the film about dormices.”
“Dormice,” I corrected.
“Yeah well, you know what I mean.”
“Dormice?” Queried Mary.
“Yes, Mummy is the greatest expert in the world.”
I blushed, “I study them,” I said bashfully.
“Whit wonderful things tae study,” she said, “I saw a documentary on the television aboot them, last year.”
“That was Mummy,” beamed Trish, still virtually sitting on my lap.
“Was it now? Your mummy is very clever as well as being beautiful.”
“That’s what Daddy says, she’s a doctor.”
“A medical doctor as well, my my, she is clever.”
I was blushing like a fire extinguisher, “No, I’m not a medical doctor, I’m a biologist.”
“She’s Dr Cathy Watts, like me.”
“You’re Cathy Watts, too, are ye?”
“No, I’m Trish Watts.”
“But you’re mither is married tae a Cameron?” she looked at Trish with a bemused expression.
“She married after they had me.”
“Oh, I see,” the expression wasn’t one of approval.
“Oh, I’m not a bastard,” she said and I don’t know about Mary, but I almost died. “I’m adopted. Mummy can’t have children, so she and Daddy adopted loads–there’s me an’ Mima, an’ Livvie, an Danni, an’ Julie an’Sammi, an’ Cate, an’ Phoebe and Jacquie–and Billie died.”
“My goodness, you have a real houseful.”
“Yeah, but we all love Mummy an’ Daddy of course, but we all think Mummy is really a angel.”
Apart from blushing profusely, I began to wonder if that school was as good as its reputation would have me believe. They certainly haven’t taught her much grammar.
“I think we have to go, nice to meet you, Mary.”
“Thank ye both fa comin’, ye’ve saved ma life.”
“Perhaps.” We shook hands and left.
“You did save her life, Mummy–with my help, of course.”
“Of course.” I added as we got back into the car. “Let’s see what Stephanie has to say.”
“Do I have to see her?”
“Why, what’s wrong with seeing her?”
“Nothin’, but I’m cured–I’m a girl.”
“You sound like a piece of bacon.”
“Bacon?” Trish squeaked.
“Yes, cured–bacon is cured–we’re healed.”
“I’m a healed piece of bacon,” she said and snorted to herself.
According to Mrs Cuddy, Stephanie saw Alice for two hours, had a quick tea break, then saw Cindy for half an hour, and Danni, who was still in with her. I accepted the cuppa while Trish went off to find the others who were with Phoebe playing some sort of game.
“Where’s Alice now?” I asked sipping my tea.
“Och, she’s awa’ wi’ Callum, they’ve gone fa’ a walk.”
“How did she seem?”
“Jest wonderful, she says she feels like a proper girl at last, thanks tae ye.”
“I think Simon played quite a part in it, as well as people like yourself, supporting her.”
“Weel, we were all young once.” She smiled knowingly, so there’s a story there somewhere. “An’ ye still are, of course.”
“I don’t know, Mrs Cuddy, sometimes I think this lot will make me old before my time.”
“Och no, angels dinna get auld like the rest o’ us;” then that enigmatic smile again, damn it.
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Comments
Wot, 10 of them ?
I counted them on my fingers! So, there are ten of them, plus Si, his sister and her two, Prolly should be buying a great bus! :)
G
Excellent as always
As per your usual standard, another wonderful chapter. I truly look forward to reading the continuing adventures of Cathy and her brood every day.
I know that sitting down and writing this daily is quite a commitment on your part, and it is beyond me how you manage to keep the story moving forward in a coherent manner. Your talent for holding my interest is without boundaries.
Dallas
D. Eden
Dum Vivimus, Vivamus
Trish is letting too many cats...
out of too many bags. There's a serious probability that Cathy's gift will become fully public and she'll end up having to avoid crowds wherever she shows up. Swarms of halt and lame hopefuls looking to be healed. Cathy's going to have to sit down with little miss genius and drive the message forcefully home.
Don't blab and don't brag.
Excellent chapter Ang. Been away for a while, across the pond in the big apple for a few days then over to Suffolk. Hence the paucity of comments recently. The hotel in Suffolk used Cloud for it's internet server and cloud blocks BC because it rates the site as pornographic. Consequently I've was deprived of bike for a few days cos I forgot my dongle.
I've started a campaign on facebook exposing Cloud's transphobic behaviour.
Hugs.
Bevs.
Trish is a little firecracker
Of course we've known that for a while.
What's this with the history of Lady Catherines?
Demons?
So why would demon's be after her soul?
And what are demons in the context of this universe?
Hopefully that will fit into the puzzle of this metaphysical universe somehow.
So, it seems Cathy has power limits and still does not know how to fully wield her powers as well as she could as she had so much difficulty with her opposition.
Kim
Interesting...
Interesting history. Around here, I know more Katherines than Catherines... I know they're different, even if they sound the same. :-)
Being of Clan Gregor, I know a wee bit about the "children of the mist"... And most were Jacobites... They were also "prescribed" for quite a long time... Yet we still persist. S' Rioghal Mo Dhream.
Thanks for so much interesting "stuff".
Annette
So Danni
is still in with Stephanie, I wonder what is being said or decided, Yes i know i am curious, Some would even say nosey, But Danni does seem to be a mystery wrapped in an enigma, Maybe its something Stephanie can unravel because time is getting short until the start of the new school term, And Cathy would i'm sure love to know which school to send her child too..
Kirri
Cathy ? The new White Lady of Stanebury?
Shades of Gandalf the White, nee Grey! Will we see Cathy as the White Lady of Stanebury in the future? Is that to be her calling? There are certainly hints in that direction!
Or is it Trish who will be the new White Lady of Stanebury? There are hints that may be the case also.
I don't know whether to commend or condemn Bonzi and co-horts at this point, but they have certainly left a lot of strings dangling....
Don't let someone else talk you out of your dreams. How can we have dreams come true, if we have no dreams?
Katrina Gayle "Stormy" Storm