The Christmas Surprise
Page 36

‘No way,’ said Stephen.
‘Do you think it’s them?’
‘I’ll drop you off and take Appy home, I don’t want him breathing in smoke.’
Rosie nodded, her heart suddenly starting to beat faster. Surely not a fire.
‘Shit. Shit.’
Stephen looked at her. ‘And don’t take any stupid risks, okay? You can’t. You’re a mother now.’
Rosie shook her head.
‘It’s all right, you know me, I’m a totally craven coward.’
‘Just let the firemen do their job.’
Rosie felt her heart beat painfully fast as they sped up the gravel to the Hyacinth’s front door. Sure enough, the back of the hotel was ablaze, near the kitchens. On the front lawn, standing shivering in the cold, were a bank of kitchen staff, their checked trousers and T-shirts testament to the fact that it had been a lot warmer inside than out. Also standing about – and notably not mixing with the staff – were several guests, including two in dressing gowns – an older man and a younger woman, whose face was bright red – in the middle of the day.
The fire brigade already had their hoses trained on the blaze, and several enterprising characters were taking photographs on their telephones and, presumably, sending them to the newspapers. Rosie jumped out of the car and kissed Stephen and Apostil. Stephen looked torn.
‘Maybe I’ll just get out and see if they need a hand …’
‘What did you just say to me?’
‘Um, no heroics.’
‘Quite! No heroics! What are you going to do, teach the fire out?’
Stephen bit his lip.
‘But—’
‘But nothing! Look, Derbyshire’s finest are all here.’
It was true, there were copious numbers of both firemen and police.
‘And if they can’t handle it, I promise I’ll call, okay? Now get going, Apostil needs a feed. Moray can give me a lift back.’
Stephen stared at the scene for a few moments more, then sighed.
‘Okay. Go. Be safe. I love you.’
Rosie ran behind the house and found Moray tending to a slightly confused-looking man.
‘Did they get everyone out?’ she gasped.
‘I think so,’ said Moray. ‘I don’t think there were that many people in there. The fire alarm worked well.’
His smooth, handsome face was unreadable.
‘What was it?’
‘A pan fire in the kitchen, I believe. Fortunately they had fewer than half their staff on rota today.’
Rosie looked at the shaking man sitting on a chair. His gaze was fixed.
‘Are you all right?’ she said. She recognised him from church, but she didn’t think he had any children. Anyone and everyone with children Rosie knew incredibly well.
‘This is Mr McIlford,’ said Moray, in a toneless voice. ‘He’s the manager of the hotel.’
‘Oh, you poor thing,’ said Rosie sympathetically. ‘Oh my, how awful. It’s lucky there weren’t many people in today.’
Mr McIlford looked at her briefly and didn’t say anything.
‘I think you’ll be all right,’ said Moray. ‘One of the paramedics is bringing you a cup of tea, okay?’
The man nodded carefully. Moray led Rosie away to the side.
‘Thank God,’ said Rosie. ‘I was terrified when I saw the smoke, really feared the worst. Have you checked out everyone else?’
‘Yes,’ said Moray. ‘Pretty much. It seems the fire alarm went off in good time.’
He glanced back at the white-faced Mr McIlford.
‘Insurance job,’ he whispered.
‘NO,’ said Rosie. ‘No way. Can’t have been. Surely not. Oh my God, do people actually do that?’
‘Half the kitchen staff conveniently not in today? Hotel practically empty? This place has been losing money for years.’
‘He couldn’t have set it on fire.’
‘They’re sending the police in to check, see if he used an accelerant.’
Sure enough, there was a police van there with a dog. Rosie had wondered whether the dog was to look for people in the wreckage. Clearly it wasn’t.
‘Oh my goodness,’ she said. ‘OOH, I have to ring Stephen.’
‘Don’t mention it to him. Don’t mention it at all.’
‘In case you’re wrong?’
‘God, no, I’m not wrong. I knew this place was up shit creek. No, in case we get called as witnesses. Seriously, you don’t want to do that. It is INCREDIBLY boring.’
‘Well I’m telling Stephen.’
Moray rolled his eyes.
‘Oh yes, blah blah blah, we’re so in love.’
‘I bet you’ll tell Moshe.’
Moray glanced away and didn’t answer. ‘How’s Nemo?’
‘Don’t call him that. He’s brilliant. Except …’
And Rosie filled Moray in on the gossip from Lipton Hall.
‘Oh my,’ said Moray.
‘It wouldn’t matter,’ said Rosie, ‘but we really are skint. There are people in Africa waiting for a school we promised.’
‘Nobody thinks you’re skint,’ said Moray. ‘Everyone thinks you’re minted because you’re from London and Stephen’s Stephen.’
‘I know,’ said Rosie. ‘It’s a problem.’
There was a skidding noise behind them, and Tina’s little Ford Escort ploughed up the gravel.
‘Oh GOD,’ came a voice.
‘Shit, I’d forgotten about Tina,’ said Rosie, turning round. ‘Um, who’s minding the sweetshop?’
But Tina was completely distraught. Although the blaze was dying down, the fire had blown out the kitchen doors and windows and half the back wall was down. All the windows were broken and there was rubble everywhere, while the water cascading from the upper storeys was clearly making a horrible mess of the flowery wallpaper and chintzy curtains; floorboards too were splintering under the weight of the water.
‘The hoses are doing more damage to this place than the COMPLETELY NATURAL AND NON-DELIBERATE fire,’ said Moray loudly.
‘MY WEDDING!’ said Tina, bursting loudly into tears. Rosie put her arm around her.
‘Oh darling,’ she said. ‘I am so sorry.’
‘We’ve paid the deposit and everything,’ said Tina, sobbing and hiccuping. ‘People are coming from Grimsby!!! It’s all arranged.’