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Chapter 15
"I don't feel have the right to take this back from you," he said. "You play it so beautifully!"
"It's your instrument," said Amelia-Rose, firmly. "You play wonderfully too and I can see you love your art."
Kate had started a new tune. Ralph smiled in acknowledgement of her compliment and went to join in with the music again. Amelia-Rose had lost her seat because of standing up to play so she moved off to squeeze onto the balcony and watch the hounds that were still running on the slopes of the moorland below.
"Do they ever catch anything?" She addressed this question to a man in plus fours who was leaning against the railing chewing on his stubby pipe.
"From time to time, m'dear," he replied. "From time to time..."
"Of course they could get more than they bargained for," another chipped in. "There's been a lot of talk of the Exmoor Beast recently. Some say it's been sighted roaming the valley."
"There was talk that it took some sheep the other week," another younger man contributed.
"If the Exmoor Beast came up against those hounds, I reckon it would be the hounds that would get the worst of it," said the first.
"What's the Exmoor beast," asked Amelia-Rose, suspiciously. She was quite ready as a newcomer to be told tall tales that were reserved only for newcomers
"Don't look so suspicious, the Exmoor Beast is real enough," the first man said. "It's been round for years and some say that it's not alone but lives in a pack. It's probably a big cat or perhaps several - and I don't mean a domestic cat. I'm talking about a large cat from somewhere like Africa."
Suddenly there was a hand on Amelia-Rose's shoulder. It rested there longer than necessary and she turned round ready to make a sharp comment. But it was Ralph again.
"It's your turn to play," he said, simply, "if you want to!"
"If you will lend me your violin again, but I'd like to play along with the others until I learn your tunes," said Amelia-Rose .
"I also wondered if you'd like a drink," said Ralph.
"Both would be very nice," said Amelia-Rose, giving Ralph her very best smile.
As she started to squeeze her way back into the playing area, one of the men commented quietly to her.
"He'll be difficult to catch, m'dear - many have tried,"
"It's just a drink," retorted Amelia-Rose - but as she made her way into the bar she found herself watching the sinuous way he walked and wondering if there could be anything more ... "
It was late afternoon before the music finished and Amelia-Rose felt mentally and physically exhausted. Players were yawning all around her and some had started drifting away. She was sitting next to Ralph near the front of the group. Their glasses had been filled and refilled many times in the course of the afternoon.
"Almost time to go, I suppose," said Amelia-Rose, casually. "I hope you're not driving."
"I have a car in the car park, but I usually scrounge some tea from one of the other players as I live by myself."
"They seem to have mostly gone. It looks as if you've missed your chance. Kate disappeared a few minutes ago."
This was a gentle probe by Amelia-Rose who had wondered if there was anything between Ralph and Kate - neither wore wedding rings.
"I don't know what I will do then," said Ralph, mischievously, looking directly at her.
"Well kind sir, I'd better invite you back to my place," said Amelia-Rose.
"And I'd better accept," said Ralph.
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