Pantry

Petra pointed upwards at the chandeliers.

"They were converted to electricity when the hall was last renovated. Paul has been working on scaffolding for weeks threading wires as invisibly as he could. I'll turn them on."

She walked to beside the door we had entered by and opened a small cupboard door. Inside was a very modern circuit breaker board neatly labelled. Petra flicked six switches. Three chandeliers and two wall mounted candelabra came on and the Minstrel Gallery was illuminated by up lighters.

"They can be dimmed," Petra said. "But I'm proud of what my sons have done."

"So you should be," I said. "This is an amazing space. I can imagine it filled for a banquet."

"That's one of the reasons why Anna wanted the toilet in the pantry. You can't have guests without providing at least one toilet. If the banqueting idea works, she might add proper toilets through there."

Petra pointed to a door to our right that I hadn't noticed.

"It would take more work and more money, but there's enough space in there to install men's and women's toilets and a disabled toilet too. It needs light and forced ventilation but that is possible -- if Anna really wants to have banquets."

"It sounds like a lot of work, to host a banquet I mean."

"It would be, Mike. Anna might just rent the space out to a catering company but they'd need more facilities than we have now."

"Won't she need planning permission, Petra?"

"You're right, Mike. She needs that and it won't be easy. This hall is a listed structure. She would need a conservation assessment, and if she wants to use it commercially, a change of use from agriculture. That's difficult and once she has the change of use, there would be business rates to pay. She doesn't know that it could pay, particularly when she includes the cost of installing the toilets. She would also have to pay for archaeologists to look around the structure. The whole farm is a scheduled monument with odd bits of broken castle in the fields. Planting fruit trees was no problem. Installing the watering system had to be done with minimal disturbance of the sub soil and any archaeology underneath."

"It doesn't sound practical."

"It probably isn't. It's a shame. This is a wonderful room, if only..."

"I agree, Petra, but there are too many obstacles."

"I know. We used it for the staff Christmas party. We hadn't rewired it so we used candles. We were all very worried that we could set fire to the ancient woodwork so we couldn't relax."

Petra pointed towards the Minstrels' Gallery.

"Anna was slightly worried that the gallery wasn't strong enough. Can you see those two thin columns supporting the front of it?"

"Yes, Petra."

"They are fake, surrounding two steel props and supporting an RSJ. My sons installed it. It just rests a few millimetres below the wood of the gallery. So far, even with half a dozen of us in the gallery, the wood and RSJ haven't touched. But behind it they added a roll down screen for projection. We can show DVDs with Anna's projector linked to a laptop."

"That's a good idea," I said.

"And because it isn't touching the original fabric, it hasn't caused any damage. But Anna needs more reliable Wi-Fi in here before she can use it. She's hoping to do that this week."

"I might be able to help," I said.

"I thought you could, Mike. But not today. You still need to recover. Let's go back to the kitchen."

Petra supported me as we walked back into the kitchen. I wasn't convinced that I needed her support. Although she might be an older woman I was well aware that she is still attractive with curves in the right places. She hugged me, kissed me on the lips, and told me to sit back in the chair beside the AGA.

I tried to work out whether I obeyed Petra because of the continuing effect of the drug, or just because she was used to telling people what to do. I didn't know.

Petra asked me one thing that made me think. As Tracy was Jan's fiancée, I would probably see her around. Would that be a problem? I didn't think it would. Tracy was a former girlfriend, and had been a friend on Saturday night. But I wouldn't really know how she and I would react until we met.

Anna came back and the saniflo was unloaded by Petra's sons who finished installing the toilet in the pantry. Of course it had to be tested. I had expected it to be noisy. It wasn't. There was a hum as it operated but drowned by the sound of the cistern refilling.

The rest of the day into the evening I sat watching Anna. We talked about everything and anything and seemed to enjoy each other's company. When the time came to go to bed I was able to walk unaided up to her bedroom. Should I have gone to the spare room? Anna made it obvious she wanted me with her, so I was. We went to sleep naked with Anna's body against my back, her nipples pressed against me. During the night we moved. I woke with Anna's head on my shoulder, her arm flung across me. As I stirred she wriggled. Her hand slid downwards to find my erection.

"Mmm," Anna murmured, "I want that. Are you fit enough, Mike?"

"I think so," I replied, "but don't you need protection?"

"Yes, I do."

Anna reached over to the bedside table, opened a drawer and pulled out a condom. She fitted it gently.

"Lie back and enjoy," she ordered.

Anna teased me by sliding her nipples across my chest and up to my face. I kissed both of them before she moved down and impaled herself. I was an almost passive participant as she thrust up and down on me, her breasts swinging. I held back until after she had experienced three orgasms. That surprised both of us. Anna pulled one of my hands to a breast as she supported herself with one arm. My other hand grabbed the second breast. Within seconds of feeling their softness I had come into the condom and Anna had shuddered again. She slumped down on me.

I was startled that being ridden by Anna had taken so much energy from me. I felt weak and exhausted yet she had done almost all the active role.

We stayed locked together for another half hour before crawling out to shower. I shaved myself once my hand had stopped shaking.

+++

Tuesday was another quiet day for me. Anna tested my reactions to orders. I could say no, and refuse. That was a good sign. I was able to go for a walk around the farm with her. I hadn't seen much of the farm's castle buildings before because they were shielded from the public road by a plantation of trees. Petra's mention of 'bits of broken castle' made me look out for them. There were partial walls still standing and odd lumps of masonry sometimes hidden in brambles.

The main buildings including the pantry, kitchen, hall and packing shed were in the outer bailey surrounded by a high curtain wall with crenellations and low towers. Parts of it had been replaced with Victorian brick, crudely matching the original masonry. It was a complete circuit. The packing shed was to one side of the gate towers. Between those towers was a pair of old wooden gates reinforced with iron. A small door in one of those gates allowed access without opening the main gates. It was obvious that the main gates hadn't been opened in decades. Apart from the small door tons of loose reclaimed masonry were piled against the inside of the gate under the archway. The only other entrance was the strong door to the pantry.

Inside the curtain wall there was the covered staircase leading up to what had been the keep of the castle. One side of the keep was part of the curtain wall but much higher with a tower on top. The rest of the keep had been replaced by the Victorian house which looked sad with all its ground floor windows covered in metal shutters. At the same level as the keep in what would have been inside the inner bailey were two hard surfaced but neglected tennis courts. The only access to the any of the buildings would be by the blocked main gate with its small access door, and the pantry door. Outside both of those doors were the ruined remains of further defences blocking a straight access. The moat surrounding the curtain wall of the outer bailey was bridged with solid masonry. The drawbridges had been replaced centuries ago. But anyone approaching either door had to make two ninety degree turns. Except for a small motorcycle, no vehicle could approach the doors.

After our tour of the farm and castle I asked Anna to drive me to my home so that I could collect some of my equipment. I would have liked to have brought my car back but I didn't think I was safe enough to drive, yet. Perhaps I would be tomorrow.

Anna helped me to install some of my Wi-Fi extenders in the kitchen and hall. We also climbed the tower and put one on the turret. I tested them with my laptop and phone. We had made a real difference to the strength of the Wi-Fi signal. I also tried a mobile signal booster which is technically illegal in the UK but seemed to work.

I looked at the farm's CCTV system. It was reasonably effective in covering access points and the farm buildings but ineffective after dark. The recording system was clunky. Some cameras were recording continuously but only a frame every few seconds; some recorded movement only but would stop recording if no motion was detected for five seconds; and there was no way of fast searching. I thought I could make significant improvements for Anna, and I owed her for looking after me.

That night we were back naked in Anna's bed. This time I was able to arouse her by kissing and licking as I moved up her naked legs. When I got close to her cleft she grabbed my hair and pulled me in. I licked, kissed and tongued until she was groaning above me. I was already wearing protection when she pulled me up over her. I had enough energy to make love for as long as I could hold back. Anna's hands around my backside pulled me hard and I came into her.

In the middle of the night we stirred. I think there must have been an external sound that woke us. We ignored it because Anna climbed on top of me for her turn to ride.

Wednesday morning I felt almost human again. I ate a large breakfast before going for a run around the farm. It was great to get my strength and free will back again. Back in the kitchen Petra and Anna were discussing work to be done around the farm in the next few days. I borrowed Anna's laptop and searched the CCTV system for any explanation for the noise that might have woken us. It took an hour before I spotted a truck halfway between the farm entrance and the pantry door. The noise had been the truck hitting an outcrop of masonry as it was turning to leave. I was frustrated that the images were so unclear.

Anna had been arranging with Petra, not just for Anna to be free for the rest of the week, but to borrow Jan and Paul for some of the work I had intended to do on my house. By mid-morning the four of us were hard at work. I ordered a take-away for lunch.

With four of us at work everything I had hoped to achieve in my week off had been finished by that evening. Anna took Jan and Paul back to the farm. I would follow in my own car when I had loaded the hardware I needed to improve the farm's CCTV. That took longer than I had expected because I wasn't sure what would be useful. I took far more kit just in case. While I was alone I thought about what had happened between us in bed. Were we just two unhappy people comforting each other or was there more between us? I had enjoyed being in bed with Anna.

Anna had a Petra-made casserole for us to eat that evening.

Anna took it for granted that I would share her bed. I rode Anna twice before we went to sleep for an undisturbed night. She slapped my bare backside in the morning before she rode me. I was beginning to feel that there was far more between us than casual sex. Anna was a person I was beginning to love and I was wondering why I hadn't been closer to her before now.

On Thursday I worked with Anna and Paul's help on improving the CCTV. Jan was finishing the partition for the new toilet in the pantry.

By lunchtime we had improved the signal from two-thirds of the camera and added sound all connected to the Wi-Fi on the castle tower. By the evening almost all the cameras except the oldest had better definition, sound, and the recording system collected continuous live feed from sixteen cameras, twelve of them with sound and fourteen with low light capability. My software meant that we could search quickly for any movement and watch images from hours ago while the system was still recording current events. Paul and I had put monitors on the pantry and kitchen walls showing the four main CCTV feeds including anyone outside the pantry door.

Jan and Paul helped me to set up a projector in the hall. We could play DVDs, watch TV channels and review the CCTV on a large drop-down screen. The sound system could be better. It worked but lacked bass. That might come in the next few days if I could find some old-fashioned large floor standing speakers.

The four of us were sitting down with coffee as I cycled through all the CCTV cameras showing the new standards of definition. The real test would be after dark tonight and I could check that on the recordings in the morning.

Anna's mobile rang. She was startled because previously it hadn't received a signal in the hall. It was her father.

"Yes, Dad. Of course you can. Hang on a sec."

She took the phone from her ear.

"Jan? Is the paint dry on the pantry toilet?"

"Not yet Anna," Jan answered. "It will be tomorrow morning."

"Thanks. Dad? The pantry toilet will be OK tomorrow morning. Are you sure one toilet is enough?"

She listened.

"OK. Just seven of you at first about eight o'clock, and one more slightly later? You'll park by the cottages and come up the footpath? No problem. See you then."

She ended the call.

"Dad wants to use this hall tomorrow evening. He was holding a meeting in the village hall's committee room but their electrics failed an annual check today. They should be fixed by the weekend, but not by tomorrow evening. They don't need anything but the table, chairs and coffee. We can do that."

"I'll tidy up where Paul and I have been working," I said. "Some of the audio cables are just loose across the floor. It won't take more than a quarter of an hour."

"Can we help with the village hall's electrics?" Jan asked.

"I don't think so," Anna said. "They have their own electrician. He's the one who did the testing but he needs some new parts which won't come until Friday. It seems that someone has been mucking about with the cabling outside the hall."

Jan jumped as his mobile rang. Like Anna he was used to getting no signal in the kitchen, pantry and hall. My mobile signal booster was working. As soon as he knew who was calling he walked away from us. We could hear him talking but not what he was saying. He ended the call. He walked back to us looking worried.

"We have a real problem, Anna," he said. "That was Tracy. She's been warned that Wayne was out of jail yesterday for a relative's funeral and didn't return. He's on the run. Tracy's friend heard a rumour that Wayne and Dean intend to kidnap her -- and you. They want revenge. For what? Tracy doesn't know but Wayne seems to blame her and you for his conviction. Tracy's coming here as fast as she can. She doesn't feel safe anywhere else because Wayne knows all her friends. Is that OK?"

"Of course it is, Jan. She's your fiancée. You and we will look after her. This castle is enough to keep them out. Oops! Mike? Is that a problem for you?"

"Of course not, Anna. Tracy helped me on Saturday night. Technically she and I shouldn't be in the same place, but if she wants Jan's protection, and you are threatened, I'm going to be here for both of you."

"Thank you Mike," Anna said. "Jan? Can you meet Tracy by the farm entrance just in case Wayne or Dean thinks she might come here?"

"That doesn't matter," I said looking at the CCTV monitors, "Tracy's car is right by the pantry already."

Jan took off at a run towards the pantry. We followed. He let Tracy in. She jumped into his arms. The rest of us left them alone in the pantry once the metal bar had secured the outer door firmly.

They came through into the kitchen hugging each other. Tracy looked as spectacular as I remembered her, even though she was obviously distressed. I didn't have any of the love I used to have. She had killed that. But she was a friend's fiancée and upset. I had some sympathy for that.

"What's happened, Tracy?" Anna asked.

"One of my friends sent me a text. She'd heard that Wayne was out of prison and on the run but one of her dubious acquaintances said he was looking for me, and you, to kidnap us. I decided I ought to tell you, and we'd be safer here, together."

"We should be safe," Anna replied. "Wayne can't get in here. Once the bar is across the pantry door no one can without a battering ram. Even with a ram it would be difficult because of the kink in the entrance. Have you told the Police yet?"

"No. I was going to ring DS Andrews. I suppose I'll have to climb the tower to get a signal?"

"Not anymore. Mike's improved the mobile coverage. You can ring from anywhere inside now."

Tracy looked at me. Jan's arms were still wrapped around her.

"Hello Mike," Tracy said. "I shouldn't be near you."

"Forget that," I replied, "and thanks for your help on Saturday night. I owe you."

Tracy smiled weakly.

"I'm Jan's now," she said.

"Congratulations to both of you," I said, "on your engagement."

"You mean that? You really mean that, Mike?"

"Yes. Why not?"

Tracy disentangled herself from Jan's arms, walked across to me, and kissed me lightly on the cheek.

"Thank you, Mike, for those words," Tracy said.

"Hands off, Tracy!" Anna said, smiling. "Mike's mine!"

"But I am still grateful for what Tracy did on Saturday," I objected.

"You may be, Mike, but Tracy's engaged to Jan. She can kiss your cheek. Any kisses you want to give are mine." Anna was joking.

"Mike, you look better than my friends some of whom are still in hospital. How come?" Tracy asked.

"That's because Anna and Petra have been looking after me," I said.

"And he is seriously fit," Anna said. "That helped him get over the drug. But what are we going to do about Wayne? We can't stay locked in here for days."

"I'll ring DS Andrews," Tracy said. "He might tell me what they know."

She did. Anna made tea for all of us while Tracy was talking to DS Andrews. She ended the call.

"The Police think Wayne has headed for the Midlands, going after some of the women who were his victims and had given evidence in his trial, or perhaps some of those who will give evidence in his next court appearance. They don't think he's here but Dean is missing as well. They went to Dean's house and found that his monitoring ankle tag had been cut off and left. So Dean is probably with Wayne. However they warned me that another rave is being planned for tomorrow night. They'll be watching for Wayne and Dean at the rave, wherever it takes place. But they think Wayne and Dean are hundreds of miles away."

"But you don't agree with them?" Anna asked.

"No, Anna. I think Wayne's after us. Why? I don't know but he has obsessed about our betrayal of him -- a betrayal that never happened. I think he will come looking for us."

"What about your work, Tracy? Shouldn't you be at work today?"

"No, Anna. I had booked today and tomorrow off. This morning I had intended to do some washing. I've done that. This evening, tomorrow and the weekend Jan and I were going to work on our house. There's a lot to do if it is going to be ready by next Spring."

"If Wayne and Dean are looking for you, Tracy, they might come here," Anna objected.

"That's unlikely in daylight and Jan could protect me," Tracy said,

"Tonight I think you should be inside the castle walls. Your unfinished house doesn't even have a lockable door yet. If you are here, and the pantry door has the bar across, they can't get in. You and Jan can use a spare bedroom, or bedrooms. I've got enough in the farmhouse." Anna said.