Doorways Chapter 4e

“Nothing too serious.” Bowles said. “Just see it as advice, Alexandria. OK?”

“Um ... maybe.” Alexandria said warily. Darius went on the defensive straight away, mindful of Vanessa Court.

“What's she supposed to have done? Oh and what happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'? If wild accusations are going to be bandied about then they need substantial back-up.”

“Well it was only a few flowers.” Bowles said in surprise.

“Oh! Oh I see.” Darius coughed awkwardly. “Er ... flowers?”

“Ferdinand Slater stood at his window and watched Alexandria helping herself to his prize blooms. He shows them, professionally, and you swiped his mature batch, numbers eighteen to twenty four.” Bowles tried not to roll his eyes at the triviality of all this.

“Alexandria!” Darius tutted. “You stole them from a private garden?”

“No! Well yes, obviously, but I didn't know! I thought they were just growing there all wild. I didn't know he owned that bit.” Alexandria objected.

“Well in all fairness, the plot isn't attached to his home property, it's about a hundred yards off. Like I said, I'm just here to help, not to charge you. I ...”

“Well isn't the wretched plot marked off?” Darius interrupted testily. “How can he expect his goods to go unmolested if they're in a public thoroughfare?”

“Ah. Well actually that's your fault, Darius.” Alexandria muttered.

“What? How is it? What's my fault?”

“You hadn't taught me to read whatever was on those signs I ignored.” Alexandria nodded seriously.

“I don't deserve this.” Darius muttered. “OK! Tell Ferdinand Slater I'll pay him for the flowers and for any loss of earnings and the like. Send him my apologies, it was an error in judgement.”

“Send him my apologies instead.” Alexandria stood a bit closer to Darius. “Darius hasn't got nothing to apologise for.”

“Has nothing. Thankyou, Alexandria.” Darius was quite touched at her sense of decency. “Will you stay to dinner, Sergeant?”

“No thankyou, sir. My daughter is expecting me.” Bowles smiled. “Have a nice evening and don't fret about Ferdinand.”