“Don’t let him get out. We’ll never find him in all that shrubbery,” I called after them. One changed course and ran for the front door. I followed the other one up the stairs. We ran along one hallway, then out to the side of the E. I slowed and tried to read nameplates on the doors, and to glance inside each room. Then I heard shouts and sounds of a scuffle. I sprinted around the corner, to see two young men in white coats wrestling Granddad into submission. They appeared to be using what I deemed to be considerable force.

“Let go of him!” I shouted.

Matron appeared, breathing hard, behind us. “He’s not one of ours yet, Sims,” she called. The young men dropped Granddad’s arms. He stood there giving a good imitation of being terrified. I went up to him. “You are naughty, Uncle,” I said, taking his hand. “You promised not to run away, remember? Come along.”

Matron caught up with us, breathing heavily. “That was silly, Mr. Hume,” she said. “You don’t need to run away. You are among friends. You’ll be well taken care of here.” She drew me to one side. “I see that he is a handful,” she whispered. “If you’d like to leave him with us now, perhaps?”

“No, I think he’d like to go home and have a chance to say good-bye to his staff and set his affairs in order first,” I said hastily, drawing him closer to me. “And we haven’t yet had a chance to see a vacant room?”

“Oh yes. We were interrupted, weren’t we? I believe the one in Sunshine wing is the closest, and you said it was important for your uncle to receive morning sunlight. James, would you run ahead and make sure the room is ready to receive visitors?”

The young man ran ahead while we walked slowly back to the spine of the E and then along its length to the other wing. As we walked along this wing I spotted the nameplate M. McPhee. I tried to peer in through the window but all I could see was a lump in a bed.

“Ah, here we are,” Matron said, and opened the door to an empty room. It was spartan, to say the least. “We encourage our guests to bring their own furniture. It makes the transition from home easier for them.”

“Very nice,” I said. “Quite suitable, in fact. I think he’ll resist the idea at first, but he’d be quite happy here.” I turned to smile at him again. Matron was standing behind him this time, blocking any chance of escape. “I will talk this over with my brother, the duke, and we will contact you as soon as possible with our decision.”

“We look forward to your uncle joining us, my lady,” she said with a groveling smile now.