Ralph left the Wild Boar with an uneasy feeling in his gut. Having spoken to Colin he was now more concerned than ever that something untoward might have happened to Toby, even though his friend had done his best to allay his concerns.
If Colin was right, and there was something sinister taking place in Hasterley, there was no reason to suspect that Toby had become involved. But the fact that he had not been seen since leaving the inn last night had to be more than just a coincidence.
Toby was no fool, but he certainly had an eye for the girls, and they reciprocated. He remembered back in the summer Toby mentioning that he quite fancied young Mary Grant. At the time, Ralph had just rolled his eyes and slapped him on the back, reminding his son that he fancied anything female that walked
