Ted Winter Bücher

When history teacher, Bear Hoskins, with an unusual fascination for borders meets sales rep Sophie Bingham on holiday in Portugal, she absent-mindedly leaves behind a precious item of jewellery. Reuniting the owner with her property is merely the first in a series of challenges as they each have to fend off colleagues' amused enquiries at their unconventional developing relationship. The unlikely appearance of a persistent Portuguese antiques dealer suggests that there is more to their apparently chance encounter than meets the eye. The growing mystical significance of the number four impresses itself uncannily on Bear and Sophie as their pursuit of truth intensifies.

Bear Hoskins steps in at the eleventh hour to replace an injured colleague and help supervise Princewood School's exchange trip to Germany, enticed by a visit behind the former Iron Curtain and an opportunity to indulge his unusual fascination with borders. What the history teacher does not realise is how his humorous, engaging public speaking skills will lead him to a mystifying hunt for a long lost relative and a bizarre tale of defection from the Cold War era. Just before leaving, he meets newly qualified vicar, Laura Branscombe, whose temporary job in an insurance office provides unexpected clues in Bear's search for the truth. All the while the uncanny resonance of a school motto and a starring role in a staff pantomime occupy Bear's thoughts and energy as the mission unfolds.