16. Chapter Sixteen #2
“Brigitte was a bit of a butterfly,” Felicity commented as they stared at the piles. “She used to obsess about things and then she’d forget about them for something new.” She paused. “She was like that with people, too.”
“I suppose that’s why she found it so easy to leave,” Mabel said. “She reminds me of my father, who never met a woman he didn’t want to have a kid with before he moved onto the next one.”
“I thought she liked me,” Felicity said in a rush. “She made me feel special for a while and then she just… lost interest.”
“That must have been awful for you.”
“And then I went back to boarding school and came home to find she was gone. It was just like Mummy all over again.”
“My dad did something similar,” Mabel said. “He’d turn up with presents and make me think he was back for good, and then there would be another row, and he’d be gone again—usually with mom’s savings or her jewelry.”
“Oh Mabel…” Felicity turned and hugged Mabel tightly.
“Poor old us.” After a moment she drew back.
“It was worse for the twins of course, but they were babies when she left. Still, they never got to see her again because she died just after the divorce, and before she’d taken advantage of her visiting rights.
” She paused and then said in a rush. “I don’t even know if she would’ve come back, but Daddy insisted that she had the opportunity. ”
“I hate people like that,” Mabel said. “People who crash into other’s lives, make a huge mess, and then walk away like nothing has ever happened.”
Felicity nodded, her attention on the pile of boxes all around them. She glanced at her watch. “I have to go and help in the stable yard. Ted is coming over to measure up the new floorboards.”
“Have fun,” Mabel said. “And give Ted a hug from me.”
Felicity went rather pink. “I’m not sure I have the nerve to hug him, even for you. He might think I was propositioning him and then where would we be?”
“In a promising relationship?” Mabel winked at her. “I’m pretty sure he’s sweet on you, Felicity.”
Felicity ran for the door, leaving Mabel alone, surrounded by hundreds of dollars of fancy knickers and scarves.
She stared at the second chest of drawers and sighed.
It had to be done, but she’d go down to the kitchen and make herself something to eat before she tackled it.
If she was lucky, Colin would still be busy in the stables.
How could she make someone accept her and her money?
She didn’t know what to say to him and that wasn’t a nice feeling at all…
Mabel wasn’t sure who was avoiding whom, but she managed not to see much of Colin for the next two days.
He was busy with the café, and she was knee deep in designer fashion from the eighties onwards.
They both fell into bed and went instantly to sleep, him smelling of plaster, and paint, and her of Poison and Diamond perfumes.
The deadline for opening the house to the public was approaching, so finishing details on both the house and the café had taken on a new urgency. Apparently, having somewhere to get a cup of tea and a piece of cake was considered just as important as the state of the house.
The plumbing and lighting in the new café were finished, the holes filled in, and the floors leveled and swept clean.
Ted moved onto the work within the house that was necessary for the public’s safety and the sound of hammers and drills echoed through the hallways.
Mabel hardly noticed as she worked her way through the countess’s vast wardrobe.
On the third day of the project, she sent photos to Dale of the neon pink, and orange, party dresses she’d found, and received a text back immediately.
DO NOT THROW ANY OF THOSE AWAY!! THEY’RE DESIGNER! HIGHLY RESELLABLE! I’M GOING TO PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH A COLLEAGUE OF MINE WHO CAN HELP.
Five minutes later, a new contact appeared on Mabel’s screen. Mabel accepted the request and was introduced to Josie, who apparently worked at Sotheby’s auction house in London.
Hi Mabel, looks like you’ve stumbled upon a treasure trove. I’d be happy to help value your items for potential resale?
Mabel considered the huge pile of floofy marshmallow-type dresses.
Thanks Josie. I’ll have to get the family’s consent to do that, but I think they’d be delighted to make a few bucks. I’ll get back to you asap.
She was just about to leave the closet when Josie texted her again.
Wait. Is that a pile of orange Hermès boxes behind the dresses in the picture?
Yes, there are about two hundred of them,
Mabel texted back.
Wow…
Most of them still have their tags on.
I don’t suppose you’ve come across any other leather goods, have you? Like wallets or handbags?
Mabel looked over at the open door of the closet.
There’s a whole section packed with them. I haven’t gotten to it yet.
The three dots bobbled around for so long that Mabel was down in the kitchen before Josie texted her again.
I’d love to see what you find in there.
Sure! As soon as I get permission from the family I’ll get back to you
Mabel made herself a cup of coffee in the unusually quiet kitchen.
All the staff had gone out to the stable yard to offer their thoughts about how the café should operate.
To start the place off, the W.I. were going to do the baking, and the Marcham staff would provide the counter service and clean-up brigade.
Colin was paying them extra for doing so.
Mabel sighed into her coffee. He was such a good guy…
“Penny for your thoughts?”
She looked up to see Colin standing in the kitchen doorway. He had paint in his hair, and the knees of his new jeans had already worn through in patches, but his smile was as warm as ever.
“Hi!” She found an answering smile somewhere. “How’s the great cake war going?”
“They’ve narrowed it down to ten different kinds of cake, three types of scones, and six different sandwiches, so it’s going well. My grandmother is keeping a voting tally.” He sat opposite her at the vast kitchen table. “How’s it going in the countess’s suite?”
“Okay. Dale’s put me in touch with her friend, Josie, who works at Sotheby’s. She might be able to sell some of the stuff. If that’s what you want,” she added quickly. “Obviously it’s not my decision to make.”
“I doubt anyone here wants anything from the cupboards or they would’ve already taken it,” Colin said. “I’ll check in with Father and see if he’s okay about it.”
“Does he own everything in there?”
“I think he does. Neither he nor Brigitte made new wills after they separated and she left everything to him. I suggest you go ahead and sell as much as you can. It’s not as if we don’t need the money.”
“Josie seemed very excited by all the Hermès boxes and the designer clothing. Apparently, they might be worth something.” Mabel made a face. “Sorry, I’m talking about money again, aren’t I?”
Colin’s eyebrows rose. “Isn’t that my line?”
“To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure anymore. All I know is that whenever the subject comes up, one of us gets offended and we both end up miserable.”
“It is rather a sore spot.” He reached over and took her hand. “I’ve already told you how much I hated being dependent on my family, but watching the house come back to life has really made me think about things differently.”
“How so?” Mabel asked somewhat reluctantly.
“I didn’t ask for this inheritance, in fact it only came to me through tragedy, and for years I fought my ‘destiny’ with every breath. But I get it now. It’s mine, and there’s nothing I want more than to care for it and leave it to the next generation.”
“That’s… wonderful.” Mabel squeezed his fingers hard.
“I’ve being so busy worrying about the ‘burden’ of your money—which you also didn’t ask for but earned because you’re a genius—that I forgot I have my burden, too, this whole bloody estate.
” He took a deep breath. “I’m sick of running away and if you’re willing to help with my problem why can’t I be okay with yours? ”
Mabel looked at him. “Are you trying to say that my money is like your estate, something we can’t get rid of, and have to deal with on a daily basis?”
“Yes, something like that.”
“And that if I can accept your burden, you can accept mine?”
“Exactly.”
“I love that,” Her knees were shaking under the table, and she had a strange desire to cry because everything was going to be all right, she knew it in her soul.
“I don’t know—it’s still pretty crazy.” He was smiling when he spoke and took her hand again. “One of the things I love about you, Mabel Howard, is your bumbling attempts to be straight with me even when I’m being incredibly stubborn.”
She stared at him. “Hold up.”
“What now?”
“Did you just say you love me?”
“Yes.” He held her gaze. “But only because I am an evil villain who wishes to deprive you of all your fortune.”
It took a second for her to get the joke and then she smiled even as her heart overflowed with love in return.
She’d found her unexpected prince in a faraway land in his very own ruined castle, and she was never leaving his side again.
“No doubt you’ll murder me in the woods and leave my body for the peacocks to peck. ”
“I was thinking more about the drama of throwing you down the stairs, but I like the way you think.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “You’re right. I do need to learn to accept help better.”
“And I need to stop expecting everyone to want me to support them.”
“It’s not just that, though, is it?”
“What do you mean?” Mabel tensed.
“It’s that you want to be loved for yourself, and some people have made you think that all you are is a financial means to an end.”
“Yes,” Mabel whispered as tears threatened. “That’s it exactly.”
Colin took a deep breath. “I love you, Mabel. I loved you before I knew you were rolling in money, just as you loved me before you knew I was heir to all this.”
She blinked back the tears. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”