Chapter 5
‘And then she just coolly announces that she’s putting Whispering Willows up for sale. I mean, can you believe that?’
Clive finally stopped to draw breath and Ben seized the opportunity to interrupt.
‘Here, have a Penguin,’ he said, holding out Clive’s favourite chocolate biscuit. ‘Get your breath back for a minute. Besides,’ he added, nodding at the mug on the counter next to where Clive was leaning, ‘your tea’s getting cold.’
Clive managed a smile. ‘Have I been going on a bit?’
Ben grinned back. ‘A bit. But, quite honestly, I can’t say I blame you. She sounds pretty awful. Are you sure she’s Joseph’s sister?’
‘It is hard to believe, isn’t it?’ Clive unwrapped the Penguin and took a bite, hoping the chocolatey crunch would soothe his troubled nerves.
‘Why on earth didn’t Joseph make a will?’ Ben mused. ‘Maybe his sister didn’t used to be so cold. Maybe she’s changed in the last thirty odd years since he last saw her. I mean, people do, don’t they? And didn’t you say she’s in her fifties now? Well, a young woman in her twenties would be very different to a woman of that age. Who knows what happened to make her so cynical?’
‘More than cynical,’ Clive said, hastily swallowing the biscuit. ‘Downright heartless, that’s what she is. This is Joseph’s legacy and she’s just planning to dismantle the whole thing as if none of it ever mattered. When I think how hard he worked over the years to keep that sanctuary going. Not to mention all the money he spent on it.’ He shook his head, thinking about it. ‘She just doesn’t get it.’
‘Well, maybe you should make her get it,’ Ben suggested. ‘We can’t just give up and let her sell the place. Summer will be devastated. Oh hell, she’s never going to agree to Australia now, is she? Once she knows Whispering Willows is going up for sale and all those animals are being packed off elsewhere, she’ll refuse to set foot on that plane, and who can blame her?’
‘Don’t tell her,’ Clive said immediately. ‘You’re right. She’ll refuse to go, and she needs this holiday. She’s worked far too hard recently. Besides, what good will her staying here do? I doubt very much that she’ll be able to change Bethany’s mind.’
Especially given how outspoken Summer could be when it came to the welfare of her beloved equines. She could really put Bethany’s back up and drive her into doing something even worse than she’d already promised. Maybe she’d send the animals for slaughter instead of trying to find them decent homes. He couldn’t risk that happening, and he wouldn’t put anything past Joseph’s spiky sister.
‘It doesn’t seem right keeping it from her, though,’ Ben said doubtfully. ‘If she comes back from Melbourne and discovers the house and residents gone, she’ll never forgive me.’
‘Oh, come on!’ Clive took a sip of his lukewarm tea and pulled a face. He liked his tea hot. ‘That won’t happen. All the legal wrangling after a death can take ages to sort out. Won’t she need to apply for probate or something before she can sell it? To be honest,’ he added, ‘I can’t see her getting rid of it for ages. Far too much to deal with, and even if it was quite straightforward, look at the state of it! She’s not likely to make much money from it. Might be wiser for her to do it up a bit before she even thinks about putting it on the market.’ He stroked his chin thoughtfully. ‘Mind you, there’ll be inheritance tax to pay. She’ll only have around six months before she has to stump up the cash, so that might put a fire under her.’
‘Unless she’s not bothered about that,’ Ben pointed out. ‘Didn’t Miss Lavender say she’d married a wealthy man? Okay, they were divorced, but she probably got a huge settlement from that. Maybe she couldn’t care less about making a profit as long as she gets rid of Whispering Willows. And where will that leave the horses?’
‘Like I said, the legal aspect will slow everything up,’ Clive reassured him. ‘It takes time for inheritances to be sorted, and meantime, I’ll do everything I can to try to persuade her to change her mind. Maybe, if she doesn’t need the money, she’d consider putting Summer in as an official manager and paying her a salary? She wouldn’t even have to live at the house. She could rent it out or something and go back to wherever it is she blew in from.’
‘You really don’t like her, do you?’ Ben said. ‘Not like you, Clive, to make such hasty judgements about people.’
‘I don’t know her,’ Clive admitted. ‘But I don’t like what she did. Or rather, what she didn’t do. She could have seen Joseph before he died, I’m sure of it. She could have attended his funeral properly, instead of lurking in the churchyard somewhere. And she could respect his wishes now and keep the sanctuary going. It seems to me she’s done nothing but let him down. She obviously doesn’t care about him at all.’
‘I suppose the fact that she stayed away for over three decades pretty much warned us that would be the case,’ Ben said.
‘Aye, well…’ Clive looked out of the window at the overcast skies. He supposed, deep down, he hadn’t been able to believe that any sister of Joseph’s could behave in such a fashion. He realised he’d been making excuses for her for months, but now he’d run out of them. Bethany Marshall was nothing like her brother, and it was a huge disappointment to him. ‘Funny how different two siblings can be,’ he mused. ‘Joseph would do anything for anyone, whereas she…’
Ben drained his mug of tea and straightened. ‘Hey, changing the subject a little, but would you be free to come over for supper on Saturday night?’
‘Me? To yours, you mean? Daisyfield Cottage?’ Clive frowned. ‘Are you sure?’
Ben laughed. ‘Of course I’m sure! Summer’s leaving for Australia early on Monday, so we’re having a farewell meal at ours for her. Sally and Rafferty will be there, too, and Mum’s cooking.’
‘She doesn’t mind you inviting me?’
‘Why would she?’
Clive shrugged. ‘Well, when all’s said and done it’s a family thing, and I’m not family. I’m just your boss.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ Ben said, clapping him lightly on the arm. ‘You’re family, too. Mum will be pleased to see you anyway. She’s been worried about you.’
Clive put his mug carefully on the counter. ‘Has she?’
‘Of course!’ Ben’s tone softened. ‘She knows what it’s like to grieve, remember? She knows how much you cared for Joseph, and she understands how that feels. She doesn’t want you to cut yourself off from people the way she did all those years.’
‘Aye,’ Clive said quietly. ‘I suppose that makes sense. It’s very kind of you all.’
‘So you’ll come?’
‘Why not? Should I bring anything with me? Wine, perhaps, or a bottle of whisky?’
Ben grinned. ‘Just bring yourself, Clive. We’ll take care of everything else.’ His smile faltered and he said, ‘So you really think we should keep all this from Summer? About Bethany selling the sanctuary, I mean?’
‘If you want Summer to get on that plane then I think it’s our only option, lad,’ Clive advised. ‘Like I say, there’s nothing she can do to change things, so why put her through all that anguish? Let her have a few weeks with her dad and her sister. She needs a break after all the work she’s put in. And when she gets home… Well, there’ll be plenty of time for her to deal with all that then.’
Providing there wasn’t somehow a miraculously quick sale naturally. Who knew how low Bethany would drop the price if she wanted rid of Whispering Willows that fast? Thank goodness the legal wheels turned notoriously slowly. Bethany wouldn’t be able to sell her inheritance anywhere near as quickly as she obviously wanted to.
And when probate was finally granted? He could only mentally cross his fingers that, somehow, he would be able to talk her into carrying on Joseph’s legacy.
He didn’t, in all honesty, hold out much hope.
Breakfast at The Lady Dorothy was basic but at least Bethany had the option of eating in her room rather than going downstairs—an option she took with relief. She refused the full English breakfast, settling instead for toast and a soft-boiled egg, plus the obligatory pot of tea.
She accepted the tray from the landlady and closed the door behind her, then carefully climbed into bed and settled back against the headboard, her eyes closed for a moment as she contemplated the day ahead.
Having opened the curtains slightly she was grateful to see that the bad weather of yesterday had rolled away, leaving a brighter, dryer day in its wake. That should make everything a little more bearable. Not much, but anything was an improvement on yesterday.
As she sipped tea she considered the events of the previous day, her heart sinking as she remembered the state of the house, and the fact that she was now responsible for finding homes for thirteen horses, ponies, and donkeys. Then there was Viva to consider. She had to admit she was rather taken with the little dog, but with her own plans so up in the air she wasn’t certain she could keep her.
At least, she thought wryly, slicing the top off her egg, that awful Scotsman seemed willing to take Viva if necessary. That was something.
He’d really annoyed her yesterday, being so judgemental and rude. He knew nothing about her, but he’d clearly formed an opinion—based, no doubt, on Joseph’s view of her. She wondered what her brother had told his ‘friend’ about her. Somehow, she doubted it was the whole truth.
Well, today she’d brave that place again and take a proper look around. She’d make an inventory of what was inside—most of it would be destined for the local tip from what she’d seen—and then get onto an estate agent as fast as possible. The sooner the place was up for sale the better.
As for the horses…
Bethany had no answer to that one. If they were all in a state like Chester, she knew they would be hard to rehome. Maybe another sanctuary would take them? Although, the way things were these days with the economy and the cost-of-living crisis, she suspected more people were trying to get rid of horses than taking them in, and knew that many animal sanctuaries were being overwhelmed with new arrivals. It probably wouldn’t be easy to find them alternative homes.
And until she’d done that, she could hardly sell the house, could she? Unless, by some miracle, the estate agent found a buyer who had lots of money to spend doing up the stables as well as the house, and a passion for broken down equines. Not likely.
An hour later, showered and dressed, Bethany headed out to Whispering Willows. She decided to leave the car in the pub car park and walk. Fresh air would do her good.
She noticed there’d been some changes in Market Place since she left.
Pennyfeather’s was still there, of course. Although, looking more closely at it as she passed she realised it was no longer Pennyfeather’s Wool Shop, but Pennyfeather’s Craft Shop, and above it was a new sign for The Crafty Cook Café. Seemed Rita and Birdie had made some changes to the old place. Good for them.
The doctor’s surgery and the chemist’s shop were still there, although they’d definitely been smartened up. She doubted very much that old Dr Gedney was still around, and she thought the chemist’s name had changed, too, but at least they were still being used for the same purpose.
Taylor-Made, the children’s clothes shop run by old Mrs Taylor that had stood on the corner of Little Market Street, was now The Corner Cottage Bookshop. It gave her a pang of sadness as she remembered her mother taking her into that shop to buy her new clothes. She’d got a lovely navy-blue winter coat one year. It had been so warm and smart, and she’d adored the little red and black buttons in the shape of ladybirds. She’d never forgotten it.
The White Hart Inn looked much smarter, too, she thought. It had been brightened up, and she loved the hanging baskets and window boxes of spring flowers that adorned the front of the building.
Hurrying past the church without glancing in its direction, she headed briskly down Market Street and onto Lavender Lane, then crossed the road and turned towards Whispering Willows.
She slowed as she noticed a car turn into the drive.
Visitors! She couldn’t imagine any of the teenage workforce had cars, and besides, they’d be at school today. Her heart sank as she realised it must be that awful vet again. What did he want now? Come to talk her out of selling up? He’d be wasting his time if that was his plan.
As she neared the stableyard, though, she realised it wasn’t the vet at all. She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or dismayed to see Miss Lavender standing at the front door. Well, that hadn’t taken her long, had it? Although, remembering what Miss Lavender had been like she shouldn’t have been surprised.
She wasn’t alone, either. She was chatting to a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing jeans and wellies and a grey jumper.
As Bethany approached, they both looked up and Miss Lavender’s face broke into a wide smile. It occurred to Bethany that she’d aged massively. Then again, it had been, what, thirty-five years since she’d last seen her, and the middle-aged woman was now an old lady. She must be around eighty now, surely? She supposed Miss Lavender was thinking how much she’d aged, too, which was a depressing thought.
‘Bethany! Oh, my dear, how wonderful it is to see you again.’
There was genuine warmth in her voice and her eyes, and Bethany experienced a pang of guilt that Miss Lavender was obviously so pleased to see her, while she’d been full of dismay when she’d realised who was waiting for her. She should be more open and welcoming. After all, Miss Lavender had done nothing wrong. On the contrary, after Bethany’s mother had died, Miss Lavender had been a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. Considering Bethany hadn’t even kept in touch with her she was being remarkably forgiving.
‘Miss Lavender.’
She hurried forward and found herself in a touchingly affectionate hug. Miss Lavender held her at arm’s length and surveyed her closely.
‘You’re looking very well, my dear.’
‘Very old you mean,’ Bethany said, managing a laugh. ‘I expect I’ve changed a lot since we last met.’
‘Well, haven’t we all?’ Miss Lavender sighed. ‘You’re as pretty as a picture, just as you always were.’
She straightened and laid a hand on the young woman’s arm. ‘Bethany, let me introduce you to Summer Fletcher. She runs Whispering Willows. That is, she ran it, when Joseph was alive. Oh, dear. Well, she’s the one to ask if you have any questions about the sanctuary.’
Bethany saw Summer’s anxious expression and felt sympathy for her. This was, after all, her livelihood. She should put her out of her misery right now, tell her the truth about the future. Even so, she didn’t have the heart to break that to her so soon after the loss she’d experienced and she found herself saying, ‘I have lots of questions, naturally. Perhaps we should go inside, and I’ll make us some tea.’
Summer looked slightly less pensive and, trying to ignore the guilt, Bethany unlocked the door and led them inside. She was tempted to apologise for the state of the place, but realised they’d probably seen it many times and wouldn’t be surprised.
It seemed she was wrong, though, because as they all headed into the kitchen Miss Lavender looked appalled.
‘What on earth has happened to this place? It was such a beautiful house! Look at the state of it!’
Bethany filled the kettle and switched it on. ‘You haven’t seen it recently, Miss Lavender?’
Miss Lavender looked rather shamefaced. ‘I haven’t been here since—well, since your father passed, dear. And, quite honestly, I rarely visited after you left. I only called now and then just to check everything was as it should be.’ She shifted in her seat, clearly feeling awkward about something.
‘Not once?’ Bethany couldn’t imagine it. Miss Lavender had made it her business to keep an eye on things after Bethany’s mother had died. It seemed, once Bethany had left Tuppenny Bridge, Miss Lavender had washed her hands of Whispering Willows and the people left behind. Of Joseph. Was that because of what had happened? Had she discovered the reason Bethany had walked out?
But that wasn’t my fault, was it? I didn’t ask her to take sides!
‘I see,’ she said. ‘Take a seat. Tea won’t be long.’
She knew where everything was after checking all the cupboards yesterday and was glad that someone—probably Clive—had put fresh milk in the fridge.
‘Oh,’ Miss Lavender said, sitting at the table and looking round sadly, ‘I can’t believe how much this house has deteriorated. But it’s so good to see you again, dear, and to see you back in this kitchen… I know it can’t be easy for you, and in such trying circumstances.’
Summer cleared her throat. ‘Look, I can see you two have a lot to talk about and I’ve got work to be getting on with. Come and find me when you need me, Bethany.’
‘Oh, but I was making tea?—’
‘It’s fine. I’ve not long had a drink. I’ll leave you both to it.’
‘Well,’ Bethany said, feeling uncertain, ‘if you’re sure…’
Summer headed back outside, and Bethany made the tea for herself and Miss Lavender. She sat at the table and put her head in her hands.
‘I didn’t expect any of this,’ Bethany admitted.
Miss Lavender sighed. ‘It must have been a dreadful shock, finding out about Joseph’s death. I’m very sorry for your loss, Bethany.’
Bethany gave a bitter laugh. ‘You and I both know I don’t deserve any sympathy. I hadn’t seen or heard from him in decades. Joseph and I were hardly family any longer. That’s why I don’t understand this. Any of it. Why didn’t he make a will? He must have known that as his only living relative I’d be expected to take care of these horses.’
‘But you’re his sister!’ Miss Lavender said, surprised. ‘Who else would he trust them with?’
‘Anyone!’ Bethany shrugged. ‘What about that Clive person? He was obviously very close to him.’
‘Clive was an extremely good friend to Joseph,’ Miss Lavender admitted. ‘Even so, he’s not family, is he? Clearly, Joseph trusted you and expected you to do the right thing for those poor animals. As he should.’
Bethany disagreed. Joseph had no right to expect anything from her. Hadn’t she done enough for him already?
‘This horse sanctuary,’ she began hesitantly. ‘I can’t believe he didn’t let me know.’ The more she thought about it the angrier she felt. ‘He had no right! What’s it all about anyway? And how long had he been running it?’
Miss Lavender blew on her tea. ‘It must be twenty-five years now. Just three years after your father died, in fact. Joseph seemed to withdraw from the outside world, rarely leaving this place. Then the next thing we knew he’d started taking in stray animals. It was completely out of the blue.’
‘He left the brewery?’ Bethany couldn’t imagine it. Joseph had loved the Lusty Tup Brewery, and on the rare occasions when she’d allowed herself to think about him at all, she’d pictured him in his office there.
‘Oh no, that came much later. He took early retirement but that was only around ten years ago. I suppose he was waiting for a pension or something. After he left there, he became even more reclusive. We rarely saw him around the town. He spent all his time cooped up here with the horses.’ She gazed around the kitchen with some distaste. ‘He became a sort of hermit, really. If he hadn’t had Clive, I really don’t know what would have happened. Clive was his link with the outside world and coaxed him into attending occasional events. Without him, I doubt Joseph would have bothered.’
‘Clive’s a vet, I understand?’
‘That’s right. He came to Tuppenny Bridge about twenty-eight years ago from Edinburgh, around the time your father passed. When our previous vet retired, Clive took over the practice and bought Stepping Stones from him. Naturally, he was called out to Whispering Willows many times, and the two of them struck up a friendship.’
Bethany sipped her tea, saying nothing.
‘Clive’s been wonderful these last few months,’ Miss Lavender admitted. ‘He moved into this house to take care of Joseph, employed a locum to help Ben as he couldn’t be at the vet practice so much, and employed help for Summer.’
‘Employed?’ Bethany frowned. ‘I thought the teenagers were volunteers.’
Miss Lavender shook her head. ‘No, Summer confided that Clive paid them out of his own pocket. He just told Joseph they’d volunteered so Joseph wouldn’t worry or feel bad. Clive’s a good man. A kind man.’
He hadn’t seemed particularly kind yesterday, Bethany mused. Then again, grief could affect people in different ways, and it was without question that Clive was grieving. She supposed she hadn’t helped matters by telling him she planned to offload Whispering Willows either. She could have broken that to him more gently she thought ruefully.
‘How are you feeling, anyway?’ Miss Lavender asked her, her faded blue eyes warm with sympathy. ‘You’ve lost your Yorkshire accent, my dear.’
Had she? Bethany hadn’t been aware of that, but she supposed being around Ted and Helena with their polished tones for so many years she might well have done.
‘It must be hard for you, coming back here after all this time.’
Bethany glanced around her and pulled a face. ‘You could say that. I really don’t know what I’m doing here, Miss Lavender. I can’t believe Joseph didn’t make provision for all these horses and ponies. I mean, what am I supposed to do about them? He must have known I wouldn’t stay here, so what did he think I was going to do with all these animals?’
‘You’re not going to stay?’ Miss Lavender’s face crumpled. ‘Oh, Bethany, dear. Are you sure?’
‘Surely you of all people know I can’t possibly come back here after everything that happened?’
‘It was such a long time ago, dear. Another lifetime. You’ve done so much since then.’
‘Yes, I have! And that’s why I can’t risk letting all that hard work go to waste. If I came back here, I’d be dragged back into that awful feeling. That helpless, hopeless feeling, like all the air’s being sucked out of my lungs. I already feel a bit like that and I’m not even staying in this house. I’ve booked a room at The Lady Dorothy because I can’t bear to be under this roof.’
‘But it could be your home again if you just give it time.’
‘It could never be my home!’ Bethany said fiercely. ‘It’s his home! It will always be his home, and I can’t live with all these memories of him and the living hell he turned this place into.’
Miss Lavender sighed. ‘I suppose I can’t blame you for that. How long do you intend to stay?’
Bethany deflated. ‘That’s just it. My intention was to spend only a few days here, sorting through belongings and getting an estate agent to view it. I had no idea there was a horse sanctuary here, or that I’d be expected to find homes for thirteen animals. Fourteen if you count Viva. Although Clive’s taken her for now until I decide what to do with myself.’
‘So you’re definitely selling?’
‘Definitely. Unfortunately, it’s not going to be as straightforward as I’d supposed. I can’t sell the house until I’ve found homes for the animals and look at this place! I’ll be lucky to give it away the state it’s in. I don’t know.’ She shook her head, feeling helpless. ‘All I know is my flying visit to Tuppenny Bridge is going to last a lot longer than I’d anticipated.’
‘Well, in that case you must stay with me at Lavender House,’ Miss Lavender said at once. ‘You can’t stay in The Lady Dorothy indefinitely, and you’d be more than welcome in my apartment.’
Bethany wasn’t so sure about that. The last thing she needed was Miss Lavender sticking her oar in every five minutes, however well-intentioned she knew the old lady was.
‘Honestly, I’m fine at the pub,’ she began, but Miss Lavender had made up her mind.
‘I’m there on my own now the boys have gone,’ she said, ‘and I’d be glad of the company.’
Bethany frowned. ‘What boys?’
‘My great-nephews. Oh, of course, you won’t remember Noah, and you weren’t here when Ross was born. They are the lights of my life, Bethany, and I’ve had the pleasure of raising them almost as my own. I must leave in a moment but as soon as we get the chance we’ll have a proper catch-up. Oh, I have such a lot to tell you. So much has happened since you left Tuppenny Bridge!’