Chapter 6
When Miss Lavender finally left, having managed to extract a promise from Bethany that she would, indeed, move into Lavender House, Bethany decided it was time to bite the bullet and face Summer.
With growing trepidation she pulled on her coat and zipped it up, bracing herself for her employee’s anger and disappointment when she broke the news of her plans. She didn’t relish the prospect but knew it was only fair to give the girl warning that things were not going to stay the same at Whispering Willows. If nothing else, it would give her more time to find alternative employment.
Heading out into the stableyard she was taken aback to spot Clive, rather than Summer. Of course, she should have expected he’d be here, given that he’d already told her he’d arranged to cover for Summer while she was away, and was probably helping now to get used to the routine.
‘Good morning.’ She hoped her voice sounded certain and strong. She didn’t want him to know how uncertain and weak she was actually feeling. He was clearly determined that Whispering Willows was going to stay open and would seize upon any sign of doubt, using it to manipulate her. That was not going to happen.
Clive glanced up and nodded briefly at her. ‘Morning.’
He was picking out Chester’s hooves. The gelding looked, if anything, even older as he stood patiently in the yard than he had in the dim light of the loosebox yesterday.
‘Oh my,’ she said, her voice softening with sympathy despite herself as she surveyed the elderly horse, ‘he’s really looking sorry for himself, isn’t he?’
Clive nodded. ‘Aye. Not a happy fella, are you, eh?’ He rubbed Chester’s nose affectionately.
‘How old is he?’ She shouldn’t really be making conversation with Clive, but she couldn’t help herself. Her sympathies were aroused, despite the pep talk she’d given herself last night. Looking at the poor old animal now she couldn’t for the life of her imagine anyone else wanting to take him on. If Whispering Willows closed where would that leave him? Maybe Clive would take him? He obviously cared for the old boy.
‘Around thirty,’ Clive said briefly.
‘Oh gosh, quite an age. So does he have any other health problems?’
‘Nothing that doesn’t come with being old. The main problem with Chester is he’s grieving.’
‘Grieving?’
‘Like I said, his owner treated him more like a pet. The two of them were each other’s world. Now she’s gone he’s missing her badly.’
‘Maybe it would be better for him if he had some company. Being shut up in the stables alone can’t be good for him.’
Clive sighed. ‘As I explained, he’s used to being stabled in bad weather and gets quite distressed if he’s out in it. Yesterday was definitely bad weather.’
‘And today?’
Clive shrugged as he looked up at the sky. ‘Today, as you can see, the weather is fine, so I’ll be turning him out in one of the paddocks with a couple of Welsh cobs. They’ve become friends so he’ll be quite happy there.’
‘I hope so.’
He looked surprised that she was concerned, which she supposed she couldn’t blame him for. She hadn’t, after all, given him much of an impression that she cared one way or the other.
‘How’s Viva?’ she asked quickly before he could comment further on her sudden interest in Chester’s welfare. ‘Did she settle at your place all right?’
‘Eventually,’ he said briefly. ‘She’s another one grieving. Now she’s not only lost her owner but she’s probably losing her home, too, just like Chester. It’s hard on animals. I don’t think people give enough thought to how grief and change affects them.’
Bethany bristled. ‘I’m sorry, but you must understand I couldn’t possibly take her with me to The Lady Dorothy. Pets aren’t allowed in there at all.’
‘But you could move in here,’ he pointed out. ‘Why not? It’s a big old house that’s just standing empty. All it needs is some love and attention.’
‘Yes, well, I’m sure the new owner will provide that,’ she said, anxious to head him off before he could start to harangue her again about keeping Whispering Willows. ‘Do you know where Summer is?’
‘She’s just taken Barney up to Harston’s Hill. He’s one of our native ponies. I’ll explain about him later. What do you need Summer for?’
He sounded suspicious and she couldn’t help wondering what it had to do with him why she needed Summer. For some reason, though, she found herself saying, ‘I want to speak to her about the future of this place.’
Clive’s sandy-coloured eyebrows knitted together in a frown as he slipped the hoof pick in his pocket. ‘What about it?’
Honestly, did he want to know everything? She couldn’t see why she had to run any of this past him. It was her business, not his.
‘She needs to know where she stands,’ she replied curtly. ‘It wouldn’t be fair to keep her wondering. The sooner she knows the sooner she can start job hunting, and?—’
‘Job hunting!’ Clive sounded horrified. ‘You’re not going to tell her you’re selling up? She’s about to go to Australia!’
‘I think it’s always best to be honest with people,’ she said firmly. ‘It’s hardly my fault she’s swanning off on holiday, is it?’
‘I explained that to you,’ he said, his tone disapproving. ‘Summer’s been an absolute godsend here. Joseph simply couldn’t have managed without her. She deserves better than this.’
‘So what do you want me to do?’ she demanded. ‘If she’s been such a godsend, she deserves plenty of warning that she’s going to have to find herself another position. And the good thing is, if she’s the asset you say she is then she’ll have no trouble finding work elsewhere, will she?’
He glared at her. ‘Round here? With horses?’ He shook his head. ‘You’re living in cloud cuckoo land. She’s going to be devastated. And it’s not just her she’ll be worrying about. Summer lives and breathes these horses. She’ll worry herself sick about their future, and how is she going to relax in Australia if she’s got all that going through her head?’
Bethany was almost sure she was blushing under the pressure of his accusing stare. ‘Look, I’m sorry about that, but I don’t see what else I can do.’
‘Don’t tell her!’ The sharpness in his tone took her aback, and she noted that he bit his lip, as if he’d recognised how brusque he’d sounded. The expression in his eyes softened and he said quietly, ‘Please, just don’t tell her. Not now. Let her go away and rest for a few weeks before you spring this on her.’
His concern for Summer’s welfare was quite touching she thought. Even so, it didn’t feel right to her to lie.
‘She’s bound to ask me what my plans are for this place and what am I supposed to tell her? Should I make out that everything’s going to carry on as normal?’
‘Can’t you fudge it?’ he asked hopefully. ‘Sort of get round it by not answering her directly. Just tell her your plans are still up in the air at least.’
‘But they’re not,’ she said, gazing steadily at him and noticing that his eyes were more grey than blue, like the sky on a rainy day. ‘I’ve already made it clear to you that my plans are to find new homes for these animals and sell Whispering Willows so I can get out of here as soon as possible.’
Clive sighed and turned back to Chester. He patted his neck and said, ‘Hear that, old lad? You’re going to be turfed out of here, too, just as you were starting to settle.’
‘Don’t do that!’ she snapped.
He glanced round at her. ‘Do what?’
‘Emotional blackmail. Manipulation. It’s not right and it’s not fair. I didn’t ask for any of this. I don’t know what you want from me.’
‘All I’m asking,’ he said heavily, ‘is that you put off telling Summer the truth until she gets back from Australia. I’m not joking, she won’t go if she knows what’s going to happen. She needs this break. If you’d seen her these past few months—if you’d just been here…’
She stiffened, not sure if that was yet another dig at her. ‘Well I wasn’t,’ she said defensively. ‘However, I take your point that it’s probably true Summer won’t leave here if she thinks I’m going to sell up. I’ll do as you ask, but the moment she gets back I’m going to be honest with her. It’s not fair to do otherwise.’
Clive nodded. ‘Thank you. And now I’m going to turn Chester out. Would you like to come with me? Meet the horses he’ll be sharing the paddock with?’
Bethany hesitated. Was this another trap? Was Clive hoping that she’d fall in love with the residents of the sanctuary and change her mind about selling? He would be disappointed if he was. She had, she decided, nothing to fear. She wasn’t going to back down now.
‘Okay,’ she said with a shrug. ‘Might as well start somewhere. With Summer gone I suppose you’ll be needing my help here.’
‘Aye, that would be grand,’ he agreed. ‘And after all, they are your responsibility.’
‘Don’t push it,’ she warned him as he took Chester’s halter rope and turned the horse towards the paddock. ‘They might be, but not for long.’
Though if she couldn’t find homes for them all, what then? It really didn’t bear thinking about.
It’s not my problem she told herself fiercely as they walked slowly out of the stableyard.
Sadly, the gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach reminded her all too clearly that, actually, it was.
Lavender House had once been a grand, stately home belonging to Josiah Lavender, the famous Georgian artist, and his independently wealthy wife, but was now a museum and art gallery dedicated to the memory of Miss Lavender’s illustrious ancestor.
Bethany had only visited the place on two previous occasions, both times when she was a little girl. Her mother had taken her to tea with Miss Lavender, and they’d been shown into their host’s private apartment at the back of the building.
She vaguely remembered her mother warning her to sit still and be quiet, as she fidgeted on the old-fashioned sofa and tugged at the hem of her best dress, and her relief when Miss Lavender had eventually suggested she might like to play in the garden and burn off some of her energy.
There were formal gardens at the house, which visitors could pay to walk around, but Miss Lavender had her own private garden at the side of the building, which was walled, ensuring privacy from prying eyes and a safe space for her yellow Labrador, Binks, named after one of Yorkshire’s finest cricketers, according to his proud owner.
Now, as Bethany headed into the house all these years later, her small suitcase in hand, she wasn’t sure what to expect, and couldn’t help wondering how she’d allowed herself to be talked into moving in with Miss Lavender.
The woman seated at the reception desk in the hall nodded and smiled a greeting at her, so she supposed she was expected by the museum staff as well as its owner. She glanced around, trying to get her bearings. It had been a long time since she’d last visited the house. It was hard to remember the route to the private quarters.
‘Bethany Marshall?’
She turned at the sound of a male voice calling her name. A tall, dark, handsome man with black hair and a neatly trimmed beard was heading towards her, his dark eyes smiling a welcome.
She nodded, wondering who this vision was. ‘That’s me.’
He held out his hand and she shook it weakly. ‘I’m Ross. Ross Lavender. Aunt Eugenie’s expecting you. Would you like to follow me?’
This was Miss Lavender’s great-nephew? Wow, he was gorgeous. Then she remembered that she was fifty-four and probably old enough to be this man’s mother, and telling herself she ought to know better, she followed him meekly to the back of the house through a door marked ‘Private’ then through another door which led to the apartment.
Ross ushered her inside, calling out as he did so. ‘Aunt Eugenie, your guest’s arrived!’
Two Yorkshire terriers dashed to investigate her, yapping loudly.
Ross rolled his eyes. ‘Don’t mind them. Their bark’s definitely worse than their bite.’
Bethany crouched down and patted the two little dogs, laughing as they tumbled over each other in an effort to be the closest to her.
‘They’re so cute! Bit different to Binks.’
Ross smiled. ‘Oh, you remember Binks? I never met him but Aunt Eugenie’s always talking about him. These are Boycott and Trueman.’
Bethany couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Still a cricket fan then, your aunt?’
‘You could say that.’ Ross gestured to the big, squashy, rather chintzy sofa, and said, ‘Make yourself at home. She won’t be long.’
With that, his great aunt hurried into the living room looking rather bashful.
‘Sorry about that, Bethany. Call of nature. I’m afraid as you get older trips to the bathroom grow ever more frequent.’
Bethany had been about to say she knew exactly what Miss Lavender meant, but then remembered Ross was standing right there, and decided not to comment.
‘You’ve met Ross then? Ross, this is Bethany, the lovely lady I was telling you about. She’s Joseph’s sister, remember?’
‘We met in the reception,’ Bethany said hastily. ‘He kindly showed me the way as I seem to have forgotten it.’
‘Ah well, I’ll get you some keys cut, and you can come through the side gate and the back door,’ Miss Lavender told her. ‘Saves you having to come through the house.’
‘Oh really, there’s no need,’ Bethany assured her. ‘I won’t be staying here that long.’
‘It’s no trouble, dear,’ Miss Lavender said, waving a hand and dismissing her protests instantly. ‘Now, would you like tea or coffee?’
Ross excused himself and left the apartment, closing the door gently behind him. Bethany realised she was staring wistfully after him and mentally shook her head. What on earth was wrong with her? Though, it had to be said, he really was good looking.
‘What did you think of Ross then, dear?’ Miss Lavender asked, smiling at her with a knowing look in her eyes. ‘Rather a charmer, isn’t he?’
Bethany was sure she was blushing. ‘He seems, er, very nice,’ she said feebly.
‘Oh he is. A darling. Both my boys are. He’s an artist, you know. He’s settled up at Monk’s Folly now. Do you remember Monk’s Folly?’
Bethany lifted an eyebrow in surprise. ‘The Callaghans’ place?’
‘Yes, that’s right. Except it belongs to us now. We’ve completely refurbished it and turned it into the Arabella Lavender Art Academy. Ross oversees it and lives in the house. At the moment only day classes are running, but the residential courses open for business at last in a couple of weeks. We’re having an open day and Ethan Rochester, no less, is going to perform the ceremony. You know, the owner of Rochester’s Department Stores? He’s a distant cousin of Rafferty Kingston, who owns The White Hart Inn. You must come to that.’
‘Thank you. And what about Jennifer and Julian?’ Bethany asked. ‘Do they still live in Tuppenny Bridge?’
A shadow flitted across Miss Lavender’s face. ‘Jennifer does,’ she said quietly. ‘Unfortunately, Julian passed away some fourteen years ago.’
‘Oh no, how awful!’ Bethany’s hand flew to her mouth as she remembered the friendly man who’d sometimes visited Whispering Willows. He’d worked with Joseph at the brewery, she recalled. Joseph had spoken very highly of him. ‘Didn’t they have a son, too? A little boy?’
‘Leon.’ Miss Lavender sighed. ‘I’ll put the kettle on. There are some things you ought to know about the Callaghans.’
Bethany glanced at the suitcase, noting that Trueman and Boycott were investigating it thoroughly, but seeing that they were hardly likely to damage anything she followed Miss Lavender into the kitchen.
‘Leon,’ Miss Lavender explained, taking china cups and saucers from a cabinet, ‘was killed in a car accident fourteen and a half years ago. Jennifer went to pieces. Well, she had two other children to care for.’ She flicked the switch on the kettle. ‘Ben, who was fifteen at the time, and poor little Jamie, who was just a baby when his father and brother died. Unfortunately, the responsibility for the house and his family fell on Ben’s young shoulders, as Jennifer withdrew into herself and became a recluse. I’m afraid he had a very difficult time of it.’
‘Ben…’ Bethany frowned. ‘I think Clive mentioned that the vet he works with at Stepping Stones is called Ben. Not the same one, I suppose?’
‘As a matter of fact, yes, he is. After Julian died Clive took him under his wing. He and Julian were great friends, you see. In fact, I believe it was Joseph who introduced them. Of course, Julian was far more sociable than Joseph, so although Clive spent a lot of time with your brother, when he wanted to go out and see something of other people, he was with Julian.’ She put spoonfuls of loose tea into a teapot, her eyes thoughtful. ‘He took it badly when Julian died. I suppose he thought helping Ben would be the least he could do for his friend’s son.’
‘Helping Ben? You mean by giving him a job after he qualified as a vet?’
‘Oh, more than that, dear,’ Miss Lavender assured her. ‘Milk? Sugar?’
‘Yes please, and no thanks,’ Bethany said.
‘I really should cut down on sugar,’ Miss Lavender admitted, adding two well-rounded spoonfuls to her cup. ‘Where was I? Oh yes. Well, Clive basically did all he could to get Ben into veterinary school. The Callaghans didn’t have much money, and I know for a fact that he paid for his textbooks and contributed towards the cost of Ben’s studies. I don’t know if Ben could have done it without Clive’s help. And of course, he gave Ben work experience and holiday work and then promised him there’d be a job waiting for him as soon as he graduated. Clive was as good as his word. There was. And Ben’s been at Stepping Stones ever since.’
‘He’s been very fortunate then,’ Bethany said, thinking with some reluctance that Clive clearly had a good heart, given what he’d done for Ben and also for Joseph.
‘He has,’ Miss Lavender agreed, as she poured hot water into the teapot. ‘In that sense, anyway. But don’t think he’s had an easy life, because I can assure you, Ben has suffered since the death of his father and brother. In fact, it’s only since he fell in love with young Summer Fletcher that things started to change for him.’
‘Summer Fletcher? You mean the girl who works at Whispering Willows?’
‘That’s right. She moved to Tuppenny Bridge a year last Christmas to be with her mother, who married Rafferty Kingston. They run the pub together. Anyway, she and Ben started courting, and she helped him come to terms with his grief. That’s when he was finally able to let go of the past and sell Monk’s Folly to me.’
‘So where do the Callaghans live now?’ Bethany asked.
‘Do you remember Daisyfield Cottage?’
Bethany frowned, trying to picture it. A pretty little building on River Road, she seemed to recall.
‘The Eckingtons’ place?’
‘That’s right. Mrs Eckington passed away, and Mr Eckington lives with their daughter now, so he sold the cottage to Ben. They’re much happier there than they ever were at Monk’s Folly, and we’ve spent a fortune restoring Monk’s Folly to its former glory, so everyone’s happy.’
‘And Ross runs it?’
‘He’s a brilliant artist,’ Miss Lavender said proudly. ‘It will be safe in his hands.’ She poured tea through a strainer into the cups and confided, ‘It’s just what he needs. He was a bit—restless for a time. His mother’s Italian, you know.’
Bethany smothered a smile. Clearly, Ross’s mother being Italian explained everything as far as Miss Lavender was concerned.
‘And now,’ Miss Lavender continued, adding a drop of milk to each cup, ‘he’s courting at last. A lovely young girl who works in the bookshop in Market Place. They’re absolutely smitten with one another. It’s rather sweet.’
Bethany took the cup and saucer from Miss Lavender’s hand and thanked her. They headed back to the living room, where they found Trueman lying contentedly on top of the suitcase while Boycott snored beside it, his little nose pressed into the thick, pile carpet.
‘Aren’t they beautiful?’ Miss Lavender gave them an adoring smile as she settled herself on the sofa beside Bethany.
‘You said you had another great-nephew, didn’t you?’ Bethany asked. ‘Noah, wasn’t it?’
‘That’s right.’ Miss Lavender sighed. ‘He’s the headmaster of our local primary school now. Done very well for himself. Such a hardworking and decent young man.’
‘And is he, er, courting?’
‘Oh, he’s been married for years,’ Miss Lavender explained. ‘To Isobel. She owns Petalicious, the florist’s shop on the green.’
Something in Miss Lavender’s tone told Bethany that she was worried about something, but she didn’t ask what it was. If Miss Lavender wanted to tell her she surely would. She was rarely backwards in coming forwards as far as Bethany recalled.
‘Anyway, tell me about yourself,’ the old lady said, giving her a warm smile. ‘I was so sorry to read about your husband’s death, my dear. Well,’ she added hastily, ‘your ex-husband’s death. I was sorry to hear that, too.’
Bethany took a sip of her tea, her hand shaking slightly causing the cup to rattle in its saucer.
‘Oh, it was an amicable divorce,’ she assured her. ‘Ted and I remained friends to the end. He was—’ She swallowed. ‘He was a good man. A kind man. I was very lucky.’
‘Clive tells me that he made contact with you via Ted’s second wife,’ Miss Lavender said carefully. ‘You got on with her, too?’
Bethany gave her a wry smile. She knew all too well that Miss Lavender was fishing for information, but she couldn’t see the harm in her knowing the truth. Well, some of it at any rate.
‘Very much so. Of course, it wasn’t easy at first. We were, after all, still married when Ted fell in love with Helena.’
‘Oh, Bethany!’ Miss Lavender stared at her in dismay. ‘I’m so dreadfully sorry. How awful for you. I can’t believe you even speak to that woman after she did such a terrible thing to you.’
‘Helena was my friend,’ Bethany explained. ‘A good friend. Frankly, I didn’t want to lose her. It would have hurt me more than losing Ted.’
‘But she betrayed you!’
‘It wasn’t that simple,’ Bethany admitted. ‘Ted and I had been drifting for a long time, and Helena was always far better suited to him. They behaved quite honourably for years, and I think they did all they could to make things easy for me. In fact…’ She hesitated, wondering if she should admit this to anyone, let alone Miss Lavender. She’d struggled to admit it to herself for a long time, after all.
‘In fact?’ Miss Lavender coaxed gently.
‘In fact, looking back on it, it was the best thing that could have happened,’ Bethany told her. ‘Does that sound awful?’
Miss Lavender considered the matter. ‘Not awful, no. Surprising, yes. And rather sad if you don’t mind me saying so. I’m so sorry things didn’t work out for you, dear. When I saw the announcement in the newspaper about your marriage, I’d really hoped that you’d found happiness at last.’
‘I wasn’t unhappy,’ Bethany said hurriedly. ‘Like I said, Ted was a good man. He took great care of me. I wanted for nothing.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. I wonder, do you ever hear from Glenn?’
Bethany’s cup clattered again, and she hastily placed it on the occasional table close to the sofa.
‘Not since before I left Tuppenny Bridge.’
‘Me neither. He never came back here as far as I’m aware. Such a shame that didn’t work out for you. He seemed such a charming man.’
She peered closely at Bethany, but if she was hoping for more information on that particular subject she was to be disappointed. Bethany had already spilled her thoughts more than she had in years. She wasn’t prepared to discuss Glenn, of all people.
‘So, Miss Lavender,’ she said brightly, ‘do tell me what else I’ve missed in Tuppenny Bridge. How are Birdie and Rita?’
That did the trick. Miss Lavender rolled her eyes and began to tell her all about how much she despaired of her old friends, even though it was quite clear that she thought the world of the pair of them.
Thank goodness, Bethany thought with relief, for the crazy, eccentric Pennyfeather sisters.