12. Chapter Twelve
CHAPTER TWELVE
General contractor Ted Bevin and interior designer Gavin Arkenden-Smith could not have looked more different if they’d tried. Ted wore jeans, steel toe cap boots and a work shirt topped with a bright orange safety vest. His safety helmet rested on the sofa beside him, where he perched uneasily.
Gavin had long wavy hair and wore an Edwardian smoking jacket complete with a waistcoat and cravat. His trousers were pressed to perfection and his shoes gleamed as brightly as his teeth.
Mabel held up the teapot. “Would either of you like more tea?”
“No thanks, luv,” Ted said. He had a pencil behind his ear that he’d used to stir his tea.
“I’ve imbibed an elegant sufficiency thank you, Mabel,” Gavin said. “Now where is darling Colin? I can’t wait to see him again.”
“Did you attend the same school?” Mabel asked.
“Oh no, darling, I’m not posh enough for Eton. My parents sent me to Marlborough.”
Ted cleared his throat. “I went there.” He looked at Gavin. “You were a year above me.”
Gavin stared hard at Ted. “Oh my god, yes! I remember you! You were a wonderful rugby player.”
Mabel stayed quiet as the two men bonded over mutual acquaintances and what had happened to them. In her opinion the better a team got along, the more successful a project would be. Back in the day she, Iko, Deepak, and Joss had been inseparable.
“Now where exactly does Colin wish me to start on this mausoleum he calls home?” Gavin asked.
“I believe he wants to start with the stables and the coachyard. We’re thinking they could be converted into a tearoom and restrooms for visitors.”
“The perfect place.” Gavin nodded. “Close to the house but also separate.”
Mabel turned to Ted. “We’re going to require your expertise to survey the site and decide what infrastructure needs replacing.”
Ted picked up his phone. “I had a quick look on my way in and took some pictures. I think you’re going to need a complete power, waste, and water pipes redo. We won’t see the extent of it until we get down into the ground.”
Gavin sighed. “Which means you won’t need me for months.”
Colin came in and both men stood up to greet him and shake hands. He settled beside Mabel, his smile warm. “I do apologize for my lateness. I was on the phone to my bank.”
“Ugh.” Gavin shuddered. “I hate discussing money.”
“Unfortunately, I have a tight budget,” Colin said. “Bumpy recommended you, Gavin, but I don’t have his money sources.” His tone was pleasant, but Mabel was impressed by his directness.
“Who does?” Gavin replied. “Not all of us are lucky enough to fall in love with the daughters of football club owners.”
“Which team?” Ted asked.
“I can’t remember, something in the Premier League—or is it two teams?” Gavin frowned. “I’m not really up on that. I prefer rugby and tennis.”
“To get back to the matter in hand,” Colin said, “Ted, I’d like you to do an in-depth survey of the foundational work we’ll need do before we can start on anything above ground.”
“I can do that.” Ted nodded.
“And Gavin, I’d love you to draw up some plans for organizing and decorating the space to make it look like it’s always been part of the house.”
Gavin raised his hand. “There is a teensy problem with that, dear one.”
“Which is?”
“I’ll need plans of the building designs.”
“Which I will draft and provide to both of you,” Colin said.
A slight crease appeared on Ted’s brow. “You don’t have an architect?”
“I am an architect.” Colin smiled. “I’ve got a framed certificate and everything.”
“Begging your pardon, but since when?” Gavin asked. “Last I heard you were unemployed and living your best life on the ski slopes.”
“Since I decided I needed to learn something useful,” Colin said. “If we agree to work together, I’ll send the plans over. I’ve already started them, but I’ll need input from Ted before they are accurate enough for your input.”
“Well, bravo, you.” Gavin smiled broadly. “How absolutely delightful. Now, how about a quick tour of this wonderful house before we go outside. I’m sure Ted will enjoy it as well.”
As Mabel already knew there was no such thing as a quick tour of a house with over eighty rooms, she excused herself and took the tea tray back to the kitchen where Mrs. Reynolds was just about to start on lunch. She set the tray down beside the sink and dumped the loose tea in the compost bin.
“Was that Ted Bevin’s van?” Mrs. Reynolds asked.
“Yup. He’s come to see about the café site. He seems nice.”
“He’s a lovely boy. His father wanted him to go to London and be a stockbroker or something important, and Ted refused.
Said he’d rather work with his hands and apprenticed himself to Paddy Murphy the local builder.
” Mrs. Reynolds shook her head. “That caused a bit of a stink around here seeing as Paddy’s father used to run the stables for Ted’s dad. ”
“Why would that matter?” Mabel put the rinsed cups on the draining board.
“It’s a class thing, dearie. Ted’s father didn’t like his son working for his family’s former servant.”
“That’s silly.”
“I agree. It’s probably why Ted and his dad don’t get on very well. I mean we’re all supposed to live in a classless society now, but it doesn’t always feel like that.”
“All I can say is, good for Ted.”
Mabel’s phone buzzed and she wiped her hands and took it out of her pocket. There was a text message from an unknown number, and she clicked on it out of curiosity. She’d been communicating with many new people since she began helping Colin with the estate.
Mabel, It’s Sam. Can I talk to u?
Mabel checked the time. Colin would be occupied with showing the house for at least fifteen minutes. She had some time before she needed to meet up with them again.
She texted Sam back.
Sure. Call me now.
Her phone rang immediately, and she walked into the butler’s pantry for some privacy. “Hey, Sammy, what’s up?”
There was silence and then Sam spoke in a rush. “I need you to leave Joss alone.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“All he talks about is you, and I can’t deal with it.”
Mabel sat down in a chair by the fireplace. “I have no control over what Joss talks about. I haven’t contacted him outside work for months, and any discussions between us right now has been instigated by him and involve the rest of the team.”
“He’s just… obsessed by you.”
There was a hint of tears in Sammy’s voice, but Mabel wasn’t feeling particularly sympathetic right now. Unusual for her, but maybe she’d been pushed too far with this business with Joss.
She took a deep breath and said, “Joss is sulking because I don’t want to be a part of his new project. That’s all there is to it. Ask Iko or Deepak if you don’t believe me.”
“Why can’t you just go along with him so that everything can go back to normal?”
“Because my needs and wants are just as important as Joss’s. I don’t want to be a billionaire or work myself to death anymore. He feels differently, but I don’t deserve to be shouted at and threatened just because he’s in a snit and someone has said no to him.”
“He says the stress is ruining his relationship with me.”
“Sammy, that’s between you and Joss. I don’t control his stress levels or feelings.” Mabel considered how much more she wanted to say. “He tried to make me feel guilty for denying you the million-dollar wedding you’re demanding.”
“I haven’t asked for anything like that.”
“Then maybe ask Joss about how he’s characterizing your relationship.”
There was a longish pause before Sam spoke again. “I know you’re probably still mad because Joss went behind your back and started dating me, but this isn’t the right way to get revenge.”
Mabel gripped her phone hard. “I’m going to say this one more time because we used to be friends. I am happy for you and Joss. I do not want him back. I was actually relieved when he ended it, because all he cared about was the money and not me.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Then I can’t help you, Sammy,” Mabel said simply.
“Fine, be like that.”
Sammy ended the call and Mabel shook her head. She was so tired of being stuck in the middle of other people’s messes.
“Hey.”
She looked up to find Freddy peering around the door.
She tried to find a smile. “What’s up?”
“I was just going out to the stable yard to wait for Colin, and I heard your voice.” He paused. “Everything okay?”
“Just work drama.” She stood up. “I’m so over it.”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “Which is why you’re spending so much time here.”
“Yes, do you have a problem with that?” Mabel faced him.
He held up his hands. “Not at all. You’re doing a wonderful job with my big brother. We’re all very grateful that you’re sticking it out here with us.”
“Because you think that if I leave Colin will follow me?”
“He might.”
“Well, I’m not asking him to make that decision, and even if I do go, I expect he’ll stay here and see things through.”
“I hope you’re right,” Freddy murmured as they walked along the corridor toward the back door. “He’s not exactly known for his staying power.”
“Because all your family do is constantly undermine him.” After her conversation with Sam, Mabel wasn’t in the mood to be nice. “I wouldn’t want to stay in a place where expectations for me are so fricking low that they’re insulting.”
“You sound annoyed.” Freddy remarked as he stood back to let her through the doorway into the stable yard. She swung around to face him.
“I am annoyed. I just wish you could see the man I see who every day tries to think up solutions to a problem he didn’t cause for a family who appear incredibly ungrateful for his efforts.”
“Hear, hear.” Colin’s voice came from behind her, and she slapped her hand over her mouth. “Bravo my brave defender!”
He came over, wrapped her in a bear hug, sweeping her off her feet and twirled her around. She leaned into his shoulder and inhaled his niceness.
“I told you she was worth hanging onto,” Freddy said.
Colin set her down but continued to hold her. “Trust me. I am well aware of Mabel’s worth, Freddy.”
He smiled into her eyes, and she forgot to be embarrassed.
“Your family are awful to you” she said. “I’m sorry, Freddy, but someone had to say it.”