Chapter Nineteen
“I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here”
Drinks with Marcus had been fun, but also bittersweet, not least because the delicate matter he’d mentioned was him finally explaining who he had, as he described it, a bit of a schoolboy crush on.
‘Phyllida? As in the friendly redhead in the book shop?’
Marcus stirred in his seat, colour rushing into his cheeks, and Ellie’s heart went out to him.
‘She’s lovely. Why won’t you ask her out? I’m assuming she’s single.’
‘Of course!’ A hand shot to his mouth. ‘Oh my God. What if she’s not? She’s not wearing a ring, but these days does that mean anything?’
It meant she probably wasn’t married or engaged, but didn’t mean she wasn’t seeing someone…
‘It could hardly be a health and safety at work issue,’ Ellie mused out loud, and Marcus chuckled.
‘Oh, I don’t know. Some of those books are tightly packed together. Might get in the way.’
Ellie desperately wanted to reassure Marcus but not mislead him.
She tugged open her packet of crisps. ‘Want one?’ He shook his head, and she popped one in her mouth, savouring its saltiness. ‘Right, so how is she when you go in the shop?’
‘Usually sitting behind the counter.’
Ellie shook her head, laughing. ‘Pillock, you know what I mean.’
‘She’s friendly. But then, you called her that too.’
‘What sort of things do you talk about?’
‘Books,’ Marcus essayed, then seeing Ellie’s warning look, raised his hands.
‘Okay. Sorry. I’ll be serious. We talk about lots.
She’s an incomer like me, been here a few years, and loves it.
She co-owns the shop with her brother, but he doesn’t work there.
It’s one of his investments, and he leaves Phyllida to run it, manage the stock and so on.
She’s started taking some evening classes locally, mainly to try and meet people, as she gets lonely. ’
‘Hold on, hold on. Phyllida told you she gets lonely? Then she’s single.’
‘Unless he – or she – works on an oil rig.’
‘Marcus!’
‘Sorry.’
Ellie dipped into the crisps again, munching as quietly as she could as he continued to outline the things they discussed, which seemed to cover pretty much everything. Except each other.
‘It sounds to me like she’d really enjoy a dinner out, or even just a coffee. Why don’t you ask her? Then you’ll know.’
‘Easy for you to say,’ Marcus grumbled, picking up his pint of Guiness 0.0% and draining the glass before tapping his phone. ‘Heck, I’d best go. Didn’t realise the time. Shall I give you a lift back?’
Ellie grinned. ‘It’s about a fifteen-minute walk. I think I’ll cope, thanks.’
They parted on the harbourfront, and as Marcus drove away into the darkness, Ellie looked over at the Spar. The lights had just gone off, so it must be gone ten.
She strolled past Pen & Ink, mulling on the conversation about Phyllida, pausing to peer through the window. Light from the lamppost directly outside shone on the area around the main desk, and Ellie peered more intently through the window.
The stack of hand-made cards she’d left with Phyllida was no longer on the display stand and, if she craned her neck, nor did her business cards appear to be on the counter.
Had they all been sold or picked up? Phyllida hadn’t been in touch, but she’d contact her tomorrow to see if she needed more supplies.
Nicki had a long-overdue day off on the Friday, as she had to work all weekend, so Ellie left her to enjoy a rare chance to drop the boys at school and go for a leisurely coffee with some school-gate friends.
Ellie stepped out onto the patio after an early breakfast, hugging her favourite thick cardigan around her body.
There seemed to have been an almost constant breeze lately, and it scampered mischievously across the undulating waters of the bay towards her, toying with her hair, tempting her to follow it up into the trees and out on to the cliff path.
‘Wait for us,’ she called to the soft gusts buffeting the coastline. ‘Walkies, Dougal. Let’s go and enjoy ourselves.’
An hour later, they headed back down the hill from the coast path, but as Ellie went to turn left up the lane to Westerleigh – intent on settling the pets before heading down to see if the book shop needed a restock – Phoenix appeared from her right.
‘It’s that time of day.’ She grinned at Ellie. ‘You ready?’
She pointed back along the lane to where the usual elderly crew could be seen.
‘Oh Lord!’
Phoenix chuckled. ‘Come on, I’ll help. Jean’s gone up country to see Greg – he’s her… I’m not quite sure. I just saw Nicki sitting outside Karma with friends. You’ll need someone sane to talk to.’
Laughing, Ellie fell into step with her. She’d pop into town afterwards.
The morning proceeded much as they usually did, and Phoenix had a point. Although Ryther managed to maintain a slightly more demure group, a debate soon arose over how suitable Mrs Clegg’s cottage was for her now her mobility was so compromised.
‘And that there stove don’t work no more, Cleggie,’ Mrs Lovelace admonished as she slathered jam on a scone.
Ryther looked up from staring at his mug of tea. ‘I would be happy to buy a replacement for you, but I would not wish to step on Oliver’s toes.’
‘I’ll be rights,’ Mrs Clegg said firmly, folding her arms across her chest, and nodding, as if that sealed the matter.
‘Aye, for now,’ mumbled Old Patrick through his biscuit, crumbs all down his front. ‘But winter waits on no man, nor woman. ’Ow you be going on then without hot food, you silly mare?’
‘Jeannie says as she’ll get her one of they hair fryers,’ Mrs Lovelace offered, picking up her scone.
Phoenix smirked. ‘Mum had one of them in the eighties. Her hair used to resemble corrugated cardboard by the time she’d finished.’
‘Why don’t you tell Oliver about the oven, Mrs Clegg?’ Ellie queried as she offered more tea to Mrs Lovelace. ‘Or that you’re struggling with stairs. I’m sure he’d be happy to help you.’
‘I’m not troubling the big man,’ Mrs Clegg stated, the arms across her chest tightening. ‘Master Oliver has enough on his plate, he has, bless ’im.’
Another hour, and they went on their way, Ryther stopping to thank Ellie, apologising for stopping her working, and leaving her aglow from his praise of the photos she’d taken of Theo recently.
The mention of work, however, reminded Ellie about the book shop, and selecting some more cards, she added envelopes, scooped up a few more business cards and headed into the village.
Phyllida was thoroughly confused, however. Although some of the cards had sold, she’d come in after her day off to hear Ellie had phoned asking for the remainder to be taken off sale, and for her business cards to be removed, as she’d had a change of plan.
With nothing more to offer other than to restock the cards, Phyllida promised to call the assistant to see if she could find out more.
A quick check of the board displaying ads in the Spar window only added to the confusion. Yet again, no sign of Ellie’s business cards.
Luckily, the man who’d taken them and put it in the window was stacking shelves. He spoke to a couple of staff, and one of them said there’d been a phone call saying to please remove it as Ellie was no longer making cards or doing photography.
What on earth was going on? And why?
She really ought to get back and do some work, but Ellie felt demotivated and not a little hurt. Why would anyone want to harm her fledgling businesses?
Ellie’s mobile pinged. It was Kate, asking if she had time to pop over to Tremayne Manor to go through a few things. Grateful for something to take her mind off things, she was soon at the house and being led down the grand hallway to the room where she’d first met Mrs Tremayne.
‘It’s the damn media team. I can’t get anyone to call me back.’
The hair on Ellie’s neck shot to attention as Will’s voice drifted out of an open doorway, and she almost stumbled. A man answered, but she wasn’t sure if it was Alex. It would hardly be a surprise. This was the family home, after all.
Pulling herself together, Ellie smiled warmly at Kate as she was shown into the library – she refused to call it the office, such a beautiful room that it was.
‘Hey, sorry to nab you at short notice.’
‘No worries. I was in the village anyway.’ Ellie pushed away her dissatisfaction over the missing cards. The hurt was a little harder to ignore.
Kate, however, had a list to get through, and soon Ellie’s head was engaged, her imagination taking flight on possible images.
‘Let’s go and look at the layout outside.’
Ellie followed Kate, relieved to see the door to the room where she’d heard Will’s voice firmly closed. Once they’d sorted the details, they headed back cross the stone-paved former stable yard, only to be greeted by Mrs Tremayne.
‘Yoo hoo!’ she trilled as she waited for them in the archway leading to the house.
They exchanged pleasantries, but then she said, ‘You will join me for luncheon.’
It wasn’t an invitation, and Ellie sent Kate a curious look, but she merely shrugged. They fell into step behind the lady, following her back into the house to a smaller wood-panelled room, and Ellie drew in a sharp breath. This was where she and Will had hidden away to talk at the party…
‘Do take a seat.’
Mrs Tremayne waved a manicured hand towards a circular table, laid as though for fine dining, beside an arched bay window.
Kate sent Ellie an amused look, leading the way over, and Ellie sat down, thankful there were only three places laid. She took a discreet look around, her gaze landing on an alcove partially concealed by a heavily draped curtain fastened to one side by a thick rope tie.
Sadness swept through her. The alcove had become a secret place, the curtain drawn to shut out the world. It was where she and Will had shared their first kiss. Then another, and another, as though it was all that was left in the world to keep them both alive.
Ellie’s breath caught in her throat as memories encased her.
I have to get out of here…
With a start, Ellie stared at the glass of water in Kate’s hand.
‘Here,’ she urged, her expression indicative of her concern. ‘Take a sip. You look like you’re about to keel over.’
‘Thank you,’ Ellie whispered, emitting a shudder as the cold liquid trickled down her throat. ‘Sorry.’
‘You okay?’ Kate glanced over to where Mrs Tremayne was talking to a member of her staff by the door. ‘We can make our excuses if you feel unwell.’
Ellie took another sip of water. ‘I’m fine, truly. It’s been a bit of a wild morning, that’s all.’
Mrs Tremayne had disappeared, but as Kate chatted to Ellie about her daughter’s progress on a history project, the member of staff came over and began rearranging the settings.
‘Sorry, ma’am,’ she said. ‘Would you mind?’ She gestured to a sofa. ‘Mrs Tremayne wishes the table set for five.’
Heart leaping like a gazelle scaling a fence, Ellie grabbed the water and joined Kate on the indicated seating.
Okay. Now, she needed to make her excuses, and—
The door opened, and a smiling Mrs Tremayne returned, and in her wake, deep in conversation and oblivious to the company already in the room, Will and Alex.
Damn. Things were clearly about to get wilder.
At least having a few moments of awareness gave Ellie a modicum of composure. Not that Will was likely to care. She no longer had the ability to evoke a—
‘ Hell. ’