Chapter 4
My first Friday living in Nightingale Square dawned sunny and warm and I was looking forward to exploring the garden at Prosperous Place. The evening before, Rafe had given me more of a run down on the history of the connection between the square and the Victorian mansion house across the road.
It had been built and originally owned by an ancestor of Kate’s partner, Luke, called Charles Wentworth.
He was a philanthropic shoe factory owner who took as much care over the life of his staff as he did his own.
The properties in Nightingale Square had been built to house the factory managers and supervisors, and there had also been streets of small, terraced homes for the general workers.
Given that Luke had opened the grounds of Prosperous Place to the people now living in the square to create the community garden Kate had played her part in setting up and running, he sounded every bit as generous as Mr Wentworth himself, and I felt privileged that Rafe and I would become a continuing part of the square’s history.
The insight also gave me further understanding as to why Rafe had picked the place to buy as opposed to somewhere more modern as Mum had assumed he would. My father and I were both keen on history and I was looking forward to discovering more about the area.
‘Are the cats with you, Rafe?’ I called as I pulled on my plimsolls in readiness for my first foray beyond the front door.
I had picked my time to leave with care and was hoping to be safely through the garden gate before Lisa returned home from the school run.
It wasn’t that I disliked her. She’d been nothing but friendly the day I arrived, but I was planning to slip into the garden and explore alone, for this first time at least, and I had the feeling that if she spotted me, she’d insist on acting as a well-meaning guide.
‘No,’ Rafe said, as he opened the door to his writing room upstairs and popped his head out.
‘Sorry, I didn’t realise you were working.’
‘It’s okay,’ he yawned. ‘It’s probably time I took a break.’
His usually tidy hair was ruffled, and he was wearing the same shirt as the day before.
‘Have you been writing all night?’ I frowned.
‘If it’s Friday morning,’ he laughed, ‘then yes. Hooray for the return of the muse!’
‘Hooray indeed,’ I agreed.
‘I take it you didn’t hear me bashing away at the keys.’
‘I did not,’ I confirmed. ‘I’m guessing the cats are in the sitting room then?’ I added with a nod to the closed door.
‘They are,’ he said as he walked down the stairs. ‘And they can stay there a bit longer as I’m expecting some deliveries. I don’t want to risk them, or should I say Plato, making a run for it.’
‘Do you want me to wait and help you unload everything?’ I offered. ‘I don’t mind.’
‘No, no,’ he said, as he turned me towards the front door. ‘You go and enjoy the garden. You’ve been cooped up here with me since you arrived. You need to stretch your legs.’
‘All right,’ I willingly relented. ‘I’ll see you later.’
Even though it was early, it felt comfortably warm as I took a deep breath and stepped outside.
I had wondered if my light cotton dress and cardigan combo would be a bit chilly, but I needn’t have worried.
Autumn still felt a long way off, but then August had been such a scorcher, it was no surprise that the warmth was lingering during the first week of September.
I stopped on the path before the gate and cocked my head.
I could hear the distant drone of traffic, but given the hour, it wasn’t as loud as I had thought it might be and I was grateful for that.
Feeling hemmed in was one thing, but having to get used to traffic roaring by at proximity every time I ventured out of doors would have been another level of claustrophobic all together.
‘One, nine, eight, seven,’ I quietly said, once I’d crossed the road, located the garden gate and keyed in the code.
The wooden gate was set in a brick wall which looked as old as I knew the mansion house to be and it was high, too, and in places covered in ivy.
I turned the gate handle and felt excitement bubbling up as it opened.
I had the impression that I was about to discover somewhere truly magical.
A place of peace and tranquillity that had the potential to help me adjust to the many changes I was negotiating when I needed a moment of calm.
‘Oh, my goodness,’ I gasped as I stepped inside and carefully closed the gate behind me. ‘Wow!’
It was even more beautiful than I had imagined and as I slowly walked through and around the garden, I became utterly entranced and lost all track of time.
As well as borders still in bloom, there were many mature trees, stretches of manicured lawn and a winter garden that, according to some signage, came into its own between November and February, depending on the weather.
There were also stunning metal sculptures, and this was all before I’d even caught a glimpse of the Grow-Well.
Along with figures of hares in different poses, I’d also spotted metal dragons tucked behind plants, scaling walls and peeping out of pots. I’d read something about Norwich having a dragon connection and was now eager to know more.
Without my phone to tell me, I truly had no idea what the time was, but my tummy was starting to rumble, and I found I needed a drink, too.
I was just thinking it was probably time to leave when I spotted a hidden fern garden and decided that a few more minutes exploring wouldn’t hurt.
It wasn’t as if home was any great distance away.
‘Another dragon,’ I smiled, as I spotted a small one scaling what I thought was a tree fern.
‘They’re lovely, aren’t they?’ said a voice behind me and I spun around to find a woman with the longest hair I’d ever seen, holding a pair of secateurs in one hand and a bucket in the other. ‘Sorry,’ she apologised. ‘I didn’t mean to make you jump.’
My hands had flown to my chest, and I could feel my face was flushed.
‘Don’t apologise,’ I told her. ‘I was in a world of my own. You could have crunched your way along the gravel path, and I wouldn’t have heard a thing. In fact,’ I laughed, ‘I suppose you did.’
‘I did,’ she smiled. ‘But that’s the magic of this garden. It transports you to a different place entirely. I’ve always found it beguiling.’
‘I can understand why,’ I agreed, as I looked back at the dragon. ‘It’s my first visit and it certainly won’t be my last.’
‘I’m Freya, by the way,’ she told me. ‘I’m the head gardener here and this is Nell.’
I hadn’t noticed before but there was a little fawn-coloured dog standing behind her. ‘She’s a bit shy.’
‘Hello Nell,’ I said quietly. ‘I’m Skylar. I’ve just moved to Nightingale Square with my father and I’m feeling a bit shy, too.’
‘Kate mentioned that I was probably going to see you,’ Freya smiled again. ‘How are you settling in?’
I took a moment before answering.
‘So far, so good,’ I said.
‘Lisa told us you’ve come from Yorkshire.’
Why did that not surprise me?
‘She’s right,’ I confirmed and decided to elaborate before Lisa had the chance.
‘I was an events planner at a place called Highfell Hall, and compared to the square, it was literally in the middle of nowhere.’ For some reason, Freya looked rather taken aback.
‘The owners decided to sell, and my father convinced me to take some time out before I look for another job, so here I am.’
‘You must be finding it quite an adjustment,’ Freya said astutely.
‘Yes,’ I nodded. ‘It’s certainly different.’
‘I remember…’
‘Sorry?’ I frowned.
‘You probably won’t believe this,’ she said as she put down the bucket and secateurs, ‘but your journey to Norwich sounds very similar to my own.’
‘How so?’
‘Before I started working here,’ she explained, ‘I was a gardener at a country estate in Suffolk called Broad-Meadows. When the owner, my dear friend Eloise, died, her nephew inherited and there was no longer a place for me in his plans, so I had to leave.’
‘I don’t believe it,’ I gasped in surprise.
‘It’s true,’ she smiled. ‘Kate and Luke came to the rescue with both a job and a house when I least expected it and I’ve worked and lived here ever since.’
‘What are the odds?’ I laughed.
‘Millions to none.’ Freya laughed too, but then her expression grew serious. ‘So, I do know.’
‘Know what?’
‘How hard it can be to go from living out in the sticks to being suddenly surrounded by people, property and traffic. It’s a tricky transition.’
I felt a lump starting to form in my throat and swallowed hard.
‘You don’t think I’m making too much of it by feeling a bit overwhelmed then?’ I croaked.
‘Absolutely not,’ she said. ‘It’s a total life change and when it’s been thrust upon you as opposed to choosing it for yourself, it’s that much tougher to get your head around.’
She stepped forward and reached for my hand then gave it a squeeze before releasing it and I felt that all the feelings I’d been experiencing but had tried to suppress were justified after all.
‘I can’t tell you what a relief it is to hear you say that,’ I told her in a rush. ‘I thought I was being a bit of a drama queen.’
‘You’re not,’ she said. ‘You’re really not. And if you want my advice…’
‘Yes, please.’
‘Make the most of this time you’ve got to settle in and enjoy the autumn. Don’t rush into making any big decisions and certainly don’t pretend that you’re feeling fine when you might not be.’
‘Much of that sounds like what my father would say,’ I smiled. ‘Though I haven’t told him the whole of how I’m feeling.’
‘Well, perhaps you should,’ Freya said. ‘And you can always talk to me. I mean it, Skylar. This is such a great place to live, and I really hope you’ll take your time and give it a chance to grow on you.’
‘The garden has already made a good start. I really love it here.’
Freya looked at me for a moment.
‘And talking of love,’ she grinned. ‘Is there anyone special in your life?’
‘If you mean a partner,’ I quickly and rather dampeningly said, ‘then no, there’s not.’