Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
ELENA
If Elena wasn’t working on a Saturday, she was usually helping Sofia with household chores, resolving one of Luisa’s dramas, or, if she was really lucky, able to indulge in a long run. Since her mum had died and she’d moved back home, it was rare she had a completely free day.
Luisa was holed up in her studio engrossed in a secretive art project, and Sofia was trying to decipher the instructions for a new accounting package she’d acquired.
So with both sisters occupied, it meant Elena could accept the offer to attend the Spencer-Harrison’s annual charity boat race in rural Bucklebury, a tiny hamlet nestled in leafy Berkshire.
Surprisingly, the invite for today’s outing hadn’t come from Hugh, but Danny. To prove I’m capable of having fun, his message had read, which was intriguing, as she hadn’t thought Danny capable of fun unless coerced into it.
She’d briefly hesitated before accepting, wondering if spending another day in his company was such a good idea.
It might set fire to the spark of attraction she already felt sizzling beneath her skin, and that wouldn’t be in anyone’s best interests, least of all hers.
But the lure of a day boating was too appealing an opportunity to pass up.
Danny’s instructions that she wore ‘something red’ and brought ‘spare clothes’ with her had also piqued her curiosity. She’d opted for red and black yoga leggings and one of her maroon Bamboo running tops, her rucksack filled with jeans and a fleece as replacements.
Having changed trains at Paddington, the journey out of London was speedy, and they were now approaching Thatcham, where Hugh had agreed to pick her up.
It wasn’t an area of the country she was familiar with, so she followed the other passengers onto the station forecourt in the hope of spotting Hugh’s fancy car.
There was no sign of Hugh. Instead, a woman wearing a waxed green Barbour jacket was waving frantically and beckoning Elena towards a beaten-up Land Rover, covered in mud.
Glancing behind, Elena expected to see whoever the woman was waving at, but when she turned back, the woman let out a shrill whistle and pointed directly at Elena. ‘Over here!’
Feeling dubious, she headed towards the woman, who could easily double for the late Queen in an episode of The Crown. Headscarf, wellington boots, and a horde of hounds occupying the rear of her Land Rover.
‘You must be Elena? Just as Danny described. Gorgeous gal.’ The woman’s handshake was ferocious. ‘Virginia Spencer-Harrison. Hugh’s mummy.’
How Elena didn’t laugh, she had no idea. ‘Lovely to meet you. I was expecting Hugh?’
Virginia unearthed a handkerchief from the sleeve of her jacket. ‘Drama with one of the rafts. I volunteered to collect you. No bother, needed to drop off the vicar at the church, so combined tasks.’ She wiped the door handle and opened the door for Elena. ‘Hop in.’
Easier said than done. The Land Rover was so high off the ground Elena was grateful for her core strength as she hoisted herself onto the rock-hard bench seat. ‘It’s kind of you to collect me, I could have got a taxi.’
‘Nonsense.’ Slamming the door, Virginia marched around to the driver’s side and climbed in.
‘Although we do need to motor somewhat. Gates open in ten mins. Ruddy tradesmen have been causing me grief all morning. The portaloos were only installed forty minutes ago. Can you believe that? Left Nigel directing the barbecue truck down the lane. Lord knows where it’ll end up if I’m not there to oversee. ’
Elena’s head was spinning. First from the information being fired at her, and then because they pulled away with such force she had to grip the door handle to avoid sliding off the seat.
Something she had to repeat each time they skidded around a bend.
Off-road rally drivers would struggle to compete with Virginia Spencer-Harrison, she was a formidable woman.
‘I hear you’re sorting out our Danny?’ Virginia said, overtaking a line of cars like she was in a grand prix.
‘Knocking him into shape, so to speak. Good job, I say. Men can be so obstinate. Must be doing a top job, the darling chap’s looking more frisky on his feet.
Got a real bounce in his step this morning. ’
Elena considered herself fairly robust, but she gripped the seat when an oncoming car honked and swerved to avoid being hit. ‘I’m glad the physio’s helping.’ Behind her, the dogs barked and scurried about.
If Virginia noticed the other driver’s agitation, she didn’t let on.
‘He couldn’t take part in last year’s boat race, the man could barely walk, poor darling.
And what with everything that happened …
well, no need to spell it out. Enough said.
This year he’s back to being on top form. Excellent, I say!’
Elena blinked. ‘Danny’s competed in this event before?’
‘Every year since we’ve known him. Even when Hugh was holed up in the City, Danny would bring Connor down to compete. Unbeaten for several years too, they were. Smashing team. We’re very proud.’
Elena’s rucksack toppled over when they rounded a bend. ‘He said you were close.’
‘We love those boys like they’re our own.’ Virginia sounded so proud. ‘Still makes me hoot to think of the jinks Hugh and Danny got up to at uni. Lord, the scrapes we had to bail them out of.’ She shook her head, her smile affectionate. ‘I could tell you some tales.’
It was hard to imagine straight-laced Daniel J Jackson getting into scrapes, he seemed far too uptight.
But he clearly had layers, and if Elena was interested in him romantically, she’d be keen to explore those layers further.
As it was, she needed to keep a lid on her feelings.
No good would come from fantasising. ‘He said you helped him when he became Connor’s guardian? ’
‘Poor lamb. Broke my heart.’ Despite the narrow lanes, the speedometer quivered at sixty miles per hour as they hurtled down the lanes. ‘Blood might be thicker than water, but Danny and Connor are part of our family. No two ways about it.’
Elena ducked when a low hanging tree smacked against the window. ‘Lucky them.’
‘He hasn’t smiled much this last year, but he certainly looked chipper talking about you at dinner last night. You’ve made quite the impression.’ Virginia winked, her focus unnervingly drawn away from the road. ‘I can see why.’
Elena couldn’t imagine Danny singing her praises. ‘I expect he said something along the lines of me being a bully who inflicts pain.’
‘Ha! Something like that.’ Virginia slammed on the brakes with such force Elena nearly head-butted the console. ‘I shouldn’t worry too much, he didn’t look unhappy about it. Quite the opposite.’ She wound down the window and screamed at a young lad in a flat cap. ‘Gates!’
Above the wrought iron gates was a sign for the house, Bucklebury Manor.
They’d arrived. Seemingly in one piece. Just.
The long, winding driveway was impressive.
The canopy of trees above created an atmosphere of suspense as they approached the house—and what a house.
Tall, wide, aged red brickwork, with tall sash windows giving the impression of watchful eyes.
The sunlight bounced off the panes, making them appear to blink disapprovingly at any approaching interlopers.
Far from decelerating at the sight of the house, Virginia continued at speed, only braking once they’d almost toppled sideways, sliding around the ornate water fountain, and sent gravel flying up everywhere.
Elena lurched forwards like a crash-test dummy, rubbing her neck as they eventually skidded to a stop.
‘Right, off to supervise the hubby.’ Virginia snatched at the handbrake. ‘Make yourself at home. No standing on ceremony here.’ She slung open the door and launched herself from the Land Rover.
Elena exited in a slower fashion, unnerved at the prospect of injuring herself jumping from such a height.
Virginia spotted Connor in the distance and let out another of her shrill whistles to attract his attention. ‘Connor! Connor! Come hither, boy!’
Connor jogged over, his face breaking into a smile when he saw who was with Virginia. ‘Hi, Elena.’
‘Be a darling and show Elena to Danny’s room.
Get this gorgeous gal settled.’ Virginia opened the rear of the Land Rover and the hounds leaped from the vehicle with such enthusiasm Elena feared for the safety of her extremities, but they bounded away across the front lawn, heading into the distance.
Elena slung her backpack over her shoulder. ‘I’m not staying overnight, Virginia. Just here for the day. I don’t need a room.’ And she certainly didn’t need to share one with Danny.
‘You’ll need somewhere to dry off and change after all the shenanigans. Can’t have you leaving here bedraggled, can we?’ Virginia laughed, and Elena wondered what on earth she’d agreed to.
‘This way.’ Connor gestured towards the front door.
The inside of Bucklebury Manor matched the outside. Shabby period furniture filled the grand drawing room, the mismatch of chairs and couches facing the brick fireplace. A wide stairway led upstairs, past oil paintings of impressive stags and men in tweed jackets.
Connor smiled shyly. ‘I’m really glad you’re here. My brother’s excited to see you.’
Elena felt a pang of unease, and knew she had to avert any potential misunderstanding. ‘A day boating on a lake at a stately home? Who gets to do that? Although I’m realising my idea of gently bobbing about on the water might be naive.’
Connor raised an eyebrow. ‘Didn’t anybody warn you?’
Elena paused. ‘Warn me about what?’
‘Oh, nothing.’ Connor looked shifty.
Elena gazed up at a family portrait, amused at the sight of Hugh in a kilt, and continued up the stairs. ‘So, tell me about this boat race? What are the rules?’
‘There are no rules, it’s just about who crosses the finish line first.’
‘No rules? How anarchic.’
Connor shrugged. ‘That’s the aristocracy for you. It’s a different world out here.’