Chapter 7
I spent the afternoon hauling yet more barrows full of poo up to the beds, shovelling it on and repeated the journey ad nauseum. Occasionally, that phrase was extra apt as I got a whiff of a particularly ripe shovel full.
‘Hello!’ Barnaby swung a second golf cart to a halt via a sideways skid before hopping out. ‘Jolly good fun, those things,’ he said, glancing back at it. ‘Although turns out the golf club are a bit funny about it if you go off piste, as it were.’
‘Funny?’ I asked, taking the opportunity to drain the last of my tea from my mug.
‘Yes. Asked me to leave.’
‘Rude.’
‘That’s exactly what I thought! I’m so glad you agree.’
‘Surprised they’re allowed to do that. I thought you’d be able to get away with pretty much anything.’
He frowned ever so slightly and I gave a wave, encompassing the grand house and the acres of land we were in the middle of.
‘Oh! Yeah. That. No. Doesn’t really apply to me. They might turn a blind eye to Edward but I’m only the “honourable” Barnaby Ashington, not Lord. And turns out they get a bit sniffy if you leave skid marks on the green.’ He gave a hearty laugh. ‘So to speak.’
‘I can imagine.’
‘Wasn’t intentional, I have to say. Didn’t realise it’d chew the grass up that much. Bit of a whoops moment but, oh well. Boring old game anyway.’
‘Well, on that, we can agree.’
‘I knew I liked you.’ He gave me a wide smile. ‘How are you getting on?’
‘Slow and steady.’
Barnaby glanced at the beds. ‘Are you hauling that up in the barrow?’ He answered his own question before I could. ‘I mean, obviously you are but my question is, why?’
‘Because Isaac told me to.’
‘There’s a trailer for that. This,’ he flapped his hand, ‘is ridiculously inefficient and a waste of your time and everyone’s money.’
I realised then that, despite the front he put on, Barnaby was definitely more astute than he tried to appear.
‘I’m just doing what I’m told,’ I said, loading the shovel back into the barrow and lifting the handles, ready to make my way back for another run.
‘Well, that’s disappointing,’ he said, leaning on the golf cart. ‘From what I hear from my brother, you’re certainly not the type to be tugging your forelock.’
‘I’d like to keep my job. Frankly, I’m surprised your brother hasn’t found reason to fire me already. I sort of got carried away with myself yesterday.’
‘He did think about it.’
‘Shit!’ I looked up at Barnaby, who appeared relaxed and amused. ‘Are you winding me up?’
‘Nope. Told me he’d never come across a woman quite like you and he should fire you on the spot for being so, now how did he put it, lippy, I believe was the word he used.’
‘Lippy?’
‘Lippy.’
Let’s face it, it wasn’t the first time that particular accusation had been levelled at me but not since I was about eight years old.
‘Ah.’
‘I, for one, am bloody loving it! I knew you’d be a good choice. Come on, jump in.’ Barnaby was already slinging the wheelbarrow in with an ease that belied his wiry frame.
‘Barnaby. I can’t. If Isaac thinks I’ve been running to you complaining—’
‘He won’t. I shall tell him exactly what I saw and what I think of this waste of resources.
’ His face became more serious, something from the short acquaintance I’d had with him, was not a look he took on that often.
‘Come on,’ he said, getting into the cart.
‘I mean it. Isaac’s a good chap but I’m not having any of this bullying lark, people needing to prove themselves. I thought Isaac was better than that.’
We took off down the driveway at some speed.
I’d been treading a longer, back way that Isaac had shown me so as to keep out of sight of the main house as much as possible but Barnaby took us the most direct way.
Now the wind was ruffling his blond hair, the smile was back on his face and I couldn’t help but join in his laughter as we took a corner practically on two wheels.
‘Excellent! Not a jot of a scream.’
‘I had a boyfriend who was an appalling driver. You’re a shining example of responsibility compared to him.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. Although, why on earth would you go out with someone like that?’
‘I asked myself the same question after a few months and couldn’t find a good enough answer.’
‘Clearly didn’t deserve you if that’s how he drove with you in the car too.’
‘My thoughts exactly.’
‘Hold on… Weeeeeeee!’
Laughter burst from within me. ‘Did you really just go weeeeeee?’
‘I did. And I’m going to do it again. Join me, won’t you? Here we go!’ He slid the cart around another corner and I realised we were definitely not on the most direct route back to the muck heap.
‘Weeeeeeeeeeeee!’ we both yelled as we slid around the next bend.
‘See! This is why I hired you. Not only because you stand up to Edward.’ He turned to me momentarily. ‘I don’t mean that in the way it sounded. He’s actually a really top bloke. I just mean some people are all like, “ooh Lord this, Lord that”. You clearly couldn’t give a damn.’
‘I’m afraid I didn’t really think about it until I’d already opened my mouth and it was a bit late by then.’
‘Good. Also did you really call him Lord Fancy-Pants?’
‘Oh God.’ I covered my face with my hands and nearly fell out of the buggy as Barnaby took another bend like a racing driver. ‘News travels fast around here.’
‘He rang me on the way back from the village.’
‘Did he… say anything else?’
‘If you’re referring to the comment about him still living with Mummy…’ Barnaby actually slapped his knee. ‘Hilaire!’
‘I do know that’s not really the arrangement. I mean, I don’t, but you know what I mean. I was just a bit fed up and ranting to my bestie.’
‘No explanation needed.’
‘Also, you hired me because I was the best applicant.’
‘Yes, you’re quite right. You were the best applicant. One chap wouldn’t stop going on about his love of caterpillars and did I know – weeeeeeeeeeeee – how many different species there could be on the estate?’
‘How many?’
‘Oh, I don’t know.’ He gave a shrug. ‘I’d stopped listening about ten minutes earlier.
Then another applicant was very snooty.’ He flashed me a look.
‘And yes, I do realise how that sounds coming from me, which should tell you everything you need to know. Unbearable. Acted like she was the only person ever to have trained at Kew.’
I felt a chill dribble down my spine.
‘I…’ I cleared my throat. ‘I trained at Kew.’
Barnaby let out a hearty laugh. ‘Emmeline, darling. We both know you didn’t formally train anywhere, let alone Kew Gardens.’
‘What?’ The question came out as a squeak. ‘Of course I did!’
‘I checked.’
‘You did?’ Every muscle in my body was tensing.
‘I did.’ He glanced briefly my way before focusing back on the track.
‘I’m fully aware everyone thinks I couldn’t organise a vodka party in a potato factory and who am I to deny them of their beliefs?
However, when it comes to employing people, it’s not just about qualifications; it’s about experience and personality too.
I’d rather employ someone I actually like rather than an absolute bore. ’
‘Oh.’
‘Plus, it was obvious from the way you spoke about learning to garden with your grandparents that you have a passion for it, not to mention how you’ve seen it help your father’s mental health.’
I stayed silent.
‘You showed enthusiasm and eagerness to get involved with the restoration of the gardens. It was clear you see it as exciting as we do. That’s what I was looking for in a candidate. The rest can be learnt and sometimes learning on the job is the best way.’
‘I do hope you’re never required to hire a surgeon.’
He gave a burst of laughter. ‘For that one, I’d certainly be looking for proof of a lot more actual training.’
‘Did you tell Isaac?’
‘No. I didn’t.’
‘He knows.’
‘He has an idea.’
‘He’s waiting for me to fail so that he can fire me.’
Barnaby wiggled his head. ‘Technically, only Edward or I can fire you.’
‘Technically.’
‘If it came to Isaac saying it’s him or you, then that would make things rather sticky.’ He pulled a face. ‘He’s terribly good and been here for years.’
I felt my stomach twist.
‘Anyway, I am fully convinced that it won’t come to that. Now, watch this.’
Whenever someone utters that phrase, get yourself away from the situation as fast as possible. It never ends well.