Chapter 10 #2
We drove the short distance to the cottage in silence that was, if not companionable, wasn’t awkward either. Both of us, I imagined, were turning thoughts in our head. Eventually, I broke it.
‘That was bonkers.’
‘Agreed.’
Rose Cottage was now in view and Edward pulled smoothly alongside the front door.
‘Thanks for the lift.’
‘You’re welcome.’
I opened the door and was stopped by Edward’s hand on my arm.
‘I am so sorry about this whole farce. I promise I’ll get it ironed out quickly.’
‘That would be great. For a start, I don’t know whether my dad’s free for the engagement party.’
‘Understandable. It’s all been rather short notice.’ There was that ghost of a smile he’d given earlier but it was gone almost as soon as it had arrived. ‘I don’t know what my mother was thinking.’
‘I’m not sure she was. Like she said, she panicked.’ I gave a shrug.
He turned a little more in his seat. ‘You’re very calm about all this.’
‘I trust you to get it sorted. Admittedly, I was a bit panicked to start with.’
‘There seems to be a lot of that going around.’
‘Quite. But the truth is, there’s not really anything to worry about. Obviously, we’re not engaged. I don’t want your mum to lose face. That neighbour was…’ How did I say this tactfully? ‘A lot.’
‘A lot. Yes, that’s one way of putting it. I’d rather not place Mum in such a position either but she does only have herself to blame, having dropped us into a far more awkward one.’
‘It wasn’t intentional.’
‘No. It never is. She’s always been spontaneous.’
‘Not necessarily a bad trait.’
‘Not at all, when regulated. My father was the balance she needed.’
There was a pause. ‘I’m very sorry for your loss, Edward.’
His smile was soft in the low light of the car’s cabin. ‘Thank you.’
‘I’m guessing you’re more like him?’
‘Yes. I suppose I am.’ He looked distant for a moment and I wondered where his thoughts had taken him. ‘But I will get this rectified.’
‘I know. ’Night and thanks for the lift.’
I left the car and dashed to the door, glad that Edward had offered to drive me. The light coat I’d popped on earlier was enough to ward off the chill a few hours ago but a cold wind had set in now and any last warmth from the day was well and truly gone.
Twenty minutes later, I was snuggled down under the covers in the cosy bedroom, a hot water bottle resting against my mildly protesting back.
My thoughts drifted back over the evening.
Engaged to a lord. I giggled to myself. I hadn’t told Freddy yet as my bed had called to me and I knew once we got yakking, it would be a while.
I’d tell her all about it once the matter was rectified.
In the meantime, all I wanted to do was sleep and within a few minutes, my wish was granted.
* * *
‘Morning!’ I was still opting for cheeriness in my determination to get Isaac to like me.
He looked up, nodded and went back to what he was doing.
‘What do you want me to do today?’
Over the past few days, Isaac had finally given me a tour of the grounds, shown me the original kitchen garden which was due to be renovated and we’d fixed a couple of fences that had needed mending.
‘Finish up with the muck.’
‘OK.’
He tossed the buggy keys at me. ‘Try not to crash it this time.’
‘Technically, that wasn’t me but message received.’
‘Good.’
Apparently, Operation Sunshine still had some way to go but I didn’t mind.
At least I now had access to the buggy and trailer which was a much more efficient way to get the job done.
The sun was shining and I wasn’t stuck behind a desk trying to persuade people to buy more stuff they didn’t need.
I was still shifting shit, but this time, it was actual shit and purposeful.
By lunchtime, the day’s sunny disposition had morphed into a greyer, wetter one.
Each shovelful of poo was getting heavier as it soaked up the rain, as were my clothes.
Even my knickers were wet. Casting a glare at the leaden sky, it didn’t look as if anything was going to change soon.
I made a mental note to invest in some better waterproof gear.
I made another mental note to google where to go to invest in some better waterproof gear locally.
The clothing I had was fine for my dad’s allotment, where we could dash into the greenhouse and chat and plan over a steaming cup of tea, or in London, where I could jump on the next bus or head down to the Tube if it didn’t dry up quickly.
This, however, was a biblical, torrential, unceasing curtain of rain.
I tipped the next load onto the bed and spread it around as well as I could now that it was sticking to both the wheelbarrow and the shovel.
Then I hauled the barrow once more into the trailer and headed back to the poo mountain which I was pretty sure was filling up from underneath.
It certainly didn’t seem to be going down.
‘Oi!’
I looked up from where I was preparing to shovel in another lot.
Isaac was at the door of the head gardener’s office. ‘Come in here a minute.’
I took the shovel and laid it against the wall where it was protected a little from the downpour by the eaves of the building. Admittedly, it was already soaking wet, much like myself, but Dad had always taught me to look after my tools.
I saw Isaac watching me but he didn’t comment.
‘Cup of tea?’
I hesitated.
‘It’s all right. You’re allowed a break. Besides, if you get any wetter, I’m concerned you might actually dissolve.’
‘That’d be lovely, thank you.’
‘Sit down there.’ He pointed to a chair that was next to the fire he’d lit in the grate. I took the seat gratefully and started steaming. ‘Take sugar?’
‘No, thanks.’
‘Good, because there isn’t any.’
I looked round and nearly fell off my chair. Was that an actual a flash of humour?
A mug in each hand, he handed one to me and took the seat across from me.
I thanked him and immediately cupped my hands around it, savouring the warmth.
‘Early spring can be a trickster. You set out thinking it’s a lovely day and ten minutes later, you’re soaked to the bone.’
‘So it seems.’
‘You need to get yourself some better clothing. That stuff looks nice but it’s not up to the job. I’m surprised they didn’t teach you that at Kew.’
I risked a look over the rim of my mug. Isaac met my eyes.
‘Barney’s hired you now and I don’t have time to go looking for someone else. Far too much paperwork, as is you freezing to death. You do and you’ll be going in that compost heap.’
‘Things seem to have taken a dark turn.’
There was a flicker of a smile.
‘I might just message my friend and let her know where to look first if I go missing.’
‘Talking of friends, do you know anyone around here?’
I sat back a little in the chair now that I’d warmed up a bit.
‘Why are you being nice to me? I thought you couldn’t wait to get rid of me.’
‘I thought I might be able to but you’ve worked like a trooper without complaint even though I was an arse.’
‘You were an arse,’ I replied, testing the waters.
‘Don’t push it.’
I risked a grin and his eyes smiled even if his mouth didn’t.
‘Plus you’d omitted to tell me you were engaged to the lord of the manor.’