Chapter 16 #2
‘Physically. Mentally, I’m still a bit awash with things.’
‘I know. It’s a lot but we’ll get through it.’ He glanced over towards his mum, who was now engrossed in conversation with Isaac, her hand laid over his as he crouched down beside her chair.
‘Is she really OK?’ I asked quietly.
‘I think so. Occasionally, she gets overwhelmed and exhausted. It started after my father died. As bold and brave as she tries to make herself out to be, it absolutely devastated her and really, she’s never been the same since.’
‘What are you two whispering about over there?’ Penelope piped up from where we’d turned our backs a little. ‘If he’s telling you I’m a frail and weak old biddy, don’t believe a word of it!’
‘I wouldn’t,’ I said, laughing. ‘And he wouldn’t.’
‘Hmmm. Now, who’d like some tea?’
As if by magic, there was a knock at the door and Dawkins entered with a tea trolley which he pushed along.
Isaac’s eyes lit up at the selection of delicate cakes accompanying the large silver teapot.
Beautifully patterned bone china cups and saucers were laid out on a small table between us and all the accoutrements of afternoon tea soon joined them.
Having delivered the trolley, Dawkins then made his customary tiny bow, walked soundlessly to the door and slipped through it.
‘So how are plans coming along for the restoration?’ Penelope asked. There seemed a little more colour in her cheeks than there had been when we’d first entered.
‘Really well,’ Isaac began. ‘Everything’s pretty much in place for the first phase.
Those photos you found recently have really helped with ensuring we’re more accurate in the restoration.
Obviously, we’ll be changing some of the planting to suit the difference in climate since the garden was initially created but I’m confident we’re on the right track.
I’ve done these to give you more of an idea.
’ He reached into the messenger bag he’d had when I met back up with him after a quick wash and change of shirt.
After working in the sun, we’d both felt a bit sticky.
I only wish I’d noticed my socks. Lifting out a folder, he opened it and spread out a series of beautifully intricate watercolour paintings.
‘Wow! Did you do these?’ I asked.
Isaac nodded.
‘They’re stunning.’
‘Aren’t they?’ Penelope looked at her head gardener warmly. ‘A man of hidden talents. I don’t know why no one has snapped him up yet.’
It was the first time I’d seen my boss blush and it was kind of endearing.
He cleared his throat. ‘Anyway…’
‘These are great,’ Edward said, smoothly stepping in and directing the unwanted attention away from Isaac. ‘They really help give us a feel of what we’re trying to achieve here. Did you say you have the landscapers booked?’
‘Yep.’ Isaac looked relieved to be back on familiar territory. ‘They’re coming the day after tomorrow. Weather’s looking OK so we should get a good start.’
‘Excellent. Now that’s settled, why don’t we have some tea?’
I exchanged a look with Isaac.
Is that it?
He gave a wink that I guessed meant he would fill me in more later.
It seemed a bit of a waste of everyone’s time to have a meeting about something that could have been confirmed with an email or a phone call.
Although, that did seem to be the way of the world these days.
It was another thing I hated about my corporate job.
It felt like I hardly ever got any work done as there was always yet another meeting to attend to discuss said work while the endless meetings meant it was almost impossible to find time to actually do the thing we kept talking about.
Mind you, when Dawkins had wheeled in the silver tea trolley full of the most delicious-looking cakes and dainty sandwiches, I felt that perhaps it hadn’t been a waste of time at all. Quite the opposite.
For the next hour, the four of us chatted over not only the garden plans but everything else in between. The one topic that, thankfully, didn’t come up was Edward’s and my ‘situation’.
We finally stood to leave and Isaac and I both gave Penelope a hug. She looked back to her old self now and had discarded the pale-pink throw she’d had over her knees when we’d first entered. I was glad to see the improvement.
‘Emmeline,’ Edward called after me. ‘Would you have a minute?’
‘I’ll wait in the cart,’ Isaac said and strode off, twiddling the keys in his hand as he did so.
I turned to face Edward and looked up at him, waiting.
‘I wondered if you might be free for dinner tomorrow night?’
‘Tomorrow? I… er…’
‘I know it’s late notice but it’s been brought to my attention that I know very little about you and you probably know even less about me.’
‘Only what I’ve found on Google and Most Eligible Batchelors dot com.’
‘Funny. Also, don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.’
I waggled my eyebrows and he frowned back but not before the briefest hint of smirk touched his lips.
‘And with that in mind, it seems like it would behove us both to take the time to discover some things about each other which we would, in regular circumstances, likely already know by this point in a relationship.’
‘Is that really necessary?’ I’d been looking forward to my usual long soak in a hot bath overflowing with scented bubbles and starting a new romcom from a favourite author.
‘You already have plans?’
‘Kind of. But I can change them if it’s that important.’
‘Your enthusiasm is much appreciated.’
I stuck out my tongue in response. ‘You have to be nice to me, remember? You need this more than me and I’m not above dumping you right now. Even if you are one of the top five eligible bachelors in the country.’ I punctuated my sentence with a saccharine smile.
‘As far as I’m aware, I am being nice to you. I’m asking if you would like to go to dinner with me. Although I can see that you consider it rather an arduous task.’ He straightened his back and seemed even taller than usual.
‘Don’t be sniffy about it,’ I retorted.
From the other side of the room, we heard a snort of laughter, quickly muffled. Edward sliced a look towards where his mother was sitting.
‘I wasn’t aware I was being “sniffy”, as you put it. My apologies.’
‘Apology accepted. And yes, thank you. That would be nice.’
‘Good. I’ll pick you up at seven? Would that suit?’
‘Yep.’ I took a few steps towards the door and had a momentary wobble. I spun back to find that he’d followed me and was therefore much closer than I had expected. ‘Oh!’
‘Problem?’ he asked, looking down at me.
‘Umm. No, not really. I was just wondering how posh the place is? I mean, is it a jeans and a nice top, or is it dressy? Even my dressy stuff isn’t that dressy if I’m honest.’
His features softened. ‘It’s an old pub not too far from here.’
I felt relief seep into me.
‘Just wear whatever you’re comfortable in.’
‘Right. Thanks. That sounds… good.’
‘Seven o’clock then?’
I, for reasons beyond my understanding, gave him an enthusiastic double thumbs up in response. I blamed the sugar high from all the cake.
Edward’s eyebrows lifted just the slightest in response. I hurried out and down the steps, jumping into the waiting cart where Isaac was looking relaxed at the wheel.
‘Drive.’
He looked at me as he leisurely sat up and turned the key.
‘Why? Did you just rob the place or something?’
‘No. Edward asked me to dinner.’
‘Ah.’
We tootled down the drive. The afternoon sun was casting a golden haze over the landscape. There was nothing to be heard other than the slight hum of our electric vehicle and birdsong from the many species that flitted between the ancient trees.
‘So, Edward asking you to dinner is bad because…’
‘He wants us to get to know each other.’
‘You’re supposed to be engaged. Sounds like a good idea to me. You know people will be sticking their beaks in left, right and centre. The more information you have, the more armed you can be against them.’
‘I don’t want to be armed! I just want to go home and sink into a hot bath and pretend none of this is real.’ I turned to him. ‘How did I end up here?’
‘You fibbed on your CV. Karma’s a bitch.’