Bulbury Knap (10 page)

‘Hi there, Kathryn,' Zillah called cheerfully from her stool amongst the azaleas. ‘Aren't these beauties magnificent?'

Kathryn could see now where Zillah's inspiration came from. She stood behind her to gaze at the canvas on the easel, conscious of the sweet flower-scent on the evening air.

Zillah waved her brush. ‘Michael's somewhere about. Give him a shout.'

He appeared at that moment, looking surprised to see Kathryn. For a moment she could say nothing, uneasy in case he thought
she
was spying on him.

‘There's nothing wrong?' he asked.

She shook her head. ‘I had an idea I wanted to talk through with you.'

‘Then come inside. Though better still, why don't I bright us something to drink out here? Unless you want to talk privately?'

‘It concerns Zillah too,' she said.

Zillah put down her brush, got up and stretched. ‘Any excuse for a break.'

Michael was back in moments with a jug of lemonade and three glasses. They seated themselves on rickety garden chairs on the small patch of grass in the late sunshine.

‘I've been thinking about arranging a special exhibition of Zillah's work at Bulbury Knap,' said Kathryn.

Zillah downed the last of her lemonade in a couple of gulps and the spluttered into her handkerchief, her eyes watering.

‘The large room downstairs at the house would make a fine exhibition room,' Kathryn said, imagining it filled to overflowing with huge colourful paintings.

‘We must go about it with care,' Michael said.

He hadn't seemed surprised at Kathryn's suggestion but she felt irked by his caution. She envisaged arranging good advertising, invitations sent to local art clubs, posters down in Lyme and other towns too, even the press invited.

‘I'll
have a word with Sir Edwin and see what he thinks,' he said.

She nodded. They would have to do that, of course. Her mind was obviously ahead of his. She looked hopefully at her friend. ‘What do you think, Zillah?'

Zillah wiped her eyes and rammed her handkerchief back in her pocket. ‘You'd do this for me?'

‘And for Bulbury Knap,' said Michael. He gazed thoughtfully down at the glass in his hand. His usual stillness seemed to have intensified.

*          *          *

Kathryn knew that it was too much to hope that Andrew wouldn't get wind of their plans even though it was several days before Sir Edwin told him about it. Already many paintings had been hung and the publicity for the Bulbury Knap Open Day was in place.

Sir Edwin stood firm but Kathryn was horrified at Andrew's reaction though she kept well out of the way as Andrew stormed out of the house and strode off in the direction of the walled garden.

Afterwards, when Andrew had driven away in a fury, she sought out Michael and found him hoeing between lines of broad beans, a serious expression on his face. For a moment she watched him, unobserved. When he saw
her
he stopped what he was doing and stood leaning on his hoe.

She walked towards him. ‘You've had a row with Andrew?' she said breathlessly.

‘How are Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson now? I hope he hasn't upset them.'

‘Surprised and a little shaken, I think. For goodness sake, why should Andrew mind the chance of an extra income for Bulbury Knap? I know this is a one-off but it could become a permanent thing in time. Very little work involved … except for Zillah of course, and she's loving it. Michael, there's something definitely odd about this.'

‘I agree.'

‘You said you have broadband,' she said abruptly. ‘Could I ask a favour? I've thought about it carefully and I wanted to e-mail the Hewsons' daughter in New Zealand. I've written out what I want to say. Could you send it for me?'

He took the piece of paper she handed to him and read it. ‘You've thought this through then?'

‘I think Jane should be aware of what is going on. I believe it's a risk worth taking.' She looked at him steadily but it was impossible to gauge what he was thinking. At last he nodded. ‘I'll do it now.'

CHAPTER
NINE

Kathryn gazed out of the landing window at the branches of the oak tree against the metal-grey sky. A pigeon alighted and flew off again, spraying water on to the sodden grass beneath. As she watched, Zillah came striding across wearing a voluminous cape that almost hid the canvas she was carrying under one arm. Heading towards Michael's cottage … of course. More advice required, more details of the forthcoming open day to discuss?

She could see the two of them, heads together, as they worked out the final details that would make the day a resounding success. And that of course, was good. With a stab of pain Kathryn turned away, picked up her duster and attacked the windowsill as if it had done her a personal injury.

There, she was finished here now. Lady Hewson, down in the den, would be expecting her morning coffee and Sir Edwin would be in soon from whatever he was doing on the estate this wet morning.

On leaden feet she went down to the kitchen. Two days had passed since she had asked Michael to send the e-mail and by yesterday evening no reply had come. Maybe hers hadn't arrived in New Zealand. She could even have messed up the email address she'd
given
Michael. She had only glanced at it, after all, when Sir Edwin had given her the print-out to read. Anyone could have got it wrong.

Lady Hewson, a smile brightening her features, looked up from her embroidery as Kathryn carried in the tray to the den and placed it on the low table nearby. ‘Such excellent news, dear. Jane is coming home to see us.'

Kathryn paused with the coffee pot in one hand, hope rising so swiftly she gasped. ‘She is?'

‘Andrew's had a long talk with her on the phone,' Lady Hewson said happily. ‘We're so pleased.'

Carefully Kathryn poured Lady Hewson's coffee and handed her the cup and saucer. ‘Of course you are, Lady Hewson,' she said as warmly as she could manage. So the risk she had taken in contacting Jane had misfired with a vengeance. Why hadn't she realised that Jane would be sure to contact Andrew on receiving her e-mail? No prizes for guessing what he had said to her.

‘When will she be coming?' she asked.

‘As soon as she can make the arrangements,' Lady Hewson said. ‘Jane is so good at getting on with things once she has made up her mind.'

‘Then I must sort out her room,' Kathryn said.

Lady Hewson's face clouded. ‘Of course,
dear.
I'd forgotten what the rooms are like now …' Her voice faded away.

Kathryn hurried up to the first landing, glad to have something practical to occupy her mind and stop her dwelling on the outcome of Jane's visit. She pushed open the bedroom door and looked at it in dismay. They had cleared the debris left after the thugs had done their worst and now it was empty apart from a single bed and a wardrobe.

She must do something at once … raid one of the other bedrooms whose curtains had not been touched, sort some bedding out from the linen cupboard and find a suitable chest of drawers from somewhere. If Jane took after either of her parents she would be the kind of person who liked pretty things. Later, she would pick some of the pink and white tulips from the front border and find something suitable to arrange them in.

*          *          *

Kathryn met Sir Edwin in the kitchen passage. Michael was with him. ‘I've just heard that your daughter is coming home, Sir Edwin,' she said.

His eyes gleamed. ‘So she is, my dear. And leaving my son-in-law to cope with the business on his own.'

She could see that Michael was already aware of this by the way he looked at her
quizzically
above his employer's head. Sir Edwin would have told him, of course. ‘I need to have a word or two with Kathryn,' he said.

‘A brief e-mail came this morning, short and to the point,' Michael said as he followed Kathryn into the kitchen and stood leaning against the closed door.

She could hardly bear to look at him for the rush of emotion that filled her throat. This was the man upon whom she had come to rely … the man who filled her thoughts day and night. Jane's ultimate decision about the future of Bulbury Knap would affect him deeply because he loved the garden and grounds here as if they were his own.

‘What did she say?' she managed to get out.

‘Arriving Bulbury Knap on Friday.'

‘That's all?'

‘Enough, wouldn't you say?'

She nodded. ‘You know that she's been on the phone to Andrew?'

‘That was only to be expected.'

She swallowed nervously. She hadn't thought of that in her haste to put Jane in the picture. How Michael must take her for a fool.

She caught his eye and smiled nervously. Just for a second his lips twitched in response. ‘No doubt Andrew attempted to turn things to his advantage, but who knows the outcome? We'll have to wait and see.'

Michael was being so kind. Deeply she regretted her action but there was nothing she
could
do to help matters now. ‘So she's coming on Friday, the day before the Open Day?' she said in a quiet voice.

‘A good thing, wouldn't you say?'

‘As long as we keep Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson out of it so they're not exhausted.'

‘We will,' he promised. ‘I've organised a couple of chaps from the village to take the money at the gate. Zillah's going to be stewarding the exhibition with the boys' help. They'll be handy for showing folk around the place, too. Refreshments in the conservatory, that's your province, and me in the walled garden area answering questions and manning the plant stall.'

‘And Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson will be barricaded in the den?' she couldn't resist saying.

His lips twitched again and she smiled too, marvelling that they both could find amusement in this dire situation.

‘We'll rely on Jane's presence to keep them away from too much of the action,' he said. ‘She cares for her parents, Kathryn, or she wouldn't have dropped everything like this to come. She'll see how much they enjoy having people here and how much it all means to them.'

*          *          *

Her thoughts on Michael, Kathryn propped
open
the back door to feel fresh air on her warm face. The rain had stopped now but the puddles on the cobbles reflected the leaden sky. Zillah's cottage door opened and Iain emerged, striding across to Kathryn with a cheerful wave.

‘Iain!' It was good to see him even at this fraught moment. ‘What brings you here?'

‘To see you of course, dear Kathryn. And check on Zillah. She said I could come over the house to have a word.'

A split-second's thought that Zillah seemed to be taking over here at Bulbury Knap was quickly banished. Ashamed of herself, Kathryn smiled at him. ‘I'm glad to see you, Iain,' she said.

‘I've completed my research at last and now my book's ready to be written up.'

‘That's great. You'll be able to give a hand with the Open Day. We could do with more help. Zillah's told you about it?'

‘And given all the credit to you for coming up with the idea. You're quite a girl, Kathryn.' He slapped the leg of his ancient jeans. ‘Not only that but I've been talking to the Lord of the Manor.'

‘Sir Edwin?'

‘The same. A decent old chap if I may say so.'

Kathryn saw the look of achievement on Iain's face. ‘What have you been up to, Iain?'

‘The old chap wanted to hear about the
research
I've been doing. Seemed very knowledgeable about it. You know I've got myself in with the Heritage Centre people and I'm going to be doing a bit of work for them, a talk or two and help with the fossil hunts on the beach?'

‘You haven't wasted much time.'

‘Say you're pleased, Kathryn. It means a lot to me if you are.'

‘Of course I'm pleased,' she said. ‘You've worked so hard.'

‘But?' He looked at her intently.

She tried to smile but her face felt stiff. Her mother's broken ankle was well on the mend now. Sarah had sounded so happy on the phone last night as she was beginning to make plans to take up her position at Bulbury Knap. It wouldn't be long now that her room in Polmerrick would become vacant again. Everything was shaping up.

Except for her, Kathryn, of course.

‘You'll be able to return to Polmerrick now that Mum's better,' she said. He looked surprised. ‘No way. Not with you here, Kathryn.'

‘But I won't be here?' To her horror her voice trembled.

‘Hey, hey, we can't have this.'

Suddenly his arms were round her and for a moment she leaned against him, grateful for his ready sympathy. He felt solid and comforting. ‘We'll sort something out,' he said
above
her head.

She heard voices and pulled away, wiping her eyes on her sleeve. ‘You're a good friend, Iain,' she murmured.

‘More than that, I hope,' he said, his voice gruff. ‘So this Open Day …'

‘On Saturday.'

‘I'll be here for you, Kathryn,' he promised.

*          *          *

‘Andrew is making tea,' Lady Hewson said as if it was an every day occurrence. ‘Your father will join us very soon, Jane, dear. And now here is Kathryn.'

Lady Hewson's face was flushed with pleasure as she introduced them. Jane was standing with her back to the light and Kathryn didn't notice at first that she had a scar running down her left cheek. She wondered that she didn't try to camouflage it but Jane's face was devoid of any makeup as far as she could see. They seated themselves at Lady Hewson's invitation in the wicker chairs that were placed in readiness on the terrace.

‘This is nice,' said Lady Hewson.