by Sasha Morgan
‘Right, well, in that case I’d better go,’ Nick said, looking at Megan for some kind of objection. None was forthcoming. He coughed, ‘Er, right, ‘bye then, Megan.’
‘Bye, Nick,’ she replied with a smile.
‘Goodbye.’ Tobias stared him out. Nick stared back for a few moments then quietly left.
Megan was determined to find out what exactly the history was between the two of them, and between Nick and Finula, for that matter.
Chapter 28
‘Hey look at this,’ Finula waved a card in her hand.
‘What is it?’ Megan wiped her hands on the kitchen towel and took it from her. They were busy preparing the breakfasts. ‘Gary and Tracy invite you to join their house-warming dinner party at the Gate House,’ she read excitedly.
‘Look, it’s for both of us,’ Finula said, pointing to their names at the top.
‘I wonder who else is going.’
Finula shrugged. ‘Don’t know, but can’t be that many, it says dinner party, not just house-warming party.’
‘Hmm, are you going to go?’
‘Deffo! It’ll be fun. Gary and Tracy seem a really nice, down-to-earth couple.’
‘They do,’ agreed Megan and decided to look forward to it.
*
Tobias had received his invitation that morning. He had called at the Hall to collect a few more things and his post. He noticed the invitation didn’t state plus guest, which left him a little uncertain. Then, feeling he ought to show his face, especially as they had paid over the odds for the Gate House, he decided to go.
*
Dylan opened his invitation. He might as well go. What else was there to do? He’d tried to ring Flora, but she’d barred him from her phone. He put off the idea of going to the gym, in case he bumped into that personal trainer who performed extras in the sauna. Perhaps he should get out and see his friends instead of being cooped up here feeling sorry for himself.
He made his way to Treweham Hall, telling himself it was to catch Tobias, not on the off chance of seeing Flora. Pulling onto the gravel drive, he noticed Tobias’ car parked at the front. Dylan rang the front doorbell and was greeted by Henry.
‘Good day, Mr Delany.’ He ushered him inside and took him to Tobias’ study, where Tobias was sorting through his post. Dylan noticed the invitation on his desk.
‘You’ve got one, too?’ He pointed towards it.
‘Yes, you going?’
‘Why not? Nothing better to do.’
‘Not busy preparing for Royal Ascot?’
‘Should be.’
Tobias looked up. He could see this wasn’t the usual Dylan. His spark and charisma had vanished.
Dylan went on to explain. ‘I feel like I’m losing it, Tobias, you know, the passion to win. I’ve come to see it all in a different light.’
‘See what exactly?’ Tobias put his envelopes down and sat on the corner of his desk.
‘Racing. It’s a fickle game. You’re everybody’s friend providing you win and make them money. But real friends, well, they don’t come easy, do they?’
‘Me and Seamus are your friends.’
‘I know that, but… what about partners… wives?’ he added weakly.
Tobias blinked. ‘What do you mean, Dylan?’
‘I… I’m lonely, Tobias.’ There, he’d said it. He finally admitted it out loud.
Tobias blinked again. ‘You’re lonely?’
‘I want more. I love horses, but I’ve grown to hate the back-biting, competitive, greedy, money-making side of racing. I mean, look at Sean Fox. Could you take orders from him?’
‘No. Seamus has always had a difficult relationship with his father.’
‘Not surprising. I’ve heard the way he orders his staff about in the yard; the man’s an absolute ogre. What he doesn’t get is that they’re there because they love those horses, and want to do the best for them. They don’t need him bellowing at them all the time.’
An idea was formulating in Tobias’ mind. ‘Would you consider setting up your own training yard?’
‘Yes, I think I would.’ Dylan had half thought of this already, but had dismissed the idea as overambitious. He needed space and plenty of it. ‘But where?’
‘Here. The old stable block could be improved to your requirements, extended if need be. There’s plenty of land. Think about it.’
‘I will.’ Dylan narrowed his eyes; a plan was formulating in his mind already, one that had ignited a spark in his heart. ‘I’d rent the stables and land from you, but want full control of the yard.’
Tobias nodded. ‘Fine. Would you not need some form of support, though?’
‘I’d want an assistant trainer.’ And he knew just the person. For the first time in weeks, his switch was about to turn on.
Chapter 29
Tobias had arranged for a small team of his workers to fit the kitchen and bathroom at Ted’s cottage, leaving him more time to concentrate on the rest of the cottage. It was early evening and he was enjoying a brandy. Next door all was quiet as Megan was working at The Templar. He’d so enjoyed having dinner with her. He loved listening to her conversation, peppered with humour, compassion and lots of questions. He found it flattering that she was curious about life in Treweham Hall, not in a crass or envious way, but with genuine interest. She’d told him freely about her childhood and family, especially her gran, entertaining him with stories of her visits to Treweham and how close they had been. He knew the letters she’d discovered had had a profound effect on her and badly wanted to help in any way he could, but how? He felt a real affinity towards Megan, almost as though he had always known her.
He had kissed her long and passionately after their evening together and she had responded. There was no denying the attraction between them, but he was at pains not to push it further just yet. He knew timing was critical, and that he needed Megan’s trust. He was staggered by the actions of her ex-boyfriend. Who in their right mind would jeopardise losing a girl like her?
He looked round the lounge to decide tomorrow’s jobs. He’d pull up the carpet and sand and varnish the floorboards. In preparation he moved the half-moon table into the hallway. The old bureau was much heavier to budge. He lifted the front two legs and was dragging it across the floor when the bottom drawer fell open and an address book dropped out. He picked it up and a photograph fluttered from its pages.
Tobias knelt down to examine it. It was an old sepia snapshot. Immediately he recognised the young couple smiling into the camera, sitting by an old tree, with the initials ‘G’ and ‘E’ engraved into its trunk. It was Grace and ‘E’. Turning the photograph over, Tobias read the inscription on the back. To my darling Edward, forever yours, Grace. x Realisation dawned on him. Old Ted was Edward! Grace must have returned to him, years after believing he had been killed in action. He recalled Ted’s words to him a few days ago in the nursing home: ‘Look after Megan.’ Now they made perfect sense. Ted must be Megan’s grandfather. Tobias was astonished at his find. Taking a few moments, he pondered over telling Megan. Intuition told him to wait. First he’d go and see Ted.
The next morning, instead of starting on the floorboards, Tobias took the photograph, put it safely in an envelope and made for the nursing home. He found Ted in the sun lounge again. Tobias watched him for a few seconds before approaching him. He saw him differently now, not old Ted, whom his family had helped with the cottage, but a war hero, who had been torn apart from his only love. Ted must have so many stories to share, yet he’d kept his identity a secret from Megan. The whole scenario touched Tobias and made him realise he hadn’t been the only one to have lost his first love. There were thousands of people who had suffered like them. Feeling somewhat humbled, he made his way over to Ted.
Ted’s face lit up again at seeing him. ‘Hello, Tobias. I am honoured to see you again,’ he chuckled.
‘Hello, Ted.’ Tobias sat down next to him.
‘Is everything all right, lad? You look damn serious.’<
br />
Tobias pulled out the envelope from his pocket and handed Ted the photograph. ‘I was moving your bureau and this fell out, Ted.’
Ted took the picture with a shaking hand. His eyes filled as he looked at the young couple smiling up at him.
‘Ah, she was a bonny girl, my Grace.’
Tobias waited, watching the emotion on Ted’s face. He swallowed before speaking. ‘You’re Megan’s grandfather, aren’t you, Ted?’
The old man looked into Tobias’ face with such sadness, it took his breath away.
‘Technically, yes. But she’ll always know Michael as her grandfather and I don’t want to ruin that memory. Nor would Grace.’
‘But Grace left Megan your letters. She must have wanted her to know.’
Ted nodded sorrowfully. ‘Yes, she did in the end. When she knew her time was up.’ Ted looked wistfully out of the conservatory window. ‘Let me tell you what happened, Tobias. Perhaps then you’ll understand.’
Ted had met Grace at a dance in the village hall. She had stood out with her strawberry-blond hair, porcelain complexion and sweet smile. She wore a blue silk dress and had drawn lines down the backs of her legs to imitate the seams of stockings. When he’d asked her to dance, she instantly accepted, being equally smitten with this handsome, dark-haired soldier in uniform. From the moment they had touched an unbreakable connection had been formed. But it had proved to be breakable, by a raging, cruel war that had forced them apart. They had always planned to marry, he had proposed by their favourite place in Quercus Woods. Instead of a ring, they had secured their love by carving their initials in an oak tree and agreed to get engaged on his return from the war. They had exchanged letters of hope, love and a constant yearning to be reunited; and they almost were. But one night, when on watch, he had been hit by shrapnel, leaving him unconscious. Eventually waking, he was dazed, confused and had no idea where he was. Struggling to walk, he managed to stagger to a nearby farmhouse. The French family who lived there took pity on the wounded British soldier and gave him shelter. It took months for him to recover and remember all the pieces of his life. The one thing he had was that photograph. That one picture had given him courage and hope to carry on. Then, that fragrance hit him, the smell of Parma violets growing wildly in the farmhouse garden. Immediately he was whisked back to the night of the dance when he had met Grace, and she had smelt of Parma violets.
Almost a year after taking refuge in the French farmhouse, Ted had made his way home, only to find that his Grace had married and had a child. He knew that Grace’s little girl was his, and Michael, his best friend, had stepped into the breach, believing he had been killed in action. It was too late; he couldn’t intervene. They had all acted with the best of intentions.
But then Michael was killed by the fire in the brewery and Grace was alone again. Ted made his move and contacted her. Their love was still as strong. Grace wanted to be with Ted, but didn’t want her daughter upset by the truth. Living next door to each other in Treweham was the ideal solution. The older Grace got, the more unsettled she became by her secret and she wanted Megan, who was the image of her grandfather, to truly know him. It was important to her that Ted was known to their granddaughter. What Megan chose to do with the truth would be a matter for her, but Grace could not die without Ted being acknowledged.
Tobias sat dumb struck. His eyes filled too, listening to Ted’s revelation. Finally he spoke.
‘Ted, will you explain this to Megan?’ Ted hesitated. Tobias added, ‘Or should I?’
‘Yes. If you would. I… don’t want her upset.’
‘No, of course. I’m sure she won’t be upset, Ted. In fact, I think she’ll be delighted she’s found you,’ he reassured the old man warmly, making his eyes water.
Ted gave a wobbly smile. ‘I hope so, Tobias. I hope so.’
Chapter 30
Gary and Tracy sat on their little terrace overlooking the large lawn. Any minute now their guests would be arriving. Tracy was fidgeting with her necklace. ‘I should have got caterers,’ she said, biting her bottom lip.
‘Don’t be daft, your hotpot’s delicious, they’ll love it,’ Gary soothed. He knocked back a swig of lager and burped loudly.
‘And don’t do that in front of them either,’ she rasped.
Gary laughed. ‘Calm down, Trace. I won’t show you up.’ He got up and spun round. ‘How do I look?’ They’d both bought new outfits for the occasion: Gary, blue chinos and a white short-sleeved shirt (which he’d just spilt lager on), and Tracy, a figure-hugging black dress. She’d put her hair up in a high ponytail and trailed ringlets down the sides. A brief sad moment had swept over her whilst doing it, sitting at her dressing table, remembering how Sharon had done something similar for her wedding day. She fleetingly reminisced about the giggles and fizz they’d shared that morning and a profoundly empty feeling had hit her. This made her more determined to enjoy tonight and make new friends.
She was a touch apprehensive about meeting Lord Cavendish-Blake, though inside she told herself not to be. They had paid good money for their house and had every right to be living on his estate. Even so, it was a far cry from the terraced back streets where her old friends would be tonight, living it up in the club, dancing and knocking back the vodka and Red Bull with gusto. She looked down at her cut-glass flute of Prosecco, her hand shaking.
Hearing a car door slam, they both shot up. ‘Show time,’ Gary said, smiling, then added, ‘Relax, Trace. Everything’s going to be fine.’ Together they walked round the side of the house to greet their first guest. It was Dylan.
‘Hiya, mate.’ Gary shook his hand.
‘Hi, Gary.’ Dylan turned to Tracy. ‘Looking lovely, Tracy.’ He kissed both her cheeks, making her blush slightly. Finula was just walking up the garden path.
‘Hi, Finula!’ Tracy called, her face looking relaxed for the first time that evening.
‘Hello there.’ Finula gave her a quick hug and a bottle of wine. ‘Hi, Gary,’ she nodded, then turned to Dylan. ‘Hello, you.’ She gave him a knowing grin.
‘We’re just round the back.’ Gary led them all to the seating area on the terrace. After he and Tracy had exchanged a few pleasantries and filled everyone’s glasses, Tobias and Megan appeared. They had walked together through the estate and followed the voices in the garden. Tracy was surprised they had arrived together and wondered if they were a couple. They certainly looked comfortable enough together.
‘Good evening. Thank you for the invite. I’m Tobias.’ Tobias held out a hand to Gary and then Tracy. Tracy shook it, noticing how warm and firm it was: a confident handshake. What else would you expect from a lord? He gave her a charming smile and again she blushed.
‘Pleased to meet you,’ she replied, then turned to Megan with a beam. ‘Glad you could come.’
‘I’ve brought you these.’ Megan handed over a colourful posy of flowers, collected from her garden.
‘Oh, thanks, Megan. They’re lovely.’ Tracy went through the patio doors into the kitchen to put them in water and check on the meal.
Gary, Tobias and Megan stood talking together about the plans Gary had for the garden. Tobias was nodding his head rather gravely, looking devastatingly handsome in a green linen shirt, which highlighted his green-hazel eyes. Megan bobbed her head, looking interested in what Gary was saying. She wore a lilac wrapover dress, which complimented her figure well. Dylan couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Finula prodded him hard in the side. ‘Oy, you, I thought you were supposed to be broken-hearted,’ she hissed.
Dylan’s eyes widened. ‘I am,’ he protested.
‘Then stop ogling Megan,’ she whispered back. ‘She’s Tobias’.’
Dylan turned to her and frowned. ‘News to me,’ he replied.
Tracy interrupted, ‘Tea’s ready everyone!’
As he made his way into the dining area, Tobias cringed inside at the sight before him. For a split second he opened his mouth, then shut it again. What on earth had they
done to the place? Gone was the parquet flooring, totally hidden by a thick shag-pile carpet. Gaudy abstract artwork glared from the walls on large canvases. A huge plasma TV blared out from the corner, its surround sound filling the room. A smoked-glass dining table stood in the middle, accompanied by black leather chairs; nothing in keeping with an old English Gate House, steeped in history and character. Everything was totally out of place. Tobias winced at all the time, money and effort he had lovingly put into refurbishing this special place. The clumsy satellite dish plonked (illegally) on the side of the house should have been an indicator of the taste of the Belchers. Did they realise the Gate House was a listed building, or didn’t they care?
His mood began to decline. His eyes turned to Megan, who was sitting between himself and Dylan. She outshone all with her natural beauty and she looked a million dollars in that dress. He longed to pull the side tie, push it off her shoulders and let it fall at her feet. He could just about see her strawberry-shaped birthmark, which for some reason always stirred him. Suddenly he didn’t want to be here, sitting at this hideous glass table with everyone exchanging small talk, but in his big four-poster bed with a naked Megan wrapped round his hips. The thought made him semi hard and he coughed abruptly. Dylan turned sharply, misinterpreting it as a warning to stop flirting with Megan. He backed off immediately, making Tobias laugh to himself.
‘So, mate, are you racing at Royal Ascot?’ Gary asked with a mouth full of bread, looking towards Dylan.
‘I certainly am,’ he replied, taking a sip of his drink. There was a pregnant pause. Usually, the mention of racing would kick-start Dylan into conversation, but tonight it wasn’t forthcoming.
Feeling the need to fill the gap, Finula commented on the steaming food being piled onto the plates by Tracy.
‘Oh, this smells good, Tracy!’
‘Yes, it does,’ agreed Megan, wondering what the matter was with Tobias and Dylan, who had suddenly gone quiet. Tobias had been in good spirits on their walk to the Gate House, but now he appeared subdued, deep in thought.
