Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange

by Jenny Kane

  Tina stared at her empty plate. ‘Perspective, that’s what you’re saying. One person’s idea of failure is another’s achievement.’

  ‘Exactly. Personally, I think failure is buying a personal number plate.’

  ‘What?’ Thea switched her gaze from Tina to Helen in confusion. ‘Personalised registrations for cars you mean?’

  ‘Yep.’ Helen smiled. ‘I know a lot of management folk who buy themselves personal plates for their cars. They think it shows the world they’re successful. In fact it’s silent showing off. In my opinion, it makes them look like total dicks.’

  Thea laughed as Helen sank her hands into her pockets. ‘Shame they can’t see how much admiration people would have for them if they used their showing-off money on charitable donations or sponsoring a hospital or something instead.’

  Tina couldn’t help but agree. ‘They’d have to keep those things anonymous though. Such folk like people to know they’re successful.’

  ‘Which is why, to my mind, they’ve failed at life.’

  Tina nodded, her respect for Helen rising as she caught sight of the time. ‘I should go and see how Sam’s doing.’

  Helen hooked her rucksack on to her shoulder. ‘And you’ll be needed to run the manor.’

  ‘Thea does that.’

  ‘Not all of it I don’t.’ Thea’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ‘We do that between the three of us.’

  Feeling the urge to apologise rise on her lips, Tina bit it back. ‘I was going to ask Sam about the certificate idea, but then all this happened. Would you two mind explaining it to me?’

  ‘I tell you what—’ Thea picked up the bill ‘—you check on Sam, and if he’s up to it, we’ll have a proper meeting before Helen heads off. After all, it’s been at least ten minutes since we had a coffee.’

  Twenty-Six

  September 21st

  Helen passed the ball of string to Thea, who had just hammered a red and white striped ranging rod into the soil. Thea wound the blue twine around the base, ready to attach it to another rod she’d already put into position, a metre away.

  ‘I’m so glad you decided to stay.’ Thea ran her gaze along the level of the string as Helen checked the site plan, before deciding where to place the third pole.

  Helen, who’d confided more about her life to Tina and Thea over the past ten days than she ever had to anyone, pushed the pole into the earth a fraction, before driving it into the clay earth with a mallet. ‘It wasn’t a hard decision if I’m honest. As I said when Sam asked me to stay for the rest of the month, I needed some time out.’

  ‘Good time of year for you to take some of the holiday you’re owed. Autumn is always the quietest time at the Baths.’ Thea, who was still amazed that Helen – the ultimate in together career women – had mentioned the lack of partner at home under the heading of failure, kept her eyes on the soil. ‘I know I’ve asked before, but are you alright, Helen? I mean, as much as we’re delighted to have you helping us, it isn’t like you to admit to needing a break.’

  Snorting a good-natured laugh as she gave the rod a final tap with the mallet, Helen said, ‘Some would question my idea of a break.’

  ‘Would you rather be sunning yourself on a desert island somewhere? You know you’ve no obligation to stay here don’t you?’ Hurriedly she added, ‘Although God knows we’re grateful.’

  ‘Can you honestly see me sat by the sea?’ Helen hooked her right dungaree strap up from where it had slipped off her shoulder. ‘I’d be bored stiff in half an hour.’

  ‘You could go exploring though. Mexico, Egypt, Peru maybe?’

  ‘With a group of fellow singletons, all wondering if their future partner is among the group? No thanks.’ Helen took another glance at the plans and moved two metres to the right. ‘Anyway, I’d rather be doing this. It’s way too long since I was part of a proper excavation. The fact it’s Roman and a rare find is icing on the cake.’

  ‘I hear you on that. I couldn’t wait to get up and get on this morning.’ Thea checked the time as she got off her knees and measured out a new length of string. ‘We’ve got about half an hour before the students from Exeter University arrive.’

  ‘What do you want me to get them to do?’ Helen shifted the mallet from one hand to the other. ‘I know we’ve been through it, but I want to make sure I have it right, because I’ve had an idea.’

  ‘Really? Okay then, so Shaun, working on the hope he’ll finish on time in Cornwall, has suggested we peg out the site.’

  ‘Which we almost have.’

  ‘Yep. Then we’ll take lots of photos, which Landscape Treasures may or may not use later. Once the students get here, we’ll get them to peel back the topsoil and open the site ready for proper exploration at an unspecified date.’

  ‘A valuable lesson for them and helpful for us.’ Helen nodded approvingly. ‘That’s where my idea comes in. What if we invited a photography student from Exeter College to record the uncovering in pictures? If the quality was good enough, they could form part of an introduction pack here for the guests when they come to stay. The experience for the student involved would be useful too.’

  Thea laughed. ‘So, that’s why you run one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions. Excellent idea. Just one problem.’

  ‘The students will be here in half an hour and we haven’t even called Exeter College to see if they like the idea?’

  ‘Yep. That’s the problem.’

  ‘This is the bit where I admit I sorted it two days ago, and you forgive me for being high-handed.’

  *

  ‘Just us?’ Shaun’s eyebrows rose in surprise. ‘That’s a kind offer, Sophie, but I’d rather we ate with the group, if you don’t mind. This evening I want to talk over the last few things to do on the dig.’

  ‘Last few things?’

  ‘Yes. We’re nearly finished here.’

  As Shaun sidled out from between her and the back of the tool cupboard, Sophie told herself he’d already planned the meal that evening to be a working dinner, and so couldn’t have agreed to have a solo dinner, even if he’d wanted to.

  Resolving not to lose hope, she called brightly after Shaun, ‘Offer’s always there if you change your mind. Just let me know if you’d like to escape for some peace and quiet over dinner before you leave.’

  *

  ‘How did Sophie persuade her mother to grant the extension?’ Ajay played his pint glass thoughtfully through his fingers.

  ‘God knows.’ Shaun looked across the pub to where the woman in question was talking to Andy. He almost mentioned that she’d asked him out for dinner, but thought better of it. Ajay couldn’t keep a secret to save his life. And although Shaun had no intention of going out with Sophie, he had to admit he liked her being around, despite her occasional bouts of teenage naïveté.

  Seeing the direction of Shaun’s gaze, Ajay smirked. ‘You’ve made a hit with young Sophie.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

  ‘I’m not.’ Ajay frowned, his expression unusually serious. ‘I’m telling you, mate, the girl fancies you.’

  The memory of Sophie’s hand brushing his knee flashed through Shaun’s mind. ‘Hardly! I’m almost twice her age, and apart from archaeology, we have nothing in common at all.’

  ‘The lass needs specs.’

  ‘Thank you, Ajay. Always there with the helpful comment.’ Shaun shook his head at the silliness of the situation. He lifted his pint to the light, as if searching for guidance in the remaining liquid. ‘Now we have an extension, it means we’re stuck here for anything up to seven extra days. I don’t want to be here for more than another three. We have to get to Mill Grange before time to film there runs out.’

  Ajay pulled at his short beard. ‘How about we hand over to the local archaeologists early? We’ll have to in the end anyway, even if it’s only for them to log the site and cover it over – assuming Lady Hammett still wants it covered over. Since the news teams came, the local community are keen
for more information about the place. There’s going to be a lot of interest in Guron House from now on.’

  Shaun lowered his sandwich. ‘To make sure we finish on time we need another pair of hands.’

  Ajay nodded profusely. ‘A professional pair of hands. Someone who can interpret as they dig; analysing and recording finds faster than they are now. Someone who can talk into the camera if needed.’

  ‘You mean Thea.’ Shaun sighed. ‘I couldn’t agree more. But right now, her life is even busier than ours.’

  ‘That’s as may be, but if I’m right, and Sophie is after living happily-ever-after with the handsome archaeologist, not only would Thea’s presence here help workwise, it might also save you and Sophie some embarrassment.’

  ‘For the last time, Sophie does not fancy me. She just likes having archaeologists to talk to. It’s a passion she’s had to hide for years.’

  Ajay shrugged. ‘If you say so, mate.’

  ‘But you’re right about us needing an extra professional pair of hands.’ Shaun pushed away the remains of his sandwich. ‘I’ll give Thea a call this evening, just on the off-chance she can get away from Mill Grange after all.’

  *

  Thea’s phone warmed her ear as Shaun explained how time was slipping away from them in Cornwall. Every now and then her gaze swivelled to the emails that awaited her attention on the open laptop, its screen projecting a dim light across the scullery office.

  She realised she was only half listening when she heard Shaun laugh. ‘Ajay is convinced Sophie fancies me. He’s wrong of course, but not only would your being here help us get back on track, and possibly to Mill Grange on time, it would also help get him off my back with the teasing.’

  Thea’s palm began to prickle. Is Ajay right? ‘Is that so?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve told you about her. She’s a distance-learning student, with no practical skills until we arrived. I have to say, Sophie is good at this archaeology lark.’

  Do you have to say? Thea felt her muscles clench as she listened to Shaun.

  ‘She’s a natural. Phil loves her on camera. I guess she’s got that young professional appeal that’s so popular these days.’

  ‘And having a female presenter on the show won’t hurt Landscape Treasures either, will it?’ Thea could hear herself saying the right thing, but the nagging feeling she’d all but dismissed during her discussions with Tina and Helen, re-stirred in her gut.

  ‘That’s true,’ Shaun agreed. ‘Luckily, I know that Phil isn’t letting her present just to tick some PC box. It was a requirement of us being here.’

  ‘It was?’

  ‘I’ll explain when I see you.’ Shaun paused. ‘She is good though, Thea.’

  ‘You said,’ Thea snapped.

  Oblivious to Thea’s mood, Shaun said, ‘I know it’s bad timing, but is there any chance you can come to Cornwall for a couple of days? I honestly can’t think of another way to get this excavation finished on time so we can do the Mill Grange dig.’

  Trying to be reassured that Shaun wanted her with him, and desperate to get in her car and go to see this Sophie for herself, Thea glanced again at the pile of work awaiting her attention. ‘I can’t. There’s so much to do here before we open properly. I’m helping interview a potential archaeology skills tutor tomorrow.’

  ‘That was quick! Didn’t the advert only go live last week?’

  ‘It did, but we had three applicants in the first day alone. The guy who’s coming, Tom Harris, looks the best one on paper.’

  ‘Right. Good. So you’ll have help. Once he’s there, you might be able to come here.’

  ‘As I said, I’d like to, but—’

  ‘Are Treasure Hunters still keen?’ Shaun broke through Thea’s reply.

  ‘You know they are.’

  Shaun groaned. ‘I was wondering about discussing tactics to speed things up here with Sophie and—’

  Sick of hearing the name Sophie again, Thea hung up the phone.

  Five minutes later she sent a text saying they’d been cut off. She agonised about whether to sign off with a kiss or not. Deciding Shaun didn’t deserve one, she didn’t bother. She doubted he would notice.

  Twenty-Seven

  September 22nd

  Bert gave Sam a hearty slap on the back. ‘Progress, young man!’

  ‘I walked two steps inside before coming back out again. Hardly the summit of Everest.’

  Chuckling, Bert left Sam leaning against the open back door to his house as he brewed some tea. ‘No, young fella. You walked two steps into my home. A place you are unfamiliar with, and now you are stood, resting on the inside of the doorway.’

  Sam leapt to attention, moving himself upright from where he’d been lounging, making Bert’s grin even broader.

  ‘You hadn’t noticed what you were doing.’

  ‘I hadn’t.’

  ‘I’ll tell you this as well. It’s significant that it was my house you walked in and out of.’

  ‘At the speed of light.’

  ‘That’s not important.’ Bert was suddenly serious as he poured boiling water into some mugs. ‘The point is, the only time you have seen any part of this house before, is when you used my walk-in shower.’

  ‘Which has ample access to the outside world.’

  Bert smiled. ‘Only a week ago you couldn’t have walked inside a strange environment, however briefly. Think about it. This is a property that holds unknowns for you. If it had been Mill Grange, which you have seen the inside of, partly in person and partly on video relay, you’d have got further.’

  ‘You think so?’ Sam allowed himself to be hopeful. ‘Really?’

  ‘I do. That’s why I suggested we work here for a while. You need to conquer a space you don’t know; that way, when you come to an environment you know and trust it’ll be easier still.’

  Sam took his mug of tea. ‘I wish I felt as confident as you sound.’

  Bert winked and picked up a pile of papers from his kitchen table along with his drink. ‘I borrowed these from Thea. The plans for Mill Grange, along with the structural survey and associated surveyors report for the house and all the outbuildings.’

  Sam followed Bert to a patio table and set of chairs in the back garden. ‘What did you want them for?’

  ‘You’ve seen these before. Many times, I imagine.’

  ‘Of course. I had them put together when I bought Mill Grange.’

  ‘And you trusted the surveyor to do a good job, and you know the house plans are correct because Tina and Thea would soon have shouted if they weren’t.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘My point is, that if you know the structure of the building is sound then you know it is safe. You know that the people you love go in and out of Mill Grange all day. Now—’ Bert raised his hand to stem the objection he knew would be rising in Sam’s throat ‘—I know that logically, you accept that Mill Grange is a safe place. That it has stood for over a hundred years because it is a solid structure. I also know that logic does not come into play with claustrophobia. However, reminding ourselves of the facts cannot hurt.’

  Sam said nothing as he traced a finger over the plan of the kitchen and along the corridor to the downstairs washroom. It was such a short distance. If I could walk along there – or even run along it…

  ‘Penny for them?’

  ‘This is the corridor I’ve stood in.’ Sam retraced his finger along the plan. ‘The one between the kitchen and my bathroom.’ Swallowing back the anxiety that was already rising inside him, Sam concentrated resolutely on the plans. ‘If I walked from the bathroom to the kitchen and out through the back door, how long do you think it would take?’

  Not mentioning that this had been the exact route Tina had suggested Sam try some weeks ago, Bert mused, ‘If you went at normal walking speed, maybe thirty seconds. At a mad dash, you could do it in ten.’

  ‘That’s not long is it?’ Sam stroked the plans again. ‘Ten seconds.’

  ‘It isn’t long a
t all.’ Bert tapped another part of the paper, explaining, ‘And from here to here – beginning at the main door, going along the same corridor towards the back door, past the old scullery – would take about forty seconds. Twenty if you ran.’

  ‘That’s less than one minute from the inside to the outside.’

  Bert emphasised the point. ‘Approximately a minute of your life within Mill Grange if you do both routes one after the other.’

  Sam concentrated on the contents of his mug. ‘That’s nothing is it?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘So why has my pulse accelerated and my mouth gone dry?’

  ‘Because time feels different when we’re afraid. One of the first steps in addressing that part of the problem is accepting the problem exists.’ Bert’s voice lilted in triumph. ‘So, I make that three successes from you today.’

  ‘Come off it, Bert.’

  ‘I will do no such thing.’ The pensioner hauled himself upright, plonking his mug over the plans so they didn’t blow away. ‘Have you told Tina that I’m helping you yet?’

  ‘No, I still want to surprise her when we get to Malvern.’

  Bert was thoughtful. ‘I was just thinking, it might be easier with her supporting you, that’s all.’

  Sam finished his mug of tea. ‘Probably, but I have put enough pressure on her with all the work at Mill Grange. She deserves not to have to worry about helping with this too.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ Bert clambered to his feet. ‘That’s enough of a break for you, Sam. One more go, and then we’ll call it a day. You have a job interview to give and I promised Mabel I’d come to the manor and help with the lunches the archaeology students will need.’

  ‘I didn’t know you had culinary skills as well, Bert.’

  He winked. ‘I don’t, lad, but I know an order from my wife when I hear one.’

  *

  As Bert and Sam arrived around the corner of the manor, Tina waved to the pensioner as he waddled off to find his wife. ‘That is a lovely man.’