Bella shook her head “Seems to me she’s getting worse.”
Roman took her in his arms “I’m so sorry sweetheart, you came here to make a new life for yourself and had nothing but trouble.”
Bella snuggled into his arms, laying her head against his chest as she said “It’s not your fault. You’ve helped me make a new life and given me back my faith in mankind.”
Impulsively he said “Then marry me, let me look after you and make me the happiest man in the world.”
Then he cursed himself as he felt her stiffen. “I’m sorry Bella, I know I promised not to push you.”
“It’s not that I don’t love you and I do want to marry you, but not until I’ve proved to myself that I am capable of looking after myself. Please don’t be hurt Roman.”
He lowered his head and found her mouth with his lips. Bella kissed him back passionately and he swept her up into his arms and carried her through to the bedroom, where he spent a long time proving that he would never give up on her.
They were lying satiated in each other’s arms when the telephone rang.
“Leave it,” Roman said, his breath tickling her as he savoured a nipple.
However the phone didn’t stop ringing and finally he swore and slid out of bed, padding through to the living room naked. Bella propped herself on an elbow and watched him go, admiring his long muscular legs, taut buttocks, narrow waist and strong broad shoulders, as she remembered how that delicious body had felt against hers.He was talking seriously to whoever was on the other end of the line, so collecting her housecoat and his jeans she went to join him.
“Thanks for letting me know,” he said, “ no, as I said to you before, I’ve got no idea who could have done it. As you say, it might have been some idiot trying out a rifle on the moor, not knowing how far a bullet can travel. Yes I’m sure that you’ll continue your inquiries, goodbye inspector.”
Handing him his jeans, Bella asked “So, what did he have to say?”
“It couldn’t have been Louisa, she entered a secure psychiatric facility four days ago.”
“What? Why?”
“Evidently it was either go in voluntarily or be committed by her trustees. She tried to kill Boris with a shotgun.”
“No!”
“He wouldn’t let her get on him, knocked her over in the end, and in her fury, she rushed into the house, got a shotgun out of the gun cabinet and was on her way out to shoot him when her estate manager got the gun off her. In the struggle the gun went off, peppering a groom with shot and just missing Barnes, the manager. It took two of them to hold her down, while a doctor and the nearest trustee was sent for. It appears that she was high on cocaine, and she was given a choice, the police or sign into the clinic.”
“My god, is the groom alright?”
“Yes. Luckily he was on the other side of the yard after putting Boris back into his box, and he only got a few pellets in his legs.”
“She must be mad, she’s completely lost it.”
“It seems that she’s been hitting the cocaine hard for quite a while.”
“Oh. Did you know about that?”
Roman shook his head “No, I’ve never run with that crowd. That’s why she was always running off to London.”
“I suppose it’s easier to get in London.”
“There are a few suppliers around here, but of course she wouldn’t want anyone local to know of her addiction. Can’t keep much a secret here, what with so many people being related in some way.”
Bella’s stomach rumbled and it struck her that she’d had nothing to eat since breakfast.
“I’d better make something to eat,” she said going back into the bedroom to get dressed.
Roman followed her to find his tee shirt, which was still sticky with dried blood.
“You can’t wear that,” Bella said as she opened a drawer and pulled out two tee shirts. “Here wear this, it’ll be a tight fit but it’s one of my old ones from before I moved here.”
Roman held it up “You must have liked things loose back then,” he said as he pulled it over his head. It hugged his muscles and was too short, making him look even more muscular as it showed off his six pack.
Bella giggled “You look like action man.”
Looking at the candy pink top she was wearing he pretended to leer at her “And you look like Barbie, but with the most marvellous breasts.”
As she blushed he laughed and caught her to him “One day Bella Carrington you are going to say yes and become Mrs. Bella Cowle.”
Gazing up at him she said seriously “I know.”
Chapter 10
Over the next few weeks life flowed smoothly for Bella. Joy, who she’d met on her first visit to the pub, had become a good friend. She’d called in, with some large hen’s eggs, the day after the shooting, to see if Bella was alright, and they’d discovered, over a mug of tea and Mrs. B’s shortbread, that they had a lot in common. When she left school Joy, too, had gone to art college, studying mostly watercolour, and she still painted in her spare time, which by her own admission she didn’t get much of.
She’d persuaded Bella to take a stall at the local craft market and it had proved to be most lucrative; the problem now being replacing her furniture, throws and cushions, as they sold so quickly. Roman had become concerned that she was working too hard and turned up regularly with meals Mrs. B had prepared. So that he could keep an eye on her and make sure she ate regularly, he’d taken it upon himself to clear out the old buildings on either side of the open barn, even using some of the estate workers to help him.
Luckily the weather stayed fine and dry, so Bella had been able to work outside, as Roman had banned her from the barn until the work was finished. Each evening the furniture Bella had been working on was carried to shelter by Roman or his men, and as he stayed with her every night she didn’t manage to get a sneaky look at what was happening. Widecombe fair was coming up and Bella had made some beautiful items for her stall, even persuading Joy to let her sell some of her watercolours. She was excited, as, if she had a good sale she would be able to pay Roman the final amount for Misty’s treatment at the vets.
That evening, as they sat and ate a lamb casserole that Mrs. B had provided Roman said “When we’ve eaten, I have something to show you.”
Bella grinned at him “Something I haven’t seen before?”
He laughed “Yes.”
Bella spooned the last of her casserole into her mouth “I’ve finished eating, can I see?”
“We haven’t had any blackberry crumble.”
“Let’s have that later. You never know we might work up more of an appetite.”
Roman grinned licking his lips “I’m sure we will, but for what?”
“Oh you.” Bella waved her hand at him, “only one thing on your mind.”
“When I’m near you, yes. Anyway, come on time for the great reveal.”
“The barn? It’s finished?”
“Yes, and I hope that it meets with your approval,” he stood up and picked up a large torch.
Excitedly she followed him and the torch beam to the outbuildings. The open barn was now clear of all rubbish, the old stone cobbles repaired and made level. Outside the two outbuildings, that opened into the barn, stood old stone troughs filled with pansies, the doors were repaired, and as Roman opened the left hand doors he flicked a switch and strong fluorescent lights flooded the space.
Bella gasped “It’s fantastic!”
A long solid wood table stood in the middle and along one side was shelving, from floor to ceiling. There were new electric light sockets on both long sides and in the corner stood a decent sized wood burner with a chimney, surrounded by old bricks, going up through the roof.
“How on earth did you manage all that? The wood burner alone mu
st have cost a fortune.”
Roman sighed “All it needed was clearing out, it was mostly wood in here. The bits we haven’t used have been sawn up for you to use in the burner which, by the way, was already in here. Granted it didn’t have a chimney and needed some repairs, but it must have been an old one out of the cottage.”
“It was already in here? I didn’t see it when I peered in to see what needed doing.”
“It was under wood, old sacks and rubbish. I think as Lucy got older she just opened the door a crack and threw things in. Most of the mess was just inside the door, the back end wasn’t too bad at all. But the question is, is this what you wanted?”
“It’s beyond my wildest expectations. It looked so ramshackle from outside, I thought it was in danger of falling down. I don’t know how you’ve done it, but thank you, I couldn’t have done it by myself.” She flung herself into his arms and kissed him.
Returning the kiss he said “I hope you feel so happy when you get the bill.”
She stood back and looked at him, then seeing that he was serious she said “Of course, it’s brilliant whatever it costs.”
“Let me show you the other building,” he said taking her hand and leading her across to the opposite door. Once again as he opened it he flicked a switch, but this time discreet lighting glowed around the space with a few small spotlights highlighting different areas; other than that it was completely empty.
“I thought that you could use this building as a showroom, with this sign on the road directing tourists to `The Wishing Well` craft studio,” and he picked up a sign made of wood with that written on it.
Bella was stunned and her eyes filled with tears as she said “I love you Roman Cowle, you give me support but enough space to be myself. I’ll never be able to repay you for that.”
As he took her in his arms he felt a surge of relief, he’d got it right. This woman that he loved with his whole being, needed him to let her prove to herself, that she was capable of surviving by herself. As he’d been repairing the barn it had come to him that if he just did it for free, she’d always wonder if she could have got it done without him. By charging her he was helping her, but leaving her with her pride and new self assuredness intact.
“The sign is my gift to you, but the work has been put on the estate’s books, obviously at mate’s rates. We haven’t had to buy anything for the repairs because of all the wood in the other building, and there was a pile of old slates and bricks in the nettles at the back of the buildings. So it’s just the men’s wages to be covered.”
“I’m just blown away by it all, I can’t believe you’ve achieved so much in such a short time.”
“Well, it has been two and half weeks and it’s the kind of thing we’re doing all the time. The next job is to clear all the weeds and brambles out of the garden before winter. Then next spring you can get the land sorted, into grass, flower and veg beds. When we discussed your plans for the place that’s what you said you wanted to do.”
Bella smiled at him, all her love for him plain to see “You listened to my ramblings and fantasies and have made them all come true.”
Roman shook his head “Not at all sweetheart, You’re the one who’s slogged her guts out until all hours of the night, making the cottage into a comfortable home and making things to sell. I’ve just stood on the sidelines cheering you on.”
He switched off the lights, shut the door, and they made their way back to the cottage, where once inside he drew her to him.
Later they sat in the bath together, with her nestled between his legs as he fed her blackberry crumble and clotted cream.
Sighing contentedly she said “I feel so decadent, lolling in hot foamy water being fed by my lover.”
“Good, I’d keep you like this forever if I had my way.”
She giggled “We’d end up all prune like and pale.”
The bathroom door was pushed open and Hamish and Misty padded into the bathroom. Misty jumped up against the side of the bath and lapped at the bubbles, but Hamish sat and looked dolefully at his master.
“We forgot to feed them,” Bella said causing Roman to groan and say “I’ll be in his bad books for days. He can keep up the hard done by glare for ages.”
Reluctantly they climbed out of the bath with both dogs turning in excited circles.
“Perhaps we ought to give Hamish a bath while the water’s hot.” Roman said.
As Hamish whirled and forced his way out of the room with Misty following him, they both burst out laughing. “That was so cruel.” Bella spluttered.
“Well that’ll teach him to interrupt my pleasure.” Roman grinned as he dried himself.
After the dogs were fed Bella talked excitedly about her plans. “It’s Widecombe fair the day after tomorrow. I really need to go over tomorrow to see where my stall will be and plan its layout.”
“I’ll come with you after lunch, I have paperwork to do in the morning, but I’ll pick you up at one o’clock. We can have lunch at the Rugglestone then inspect the layout of the fair.”
“I’d love you to come but surely you’ve got other things to do, you’ve spent so much time here over the past two weeks.”
Roman smiled “I have to go over myself anyway. We’re having a marquee at the fair this year, showing how we are working for the flora and fauna on the estate alongside the working farms. I’m allowing the Dartmoor pony society, of which I’m a patron, to have a place in the marquee and we’re offering jobs and apprenticeships to school leavers.”
“Wow! How on earth do you find the time to do all that?”
“I don’t do it all, I’ve got a good team around me and my workers can think for themselves. All I have to do most of the time is OK their decisions.”
Bella frowned “I just thought, I suppose I ought to have a gazebo of some kind. The weather forecast is good, but you can never tell on the moor.”
“Yes, the weather can change in the blink of an eye. Tell you what, we could go on to the Mills after Widecombe. We’re halfway there after all.”
“Could we? I did see some quite inexpensive ones last time I was there.”
“It seems like a good investment, after all you’ll probably want to do some more outside fairs.”
“Hopefully. The craft market that’s on every Thursday has proved to be lucrative but it ends in October for the season.”
“Well that’s a date,” Roman stood up, “I think I ought to sleep at the Hall tonight, get an early start in the morning. Will you be OK by yourself? I could leave Hamish if you like.”
“I’ll be fine, take him home with you, then you can leave him there tomorrow afternoon.”
Kissing her goodnight Roman let himself out, then walked around the property making sure everything was alright. The security lights he’d had installed at the front and back of the cottage and the ones outside the refurbished barns worked perfectly so he climbed into his land rover and drove back to the Hall.
* * *
Bella spent the next morning sorting out the things she was going to take to the fair. She only had four pieces of furniture left to take as her upcycled items sold so quickly, but they would show people what she did. Mostly she was taking cushions of all descriptions, priced from five pounds up to twenty five for the really classy ones. She had a dozen throws to sell and ten painted old metal watering cans and a few buckets, as well as some shopping bags made from the hessian sacks Roman had found when he cleared out the barn, along with half a dozen of Joy’s paintings. One in particular, a pastel collection of all the ten tors on one framed picture and another of scenes of Widecombe- in- the- moor, were particularly good. She had only agreed to take ten per cent of the sale price for selling them as Joy was her friend, although most galleries took thirty three per cent and some as much as sixty six. When her studio was up and running she wou
ld have to take more to cover overheads and her time, but she hoped that local crafts people would want to display their work at `Wishing Well Craft Studio` if she was reasonable and gained a good reputation for fairness. She had made fliers to advertise the studio for customers and other crafts people and would hand them out at the fair.
At one o’clock on the dot Roman arrived in his land rover and they set off to Widecombe. When they walked into the Rugglestone, the locals greeted them with nods, grins and sly winks at Roman, but apart from a pink face Bella took their remarks composedly. He had reserved a table for them, as at this time of the year the inn was heaving with tourists and visitors to the world renowned fair. Ken, the waiter took them through to a secluded table, set for two, amid scowls from some of the tourists waiting for tables.
“Oh dear,” Bella said as they sat down, “we’re not very popular with the people waiting for tables.”
Roman shrugged “One of the perks of being `lord of the manor” then he laughed as she gave him a look. “I eat here all year round, have done a lot for the owners and I did book this table last night. Others could have done the same.”
“Mmm,” Bella murmured, not entirely convinced as it didn’t look as if any of the other tables had been reserved.
Ken came back for their order avoiding the tourists milling about by the door “My god,” he said to Roman, “I know that business depends on them, but some are beyond the pale, especially the Americans. Now, what can I get you?”
“At least we don’t call them Grockles, like they do in Cornwall,” Roman laughed, “have you decided what you’d like Bella?”
“Yes, I’ll have a bitter shandy and a ploughmans please.”
“Sounds good, make that two of each please Ken.”
Left to their own devices Bella looked around “Doesn’t look as if there’s any other locals eating.”
“No, they avoid the place like the plague in the summer especially fair week. Uncle Tom Cobley has a lot to answer for.”
“Well maybe the business people have a lot to be grateful for. After all a lot of pubs and shops have disappeared from many villages.”
The Wishing Well Page 11
