by Jenny Frame
Clementine tried to imagine herself here, with a desk across from Evan, and she felt pure excitement, both about the challenge of rebuilding the village and the idea of being around Evan all day. Her positivity was infectious, and Clementine had to admit that she hadn’t smiled or laughed as much in years since Evan came along.
She didn’t want to give too much away so she just said, “We can talk about it later.”
“Okay then, let’s go up to the house.”
* * *
Clementine felt so strange as she stood in the Rosebrook entrance hall. The last time she was here was when a family member had promised her funds to buy the house back, but then it all fell through.
It had been on the market for an extended period when the agent showed her around that time. The plaster was falling off the ceiling, there were leaks, puddles of water, and dirt and grime everywhere. Now it looked like she had been transported back to a bygone era. Everything looked like new—from the scenes depicted on the highly polished wood panel, to the large round white couches sitting in the centre of the reception area.
“What’s wrong, Clem?” Evan said. “Don’t you like it?”
Clementine took a tissue from her bag and dabbed her eyes. “No, it’s not that. It’s just a strange experience seeing it all restored. Like nothing ever changed. How did you know about the white couches?”
“My interior designer researched everything,” Evan said.
“I don’t think it’s been in such good condition since Isadora was a young woman.”
“Thank you. That means the world to me, Clem. Listen, why don’t we eat, and then I can let you see upstairs?”
“Yes, I think I need a glass of wine,” Clementine joked.
Evan put her hand on the small of Clementine’s back, and the touch made her shiver.
“Follow me.”
Evan led her down to the kitchen. This had been one of the challenging things to refurbish. The wiring and damp coming in had to be dealt with effectively, and it had taken some time. The original walls were painted stark white and there were spotlights in the ceiling.
The kitchen had an island with stools, which was where they were going to eat, and a large cooker range built into the wall a few yards away. Behind the island was a comfortable couch facing a TV on the wall. Evan spent a lot of time down here. It reminded her of her flat in London.
“Take a seat and I’ll open the wine,” Evan said.
Clementine sat on the stool and said, “Something smells good. Did you get in a caterer or something?”
“What?” Evan was a little offended at that comment. “No, I cook for myself. I would never serve you food someone else has made when I asked you to dinner.”
“You’re a good cook, then?” Clementine asked.
“No, not really, but my mum made me learn the basics. I can make a few things well, and I just rotate. I really hope you don’t mind eating vegan food.”
“Of course not. I’m looking forward to a new experience.”
Evan smiled and uncorked the wine. She poured it into the glass and said, “You enjoy this wine then, and I’ll pull the meal all together.”
“What have you made?”
“Pulled mushroom tacos,” Evan replied. She turned on the heat under the frying pan to warm up the mushrooms.
“Is that like pulled pork?”
Evan turned around and said with a wink, “Yeah, vegan style. It’s my favourite meal. I learned how to make it during my gap year at uni. When I went travelling, I had this in a vegan restaurant. I begged the chef for the recipe, and here I am all these years later, still making it.”
Clementine enjoyed watching Evan hop around the kitchen making the food. She had a tea towel over her shoulder and was tasting and checking each pot. She sang along with the music playing in the background. Evan appeared to do everything with enthusiasm and found joy in everything she did. It was refreshing to be around someone with so much vigour for life.
Evan dished up the food into small bowls and placed them on the kitchen island.
“How long have you been a vegan, Evan?” Clementine asked.
Evan placed a plate of warm tacos in front of her. “All my life. My mum and dad are both vegans—well, my dad became one when he met Mum.” Evan smiled.
“Your mum sounds like quite a woman,” Clementine said.
Evan laughed. “Quite a force of nature certainly. She gets things done and doesn’t let anything or anyone stand in her way. She wants to save the world.”
“Just like you? In fact she sounds a lot like you,” Clementine said.
Evan put a plate with rice at both their place settings, then sat down and rubbed her hands together. “So we have tacos, spicy rice, pulled barbecue mushrooms, and lots of toppings.” She pointed to each of the smaller bowls. “So for toppings we have salsa, guacamole, chillies, and roasted peppers.”
“Here’s to my first vegan taco,” Clementine said. She added some toppings and took a bite from her food. The sweet smoky flavour from the mushrooms was a big surprise. They were delicious. “Wow.”
Evan looked nervous. “Do you like them?”
“They are delicious. I never expected so much flavour. You really don’t miss the meat.”
“That’s great. It’s nerve-racking when you cook for a meat eater. You want them to have a good impression of what a meal without meat would be like,” Evan said.
Clementine dabbed her mouth. “I don’t really eat a lot of meat. I love my vegetables. I used to grow them in the garden, but—Well, I don’t have time now, but this is great.”
Evan cleared her throat. “How’s your mum doing? I hope you don’t mind me asking.”
Clementine felt a stab of guilt that she was enjoying a nice meal and good company while her mum was alone and confused. She put down her cutlery and dabbed her mouth with her napkin.
“She’s much the same really. The only difference is whether she has a calm day or a bad day. On those days she only calms when I’m by her bedside.”
Clementine was surprised when Evan reached across and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry. That must be so hard for you both.”
Clementine took a sip of wine. “It is. I just wish I had more hours in the day to be with her. I go every day, but it never seems to be long enough. It breaks my heart to leave her. Like this afternoon.”
“Did you get your car fixed, then?” Evan asked.
Clementine hesitated. She hated to admit that it still wasn’t fixed. People would guess it was because of money.
“No, not yet, but Kay is letting me borrow her car.”
“You know I could help—”
“No, thank you, Evan. I can work this out for myself.” Clementine had to nip in the bud whatever Evan was thinking. She wasn’t going to be the charity case who lived in the gatehouse.
Most people would have taken offence at her slightly harsh reply, but not Evan Fox.
“Okay,” Evan said, “but if there’s anything I can ever do, please let me know, and I’ll be only too happy to help.”
Clementine nodded. She didn’t know why, but it felt so easy to talk to Evan, and she felt compelled to add something after her slightly frosty reply.
“Mama is stuck in the past, and I can’t shift her from it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Her mind is stuck years back, when I was a girl, and we were living here. She thinks she’s being kept from taking care of me and forced to stay at the nursing home. She gets so frustrated just sitting or lying in her room.”
“How long has she been there?” Evan asked.
“Two years. I fought with the doctors about putting her in. But no matter how careful I was, she kept getting out of the gatehouse and hurting herself.”
“I can’t imagine having to make that decision, Clem. You’re very brave.”
“I’m not brave, anyway this food is delicious, Evan.” Clementine hoped that would bring the conversation about her mother to an end.
Clementine looked up from her food sharply. “Did you say nice cream?”
Evan grinned. “Yeah. I know there’s a lot of vegan ice cream on the market, but this is so much more healthy. You blend up different fruits with frozen bananas, and it comes out like soft-serve ice cream.”
“Another new experience. I can’t wait.”
* * *
Evan was so happy about how the evening had gone so far. Clementine had been open and had enjoyed a new kind of food. They had chatted comfortably while they ate, and Evan actually made the duchess laugh a few brief times, which was a feat in itself.
She finished putting the dishes in the dishwasher and went over to the couch with the bottle of wine. Clementine sat waiting for her.
“Dessert was delicious, Evan,” Clementine said.
“Thanks.” She sat down and topped up Clementine’s glass. “It’s nice to have some company for a change.”
“When we met on the beach, you said your parents used to bring you here when you were younger.”
“Yeah, I loved the beach, and the village. There was so much to do—play in the water, play at soldiers in the World War II gun placements, look through the gates to this house.”
“How old are you?” Clementine asked.
“Twenty-eight.”
“I’m thirty-six. It’s funny—we probably were on the beach at the same time all those years ago.”
It was a strange thought. She smiled thinking how much her younger self would have loved showing off for the older Clementine.
“We probably were. We usually came here most bank holidays, and for a week in the school holidays. We stayed in a country hotel in the next village.”
Clementine tapped the wine glass with her fingernail, and for some reason Evan found that extremely sexy, and she couldn’t stop looking.
“That’s not how I imagined a rich business owning family would spend their holiday time. I thought it would be Barbados, the Seychelles, Disneyland.”
Evan laughed and leaned her arm on the back of the couch, getting closer to Clementine. “Oh no. The Foxes don’t do those sorts of holiday. We spent our free time on things we cared about. We went to Africa and helped build houses, install clean freshwater supplies, go litter picking, anything that could make the world a better place.”
Clementine laughed softly. “You are an unusual rich family.”
“Mum and Dad always taught me that money was a means we could use to make the world a better place through our trusts and charities.”
At the mention of the trust, Clementine took a drink of wine and looked away awkwardly.
“Have you thought any more about working for the trust?” Evan asked.
“I’ve thought a lot about it, but I need just a little more time. Why don’t you show me upstairs?”
As they walked back upstairs to the reception hall, Evan plucked up the courage to ask the question that had been burning in her head. “Can I ask you, was Isadora still alive when you were younger?”
“Yes.” Clementine sighed. “But by the time I was old enough to know who she was, she was a sad, bitter figure, sitting in her bedroom. My dad made allowances for her all the time, and my mama tried to look after her the best she could, but Mama said that she had lost the very last sliver of hope when her partner died.”
“Oh yeah, I read that she really adored Louisa.” Evan pointed to the lift. “Shall we go upstairs in style?”
“I used to play in this lift when I was little. Then it broke and never got fixed, like most things around here.”
They got into the lift and were upstairs in a few seconds. They got out and Evan said, “I’ve decorated all of the rooms upstairs, but there’s nothing really interesting in them. I’ll show you the two rooms that might annoy you most, then the duke’s bedroom.”
Clementine narrowed her eyes. “Why would they annoy me?”
Evan gave her a sheepish smile and said, “You’ll see.”
Clementine followed behind Evan with trepidation. They stopped in front of what the Fitzroys called the blue room. It was more like a large suite and used for important guests who came to stay in the past.
“Here we are. I didn’t have room to display my collection in my London flat, but the rooms here are perfect.”
“What kind of collection? Nothing like chains or whips, I hope?” Clementine joked.
“Of course not, not those kind of toys. I have the mind of a seven-year-old. Take a look.”
Evan opened the door and she saw the room was filled with lit display cabinets. She walked in and as she got closer she saw there were children’s action figures and toys behind the glass.
Clementine looked back at Evan, who appeared nervous, and said, “You collect toys?”
“Yeah, just like my dad, except he collects toys from the twenties, thirties, and fifties. Mine are all seventies on. What do you think? Would your ancestors be enraged at having a display of toys in their house?”
“Some might, some not, but all the dukes and duchesses before me had their own eccentricities.”
“Yeah?” Evan was smiling again. She had no doubt Evan thought that she would be enraged at the very idea, but the more she saw, the more she realized Evan really cared about Rosebrook House.
Clementine walked along looking at the toys, and Evan said, “Every toy you see on display, I have the same one, still in its packaging and kept over in the wooden cabinet over there.”
She looked over, and the cabinet was huge. “My goodness. I wouldn’t feel too bad about your collection. The sixth duke had a zoo out on the land at the back. He had a lion, an elephant, and all sorts of monkeys.”
“Really? I would have loved to see that. While you’re still in a good mood, can I show the other room that I’ve made big changes in?”
“Lead on.”
Evan led them to the next room and put her hand on the handle. “This is where I unwind.”
Clementine gasped as she saw the huge trampoline filling the room. “A trampoline? Seriously? Who has a trampoline that size indoors?”
“Me.” Evan grinned. “Come and see.” Evan took her hand and pulled her into the room.
Evan kicked off her shoes and climbed up onto the trampoline. She got her iPhone out and chose a more upbeat playlist.
“Watch.”
Clementine couldn’t help the smile as Evan somersaulted, jumped, and mainly showed off. Evan’s showing off didn’t feel as annoying as other people’s. Evan had this childlike outlook on the world, and Clementine was beginning to find it endearing.
Evan stopped and knelt down on the edge of the trampoline. She held out her hand. “Come up and try, Your Majesty. You’ll love it.”
“Oh no,” Clementine said quickly.
“Please, you’ll feel so relaxed afterwards. Live a little.”
“I don’t want to,” Clementine said more firmly.
“Just two bounces and we can leave. Come on,” Evan said.
“I’m not exactly dressed for it.”
Evan leaped off the trampoline. “Kick off your shoes and I’ll help you up. Please?”
Clementine was afraid of making a fool of herself, but it appeared important to her host, so with a sigh she gave in. “Okay, but just for a minute,” Clementine said.
“Yes, you’ll love it.”
Evan helped her up and joined her on the trampoline. Clementine wobbled on her feet when Evan came up, but Evan grasped her hands. “It’s okay, I’ve got you.”
Evan took her hands and they started a small bounce.
“I feel stupid,” Clementine said.
“Then we’re being stupid together. Relax and bounce with me.”
Evan was surprised she’d managed to get Clementine up here, but now that she had, Evan was determined that Clementine enjoy herself.
They started to bounce higher, and Evan sang along with the music,
making Clementine laugh.
“Isn’t this fun?” Evan asked.
Clementine laughed. “It’s definitely silly.”
“There’s a lot to be said for silliness, from time to time,” Evan said.
Evan bounced them higher and higher. “Evan, I think we’re high enough.”
“Come on, you’ll be fine.”
Then suddenly, they were falling. Clementine squealed and hit the surface of the trampoline, and Evan fell on top of her. Clementine couldn’t help but laugh at being in such a silly position.
“Are you okay?” Evan said through her laughter.
“I’m fine, absolutely fine.”
Evan put her hands on either side of Clementine’s head and raised herself up. “I told you it would be fun.”
Clementine looked into Evan’s eyes, and the mood changed. There was no laughter. Her heart started to beat out of her chest, her mouth went dry, and she had the unmistakable need to pull Evan into a kiss.
Evan must have felt it too because she started to caress her cheek with the backs of her fingers. Clementine had never felt such an urge to kiss someone before, but it was almost overwhelming. Almost. She closed her eyes and got control just as Evan was about to lower her lips to hers.
Clementine put her hand on Evan’s chest. “I think we should get off now.”
“Yeah, sure.” Evan nodded.
The moment of need was gone, now replaced with a slight sense of awkwardness. Clementine’s attraction to Evan was making everything all the more complicated. Evan helped her down, and Clementine felt the need to fill the awkward silence.
“That was fun. Thank you, Evan.”
“You’re welcome. Why don’t I show you the duke’s room now?”
“Yes, okay.”
* * *
This was the room Clementine wasn’t looking forward to. Her mother and father’s room. She walked in and found it tastefully decorated, not over the top at all. In her mind’s eye she could see herself running in here as a little girl and jumping on her parents’ bed.
“What are you thinking?” Evan said as she leaned against the post on the bed.
“About when I was a young girl, running in here from my bed early every morning.”
