Escape to the Country

by Sherlock, Alison

  Eleanor inwardly rolled her eyes. By naming the donkey Daisy, her mother appeared to have bonded with the animal. She sighed. The donkey was quite sweet in a chunky pony kind of way. But the garden was far too tiny for any kind of animal that size.

  ‘She needs her water filling up as well.’ Her mum pointed to an old tin bath which appeared to be the new watering hole in the garden.

  Whilst her mum went inside and put the kettle on, Eleanor gave the donkey her breakfast.

  She stretched her back as she straightened up, watching as the last petals of apple blossom drifted down in the gentle breeze onto the lawn. Or rather, the lack of it. The donkey and the goat had seen off any grass that might have been growing.

  ‘Buttercup will need milking if you can manage it,’ shouted her mum from the kitchen.

  Eleanor spun around in shock. ‘What? I’m not milking a goat!’

  ‘Please, love.’

  ‘Jeez.’ Eleanor turned to look at the white goat who was chewing on some hay. ‘What do you do with the milk?’

  ‘Drink it, of course.’

  Eleanor blanched. ‘Shouldn’t it be, I don’t know, pasteurised or something? Boiled so that it’s safe?’

  Her mother stood by the back door and shook her head. ‘No. It’s absolutely fine.’

  A little wooden stool was produced, which Eleanor recognised as one of her childhood ones. How times had changed, she thought, sitting down and placing a bucket under the goat’s teats.

  ‘Sorry about this,’ she muttered, glancing at her newly manicured nails and wondering whether it was too late to put on a pair of gloves. But then again, what was the point when her eczema had become so bad that it was now at the base of nearly every finger on both hands.

  Buttercup seemed quite happy to be milked. Which was more than could be said than Eleanor’s point of view of the whole situation.

  It took until late morning to sort out all the animals, by which time Eleanor was finally able to head back upstairs and put on her make-up and do her hair properly.

  She had fed the donkey and goat, picking up a large bale of hay and getting a prickly rash down her arms in thanks. She had milked the goat and didn’t really want to repeat that experience too often. She had also fed the kittens and stopped a few escaping or getting trampled under the donkey’s hooves. She had chucked some pellets on the floor for the chickens whilst dodging their sharp beaks in order to pick out their freshly laid eggs. The tortoise had had its morning greens. The cockatoo had had its tray cleaned out whilst it had flown around the lounge and nearly out the back door. The battle to get it back in its cage had taken almost an hour. Finally the dogs had needed feeding and walking.

  Now she stared at herself in the mirror in dismay, realising she was going to have to get changed into her second outfit of the day already. She was covered in fur, drool and other indistinguishable stains that she didn’t want to think about. All in all, she felt a mess and looked it as well, which made her even more irritable. The fact that her mum was so grateful for her help with the animals made Eleanor feel a hundred times worse.

  She just wished she didn’t have to lie to her, that she could find a real job that would make her mum proud. But there were still no emails regarding any jobs. Instead her phone was full of messages from both Annie and Megan, giddily excited to see her. They had agreed to meet up at Willow Tree Hall that afternoon so that Annie could show Eleanor around her new home before going out to the pub for a much overdue drink to celebrate her friend’s engagement.

  Eleanor changed out of her dirty clothes and stared around the room as she sank onto the bed. The whole room was unchanged from her teenage years. Apart from the Spice Girls posters that had been ripped down at some point, of course. There were various dust-covered stuffed toys dotted around the bed. A few abandoned novels. And the cup awarded at the annual village summer fete for best collage, which she had made from dried petals. Sitting there, she felt trapped in a time machine. All the hopes and dreams that had led to nothing were now gathering dust around her too.

  But she knew she had to force herself to carry on. The hope that any story about pop stars hanging around Willow Tree Hall might just be enough to get her job back. After all, they weren’t just her own dreams and aspirations. They belonged to her mum as well.

  And Eleanor couldn’t let her down after everything they had been through.

  Chapter 8

  Eleanor felt a strong sense of déjà vu when she walked down the street later that sunny afternoon. It was a route that she had taken most days in her childhood, picking up Megan first and then Annie as they walked to school, their cheerful chatter filling the air.

  She turned to head up the front path to No 2 Cherry Tree Avenue. The garden was a little messier than she remembered. Probably because Megan’s dad, who had been a keen gardener, had moved up to Scotland with her mum a few years previously, enabling Megan and her husband Neal to move in and have their own family home.

  But at least their garden didn’t have a donkey in it, thought Eleanor with a shudder.

  She had barely reached the front door when it was flung open and Megan rushed out.

  ‘I couldn’t wait any longer!’ she almost shouted, pulling Eleanor into an enormous bear hug. ‘It’s so good to see you!’

  ‘And you too,’ said Eleanor, her teary words muffled in her friend’s shoulder.

  She inhaled the familiar scent of Coco Mademoiselle as she was clutched tight. She had a sudden memory of picking out the perfume bottle in Selfridges for her friend’s birthday a few years ago.

  ‘Let me look at you,’ said Megan, stepping back to give her a wide smile. ‘As bloody glamorous as always, I see.’

  Eleanor glanced down. It was true that she had taken care with her outfit, but it was only a smart-casual look of a pair of white jeans, wedges and cute pale blue top and matching cover-up. Her elegant armour against the real world. Of course, her friend hadn’t seen her a couple of hours earlier, milking a goat for goodness’ sake!

  ‘I should have worn something smarter,’ muttered Megan.

  ‘You look great,’ replied Eleanor automatically.

  It was almost true. Megan was wearing black leggings and a long pink tunic top which clashed with her red hair but concealed her mummy tummy.

  ‘It’s the only thing that isn’t covered in some kind of stain,’ said Megan, with a shrug.

  ‘It’s fine. Anyway, you’ve cut your hair,’ said Eleanor, in approval.

  Megan touched the red strands that only just reached her shoulders now. ‘Oh, that was months ago, didn’t I tell you? It takes less time than when it was long.’

  Months? Eleanor bit her lip. It had been too long since she’d caught up with her friends. Especially after such a brief visit at Christmas.

  But Megan’s round cheerful face looked just as youthful as always, if you didn’t look too closely at the dark shadows under her eyes. That was probably due to having three children under the age of six.

  ‘Where are the kids?’ Eleanor asked, peering around to peek into the hallway. ‘I haven’t seen them for ages and need my godmother hugs.’

  Megan shook her head. ‘Neal’s mum has got them for tea as he’s working late again. I told her it was an emergency as I haven’t seen you for so long.’ She jangled a heavy set of keys in her hand. ‘Come on,’ she said, slamming the front door shut and heading towards a grubby Fiesta parked in the street. ‘You can see them another time. Annie’s desperate to see you as well. And I need a drink after being on playground duty this afternoon.’

  Eleanor slipped into the passenger seat, dismayed to see a host of grubby marks and crumbs. Hopefully her white jeans would survive intact.

  ‘Sorry about the mess,’ said Megan, crunching the car into gear before setting off. ‘I’d blame the kids, but it’s mostly me.’

  It was warm in the car, so Eleanor wound down the window. The weather forecasters were promising a hot summer, but they had all heard that too many times b
efore to believe it would come true.

  However, the wild rhododendron bushes that grew along the wide road were full of bright purple and pink flowers. It was a riot of colour and immediately cheered her up after such a dismal few days.

  Megan was driving pretty quickly in her haste to get all three of them together, so they were soon going down the long bumpy driveway towards Willow Tree Hall.

  ‘I haven’t been up here in years,’ said Eleanor, staring out of the window at the overgrown fields, a riot of long grass and wild flowers. Beyond the large willow tree that stood in the front of the house, the elegant stately home came into view. She had forgotten how huge it was. ‘It’s so beautiful.’

  Megan nodded her head as she crunched down a gear. ‘Isn’t it? Mind you, I come up here at least twice a week to help clean the place so I’m almost used to it.’

  Eleanor shook her head in disbelief. ‘I still can’t believe Annie lives in a place like this. And not as an employee any more but as a member of the family.’

  ‘Talk of the upwardly mobile devil,’ said Megan, screeching the car to a halt and pulling up the handbrake. ‘There she is.’

  As she got out of the car, Eleanor looked across to the huge double front door to where her friend had just appeared. Desperately trying not to run, Annie was speed-walking towards the car, the ponytail holding her long blonde hair waving back and forth.

  ‘Yay! You’re here at last!’ said Annie, grinning. She stepped forward to envelop Eleanor in a warm hug. It wasn’t quite as crushing as Megan’s but it was just as genuine.

  ‘Hi there, your majesty,’ said Eleanor, breaking into a cheeky grin.

  ‘Shut up,’ muttered Annie, a red blush spreading across her cheeks. She looked radiantly pretty as always. Her eyes lit up with happiness at having her friends all together at last.

  Although dressed in skinny jeans and pale yellow T-shirt, Annie looked relaxed in her elegant surroundings. After all, she was home now. This countess-to-be was more Primark than Harrods, but maybe that wasn’t a bad thing, thought Eleanor. She could bring some humility to such an intimidating place.

  ‘Right,’ said Eleanor. ‘First things first. Show me your ring!’

  Annie automatically held out her hand, the square diamond solitaire engagement ring flashed in the sunlight.

  ‘Wow, that’s gorgeous! Very classy,’ said Eleanor, nodding in approval.

  She also noted Annie’s soft, smooth hands which were in marked contrast to her own red, flaky ones. But then again, her friend probably had no stress to deal with. After all, she was the one living in a huge mansion with the man she loved.

  ‘It was very expensive,’ added Megan. ‘That’s where your new kitchen went.’

  ‘Shurrup,’ said Annie, grinning. ‘So? Do you want to look around?’

  ‘Of course I do,’ Eleanor told her, in an eager tone. ‘I’ve never ever been inside, I think.’

  ‘Why would you?’ said Megan with a wink, as they headed towards the front door. ‘We’re only the country peasants after all.’

  Annie rolled her eyes. ‘If you two are going to carry on like this, I’ll shut you in the servants’ quarters. And they haven’t been renovated yet.’

  Eleanor couldn’t stop smiling. It was so lovely to be back in their threesome once more. She was always more relaxed when she was with her friends. She had never felt like this at any time during her years in London. But that’s because no one knew her as well as Annie and Megan.

  They stepped inside and Eleanor stopped to stare around the vast entrance hall in amazement. ‘Wow,’ she murmured. ‘It’s so elegant.’

  ‘That’s one of my favourite bits too,’ said Annie, following her gaze high up to the huge chandelier hanging overhead.

  ‘If this had been a year ago, you wouldn’t want to have been standing underneath it,’ said Megan with a grimace. ‘Unless you wanted a trip to A&E.’

  ‘That’s true,’ said Annie, nodding. ‘The whole place was falling apart.’

  Eleanor remembered the frantic texts and calls from Annie at that time. ‘It’s hard to believe it never looked as lovely as this.’

  ‘Ugh, honestly, some days she was covered from head to foot in dust,’ carried on Megan.

  ‘And you could see the sky through the patches in the roof,’ said Annie, with a smile of remembrance. ‘Happy days.’

  ‘Seriously?’ asked Eleanor.

  Annie nodded.

  ‘When the builders arrived so did Sam,’ cooed Megan. ‘She had a crush on him from the moment they met.’

  As she and Annie grinned at each other, for a second, Eleanor felt a little out of the loop. They had obviously gone through quite a bit together. Without her.

  She felt a jolt of worry about being left behind. But then, whose fault was that?

  Annie must have picked up on something in her friend’s face. ‘You wouldn’t have wanted to be here in all that dust and dirt,’ she said. ‘Not in those lovely clothes of yours. Come on, I’ll show you the rest. We’ll start with the west wing.’

  ‘You have separate wings?’ muttered Eleanor, still looking around in amazement.

  ‘Doesn’t mean either of them aren’t still a mess,’ said Megan, with a knowing smile.

  Eleanor’s disbelief in her friend’s new home continued past the elegant drawing room and into the library. A long wall was covered from floor to ceiling with a vast number of bookcases filled with numerous classics. There was also a full-size snooker table which looked to have been used recently, although one end was propped up with more books.

  ‘All the windows are new,’ said Annie. ‘And the fireplaces work too, thank goodness. It was so cold in here last winter.’

  But the rest of the room was obviously still waiting to be refurbished.

  On the opposite side of the corridor was Arthur’s study, which was a bit messy, although not as bad as the music room, which Sam was utilising for his work. That was covered in piles of paperwork. Both rooms also had new windows, but the remaining furniture looked ancient and there were still cracks in the plaster across the walls.

  They carried on to the end of the corridor.

  ‘This is the ballroom,’ announced Annie as they entered the last room.

  Eleanor’s mouth dropped open. ‘You have a ballroom?’

  ‘Doesn’t everyone?’ said Megan, with a grin.

  Eleanor stared around in wonder. Despite the shabbiness and decay of the peeling and cracked ceiling, the double-aspect room was enormous, with new windows at the front and huge French doors at the back leading onto the garden. The walls were patterned with paintings, their frames gilded with what could have been gold many years ago. It was hard to tell under all the dust and grime of the years.

  ‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ said Annie, walking slowly around the room. ‘Apparently even members of the royal family used to come to the parties here. And this is where I’m going to have my wedding reception! Can you imagine? Me!’

  Annie was so cheerful despite living in what appeared to be semi-derelict conditions.

  ‘Is it going to be cleaned up before the big day?’ asked Eleanor, wondering how quickly that was going to happen.

  ‘Of course,’ said Annie, waving a hand as if it were a small matter. ‘Phase three of the building work starts this autumn and it’s going to be all about the ballroom. And our wedding!’ Annie was positively giddy as she spun around to face them both. ‘Right. Now that we’re finally together for the first time since I got engaged, there’s something I want to ask you both. Will you be my bridesmaids?’

  There was a collective shriek. ‘Oh my god! Of course!’ they both replied, rushing over for a teary group hug.

  ‘I can’t believe you’ve waited this long to ask us!’ moaned Megan.

  ‘I had to wait for Eleanor to be here so I could ask you face to face. I didn’t want to do something this important on the phone,’ Annie told her, before looking anxiously at Eleanor. ‘You will be here, won’t you? I mean, not j
ust for the wedding but for some of the other stuff as well.’

  ‘Of course I will,’ Eleanor told her. ‘You know that.’

  But it surprised her that Annie obviously didn’t know. That both she and Megan thought that there was even a possibility that she wouldn’t be there to support her best friend when she was getting married.

  ‘I always knew you’d ask us,’ said Megan. ‘After all, you were both my bridesmaids.’

  ‘We know,’ drawled Eleanor. ‘We still haven’t forgiven you for those bright pink meringues you made us wear.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ said Annie, with a shudder. ‘This time it’s understated elegance all the way, I promise. Eleanor can help us out with that.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ said Eleanor, nodding.

  ‘And then we can repay the favour for when she gets married,’ said Megan.

  Eleanor grimaced and quickly turned away. She had seen what marriage did to couples and was determined to hold off for as long as humanly possible if not forever. Besides, she was more worried about finding a job than a husband at the moment.

  ‘Come on,’ said Annie. ‘I’ll grab my handbag and then let’s go and get a drink. We’ve got so much to catch up on.’

  They headed back along the corridor to the entrance hall.

  ‘What about upstairs?’ asked Eleanor, glancing up the wide stairwell.

  ‘I’ll show you up there next time,’ said Annie, still walking. ‘Besides, Tom’s still asleep and I don’t want to disturb him.’

  ‘Tom?’ said Eleanor, raising her eyebrows. ‘Is that Sam’s brother?’

  ‘No, that’s Will,’ said Megan, her eyes gleaming. ‘She means Tom as in Tommy King. In which case, I think we should definitely disturb him. Even I haven’t met wonder boy yet.’

  ‘Shush,’ said Annie, heading towards a corridor on the opposite side of the wide entrance hall.

  Eleanor glanced up the stairs as she followed them. So Tommy King was actually staying there at the house with them? This was unbelievably good luck on her part! She had assumed he was in rehab after he passed out in public a few days ago. Instead he was here in Willow Tree Hall!