Mia and Ella exchanged anxious looks.
'True,' Ella said, refilling their glasses. 'But Mia's got wheels. It simply means being more organised than usual. And it'll be fun. Instead of being able to nip in and out of shops whenever we want, we'll plan daytrips to the shops instead and evenings out to restaurants. Once we know where the shops and restaurants are.'
'Good luck with that.'
'I've got lots of books I want to read,' Mia said. 'And I do like walking, I just haven't done much walking in the country. I bought boots though. Proper walking boots. And wellies too.'
Garrick grinned. 'That's you sorted then.'
'And if the worst comes to the worst,' Ella said. 'There's always Netflix. I know I could easily spend a year catching up on all the boxsets and Mia loves TV as much as I do.'
'Is there?' Garrick raised his brows. 'I didn't see a TV when I took some boxes into the living room.'
'Bloody Nora!' Ella jumped to her feet. 'There must be a TV. Everyone owns a TV. I'll go and look.'
Mia jumped up too. 'I'll come with you. There must be one somewhere.'
Garrick sighed with contentment. 'I'll stay here and watch the sun set and then continue with the unloading. Let me know if you find one, but I'll bet you a pint in the pub this evening that there isn't.'
Chapter Six
Garrick was right. There was no TV. The living room consisted of two plump sofas, a couple of armchairs, a coffee table and a few side tables, one or two cupboards, several shelves of books and a sumptuous-looking rug covering the wooden floor. There were French doors leading out onto the wooden deck and a small but ornate desk sat to one side of them. The room was bright and airy but more the type of place where people came for afternoon tea than a lounge where Mia and Ella could crash out in front of a TV.
'Perhaps she had one in her bedroom,' Ella suggested. 'She was ninety-nine after all and could've been bedridden.'
'That's a cheery thought.'
The only other room downstairs was a WC so Mia and Ella headed upstairs to search the bedrooms.
'Which one was hers?'
Mia tutted. 'How am I supposed to know that?'
Ella shrugged and opened the first door they came to. 'Bathroom. Oh look! It's one of those whirlpool baths. That's pretty snazzy. And check out that shower. It's got at least three rows of jets. Can't wait to try that out.'
'Wow!' Mia opened the shower door three times just to check that it really was one of those ones that closed silently no matter in what position you left the door. 'Matilda must've had all this put in fairly recently, don't you think? She doesn't strike me as being bedridden, for some reason.'
'Come and look at this,' Ella called from another room, so she clearly hadn't heard what Mia said. 'I think I've found Matilda's room.'
Mia followed the voice along the hall and her mouth fell open as she stepped in to the most opulent bedroom she had ever seen.
The walls were the palest lavender sheen but the massive bed, luxurious bedding and matching curtains, together with a plush armchair, were deep purple. An elegant but somewhat ostentatious mirrored-glass dressing table stood in front of a large window next to which, French doors opened onto a small balcony just large enough for a bistro table and two matching chairs. Mia reasoned the balcony must have been directly above the glass canopy because the view was the same as the one they'd been admiring a few minutes earlier. There were two sleek, glossy deep purple chests of drawers but no wardrobes.
That was until Ella leant against one of the walls and shrieked, 'Bloody Nora!' A door slid silently open and she tumbled in. An entire row of wardrobes was camouflaged along the length of that wall, as Ella proved by pushing and prodding it in various places once she'd regained her composure.
'Now that's classy,' Mia said, but goose bumps prickled her arms as she glanced inside.
Row upon row of expensive and colour co-ordinated dresses, suits, blouses, skirts and cardigans hung proudly above shelves of equally expensive shoes. One section contained enough handbags to open a store. Another, hats that had obviously made a milliner rich.
'The more I see of this place,' Ella said, running her hands almost reverently over Matilda's clothes, 'the more I wish we'd met your great-aunt Matilda.'
'Me too,' said Mia. 'And the more I wonder what on earth she could have done to make her family ostracise her.'
'Perhaps she was a high-class prostitute.'
'Trust you to think of that.'
'Well, she must've got all her dosh from somewhere, mustn't she?'
'Perhaps she had an extremely well-paid job. Like Fiona does. Only in Matilda's day there wouldn't have been the same opportunities, of course.'
Ella shook her head. 'If she had a good job, the family would've been proud of her, wouldn't they? Perhaps she fell in love with someone the family didn't approve of. That sort of thing mattered when she was young. Now, no one could care less but in those days they thought marrying beneath you was as bad as committing murder.'
'But she didn't marry. She was Matilda Ward. Miss Matilda Ward.'
'Just a lover then? A married lover. A rich married lover. Oooh! Perhaps she was a gangster's moll. Perhaps she ran off with lots of his money. That's why she was hiding in the country.'
Mia laughed. 'I think it may be a good thing we don't have a TV, after all. You've clearly been watching too much of it to come up with a story like that. And she wasn't exactly hiding, was she? No one could hide with Hettie Burnstall living two doors away and coming in to do the cleaning.'
Ella shrugged. 'Well, she must've got her money from somewhere and let's face it, your family may be comfortably off but your mum couldn't afford a place like this, could she?'
Mia shook her head. 'Nope. But if she didn't go on so many cruises with her book club she might be able to,' she joked.
'Doesn't anyone in your family know anything about Matilda?'
'No. I told you. Mum said that Dad only mentioned her once saying that he had an aunt whose middle name was trouble, or something like that. Not literally, of course. Her middle name was actually Anastasia according to the documents I saw at the solicitor's.'
'Anastasia! That's it then. She was a Russian princess in hiding.'
They both giggled at that.
'Of course she was,' Mia said. 'She was old, but not that old. Dad couldn't even tell Mum why Matilda was ostracised from the family because he was very young when it happened and no one was allowed to mention her name afterwards. The only other relatives on Dad's side have all died now.'
'And the solicitor wouldn't tell you anything?'
'No. But he said he didn't know anything about the family history. He told me it was his dad who was really Matilda's solicitor but as he'd passed away shortly before Matilda, we couldn't even ask him.'
'Ella!' Garrick called from downstairs. 'I could do with some help, please. There're a couple of things that need two people to carry them.'
'One of those will be your rowing machine,' Ella said to Mia, rolling her eyes. 'Why you brought that with you is beyond me. You never even use the thing.'
'I've used it once or twice.' Mia followed Ella out of Matilda's bedroom and closed the door behind her. 'I'm not sure where I'm going to put it though. I definitely can't put it in there. It would be almost sacrilegious.'
Ella pointed to a room next to the bathroom. 'That one didn't have much in it. I haven't looked at the other two rooms yet.'
Mia quickly poked her head in as they walked towards the stairs. It was rather ordinary compared to Matilda's room but still beautiful by most people's standards. It had a bed with pretty floral bedding and matching curtains and wallpaper, a wooden wardrobe, chest of drawers and a small dressing table. There was definitely space for the rowing machine. But as this room also had that incredible view, it seemed a shame to turn it into what may possibly become a 'junk' room.
'I'll just pop back and take a peek at the other two,' Mia said, turning in her tracks. 'I'll catch you up.'
<
br /> 'Okay. But don't be long. Carrying your rowing machine may be the only exercise you'll get from it while it's here.'
Mia pulled a face before opening the door to her right. It faced the front of the cottage and was another unexpectedly large room, but it had a more masculine look to it. Plain blue walls, and bedding in a darker blue. The wooden furnishings were darker too. This was perfect for Garrick.
She opened the door to the next room, also facing the front. It had pale lemon walls and the bedding and curtains were a bird and butterfly pattern. The furniture in here was a soft white.
The final door was at the end of the hall. It would be a very small room judging by the layout of the cottage but when Mia tried the handle, the door wouldn't budge. She tried it again. It was clearly locked.
The bunch of keys the solicitor had given her was downstairs. From memory there were eight keys on it. The only one marked was the front door key. One of the others must unlock this door. But why was this door locked when none of the other doors had been? And come to think of it, why weren't the French doors to the garden, and the kitchen door locked?
Hettie Burnstall, no doubt. The solicitor must have told her when Mia was planning to arrive. Hettie had come in to clean and had opened all the doors, locking only the front door when she left.
But that meant that Hettie had keys to the cottage.
For some reason, that wasn't a comforting thought.
Chapter Seven
All thoughts of the locked door were quickly forgotten once Mia was downstairs. She did not think she had a great many belongings but now the hall had become a narrow passage with boxes and cases piled to one side and still more to come.
'I didn't know where you wanted them,' Garrick said, as he and Ella manhandled the rowing machine through the front doorway. 'This can go in the dining room for now, can't it? There's a table in the kitchen so we can eat in there until we sort all this stuff out.'
'Good thinking,' Ella said, puffing and panting. 'This is heavier than it looks. I'm not carrying it upstairs, no matter what.'
They managed to squeeze past the boxes and Mia stepped into the living room to give them space to pass, almost falling over more boxes as she did so. Garrick may be a jack-of-all-trades when it came to wood, but home removal and unloading was clearly not on his list of skills.
Using a great deal of strength, Mia shoved the boxes against one wall before starting on the hall. She had meant to write on each box the name of the room she wanted it to go in, but in all the rush, she had forgotten to do so. That meant each one had to be unsealed to see what it contained and Mia had used several rolls of parcel tape to secure every one.
If only she could remember where she had packed the scissors.
Garrick gave her an odd look as he headed back outside and she tried to unpick the tape on one box with her nails.
'Don't look at me like that. I haven't got any scissors.'
Garrick rolled his eyes and shook his head. 'The cottage is fully furnished and equipped. You'll probably find some scissors in the kitchen. That's where most people keep them.'
Damn. Why hadn't she thought of that?
'Oh yeah? How can you be so sure? Most people have a TV but Matilda didn't.'
'A TV isn't a necessity. Scissors are. She'll have scissors, believe me.'
'Some people would say a TV is a necessity,' Mia threw at him as she squeezed past him in the hall. His musky scent filled her nostrils and as her arm brushed against the T-shirt covering his hard chest, she averted her eyes.
'I would be one of them,' Ella said, rubbing her forehead with her hand. 'A TV will be at the top of our list when we go on our first shopping daytrip. I would kill right now to be sitting in front of a TV and eating a pizza. Bloody Nora. I wish I hadn't said that. It's made me realise I'm starving.'
'Me too,' Mia agreed.
'I could definitely eat something,' Garrick said. 'There're only a few more boxes to come in. I know all these boxes make this place look a bit of a tip right now but there's plenty of time to unpack. Your suitcases with your clothes and personal stuff, and mine and Ella's cases are the ones nearest the stairs. Why don't we get the last lot in, then have a quick wash and change and go to the pub to see if they serve food? Unless one of you fancies finding the box with the groceries and is willing to cook a meal, because I know I'm not.'
'There's no way I'm going to figure out how to use that Range tonight,' Mia said. 'Even if we can find the food.'
'Don't look at me.' Ella held up both her hands. 'The pub gets my vote. And if they don't serve food, someone will know where the nearest restaurant or takeaway is.'
'And I believe you two owe me a pint,' Garrick remarked, grinning over his shoulder as he went back outside. 'I told you there wouldn't be a TV.'
'Smart arse,' Mia said, watching him go.
Heat burned her cheeks as he turned again and caught her looking at his bottom.
But he did have a really good bottom, especially in the jeans he was wearing.
Ella raised her arms and smelt her armpits then pushed one in front of Mia's nose.
'Do I smell? I'm too tired and hungry to have a shower. A quick wash and a change of top is all I need, unless you say I stink.'
Mia shoved Ella's arm away, pinched her own nose and pretended to reel backwards.
'Oh God. I can't breathe. I've never smelt anything so awful in my life.' She grinned when Ella frowned. 'I'm joking. You smell fine. But aren't you forgetting the pub may be full of single men? It is a Saturday night, after all.'
Ella's eyes shot wide open. 'I'd forgotten the men. And there's a sentence I never thought would escape from my lips. Bloody Nora. That means a shower, shave my legs and pits, full make-up, and at least three hours taming my hair.' Her shoulders slumped. 'You know what? I really don't care. We're in the country. They're probably used to seeing women covered in mud and pig shit. A girl with a bit of dust in her hair will be nothing to them.'
'And you always look gorgeous anyway, so a bit of lippy and a dab of mascara will do the trick. Your hair looks great. I know you prefer it straight but the curls make you look really cute.'
'Cute? I want to look sexy.'
'You always look sexy. Now you look cute and sexy. What country bumpkin isn't going to find that a hot combination?'
Ella brightened. 'True. And let's not forget we're dealing with men who wear flat caps. That's not a good look on anyone. Not even Royalty. Although that gorgeous hunk with the tractor did manage to look sexy in his. Where did you say you'd put my stuff?' Ella asked Garrick as he returned with more boxes. 'I need to go and get changed.'
Garrick dumped the boxes in the space Mia had made in the living room and Mia tutted at him.
'I've just cleared that space.'
He grinned at her. 'Thanks. I needed somewhere to put them.' He frowned at Ella. 'So I guess I'm finishing the unloading alone then?'
Ella leant forward and pinched his cheek. 'That's one of the things we love about you, Garrick. You're so smart. And so helpful too. We'd love you even more if you carried our cases upstairs. Too much to ask?' she added as his frown deepened.
'What was it you said? Oh yes. "You need a break, Garrick. Come to the country with us. Mia's only got a couple of boxes to move. It'll be relaxing. A week or so of doing nothing but breathing in the country air. I've already told Mia you'll come." So when does the relaxing part start, that's what I'd like to know?'
Ella laughed. 'As soon as you've finished unloading. And once you've taken all our stuff upstairs. And locked all the doors. We don't want Hettie Burnstall popping in and rummaging through our stuff when we're in the pub, do we?'
'Hettie must have keys,' Mia said, 'because she came to clean, remember? And all the back doors were unlocked. So you'd better hide whatever you don't want her to see. Oh! That reminds me.' Mia remembered the locked door. 'There's a locked door upstairs.'
'Well, it can stay locked until I've eaten,' Garrick snapped. 'Sorry. I definitely n
eed some food.'
'But I'm dying to know what's behind it.'
'Fine. You go and look. I'll get the last lot of boxes.'
He marched outside and Mia looked at Ella. 'Come with me. I know it's silly but it was the only locked door in the cottage and I'd rather have someone with me when I open it.'
'Now who's been watching too much TV?'
Mia grinned and grabbed the keys from the small table where she'd left them. She picked up her suitcase as she passed it at the foot of the stairs and Ella followed her up, grabbing not just her own case but also Garrick's.
'Jesus! What's he got in this? It's heavier than mine.'
'There's a blue bedroom at the front of the house that I think is perfect for Garrick,' Mia said. 'Which room do you want?'
'I'm tempted to say Matilda's but you'll obviously be having that.'
Mia glanced over her shoulder and saw that Ella was grinning.
'Actually, I'm not sure I will. The thought of sleeping in her bed makes me feel a little uneasy.'
'I've seen the bed in there. Once your head hits the pillow you'll be out like a light. Besides, it must be the best bedroom in the place, and we know Hettie will have washed the sheets. You've got to sleep in it. And after a glass or two of wine at the pub, you won't be feeling anything other than half-sloshed.'
'That's true.'
Ella was right. It was the best bedroom. If Mia was going to live here for at least a year she may as well get used to it.
'I'll take the other room at the front,' Ella said.
'Don't you want the other room that overlooks the garden and the sea?'
'Maybe later. I think I need the traffic noise from the front until I get used to not being in London. I've had blaring horns, speeding cars and rowdy drunkards outside my bedroom window for more years than I care to remember. It'll take me a while to get used to the quiet. It's bad enough when I go somewhere peaceful on holiday and I've never been anywhere as peaceful as this. I haven't heard one car, or come to that, one person, other than Hettie, since we arrived.'
The Cottage on Lily Pond Lane-Part One_New beginnings Page 4
