“Of course I don’t have room for a guest at my house,” Samantha quickly added. “He’s booked to stay at The Forge over in Churchill. I understand that it’s very nice.”
“Some friends of mine stayed there last year,” Annie said. “They told me that it was delightful.”
Samantha looked at the clock over Annie’s sink. It was already after four. She thanked her friend for the delicious lunch and went in search of Pushkin. He was not best pleased when he realized that not only was it time to say good-bye to Lucy, but that he had to travel home in the dreaded cat carrier. Fortunately it was only a ten minute journey. By the time Samantha filled his little pewter bowl with Whiskas and put it on his mat, he was purring up a storm.
Samantha decided to bite the bullet and return Caroline’s call. She had not worked out yet what she would say, but hopefully her sister would not be offended.
“Oh, Samantha. You’re back,” Caroline said when she picked up the phone. “How was your trip to America?”
Samantha told her a bit about the Conference and her disappointing visit to Richmond.
“I don’t suppose we could expect it to stay the same way forever,” Caroline said pragmatically when Samantha told her how their Grandmother’s home had been turned into a bed and breakfast hotel.
“Grandmama was finding it difficult to afford help to take care of it even when she lived there,” Caroline pointed out. “Nowadays, those big old places nearly always end up as B & Bs or offices or something if they don’t get torn down altogether. Half the stately homes in this country have been turned into hotels or conference centres. People these days just can’t afford to run them as private homes any longer.”
“You’re right, of course,” Samantha agreed. “I suppose that in some way I still thought of it as ours.”
“I know. But times change. Surely neither of us would have wanted it; and the money has helped us to have the homes we have over here.”
Caroline was absolutely right. Samantha supposed that it was like all those things from one’s childhood that you held in your memory.
“About Christmas,” Caroline said before Samantha could offer up any excuses. “Heywood and I would love it if you would spend it with us, but I was wondering if you might rather we did something else instead?”
Caroline explained that there was a lovely spa just over the Leicestershire line that she was dying to visit. She said that she had learned about it when Heywood took on the account with them a couple of years earlier.
“It’s one of those grand country homes that’s been turned into a spa. Heywood’s given me an early present for myself and three friends to go there for a pamper weekend. I thought I’d ask my best friend, Sarah. I’d love it if you and your friend Annie’d go with us. Of course you’re still welcome to come for Christmas, but I thought this might suit you better.”
“Oh Caroline, that’s a splendid idea, but it’s too much. Tell Heywood I really appreciate it, but we’ll pay our own way. When did you have in mind?”
“I told him you’d say that. He said that it’s one of the perks for being the accountant for the Spa.” She told Samantha that they had given him the passes as part of his Christmas bonus and it was unlikely he would ever use them for himself, and that it was for the weekend of the nineteenth. “It’s the only time they could fit us in. I guess not many people wanted to go that close to Christmas.”
“Well, let me check with Annie and make sure she’s free,” Samantha said. “But I’m guessing she’ll jump at the chance. I know she’s planning to spend Christmas and Boxing Day with her daughter, but as far as I know, she doesn’t have anything on before that. Can I call you back in just a few minutes and let you know?”
They rang off so that Samantha could check with Annie.
“Why Samantha, I don’t even know Caroline and her husband. I couldn’t possibly accept such an expensive gift.”
“I told Caroline that,” Samantha said. She explained about Heywood’s Christmas bonus and assured her that her Brother-in-Law would not be out of pocket.
“In that case, I’d be delighted,” Annie said.
Samantha called Caroline back right away.
“I’m practically packed,” she told her sister. “We’re both really looking forward to it.”
_______________________
Nine
Samantha collected Annie just before ten on Friday morning. She had looked at the spa website right after her chat with Caroline. She was relieved to see that there was no dress code. The last thing she wanted was to feel like a duck out of water in dressy trousers and a jacket when she was meant to be relaxing. She expected that what she thought of as casual dress might be a notch or two down from that of the other members of their party, but at least she would not be breaking any rules. They had suggested that guests bring more than one bathing costume. Samantha had thrown in two old speedos, but from the photos, it looked as though they would spend the majority of the time enveloped in one of the fluffy white robes that the spa provided.
“Your little car looks brand new,” Annie said as she admired the freshly washed and detailed Figaro.
“I thought it was about time it had a little facelift,” Samantha said. “I took it into that place near the Oxford roundabout for its MOT yesterday, and they did everything. They must spray it with some sort of air freshener as well, because it even has that new car smell.”
“Well, it looks splendid. We’ll be travelling in style. Shall I put this on the back seat with yours?”
Annie had the same wheeled bags she had taken with her to Paris earlier that year. They were not as compact as hers, but compared to some that she had seen at Heathrow, they were positively miniscule. Samantha had only the patchwork tote and the leather bag she always used when she went away. They took up only about a third of the bench seat so there was plenty of room left. She helped Annie with hers.
“So, are we all set?” Samantha asked. “What about Pushkin and Lucy?”
“Today’s Grace’s regular day so she’ll be in shortly. She said she’d pop by tomorrow and Sunday to make sure they have fresh water and food, so they should be fine.”
“Well, then I guess we’d better get started,” Samantha said as she gave a final glance in the rearview mirror and backed out of Annie’s drive.
“I told Caroline that we’d meet them there at noon,” Samantha said as she joined the motorway and settled into a steady 70 mph. She was pleased to find that the M69 was not that busy for a Friday.
“I must admit that I’m really looking forward to this. It seems like I’ve been on a roller-coaster for the past couple of months. What with Amherst and then our trip around New England and then this last Conference; it feels as though I haven’t even stopped to take a breath,” Samantha said.
“I don’t know how you do it,” Annie commiserated. “I’m sure I couldn’t keep up that pace all the time the way you do.”
“But you have your writing,” Samantha reminded her. “That’s got to involve a lot of research and planning, not to mention the fact that you have to actually write the book as well.”
“That’s true,” Annie agreed, “but there’s minimal physical effort. For the most part, I don’t have to leave the comfort of my own home.”
“Perhaps not, but you do have your agent and your publisher looking over your shoulder about deadlines and that sort of thing.”
“Oh, it’s not as bad as you might think. I’m usually the one pestering them to get the corrections back to me,” Annie laughed. “Anyhow, I remember that whenever I wrote a Paper when I was teaching, it always involved much more rigorous research than I’d dream of doing for a novel. But tell me about this place we’re going to. I’ve never visited a residential spa.”
“Neither have I,” Samantha admitted. “I can’t think what it must cost to stay there for an entire weekend if you had to pay. It was more than a hundred pounds the last time I visited The Sanctuary in London, and that was just for the day.
We’re fortunate that Heywood has them for a client.”
“And that your sister invited us to tag long,” Annie added. “What about the treatments, Samantha? I presume they aren’t included.”
“I think Caroline said that we get one each day as part of the package, but if we want anything more we’ll need to pay for them separately.”
“Gosh, I didn’t expect it would include any. This is going to be such a treat.”
They arrived at the wonderful eighteenth century former stately home at a few minutes before twelve.
“My, this is grand,” Annie observed as they drove along the gravel road that led to the huge red brick building that housed the spa and residential accommodation.
“Caroline said that it had been a private family home until ten or fifteen years ago,” Samantha explained.
“Well, I’m not surprised it’s not one any longer,” Annie said. “I can’t think how expensive it would be to run a place this large.”
Samantha pulled into the paved car-park just to the left of the main building. Caroline’s green Audi was already there.
Even the foyer was impressive. A polite, smartly dressed woman whose name tag said Stephanie, welcomed them. She took their details and told them that Caroline and Sarah had checked in just a few minutes earlier. She explained that she had put Samantha and Annie just across the hall from them. She asked if they would mind waiting a minute or two for someone to show them to their rooms and asked them to take a seat until Marlene got there.
“That’s a lovely portrait,” Annie said and indicated the painting across from the sofa where they sat.
Samantha got up and walked over to get a better look.
“Annie, take a look at this. You can barely see it because it’s in the background. Do you remember when we had lunch at the Savoy before I went to America?”
“Of course; my early Christmas present. How could I forget?”
“Yes, but remember all of those old photos they had of how it looked back before the War to show how it was in its heyday?”
“Of course. I recall thinking what a splendid job they’d done in restoring it,” Annie said. “Why?”
Samantha reminded her of the few little discrepancies where some small detail or other had been changed or something had been replaced. Overall the restoration had been extremely accurate, but there had been one or two things that were not exactly the same. Presumably some things had either been lost or broken in the upheaval when everything had been stored away during the War.
“I pointed it out just as we were leaving,” Samantha said.
“Of course,” Annie replied. “Over on the wall next to the concierge. Yes, it does look very much like it.”
***
“Doctor Duncan? Doctor Hollis? Marlene will show you to your rooms now, if you’re ready,” Stephanie smiled and indicated her very pretty young assistant.
Samantha and Annie were in rooms 8 and 10 and Caroline and Sarah were just across in 7 and 9. Samantha had not asked that they would have their own rooms. Evidently a need for personal space was one family trait she and her sister shared.
She quickly unpacked the few belongings she had brought and picked up the telephone and dialed Caroline’s room number. She had barely hung up the receiver when there was a knock on her door.
“Shall we have lunch before we plan the rest of our day?” Caroline asked after the four women had introduced themselves all round.
They went into the main dining room. The arched French doors provided lovely views over the extensive grounds.
“They offer either a menu or the buffet,” Caroline said. “Or you can have both. All the food except for alcohol is included.”
“I think I’ll just have the poached salmon,” Samantha said once the others had ordered. “I see they have that J2O that you like so much, Samantha,” Caroline said. “There’s so much to choose from, I think I’ll just browse the buffet before I decide.”
Samantha and Annie drank the last of the juice as Caroline and Sarah sipped their white wine. They had learned that Caroline and Sarah had been friends ever since Ella and Sarah’s daughter had attended pre-school together. Samantha thought that they looked about the same age. Perhaps Sarah was a year or two older, but neither looked the fifty plus that they must be.
“How do you both stay so trim?” Annie asked, as if reading Samantha’s mind.
“Thanks. We play tennis when the weather permits,” Sarah said. “And we belong to a health club at home. But nothing as grand as this,” she hastily added. “Needless to say, up here in the Midlands we don’t get out on the courts that much in the winter.”
Sarah explained that besides her daughter, Anabel, she had an older son who lived with his wife and young daughter in Hampshire.
“I have a friend who lives down there. It’s a lovely area,” Annie said.
“Now that we have no children to run around after at weekends, Heywood and I have promised ourselves that we’re going to see more of the country,” Caroline said. “You’re not going to believe this, but I’ve never even visited the South Coast.”
“Well, you’ll have to come down some time when I go to Devon,” Samantha said. “Where I go the countryside’s quite spectacular. You can even see the Bristol Channel on a clear day.”
“That’s where you ride, isn’t it?” Caroline asked.
“As a matter of fact, I have a friend coming over from America after Christmas and we’re thinking of going riding down there for a short break then.”
“Samantha’s a wonderful horsewoman,” Annie interjected. “When we were in Brittany last spring she spent two whole days galloping on the beaches over there.”
“I’m not sure I’d describe my efforts in such glowing terms,” Samantha laughed, “but I certainly love it.”
“You always did,” Caroline pointed out. “She was always trying to get me interested, but I’m afraid that my sister got all of the adventuresome genes,” she explained to the others.
“Stephanie said that her colleague could show us the facility and tell us about all the options if we wanted her to,” Caroline said. “Shall we do that before we make up our minds what we want to do?”
Marlene gave them the complete tour. She explained what each of the treatments was about and showed them the various spa facilities as well as the common relaxation and social areas throughout the spacious Hall. She explained how to book for the treatments and advised them whom she thought were the best masseuses.
“But you’ll need to reserve your spot with Jacque or Bridget in advance if you want either of them,” she confided. “They’re very popular and they get booked up quickly.”
They thanked Marlene for her help and went ahead and reserved a treatment each for that afternoon. Marlene had shown them a wonderful lap pool as part of the tour and Samantha told the others that she wanted to swim a bit before her session at three o’clock. Caroline and Sarah headed for the new Pavillion and Annie said that she thought she’d try the recently added quiet area called The Retreat. They agreed to meet at the thermal spa after their treatments and compare notes.
Samantha finished her swim and made her way to the other quiet zone for her treatment. She recalled that on one occasion when she visited The Sanctuary she had tried the intriguing sounding African Mud Wrap. It had proved quite a bit more exotic than she found comfortable, so this time she took no chances. She opted for the all over body massage.
Marlene had not exaggerated. Bridget was an excellent masseuse. Samantha let herself just float into that halfway dream state between being awake and asleep and let Bridget’s perfectly tuned hands press and pummel every ounce of stress way. She must have dozed off near the end of the session, because after what seemed like just a few minutes she heard Bridget calling her name to awaken her.
“That was wonderful,” Samantha said as she got back into her fluffy robe. “Lucky for me your three o’clock moved her appointment at the last minute.”
“I hope
you’re finding everything to your satisfaction, Doctor Duncan,” Stephanie enquired when Samantha went out to the front desk to book her treatments for the rest of the weekend.
“It couldn’t be better,” Samantha assured her. “This is by far the nicest facility I’ve ever visited. Have you worked here long?”
“Actually I’ve been here since it opened about ten years ago. Of course I worked for the company for several years before that at another spa they own in Lincolnshire, but this one has a lot more ambience.”
“Yes, it’s lovely,” Samantha agreed. “It must have been something to live here when it was someone’s private home. You wouldn’t know anything about the family that owned it before, would you?”
“Not really. I believe the family’s name was Carrington. I think the husband died quite some time ago. My company bought it from his widow and converted it to a spa.”
“I thought I’d better go ahead and book in advance for my treatments for tomorrow and Sunday,” Samantha said. “Marlene told me that Bridget was popular, but if she isn’t busy, I’d like my sessions with her.”
“Yes, she’s one of our best,” Stephanie agreed. “Of course all of our technicians are excellent. Wouldn’t you like to see how you like any of the others?”
“I’ll just stick with her,” Samantha said. “It’s hard to improve on perfection.”
Samantha thanked Stephanie for booking her in for the rest of the visit and hurried to the thermal pool. Annie and Sarah were already there. They were happily ensconced behind their Kindles on the sun loungers around the natural pool. Annie looked up and smiled as she moved a magazine from the sunbed that she had saved next to hers. Samantha lay back and listened to the sound of the tiny waterfalls that trickled over the very natural looking rocky grotto. She could happily stay right in that spot for the rest of the weekend, she mused.
She looked up as Caroline situated herself on the wooden slotted lounge on her other side.
“I’m going to tell Heywood that if he ever loses the Ragdale account it’ll be grounds for divorce,” Caroline said as she closed her eyes.
Dancing at the Savoy: A Samantha Duncan Mystery (Samantha Duncan Mysteries Book 9) Page 9
