Escape to the Country

by Patsy Collins

  "What? Oh, no don't worry. Leah, about that..."

  Duncan was interrupted by a loud yap from Tarragon who began spinning round in circles. "Jayne must be back," Leah said rather unnecessarily.

  "Looks that way. Leah, would you like to come out tonight?"

  Leah didn't know how to respond. She'd have loved to say yes, but as Jayne had been at the doctor's for so long there must be something wrong. She couldn't go off out leaving her aunt worried and alone.

  "Just a drink. No pressure," Duncan coaxed.

  "I can't really. Jayne's well, she might want to talk and..." She trailed off. She'd be going back to London soon, was starting a relationship down here a good idea? She'd had enough of half truths and people not saying what they really meant to last a lifetime. She owed it to herself to be completely honest.

  "Well, maybe another time?"

  "Maybe, but it would just be as friends. I'll be living back in London soon."

  "Oh, I see." He didn't sound as though he did.

  Fortunately, Jayne came in before the atmosphere became too uncomfortable.

  "Thanks for patching up the roof, looks like that should solve the problem," Jayne said.

  "Temporarily anyway. Sorry it looks such an eyesore, but hopefully it won't be for long."

  Excellent, Leah thought. Duncan wouldn't be reporting to G-B that the job was done and dusted, but would remind him that a complete re-thatch still needed to be carried out.

  "Well, I'd best be off." Duncan was already half way across the room as he said that.

  "I'll put the kettle on," Leah told Jayne. She needed time to think.

  "Make mine camomile tea, please," Jayne said, naming the herb she'd said was good for relaxation.

  Leah already regretted saying no to Duncan. He'd only asked her out for a friendly drink and, hard though it was to get used to the idea, she was now single. It was time she admitted to herself that it was all over between her and Adam. Had really been over even before she'd been accused of fraud. Long before that she'd been unhappy and their relationship had been in a rut. Stuck in the mud and yet when a man offered to pull her out again she said no.

  Leah fussed over Jayne, getting her to sit down and bringing her tea and cake.

  "So, how did it go at the doctor's, or don't you want to talk about it?"

  "Oh, it's fine. I'm maybe going to have to go in for them to check something out but it's nothing to worry about."

  "Oh good, I was worried." She still was.

  "I told you not to be."

  "I know, but you were gone so long."

  Jayne burst out laughing. "No, I wasn't! I came back just in time to see you dragging that poor man into the cottage, so I thought I'd hang about outside for a while. I hope it was worth me getting cold for?"

  "Jayne! I didn't force him to come in and we drank tea, that's all."

  "He didn't ask you out?"

  "Well, yes he did."

  Jayne put down her mug of tea and leant forward. "Where are you going and when?"

  "We're not. I said no."

  "Idiot."

  Leah sighed. "Yes, I think maybe you're right."

  "I know I am. Remember I told you about Jim and the Valentine's card?"

  "Yes. Why didn't you ever go out with him?"

  "Because, like you, I was an idiot. He asked me a few times and I said no. He asked someone else and she said yes. They got married. End of story."

  "But he's not married now?"

  "No, but... will you stop changing the subject when I'm trying to lecture you? My point is, don't say no if you want to say yes."

  "Advice you'll be taking if Jim asks you again?"

  Jayne put her hand to her ear and then shook her head as though she'd not heard. "I hope that's the only invitation you're going to turn down?"

  "I'm not sure he'll ask me again." Leah consoled herself with a slice of cake.

  "Oh dear. Still, that wasn't quite what I was thinking about. Do you remember my friend Chantelle?"

  "The arty type who lives in the water-mill? I remember. She was a little crazy but a lot of fun. Didn't she stick up for me once when you were teasing me about my braces?"

  "That's her. She never liked anyone to be picked on for their appearance. People used to laugh at the way she always made her own clothes, but not anymore. She's actually a clothes designer and doing quite well. She's had that mill properly converted and now has fabulous parties there. Lots of her friends are well known; musicians, chefs, artists and she ropes them all in to help. She's throwing another one and we're both invited."

  "Sounds like fun."

  "It will be. There'll be romantic lighting and dancing and fine wines and Duncan will be invited."

  "Sounds like a whole lot of fun."

  Chapter 7

  Leah phoned Adam from her bedroom at Primrose Cottage.

  "What do you want? I'm very busy."

  "I wondered if you knew how the investigation at Prophet Margin was going? I had a letter saying I was suspended while..."

  He cut her off. "I can't possibly discuss this with you. Surely you realise it's official company business?"

  He must know Rachel was investigating the matter; why was he so reluctant to reassure her that she'd soon be found innocent?

  "I can't see why that means you can't talk to me about it. I just want to know who's investigating what and how long it might take. Whose business is it if it's not mine?"

  "Be reasonable, Leah and try to look at things from someone else's point of view for a change. Things are rather awkward for me over this trouble."

  How dare he? She'd always tried to see things from his point of view. She was trying now, but she still couldn't see why, when she was the one suspended through no fault of her own, it was him who felt hard done by. She could only think of one reason - he thought she was guilty. He'd never trusted her, that's why he'd been so controlling about where she went, which friends she had and was so insistent about the prenuptial agreement.

  "Sorry to have bothered you." She ended the call and rang Rachel's number. Leah wasn't sure why as she wouldn't be able to tell her anything, especially as Leah only had her works number and even if she was willing to talk then she might not want to be overheard doing so.

  "Oh hi, Leah I was just about to call you," Rachel said.

  "Really?"

  Rachel laughed. "That never sounds convincing does it? Sort of thing estate agents and the like say when they've been keeping you in the dark for days and you've finally managed to track them down."

  "But in this case, you haven't been keeping me in the dark?" Leah tried not to sound sarcastic, there was no point in antagonising someone who potentially could help her.

  "Only because there's nothing to tell, or at least there wasn't until a short time ago."

  "And now there is?"

  "Yes, sort of. We had a call from Mr Gilmore-Bunce recently. Somehow he'd heard a member of staff had been suspended over the problem with his account and offered every assistance in helping to sort it out."

  "But he was the one who raised the issue and had me suspended!"

  "No, no. The suspension is simply company policy whenever there's any sort of... well, if there's any irregularity..."

  "There's no need to be delicate, I know I'm suspected of stealing all his money. What I don't understand is who made the complaint if it wasn't him."

  Rachel didn't reply.

  "You can't tell me?"

  "No. I don't know for sure and I wouldn't want to make an accusation without proof."

  "But someone has done - about me?"

  "It would seem so," Rachel agreed. "We'll get it cleared up though, Leah, I promise."

  "You do sound more positive about that."

  "Yes. I wouldn't have let you, or anyone else, take the blame without proof, but I wasn't sure that we'd find the truth. I worried Prophet Margin might try to hide it from the investor."

  "Gilmore-Bunce?" Leah interrupted.

  "Ye
s, but as he already knows they can't hope to do that. He's offered access to any of his records that might help which will make things much easier."

  "Great news. Thanks, Rachel."

  Leah sat on her bed, trying to recall what her boss had said when he'd suspended her. It was difficult to remember as she'd been so shocked and upset. Perhaps he hadn't said who'd accused her and she'd just jumped to the conclusion it must be Mr Gilmore-Bunce because there had been so many transactions on his account and as Adam had said, he had a reputation for being unreasonable. If it had been Leah who'd first mentioned the investor's name it wasn't quite so surprising her boss had thought there might be some truth in the allegations. She sighed; she really had misjudged G-B. Thank goodness he'd never know her opinion of him.

  "Are you all right up there?" Jayne called.

  "Fine, just coming down."

  She explained about her phone call with Rachel. "I used to think she didn't like me, but we've put that behind us and I'm sure she won't let it influence her investigation."

  "Actually it might. She'll probably be extra thorough to make sure she's not seen to be biased against you."

  "Maybe. So, what's the plan for this morning?"

  "I'm digging a trench for the runner beans. It's hard work that would be easier with two."

  "All right, you've talked me into it."

  Jayne dug the trench as Leah fetched barrow loads of compost to fill it up again. Then Jayne heaped the excavated soil back on top.

  "It looks like a grave for someone very tall," Leah said.

  "Hmm, anyone particular you want to bury in here, then?"

  "If Adam had been here when I spoke to him this morning, I'd have been quite tempted to push him in, I have to admit."

  "You go get him, I'll whack him with the spade," Jayne offered.

  "Jayne! I just meant push him and chuck compost at him. I was really annoyed, but it's probably my fault. I seem to have been jumping to the wrong conclusions a lot lately."

  "If he annoyed you, I expect the fault was his."

  "I don't know..."

  "Anyway, we have more important matters to worry about. What shall we have for lunch?"

  They decided on a plate of cheesy-hammy-eggies accompanied with a green salad. Leah didn't like to admit she didn't know what a cheesy-hammy-eggy was, but guessed there was a clue or three in the name.

  "I'll pick some salad, shall I?" she suggested.

  Leah thought Jayne was right about Adam being to blame for annoying her earlier, but she felt she should give him the benefit of the doubt and rang his mobile to see if an apology could return them to more friendly terms.

  "Leah, didn't I say not to ring me at work?" he snapped.

  "Isn't this your lunch break?"

  "Yes," he answered, reluctantly.

  "So it's not in work's time nor on the premises - unless you're still at your desk trying to clear my name?"

  "Exactly and I'll do it much better without interruptions."

  He'd do it better without people around him ordering cappuccinos and panninis too, but Leah didn't mention that.

  Adam was lying to her but she didn't know why. He seemed even more irritable than usual whilst Rachel, a colleague who'd never liked her much was full of enthusiasm at the thought of clearing Leah's name. It was almost as though Adam wanted her to be in trouble - perhaps as an excuse to break up with her. Fine with her. Now she was sure where she stood with him and could try to move on from the relationship. She thought she might be able to think of someone who could help her with that.

  As she gathered rocket and mizuna leaves, Leah felt strangely relieved. Jayne noticed a change in her when Leah brought in the salad to wash.

  "Been thinking things through?"

  "Sort of. I called Adam again. I'm beginning to wonder what I ever saw in him."

  "You OK?" Jayne asked.

  "Yeah. I think so."

  Jayne continued to look thoughtful. Then she brightened, held up a finger to suggest she'd thought of something clever and said, "Plenty more turnips in the field."

  "Nice, I've always wanted a dirty boyfriend with orange flesh, purple skin and green hair."

  "You're thinking of swedes."

  "An enigmatic blond? Now you're talking!"

  Both women giggled together as they finished preparing the meal. Silly schoolgirl humour had cheered Leah much more than sympathy would have done.

  Cheesy-hammy-eggies were Jayne's version of croque monsieur; cheese and ham sandwiches, dipped in a mixture of eggs, mustard and seasoning, then fried until crisp and golden on the outside. As Leah cut into hers, the gooey melted cheese oozed onto her plate. The rich snack contrasted wonderfully with the tangy plain salad and helped Leah feel better still.

  She decided to concentrate on something positive and thought about what to wear to Chantelle's party. She could never hope to compete with the hostess of course, especially if she wore one of her own creations. Leah had heard of Chantelle Miller the designer but hadn't realised she was Jayne's old school friend.

  When they went food shopping that afternoon, Leah leafed through a couple of copies of celebrity worshipping magazines and sure enough, many of the catwalk frocks were Chantelle's creations. Her thoughts of clothes were temporarily forgotten though when Jayne began filling the trolley. She didn't seem to buy anything Leah recognised as food.

  "Right, what do we need?" Jayne asked.

  "Cakes and biscuits, obviously."

  Jayne selected flour, cocoa and sugar in place of the chocolate cake Leah would have opted for. She bought golden syrup and rolled oats rather than a pack of flapjack squares.

  "That steak pie you gave me the first day I was here was delicious."

  "I'll make another, there'll be enough flour left over for that."

  "Do you buy butter, or make it?"

  "I made a batch soon after Rosemary calved, as she had so much milk then. It's hard work and only worth doing if you're making a lot, so I do the biggest batch I can and freeze it. It's nearly all gone now though."

  Considering how much the two of them ate, Jayne didn't seem to have bought much.

  "Jayne, I meant what I said about paying my way. If you want more stuff..." Leah trailed off when she saw Jayne laughing.

  "Don't worry, lovey. I won't starve you. We've got meat, milk, eggs and plenty of vegetables from the farm, so really I don't need to buy that much."

  "Even so, I'd like to pay towards my keep."

  "All right. Pay me something if it makes you feel more comfortable, but not too much or I'll be the one who's not happy."

  Leah smiled. She knew Jayne kept a jug containing a small amount of 'emergency cash' on the sideboard. She'd put her housekeeping contribution in that to save them both any embarrassment.

  Once they'd got home, put the shopping away and had a cup of tea and piece of cake, Leah had another go at milking Rosemary. Jayne got her started, then left her to get as much milk as she could before her arms ached.

  The rhythmic action of squeezing and releasing the cows teats was quite soothing and Leah found her mind wandering from the task, to the forthcoming party. In particular, she thought about the only other person she knew would be on the guest list; Duncan. She needed to find a way to let him know her return to London wasn't going to be happening soon. She also needed to make a good impression so that he'd welcome that news.

  Leah thought something plain and simple might be best both for her and for Jayne. That way they wouldn't get it spectacularly wrong. She'd learnt the hard way that dressing to impress rarely worked. All she had to do was convince Jayne that more clothes shopping was a good idea.

  When she took in the strained milk she asked Jayne if there was anything special they had to do the following day.

  "It's Chantelle's party. You hadn't forgotten?"

  "I meant in the day beforehand. Other than the usual milking and feeding, I mean."

  "No, we're pretty much caught up with everything."

  "
Good, then I'd like a bit of retail therapy. I want to buy dresses. One for each of us for Chantelle's party."

  Jayne shook her head. "I don't need a new dress."

  "I never said you needed one, just that I was going to buy you one."

  "Well, I don't..."

  "Oh please. I want to forget all about rotten Adam and have fun and you did say Duncan was invited?"

  "Yes, he's going all right."

  Leah could see her plan was working. "I want to look really nice, but I'll feel silly if I'm all dressed up and you don't have a new dress."

  "Hmm, doesn't look like I've got a choice, does it?" Jayne said. She didn't look as annoyed as her words suggested.

  "None at all."

  Jayne picked out a simple white shift dress for Leah.

  "You'd look stunning in that."

  Leah tried it on. Stunning was an exaggeration, but she thought it suited her much better than the super stylish clothes Adam had thought were appropriate. So often she'd walked into a function and seen someone slimmer and more confident in the same outfit.

  Jayne's own choice, when pressed to try something on, was similar, but longer and black. It suited her very well.

  "I'll take both," Leah told the assistant and she'd paid before Jayne got back into her own clothes and was able to raise any objection.

  Jayne did the evening milking whilst Leah shut up the chickens and had a quick bath. She guessed correctly that she'd need longer to do her hair and make up than Jayne would want to spend on hers.

  They both wore silk scarves made by Chantelle. Leah's was grey and purple which brought out the blue of her eyes. Jayne's was a soft green to contrast with her red hair.

  It was surprising how much alike the two women looked, despite the differences in their age and lifestyles. Jayne had always worked hard, only leaving the farm to go to college and even then she'd studied agriculture.

  Leah, on the other hand had it easy. Her father was a diplomat, so Leah had attended an expensive English boarding school and spent her holidays with her parents in various exotic locations, or in Winkleigh Marsh with her grandparents and Jayne.

  Seeing Jayne's eyes sparkle at the prospect of the party made Leah realise how strained she'd looked over the last few days. Now she looked so young and happy.