by Jenny Lane
‘Absolutely! It’s good to support local events. Thanks for asking me,’ she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
‘I enjoy your company, Sophie. Have you thought any more about joining my ceramics class?’
She hesitated a moment, wondering if she could tolerate Glenda, but Crystal would be there too. She knew she’d love to spend more time in Keir’s company.
‘You could come for one session and see if you liked it,’ he suggested.
‘I’d enjoy that,’ she told him sincerely.
‘Good, I’ll keep you to that.’ He pulled up outside Rose Cottage. ‘That’s odd — it’s in total darkness. Will Rose have gone to bed this early?’
‘Probably, but she’d have left a light on. The porch light was on when I left too,’ Sophie said worriedly.
‘I’m sure there’s a simple explanation. She probably switched it off by mistake, but just in case, I’ll come in with you. I’ve got a torch in the glove compartment.’
Sophie was glad of Keir’s support. Without any street lights, it was very dark at night and there were no lights in the neighbouring cottage either, as Ian and Fiona had obviously not yet returned from the dance.
Sophie’s heart was racing as they pushed open the sitting room door and were greeted by a loud meow from Poppy and a mumble from Aunt Rose.
Keir shone the torch and Rose looked up dazedly.
‘Oh, my goodness, you did give me a start! Whatever time is it?’
‘About eleven. Why are you sitting in the dark?’ asked Sophie, fumbling around for the light switch.
She flicked it on but nothing happened.
‘There was a flash and all the lights went out. I decided it was best to stay put until you came in. I expect it’s that thingummyjig they fitted when they did the electrical work a couple of years back. I never could get the hang of it. Hugh always saw to it for me.’
‘Do you mean the trip switch?’ asked Keir. ‘I’ll sort it out in a jiffy if you tell me where the box is. You sit tight. Sophie, can you come with me and be my official torch bearer?’
Five minutes later the problem was resolved, much to Aunt Rose’s relief.
‘You’re freezing cold,’ Sophie said, rubbing Rose’s hands.
‘I’d just turned the fire off and I didn’t attempt to turn it on again, just in case something else blew up,’ Aunt Rose said, looking sheepish.
‘Never mind, problem solved. I think your light bulb must have blown,’ Keir told her. ‘I’ll sort it out in the morning. For now we’ll make do with the side lamp and some hot drinks.’
Sophie shot into the dining room and returned with a travel rug from Aunt Rose’s bed and draped it over her knees, in spite of her protests.
‘I worry about Rose,’ Keir said, as they stood in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil. ‘If you hadn’t been staying here, she would have probably remained like that until the morning.’
‘I’m just relieved you were here and, now that you’ve shown me what to do, I’ll sort it, if it happens again. Now, just remind me how you like your coffee.’
‘Before I do, Miss Burnett, I’d like to thank you for your company this evening,’ he said quietly and, before she’d realised it, he’d caught her round the waist and pulled her to him.
‘Your hair smells of flowers,’ he murmured and kissed her lightly on the mouth, and then as she responded, more passionately, kindling a flame of desire within her. Just as suddenly, he released her, leaving her feeling as if she’d been on a roller coaster.
‘That kettle’s boiling,’ he announced, as if nothing had happened, and making the drinks, he carried the tray into the sitting room.
She knew she oughtn’t to read too much into that kiss. It had just been a thank you for the evening, but he had left her in no doubt as to her feelings for him.
Her emotions were in turmoil and she wanted to believe that the chemistry she’d sensed between them was real and not a figment of her imagination.
As Sophie showed Keir out into the inky blackness of the night, she said shyly, ‘Thanks for a lovely evening, Keir.’
He took her hands between his for a minute. ‘The pleasure was all mine,’ he said softly and disappeared out into the night smiling to himself. He suddenly felt life was worth living again, and it was all thanks to Sophie Burnett.
Chapter Seven
‘I’ve got a bit of a problem, Sophie,’ Aunt Rose told her the following morning over breakfast. ‘We had enough to think about last night, so I didn’t mention it then.’
Sophie buttered a slice of toast. ‘What’s wrong, is your ankle playing up?’
‘No, dear, it’s nothing like that. The thing is, it’s Mary’s birthday next Saturday. Hugh and I always bought flowers and took them to the church yard but ...’
‘Well, that’s OK. I’ll take you to choose some and we’ll go together.’
‘Would you, dear. That would be nice — except ...’
Something suddenly registered. ‘Wait a minute, if it was Aunt Mary’s birthday then it’s obviously got to be yours as well, hasn’t it?’
Rose nodded. ‘Daphne rang up last night. She wants to know if she can come and see me on Saturday and bring little Lily. Apparently Daphne’s husband, Neil, is working in the morning.’
‘OK, well that’s no problem. I can make myself scarce so that you can have some quality time with Daphne and Lily,’ Sophie assured her.
‘Oh no, dear, you’re part of my extended family and I don’t intend to exclude you. I’ll just have to think round it. Daphne’s always in a rush. I doubt if she’ll stay to tea and, if I want to go to the churchyard first and cook lunch, it’ll be a bit of a tight squeeze. I was wondering about roast chicken. Anyway, I’ll phone Daphne again later in the week. She’s always so vague about timing, says she’s got to do some shopping first at the designer outlet. Apparently, they’re going skiing in February when it’s Lily’s half term.’
Unbeknown to them over at Rowanbank, Keir was facing the same kind of dilemma. One of Hugh’s requests, left with his will, was that flowers be placed on Mary’s grave periodically, but particularly on her birthday and the anniversary of her death.
Erica wasn’t very good at that sort of thing, saying that she found graveyards creepy places and wasn’t into all that sentimental stuff. Keir wondered if he should ask Rose Harding if she wanted to accompany him, but realised it was her birthday too. No, he’d just have to do what he thought was right.
He turned his thoughts to other matters. Things were going smoothly with the craft centre project and targets were being met. The two people who had sparked all this off would have been ecstatic, had they been alive to see it.
Erica had given Keir carte blanche to do whatever he thought was best. Just so long as she didn’t have to concern herself with it, she didn’t seem to care. If only he could win Rose over, but that was proving more difficult. The phone rang and he snatched it up.
‘Keir, you really are proving quite elusive to get hold of these days,’ came Erica’s voice.
‘And you haven’t replied to my last two e-mails. It really is too bad of you! I am allowed a social life, as well as you,’ Keir told her, a trifle impatiently. ‘So what can I do for you?’
Keir put the phone down and sat staring into space. Sometimes Erica could be quite infuriating. He’d discovered she was very good at delegating and, somehow she always managed to get him to agree to do her bidding. This time it was some correspondence she wanted him to deal with on her behalf.
***
During the week, Sophie helped Aunt Rose move back upstairs so that the dining room could be made ready for the visitors on Saturday. Sophie took Rose into Tonbridge for a supermarket shop and they returned laden with groceries. It would have been so much easier if Daphne had offered to take Aunt Rose out for lunch, but that obviously wasn’t her style.
It was towards the end of the week before Sophie saw Keir again. He had offered to give her a lift to his evening class.
She was feeling apprehensive on several counts, not least of them being because she didn’t want to look foolish in front of Keir and the others, if she couldn’t master what she was asked to do.
She needn’t have worried because Keir set her to work making pinch pots whilst the rest of the class continued with their previous week’s task. After this they all attempted some jewellery which was fiddly and would need to be biscuit fired to a very high temperature.
‘Told you you’d enjoy it,’ Crystal said, as she bent over the earrings she was making.
‘How are you getting on?’ Keir enquired, examining the geometric shapes Sophie was endeavouring to cut from the porcelain clay. ‘You know I can’t believe you’re a beginner.’
She coloured, so aware of him standing beside her that she was unable to concentrate.
‘Well, actually, I used to help out in an after school club when they needed an extra pair of hands, but someone else was in charge,’ she confessed.
His eyes glinted. ‘And all this time you’ve been telling me you know next to nothing about ceramics!’
‘I don’t at this level, but I can make pinch and coil pots, although they’re a bit lopsided, as you can see. I’ve never tried my hand at anything as ambitious as the jewellery before.’
During the coffee break Glenda came to speak to Sophie. ‘This is supposed to be a beginners’ class,’ she stated.
‘Yes, I realise that. I am a beginner.’
‘You can hardly be a novice if you’ve supported children in pottery classes, as I heard you telling Keir.’
‘That doesn’t really count,’ Sophie assured her. ‘Call it beginner’s luck, if you like. It’ll probably all break in the kiln.’
Crystal overhearing this, came to the rescue. ‘Sophie’s a teacher so she’s probably tried her hand at a number of things, isn’t that right, Sophie?’
Sophie nodded, thankful for the interruption. ‘You know that saying, Jack of all trades, master of none? Well, that’s me.’
Fortunately just then, someone else claimed Glenda’s attention.
‘What is wrong with that girl?’ Crystal murmured. ‘Keir’s perfectly fair to everyone, but for some reason, she must be stage centre.’
At the end of the class, Glenda did her utmost to detain Keir, but he laughingly told her that he needed to lock up. When she realised he was giving Sophie a lift home, she soon made herself scarce.
‘So, Sophie, what did you think?’ Keir asked during the short drive home.
‘I enjoyed myself. Thanks for inviting me.’
‘You’re very welcome, but the pleasure’s all mine,’ he assured her. ‘I can already see you’ve got talent.’
Sophie felt a warm glow at his unexpected praise.
It was a glorious morning on Saturday. Aunt Rose was up early. Over breakfast she opened her presents and cards, expressing delight at the cardigan Sophie’s family had sent her and the pretty little brooch Sophie had purchased from Peggy Munn’s.
Before they set out for the churchyard, the vegetables were prepared and the chicken was put in the oven. They’d managed to buy some rather nice flowers at the farm shop. It didn’t take long to accomplish their mission, but they were surprised to see someone had been there before them. Aunt Rose looked at Sophie in surprise.
As they retraced their steps they spotted Keir on a bench looking out over the tranquil view. Sophie thought he looked a bit pensive.
‘Good morning, ladies. I expect you’ve just been to the same place as myself.’
‘But how did you know about today?’ Aunt Rose asked, mystified.
‘Hugh left several instructions with his will,’ Keir explained briefly, ‘and as Erica’s not around to see that they’re carried out, I’ve volunteered. Now I understand it’s your birthday too, Rose, and so I was wondering if I could take the pair of you out to lunch?’
Rose looked disappointed. ‘Oh, Keir, what a charming thought, but I’ve got Tom’s niece, Daphne, coming with her little girl — just for their usual flying visit. Tell you what though — why don’t you join us? There’s a chicken roasting in the oven so there’ll be plenty of food.’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude if you’ve got guests ... ‘
‘That’s what Sophie said, but it’d be more like a party then. We’ll be eating around one o’clock and you’re more than welcome. Please do come.’
To Sophie’s secret delight Keir agreed and they went their separate ways. Daphne and Lily arrived just before one o’clock. Lily was clutching a strangely shaped package and Daphne handed Rose an expensive looking, gift-wrapped box of chocolates.
Lily looked anxiously at Aunt Rose as that lady unwrapped her gift to reveal the most unbelievably ugly jam pot Sophie had ever seen, in bright garish colours with a large bee perched on the top.
‘I choosed it myself,’ Lily informed her, proudly.
‘Chose, darling,’ Daphne corrected automatically.
‘It’s quite — quite fabulous,’ Aunt Rose told her. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this one before.’
Sophie, biting her lip, had a feeling that even Peggy Munn would have been hard-pressed to accommodate it.
At one o’clock, Keir arrived and, shortly afterwards, they all sat down to lunch. Daphne monopolised the conversation, as Sophie seemed to remember she always did. Keir was his usual charming self and Aunt Rose was obviously enjoying having people around her to celebrate her birthday.
Daphne asked Keir about his job and spent a while outlining hers, as PA to the director of a leading brand of cosmetics. She then turned to Sophie.
‘So what are your plans for the future? Have you got another job lined up?’
Sophie shook her head catching Keir’s interested gaze. ‘Not at present, no. I’ve been taking a break for a few weeks.’
‘So does that mean you’ll eventually be returning to Hertfordshire?’
Keir was watching Sophie intently. ‘Probably not — I rather like it here in Kent,’ she said with a smile and got up to clear away the dishes, aware that Daphne was giving her a hard look. Surely she didn’t object to Sophie staying at Rose Cottage?
‘So, Keir,’ Daphne said, as they ate a rather gooey dessert made especially for Lily’s benefit. ‘Have you come across those heirlooms that were supposed to be left to Aunt Rose and Sophie’s parents?’
Aunt Rose shot her a warning glance, and Sophie was indignant that Daphne should mention this today of all days. Keir shook his head.
‘I am aware of it from Erica, of course, but it’s all a bit of a mystery,’ he said, helping himself to the cream.
‘My dad says I’m good at solving mysteries,’ Lily piped up. ‘I’m going to be a detective when I grow up.’
‘That’s nice, dear,’ Aunt Rose said, a twinkle in her eye. ‘Then you’ll be able to find all the lost things in my house. I’m always mislaying my scissors and my glasses and sometimes even the cat.’
The little girl giggled and Daphne said rather sharply, ‘Stop talking and eat your dessert, Lily.’
Lily obediently did so and then, setting down her spoon asked, ‘Is Amy coming over this afternoon, Aunty Rose?’
Before Rose could reply Daphne said, ‘There won’t be time, Lily. I’ve already told you, Daddy and I are going out this evening, so we need to leave here quite early before the traffic builds up on the motorway.’
‘But Amy texted me. She’s at her grandma’s today and her Aunt Crystal’s got rabbits. She said I could see them.’
‘Oh, that’ll keep for another day,’ Daphne said impatiently, ‘besides, you’ve got your best clothes on and you might get dirty.’
The child looked crestfallen.
‘I could run Lily to the Briggs after lunch, just for a short time,’ Keir offered. ‘I’m sure Sophie would come with me and then you and Rose can spend some quality time together.’
‘What a good idea,’ Sophie enthused. ‘Now, if your mum agrees, what can I find you to wear, Lily? Oh, I know, you can put o
ne of my sweatshirts over your clothes to keep them clean.’
‘Oh, please, Mummy, just for a little while,’ Lily begged.
‘OK, but I’m leaving around four-thirty or we’ll never get back home,’ Daphne told her, not looking at all pleased, but also not wanting to lose face in front of the others, Sophie suspected.
They spent a delightful hour at the Briggs. Crystal took the girls off to see the rabbits and Keir and Sophie opted to come as well. Afterwards, whilst the two girls were enjoying some catch-up time, Mrs Briggs insisted on making tea and produced one of her famous fruit cakes which Keir and Sophie had to sample in spite of still being full from lunch.
Mr Briggs showed Keir a large urn-shaped vase he’d inherited from his grandmother and seemed pleased when Keir informed him it was probably worth at least a hundred pounds. The two men then became engrossed in a conversation about sport.
‘I wonder where those two lassies have got to?’ Mavis asked a little later.
She went in search of them and Crystal came to sit beside Sophie.
‘Alan’s taking me to see a film this evening. I hadn’t realised it was Mrs Harding’s birthday today or I’d have given her a card, but Mum’s going to send her one of her cakes. Daphne’s paying one of her rare visits then?’
Sophie nodded. ‘She and Aunt Rose are having a chat. Keir offered to take Aunt Rose out to lunch, but he came to us instead.’
‘Lily’s a lovely child. She and Amy get on really well, when they do get to see each other; both being only children. It’s just a pity Daphne seems to forget Lily needs to play.’
***
‘Well, that was a pleasant little interlude,’ Keir remarked on the short journey home. ‘Those are fine rabbits Crystal’s got, aren’t they, Lily?’
‘Yes, I’m going to ask Mummy if I can have a rabbit, but she’ll say no. She doesn’t like pets — says they make a mess.’
Sophie felt sorry for the little girl whose mother cared more about her appearance than letting her have any fun.
Aunt Rose and Daphne were finishing cups of tea when they arrived back.
Daphne got to her feet. ‘Right, we’d best be on our way. Come on Lily, get yourself tidied up and thank Aunt Rose for our lunch.’
