by Jenny Lane
Chapter Eleven
Crystal was bursting to tell Sophie something when they met up after church.
‘You’ll never believe what I’ve just heard.’
‘If it’s to do with Erica Mercer then yes, I would. How did you know? There seems to be a bush telegraph in this village.’
Crystal looked disappointed. ‘Keir rang Mum just before we left for church. I suppose we shouldn’t be too surprised. After all Rowanbank is still Erica’s property. Anyway, it seems neither of them are likely to be around when Mum does the cleaning tomorrow morning.’
‘OK, well, here’s something you won’t know. Erica is wearing a large diamond engagement ring,’ Sophie told her friend and waited for her reaction.
Crystal was suitably surprised. ‘You’re kidding me! Well, she doesn’t believe in letting the grass grow, does she? Any idea who the guy is?’
She saw the expression on Sophie’s face and her eyes widened. ‘Oh, Sophie, surely not! You must have got it wrong ...’ She trailed off as her mother and Rose caught up with them.
***
That afternoon, Sophie threw herself wholeheartedly into helping Aunt Rose with the dolls’ house furniture. Later, after they had enjoyed a cosy tea in the sitting room, she indulged Aunt Rose by looking through some old photograph albums.
‘My goodness you and Aunt Mary were almost identical!’
‘In looks maybe, but our personalities were very different. I was born first. Mary was slightly smaller and always the weaker one. For that reason she always seemed to get her own way.’
Sophie looked at Aunt Rose in surprise. She’d always thought the sisters had been very close, but now she detected the slightest trace of bitterness in Aunt Rose’s voice. ‘When Mary married Hugh, our parents were still renting Laburnum Cottage from Hugh’s parents. These two cottages were part of the estate. It was an awkward situation, as you can imagine, so the rent was waived and then, when Hugh’s parents died, he inherited the whole estate and gifted both cottages to Mary. Eventually, when our own parents had also passed away, she chose to sell our old home, but to keep this one.’
Sophie tried to get her head round this. ‘So are you saying you still pay rent to Erica?’
‘Oh, no, dear. Mary left Rose Cottage to Tom and I ...’ She trailed off, as a thought suddenly occurred to her. ‘You don’t suppose that’s what Hugh meant, do you? Something of value that you’ve already got.’
Sophie’s eyes widened. ‘Well, I suppose he might have done, except it wasn’t Hugh who gave you this cottage, was it? It was Mary and, if you look at it a different way, you and Uncle Tom, and his family before him, had been paying rent to Hugh’s family for it.’
Aunt Rose’s face cleared. ‘Yes, you’re right, dear. Well, it’s no good thinking about it. We’re not likely to solve the mystery, so we might as well forget about it.’
Sophie kept very quiet, determined not to say anything about the boxes they’d found.
***
Sophie dreaded bumping into Keir, afraid that she might give her feelings away. She couldn’t avoid him at school, however, and found it difficult to concentrate during his pottery class.
A plaintive voice beside her wailed, ‘I can’t do it, Miss! This pot’s rubbish!’
Sophie endeavoured to help the young lad in her charge, but was all fingers and thumbs.
Seeing her predicament, Keir came across to sort it out. She was so aware of him as he leant across the table, and had a strong desire to reach out and touch him. Her emotions were in turmoil. At the end of the lesson, after the students had gone, Keir said, ‘We need to talk, Sophie.’
‘Do we?’ she asked shakily, gathering her possessions together.
‘You know we do! I don’t know what ideas you’ve got in your head, but we need to sort things out between us. Quite apart from which, there’s good news concerning those gifts intended for Rose and your parents. Erica went to her solicitor on Monday and Mr Hodge has arranged to come to Rowanbank on Friday and to distribute the items from there. Would you like to inform Rose or shall I? Obviously James Hodge will be getting in touch with both her and your parents.’
‘Right,’ Sophie said. ‘I’ll leave it to you then, as you’ve been dealing with it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must grab a quick lunch.’
She couldn’t meet his eyes, afraid of what she might read in them. As she opened the door, his hand shot out and caught her wrist, and it felt as if his fingers were burning into her flesh.
‘If you’d just let me explain about Erica and me ...’ he began.
‘There’s no need — absolutely none of my concern,’ she told him, shaking off his hand impatiently and turning, walked swiftly away down the corridor leaving him staring after her, wishing he’d been more upfront with her from the beginning.
He couldn’t bear to lose her, but until she’d arrived at Rose Cottage he’d truly believed there would never be another woman in his life after Nina. He sighed and asked himself for the umpteenth time why on earth Erica had had to complicate matters by her untimely and unannounced arrival. Although, he still wasn’t quite sure why Sophie was so angry with him.
Chapter Twelve
On his way home, Keir dropped into Rose Cottage to see Rose. Sophie was at a meeting and Rose suspected he knew this. She took one look at his face and put the kettle on.
‘I understand Erica’s returned to Rowanbank,’ she said, as she fetched the cups and saucers from the dresser. Keir examined the china thoughtfully.
‘Yes, but she’s up in London today. The thing is, Rose, we think we might have solved the problem of the missing gifts Hugh referred to in those letters left with the will. You see, Sophie and I were sorting through some of those boxes last week ...’
‘Go on ...’ Rose made the tea, poured Keir a cup and pushed the biscuit tin towards him.
Keir wished Sophie was there, sitting beside him at the table and was at a loss as to know how to put matters right between them. He sipped his tea, took a deep breath and attempted to explain to Rose Harding about the packages they’d discovered in the boxes.
‘Well, the pair of you have been busy,’ Rose commented when he’d finished. ‘And you say Erica’s been to see her solicitor?’
‘Yes, on Monday. At his request, John Munn’s been to see him too — with the packages. Mr Hodge has stipulated that the items will either have to be collected from his office or he’ll distribute them from Rowanbank on Friday. Apparently, he needs signatures.’
‘Well, I know James Hodge — Friday you say? I’ll get Sophie to speak to her parents tonight. Hopefully, they’ll be able to come then. They were going to visit us soon anyway.’
Keir cleared his throat. ‘Sophie and I — well, I’m afraid there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding. You see, Erica turned up at a rather inopportune moment and I believe Sophie’s got the wrong end of the stick.’
Rose Harding threw caution to the wind. ‘Keir, I’ve never pried into your personal life before. You wouldn’t have thanked me if I had, but perhaps you could just answer one question for me now, please?’
Keir turned a troubled gaze to Rose. ‘What’s that?’
‘Are you engaged to Erica Mercer?’
He paused for so long that she thought he couldn’t have heard the question. She was about to repeat it when he said, ‘No, Rose, I am not engaged to Erica — whatever gave you that extraordinary idea?’
‘I think you’ll find it’s what Sophie believes.’
Keir was astounded. ‘But what on earth would make her think ...’
‘Well, for starters, apparently Erica’s wearing a rather flashy engagement ring to say nothing of the fact that you two seem very friendly,’ Rose said quietly.
Keir’s face was a picture. ‘Right well I can assure you I’m not engaged to Erica or anyone else. Erica and I have known each other for a number of years. Circumstances have thrown us together.’ Keir hesitated. ‘Rose, I really need to tell Sophie this myself, and I’ve been wa
iting for the right moment. It’s not the easiest of things for me to talk about, but ...’
Rose sat and listened to Keir’s story and, when he’d finished, she placed her hand over his. ‘Oh, Keir. I’m so sorry. Life certainly deals some cruel blows, doesn’t it? Who else knows?’
‘My headmaster and his wife and a couple of my work colleagues. I was hoping that Sophie and I could exchange confidences. I felt we were forming a good relationship, but now she seems so distant.’
‘You must talk to her, Keir,’ Rose advised. ‘The problem is that she had her confidence severely shaken by a previous relationship and so, if she thinks she can’t trust you ...’
He nodded. ‘I’m aware of that. Do you know what happened? Has she confided in you?’
‘No. I only know what her parents have told me. How long is Erica proposing to stay at Rowanbank?’
‘Oh, she’s just here to tie up a few loose ends. Hugh’s will was rather complicated.’
‘And this man she’s engaged to?’
‘It’s her news — I’ll leave it to her to tell you,’ Keir said. ‘Now, about that other matter. Can I leave it to you to sort it out with Sophie’s parents? James Hodge will be in touch before Friday. You’re all invited to stay on to lunch at Rowanbank after the business side of things is concluded. Mrs Briggs has agreed to provide a cold buffet and I’m sure she’ll do us proud.’
Rose Harding made a sudden decision. Much as it went against the grain for her to set foot in Rowanbank whilst it still belonged to Erica Mercer, she was curious to know what James Hodge had to say about the packages found at Peggy Munn’s.
‘Thank you, Keir, that would be very nice.’
Rose would go over to Rowanbank and would be civil and she just hoped that Erica Mercer would be the same.
Chapter Thirteen
‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about,’ Erica told Keir that evening. ‘Why do we have to have these people over here, when James Hodge could perfectly well go to Rose Cottage?’
‘Erica! I know there’s no love lost between you and Rose and, to a degree, I can understand why things are awkward between the pair of you, but on this occasion, I really think it would be good if you could bury the hatchet and — well, be gracious. After all, although it wasn’t deliberate, you did make rather a bad error when you left those boxes with Peggy Munn.’
Erica pouted. ‘Oh, if you say so, darling. It’s such a pity Carlos is still in Spain, but his business is important to him. Now the most important thing on my agenda is to put Rowanbank on the market as soon as possible.’
Keir stared at her in disbelief. ‘You’re not serious?’
Erica smoothed back her blonde hair. ‘Deadly. We initially agreed that you’d stay here until Hugh’s affairs were sorted out and the craft centre got off the ground.’
Keir rubbed his chin. ‘Yes, but that was then. Now things are different. Erica, would you be prepared to wait just for another week or two?’
She considered. ‘I’ll speak to Carlos — see what he has to say. Anyway, I’m not likely to sell this place overnight, am I? You’d have plenty of time to scout around and find somewhere else, darling. To be honest, I can’t wait to get rid of the place. I never did like this house and now there are far too many memories.’
Keir did not reply. He was staring at a photograph of Hugh and Erica, as if trying to make sense of everything.
***
Sophie’s parents agreed to come to Penbridge on Friday.
‘It’s a bit short notice, but your father has some time owing to him and his boss is very understanding,’ her mother told her over the phone. ‘This is all very mysterious — and you say you were there when this neighbour of Rose’s discovered the packages in Peggy Munn’s shop?’
‘That’s right. Well, I’ll look forward to your visit on Friday, although I don’t suppose I’ll see much of you as you’re going over to Rowanbank almost as soon as you arrive. You’ll have to get back early for Gran, won’t you?’
‘No, June’s visiting her mother and your gran’s been invited along too. She gets on well with Sylvia. Anyway, surely you’ll be coming over to Rowanbank with us?’
‘Hardly, none of this concerns me, does it? I don’t think I’m invited.’
‘Well, not for the business part maybe, but surely to lunch,’ her mother said thoughtfully. ‘Now, what do you know about this man Erica’s engaged to?’
What could Sophie say about Keir? She realised that he’d become such a large part of her life so quickly. She found herself thinking about him every waking hour and she didn’t want to go over to Rowanbank to see him with Erica. Sophie knew she was hopelessly in love with him herself.
***
‘Could you do something for me, Sophie?’ Aunt Rose asked the following evening.
‘Well, of course, if I can.’
‘Oh, it’s nothing very arduous. I’ve forgotten to return this recipe book to Mavis Briggs and she can collect it tomorrow when she’s at Rowanbank. Apparently, Erica’s got her doing some extra jobs. So, if you can drop it over there for me and take some of these cheese scones I’ve made for Keir. I know he’s partial to them.’
Sophie could hardly refuse without seeming churlish.
It was a chilly evening and Sophie stood on the step at Rowanbank ringing the bell and rehearsing in her mind what to say.
A few moments later, Keir opened the door and the words went completely out of her head.
‘Hello, Sophie. Won’t you come in?’ he invited, giving her a warm smile.
When Sophie hesitated, Keir caught her by the arm and drew her inside before she could come up with a suitable excuse.
‘It’s far too cold to stand on the step,’ he told her firmly.
She held out the book and the scones and explained briefly.
‘I’m putting on pounds. All these ladies keep feeding me up — including the canteen staff at school. Come and have some coffee. It’s OK, Erica’s visiting friends, if that’s what’s bothering you. Come on Sophie, it’s high time we had that talk.’
‘I’m not sure there would be any point,’ she said unsteadily.
‘OK, we’ll have to see about that, won’t we?’
Reluctantly, she followed him into the sitting room.
‘Coffee — or I could run to a glass of wine — but promise me you won’t escape whilst I’m getting it.’
‘Coffee will be fine.’ She smiled, and sank back on the sofa, knowing she was incapable of moving, even if she wanted to. Her legs had turned to jelly. She supposed she could at least hear him out.
He returned in a short space of time with a tray of coffee and a plate of Aunt Rose’s scones.
After a moment or two she said, ‘So what exactly did you want to talk to me about?’
‘First and foremost, Erica is not engaged to me,’ he told her. ‘I can’t blame you for jumping to conclusions, because I haven’t exactly been open with you.’
‘You’ve been talking to Aunt Rose,’ she said unsteadily.
‘Perhaps it’s just as well I have, Sophie. I don’t want to lose you and I need to explain so that you will understand. Erica was my sister-in-law — technically still is, I suppose.’
Sophie stared at him as if transfixed. ‘Your sister-in-law!’ she repeated incredulously. ‘So what does that mean exactly? Are you married, divorced —separated?’ He shook his head. ‘None of those Nina, my wife, sadly died almost two years ago. She had a lengthy and painful illness.’
‘Oh, Keir, I’m so very sorry. I had no idea.’ She saw the sadness etching his face and wanted to put her arms around him and comfort him. No wonder he’d found it so difficult to talk about it with her.
They sat in silence for a few moments and then he said practically in a whisper, ‘A relatively short time ago, I couldn’t have mentioned Nina’s name. We had a wonderful marriage and were drawn together by our love of ceramics.’
‘Was she the talented potter you spoke of who made all those beauti
ful things you brought to the exhibition?’ she prompted gently.
He nodded. ‘We met at art college and got married soon after we graduated. Besides teaching part-time, we ran courses, held exhibitions and had studio open days — that sort of thing. Nina was incredibly talented, as you can see from her work.’
He pointed towards the wall unit. ‘She was beginning to make a name for herself when her illness was first diagnosed and she struggled on, in between bouts of treatment and operations, until she became too weak to continue. She had tremendous will power and determination. It’s what kept her alive for so long.’
‘Oh, Keir, you must have had a dreadful time.’
‘Yes, but strangely, it was during that period that I produced some of my best work. When Nina could no longer create her own ceramics, she took pleasure in what I was accomplishing. She was very unselfish.’
‘And she was Erica’s sister?’
He nodded. ‘Erica and Nina were as different as chalk and cheese. Erica is a far more restless individual. She loves to travel — used to worked for an airline at one time. That’s how she came to meet the man she’s going to marry. She’s known him for many years and he’s asked her to marry him before. Probably, if she hadn’t met Hugh, she would have done so. When Nina died, I’m afraid I became a bit of a recluse and Erica and Hugh were both very supportive. They persuaded me to do something in Nina’s memory.’
‘The craft centre?’ she asked, as things began slowly to click into place.
‘Yes. Hugh had been to several of Nina’s exhibitions and knew how keen she’d been to promote fresh talent. The craft centre was very much his brainchild. That’s why when Erica asked me if I could come here to carry on where he’d left off, in helping to set it up, I agreed. She’s good at delegating — sometimes too good, I have to admit. Anyway, it gave me a purpose in life again and I’ve loved being here in Penbridge. It’s given me a release and allowed me to move on with my life.’
