‘Tell me,’ Jane responded, eager to hear more.
Gerald smiled at her as he continued. ‘He has discovered that Miles Ashington’s son also changed his surname to Ashington a few years ago.’
Jane was surprised. ‘Gosh! They certainly mean to keep the Ashington name going,’ she laughed. Then she was serious. ‘But I’m amazed how Eric manages to find all these things out.’
‘You haven’t seen him when he really gets going.’ Gerald chuckled, almost to himself.
‘You know what I think.’ It was Anna who suddenly piped up.
Jane and Gerald regarded her, waiting for more.
Anna put her cup down on the table. As she did so she remarked casually, ‘I think this Miles Ashington married your mother for her money.’
Anna’s remark brought forth a smile from Jane. At one stage before she met Miles she had thought the same.
Gerald was silent. He stroked his goatee beard, as he was in the habit of doing when thinking something through. He was the first to speak. ‘One thing that has always puzzled me a bit is why your mother never made any provision to extend some of her fortune to you – her only daughter!’
‘She didn’t want me. She never came near me. I’ve been told so.’
‘Umm. It’s strange, though,’ Gerald remarked, still stroking his beard.
‘What was this Miles Ashington like to talk to?’ asked Anna, moving to offer Jane more tea.
Jane thought for a second before replying. ‘Well, before I met him I felt a bit nervous. But I needn’t have been. He’s really rather sweet and quite easy to talk to.’ She hesitated for a second, and then continued. ‘He and his wife Gail invited Bob and me to dinner last Saturday. They were both really nice.’ She paused again. ‘Actually, they’ve invited us to stay at their cottage in the West Country. We’re going there later this month.’
Gerald and Anna were surprised at Jane’s news.
‘You seem to have made a hit there,’ observed Gerald with a chuckle.
‘Perhaps he looks upon you as his daughter,’ piped up Anna.
Jane smiled. Since Saturday she had begun to consider that possibility herself.
Gerald just smiled back.
The conversation continued for a short while. Anna wanted to know the exact place they were going to for their weekend break and told Jane that she had read in the newspaper that the weather was going to be exceptionally good at that particular time.
Eventually Jane took her leave, anxious now to phone Bob and give him the news.
It was almost half past eight when she eventually called him on her mobile from the comfort of the settee. She could hear the phone ringing at the other end for quite a while before he answered it.
‘Hello. Bob Harker.’
‘Bob, it’s me.’
‘Hello, me.’
Jane jumped in with her news. ‘Bob, I’ve got everything fixed. A weekend starting the Thursday we talked about is fine. I’m covered at work and I’ve booked that slot.’
‘Great! That’s first class!’ Bob sounded as excited as she was.
Jane was anxious to relate the rest. ‘I phoned Miles, and Gail is going to arrange everything with the person who looks after the cottage.’
‘You’ve done a good job. I might just keep you on,’ Bob was joking with her again.
Jane was more serious. ‘Darling, I’m really looking forward to it. A few days away, just with you. And the sea isn’t far away – we’ll be able to go swimming. I told you I’m going to get a new bikini,’ she ended up breezily.
‘I’ll buy you one,’ Bob chipped in suddenly.
‘You don’t know my size,’ Jane teased him.
Bob was confident. ‘Yes I do. Dress 12, and size 5 in shoes.’
Jane was surprised. ‘How do you know my dress size?’ she asked, almost laughing.
‘Aha. Ways and means. What I want to know I find out.’ She could tell Bob was grinning all over as he spoke.
She feigned a sigh. ‘A girl just can’t have any secrets these days.’
‘I’m afraid not, poppet. Not with me around.’
‘Hmm. I shall just have to be more secretive. That’s all.’ Jane gave another pronounced sigh.
Bob changed the subject. ‘Anyway, how’s work? Anything to report?’
Jane went into a résumé of snippets of news about things that had occurred at work since she had last spoken to him. In turn she wanted to know what had been happening with him. In the end they were on the phone for over half an hour. Jane spent the rest of the evening playing on her laptop with the family history program.
*
It was the buzz of her internal telephone that distracted Jane from her work the next morning. It could only mean one thing: Annette wanted to speak to her. She picked up the phone and answered with her usual, ‘Hello. Jane.’
Annette’s voice came over loud and clear. ‘Jane, can we get together sometime this morning?’
Jane smothered a sigh. ‘Of course. Now, if you’re free.’
‘That would be excellent.’
‘I’ll be right up.’
Jane replaced the telephone. That was the end of her work for half an hour or so. She made her way up to the editor-in-chief’s office.
Annette was helping herself to coffee from her machine when Jane entered. She looked up. ‘Ah, come in, Jane. Would you like a coffee?’
It was about the time of the morning when Jane or Amy usually made some coffee. Jane readily accepted Annette’s offer.
‘You don’t take sugar, do you?’ Annette was already moving towards Jane with a cup of coffee. She retrieved her own and settled herself in her comfortable chair. She regarded Jane for an instant as she sipped from her cup. ‘How’s the Patterson article going?’
The Patterson article was a feature that Jane and Amy had been working on.
‘We’re all ready now for publication next month,’ Jane assured her.
‘Excellent.’ Annette took another sip of her coffee. She studied Jane again. ‘How long have you been with us now, Jane?’
Jane had not been anticipating a personal question. She wondered what Annette was up to. Her answer was simple. ‘Just over three years.’
‘How do you like working here?’
Jane could not quite comprehend why Annette was asking such questions. Once again her answer was brief and to the point. ‘Fine.’
‘And what about the future? What plans do you have?’
Jane was on the point of asking Annette why she was asking all these questions, but she decided to bide her time and simply reply with short answers. ‘I have no immediate plans for the future,’ she replied, concentrating on drinking her coffee.
‘But you have a fiancé. Are you planning to get married?’
This was the limit, thought Jane. ‘We have no immediate plans for marriage,’ she replied rather curtly. She did elaborate a little. ‘We are both quite busy at present,’ she added. Then, before Annette could reply, she said, ‘Why do you ask?’
Perhaps Annette noticed Jane’s concern, or perhaps she had gleaned enough information. Either way, her approach changed. She thought for a few seconds, then looked closely at Jane as she replied. ‘I had a big meeting with Olgins last week. We are going to start another magazine and I have been asked to get it under way.’
She paused for an instant and then continued. ‘It will mean that I will be away from this office for longer periods.’
Jane wondered what was coming next, but as it looked as if she was expected to respond to Annette’s last statement, she gave another vague answer. ‘Oh, I see.’
‘It has been proposed that we rename your position here Assistant Editor and employ another person in the office to help you and Amy out. What do you think of the idea?’
Annette took another drink of coffee and studied Jane for her reaction.
Jane thought for a minute. What was being proposed was very little different from what was happening now. The main difference would
be that Annette might not be around quite as much.
Perhaps Annette read her thoughts, because before Jane could reply she spoke again. ‘Of course, it’s not such a major change, Jane. After all, you do quite a lot of what’s being proposed already.’
‘I can’t see any major problems,’ replied Jane rather cautiously. At the same time she reflected that with Annette out of the office more she and Amy might be able to get on with their work without the frequent interruptions when she was around.
‘Of course, you will be reimbursed for the extra workload,’ Annette insisted.
Jane smiled slightly. ‘That will be nice,’ she replied politely.
‘Of course, nothing is going to happen for a few months yet,’ stressed Annette.
‘That’s fine,’ replied Jane. She then spoke her thoughts. ‘That might be a good time to make changes – when the holiday season is over.’
Annette nodded in agreement. Then, concluding that the conversation about Jane’s future was finished, she launched into other matters. How was this going? What was happening about that?
It was a good hour later when Jane returned to her desk.
As she had come into the office early, Jane took a slightly extended lunch break and used the opportunity to do some shopping and buy a few items for her forthcoming break with Bob. She spent some time shopping for a new summer dress for the holiday and eventually found just what she wanted: a knee-length white dress with a pleasing neckline and bare shoulders, just right for a warm summer evening. She hadn’t intended to buy shoes, but on her way past the shoe department she spied a pair of white high-heeled shoes, a perfect match for the dress she had just bought, and ended up purchasing them. Next, she spent quite a bit of time selecting what she considered were sexy items of lingerie to surprise Bob. She hesitated in the swimwear department, wondering whether Bob would remember his promise to buy her a new bikini. In the end she bought one, remembering that her current swimwear was well past its sell-by date. If Bob did get her a bikini, she would keep this one for a later appearance.
She returned to the office slightly later than she had intended, quite laden with bags but well pleased with her purchases.
Walking home from the station that evening, she reflected on recent events. She felt that life was good. She had a positive and loving relationship with Bob, and at long last she had discovered her true identity, albeit not quite what she had expected. Now she had a pleasant holiday break on the horizon and she was looking forward to a restful few days in the country alone with Bob.
Unfortunately, she was not to know at this stage about the traumatic events that were about to unfold.
Chapter 36
‘This must be it.’
It was Jane who uttered the words, as she fixed her attention on the turning off the road that was looming up ahead of them. Bob instinctively slowed the car down.
‘Yes, It is. Look.’ She pointed to a sign indicating Barn Cottage.
Bob made a careful right turn, bumping over a cattle grid between two stone pillars. The wooden gate was already wide open. Beyond stretched a rough road that eventually disappeared round a corner out of sight.
They drove along the track in silence, each consumed by suspense and curiosity. It had been an early start for both of them. Jane, excited by the prospect of her holiday, had packed everything the evening before. She had arrived on Bob’s doorstep just after eight o’clock in the morning. After a quick cup of coffee they had started out for the West Country. Now, almost at their goal, she and Bob both felt that their holiday break had already begun.
All the arrangements had gone to plan and a few days earlier Gail Ashington had telephoned Jane and given her all the instructions. The last days at work had been frantic for Jane as she cleared up items prior to her few days off. She had hardly had any time to think about her proposed new role in running Discerning Woman magazine, though she had discussed it with Bob and both of them had agreed that in some ways it was going to be hardly any different from what she was doing now unofficially. The difference, as Bob pointed out, would be that now she would have the official title and receive more money for her efforts.
‘Oh! Isn’t it charming?’ Jane almost squealed with delight as their destination suddenly appeared in front of them. Barn Cottage could not conceal its origin as an imposing stone barn standing on the edge of a large field, but it appeared to have been beautifully converted. Ornate leaded windows had been cut into the stone walls, and the entrance was a solid, varnished wooden door. A wrought-iron handle had been crafted to operate the door bell, and this was matched by the words ‘Barn Cottage’ scrolled in the same black metal on the wall alongside. Hanging baskets filled to the brim with bright flowers adorned the walls at intervals. Further decoration was provided by several water butts finished to match the door, and an old cartwheel leaning against the wall.
Bob drew the car to a halt on the gravel that surrounded the building. A rather battered 4x4 was already parked there.
‘That must be Mrs Potter’s,’ he remarked as he switched off the engine and prepared to get out of the car. They had telephoned Mrs Potter as arranged from their last stop at a motorway service station, to announce their impending arrival. Jane was already half out of the car and regarding the 4x4. It was certainly an aged and dilapidated model.
At that instant the front door of Barn Cottage opened and a rather plump, cheerful-looking middle-aged woman approached them. She was full of smiles. ‘Ah, here you are. Did you have a good journey?’
They did not have a chance to respond to the question before their host held out her hand and announced, ‘I’m Maggie Potter. It’s nice to meet you both.’
Jane shook Maggie’s hand. ‘I’m Jane Carroll and this is my fiancé, Bob Harker,’ she replied.
Maggie grabbed Bob’s hand. ‘Pleased to meet you.’ She beamed at him.
Bob had no time to reply before Maggie spoke again. ‘Now, come inside and I’ll show you everything.’ She was already preparing to move back towards the entrance door.
Obediently they followed her into the building.
Their first impressions drew exclamations of surprise and admiration from both Jane and Bob.
‘Gosh, it’s really nice and inviting,’ observed Bob, quickly glancing round.
‘It’s super,’ enthused Jane.
From a tiny entrance hall they had entered a large sitting room. Two roomy leather settees faced a stone fireplace with a wood-burning stove. A dining table and chairs occupied one of the walls. An open wooden staircase wound its way up to a balcony, which looked down on the room. Solid wooden doors opened up from there. Freshly cut flowers adorned the room, and a large bowl of fruit stood on the table. For a second or two Jane and Bob stood speechless as they took in the scene.
Maggie watched them, smiling confidently. ‘This place was a ruin before Mr Ashington bought it and renovated it last year.’
‘Good for him. It’s a fantastic conversion,’ replied Bob, looking at the exposed beams overhead.
‘Gail Ashington chose all the furnishings herself,’ Maggie continued. ‘She’s very talented that way. More so than Mr Ashington’s previous wife, Gillie.’
‘Have you known the family very long?’ Jane asked her, curious to know more.
Maggie seemed to want to give them information. ‘I’ve worked for Mr Ashington for over ten years, ever since he bought the big house near here. Wait until you see that.’ She smiled at them.
‘Is it far from here?’ asked Bob.
Maggie grinned at them. ‘Across the fields, it’s only about a quarter of a mile, but if you go by road it’s a mile or so. Mr Ashington has done wonders with that place as well,’ she added. ‘It was almost derelict when he bought it twelve years ago.’
Jane was about to ask Maggie another question, but Maggie wanted to talk about something else.
‘Gail tells me you’re a long-lost member of the Ashington family.’
Jane laughed. ‘That seems to
be the idea at the moment,’ she replied breezily.
‘Well, you couldn’t be part of a better family,’ asserted Maggie. Then she announced, ‘Let me show you everything else.’
Three solid doors opened off the room. Maggie proudly threw open each one in turn, extolling the contents of each room beyond. One door led into a bright and cheerful kitchen that looked out onto the entrance road. Another led to a tiny cloakroom. When Maggie opened the third door, both Jane and Bob gasped with surprise. They were looking into a large bedroom complete with its own en suite bathroom. It was the size of the bed that impressed Jane.
‘The bed – it’s huge!’ she exclaimed.
Bob chuckled. ‘King-size,’ he remarked.
‘There’s more upstairs,’ Maggie announced, leading the way to the ornate staircase.
The three of them climbed the wooden steps slowly and carefully.
‘Careful you don’t slip,’ warned Maggie.
Jane and Bob paused for a second to look down on the lounge below, but Maggie was already opening other doors. One led into a second bedroom, not quite as big as the first, but equally impressive. A second bathroom was adjoining.
Maggie had something else up her sleeve. Smiling at Bob and Jane, she marched to the end of the balcony, drew a curtain and quickly unlocked a glass door, which led out onto an extension of the balcony. She held the door open for Jane and Bob to walk through. Folding chairs and a table were stacked against the wall outside.
‘Phew. It’s fantastic!’ exclaimed Jane, looking around her. The balcony had been built out from the main building of the barn and was almost suspended over the cornfield, which stretched away into the distance, ending at some trees on the horizon.
‘An ideal place to have breakfast,’ observed Bob, looking over the safety rail at the field below.
‘Nice place for a cup of tea,’ remarked Maggie, winking at Jane.
‘It’s wonderful. I am going to enjoy staying here,’ replied Jane enthusiastically.
They stood on the balcony for several minutes, enjoying the view and the feel of the warm summer breeze on their faces and the smells of the countryside it brought with it. Eventually Maggie made a move as if she wanted to finish the tour. Jane and Bob took the hint and followed her downstairs.
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