by Jenny Frame
Would Quade ever meet anyone who would be more than a companion or friend to her? She looked at the picture of her aunt and uncle on the dresser and said, “Aunt Julia, if there’s anyone in the world out there for me, help me find them.”
She shook her head. “What am I doing? First my dog and then a picture.”
Quade stood and drank the last of her tea. “Come on, Dougal, let’s get back out to the fields. There’s fence to mend.”
* * *
“Mummy, I’ll be fine,” Penny said as her mother Lavinia squeezed the life out of her at the bottom of the stairs.
“You’ll be all alone in the country, with no one to check on you.” Her mother’s overprotectiveness wasn’t meant to be overbearing. She meant well, as did her father and all her family. Ever since her first epileptic attack at school, they had been constantly protective and vigilant.
But she couldn’t live like that twenty-four hours a day any longer, like the last few months.
“I’ll be around people all the time. It’s a small village,” Penny said.
Hugo added, “Mum, Harry lives there. She’ll watch out for Pen.”
Lavinia brushed Penny’s hair from her eyes. “Just promise me you’ll keep in touch all the time and take it easy. No stress. I don’t want you in hospital again.”
Penny kissed her mother on the cheek and smiled. No one would believe that a woman as accomplished and dedicated to her career as a Lavinia Huntingdon-Stewart, who had a long career in politics as a campaigner for women’s rights, and now sat in the House of Lords, found the time to be such a devoted mother. All her children adored her, as did her husband, and Penny felt guilty for pushing her away sometimes.
“I promise I’ll take care of myself.” Penny looked at Hugo. “I don’t need anyone to look in on me, but I promise I’ll call you all the time. Now let me say goodbye to Daddy.”
They walked into the drawing room, and she saw Princess sitting on her father’s lap by the fire. Her father, Guy, wasn’t in the best of health, having suffered with heart problems for the past year.
“Little Pen, come here, my darling.” Her father beckoned her over.
She went over and knelt by his armchair and stroked her dog. “Has this little rascal been keeping you company, Daddy?”
“Yes, she’s a good girl. Are you leaving now, Pen?” Guy said.
“Yes, all set. I’m going to miss you.” Penny took his hand and smiled.
“I wish you didn’t have to go. Your mother is going to worry terribly, and me. I don’t like the thought of you staying alone.”
“I promise you, I’ll take care of myself, but I have to get back out there. Into the business world, on social media, make videos, concentrate on my career and build it back up.”
Social media had always baffled her father and trying to explain to him how you could make money and run a business on it was hopeless, despite the fact he was the cleverest person she knew. Up until he retired from his professorship at Cambridge, he was one of the world’s top quantum physicists.
Guy took her hand and kissed it. “I’ll never understand what you do, but I’ll always defend your right to do it, my Little Pen.”
Pen stood and hugged her father. “Thank you, Daddy. I love you and I’m going to miss you.”
“I love you. Take care of yourself,” Guy said.
If Penny didn’t make tracks soon, she would never leave her loving family. She felt guilty for pushing them away. All they did was give, and she pushed.
She took a breath and found her steely resolve. “I better get going.”
Penny opened her Louis Vuitton dog bag and patted the floor. “Come on, Princess Baby Bear. Time to go.”
Princess jumped off her father’s lap and ran over to Penny. She sat nicely beside the bag, panting with excitement. Already wearing a white polka dotted pink jumper, Princess sat patiently while Penny slipped four shiny pink boots on her paws.
Once they were on Penny leaned down and said, “Kiss.” Princess gave her a kiss, then followed her instruction to jump into the bag. “We’re all set to go.”
One last kiss to her father and she was walking with her mother out to the car. Her brother was putting the last of her bags into the minivan in front of her white sports car.
Penny shouted to the driver of the minivan, “Just go ahead, Martin. I’ll be leaving in a few minutes.”
Her regular driver Tom opened up the door to her pride and joy, her white Ferrari. She climbed into the passenger seat and placed Princess on her lap.
Penny’s parents always thought it strange that she bought a car, and such an extravagant and powerful car, when she wasn’t allowed to drive because of her condition. But to Penny it was a symbol of what she’d achieved in business. She’d bought it with her own money and not her trust fund.
The minivan pulled away, and she said to her mother and brother, “You two go in. I need to shoot some video before I go.”
Lavinia rolled her eyes. “All right, well, phone me as soon as you get there.”
“And tell Harry we all miss her at Cambridge,” Hugo added.
Penny gave them a bright smile. “I will.”
Once they walked back inside, Penny said to Tom, “I just need to shoot some video before we leave.”
“No problem,” Tom said.
Penny stroked Princess’s head. “Mummy’s just got to make a quick video, and we’ll go to have fun in the country—well, as much fun as mud and cows can be,” she said with a sigh.
On her dashboard was an elaborate set-up of video camera and microphone. She set her phone in a holder beside it and checked her appearance in the mirror.
“Oh God, look at my lippy,” Penny said. She quickly pulled her handbag from the back seat and got out her make-up bag. She quickly reapplied her lipstick and looked to her dog. “How do I look?”
Princess barked happily in response, and Penny smiled. “Fabulous? Just like I thought.”
She put her things away and lifted Princess onto her lap before pressing the button on her video camera.
“Hello, friends!” Penny lifted Princess’s paw and waved it at the camera. “Say hi to Penny’s friends, Princess.”
She imitated a baby voice for her dog and said, “Hi, Penny’s friends.”
Then she kissed the dog’s snout and addressed the camera. “This is just a quick video to tell you about the start of life’s next great adventure for Princess and me. We are just about to drive to a little village in Kent—yes, that’s right, we’re bringing Penny’s Kitchen to the country. Let the fun begin!”
Penny shut off the camera and posted the video, as well as the photo she took earlier, and turned to Princess. “Let’s make this fabulous, Princess.” Then to her driver, “Let’s go, Tom.”
* * *
Quade left her farmhands to finish the fence without her. She was due up at the estate manager’s office for a planning meeting with Mr. Stevens. Since Harry had appointed Quade assistant estate manager, much of her farm work had to be delegated to her farmhands. It certainly kept her busy, and Quade liked to keep busy.
“Come on, Dougal,” she called to her dog, and he ran after her. She was just coming out of her field when she heard a sports car roaring up the road. They didn’t see many sports cars in Axedale. Lady Harry had a couple, but nowadays a Land Rover was more her style.
She stopped and watched a white Ferrari slow as it approached her. The blacked out window lowered halfway and revealed a woman with long blond hair, sunglasses, and glittery bright pink nails. There was a man driving and a little dog barking on the seat with the woman, making Dougal bark back excitedly. “Quiet, Dougal.”
The woman still hadn’t looked up and was animatedly engaged in a phone conversation.
“Hang on a sec, Olivia. We need to ask directions.”
She looked up and Quade saw the woman’s lips were the same luscious pink colour as her nails.
“Excuse me? Could you tell me where Northwood Cottage i
s?”
“Northwood?” Quade said with surprise. No one had lived in Northwood Cottage for years. “It’s just a mile up the road and to the right—”
Before Quade could say any more, the woman said, “Thanks. Got that, Tom?” The woman put something in Quade’s hand and zoomed off.
Quade looked down at her hand and saw she had given her a five pound coin. “She tipped me? What am I, a bloody waiter?” City people. “Come on, Dougal. We need to make a quick call before we head up to Axedale.”
Chapter Two
Penny walked around the living room of Northwood Cottage while talking to Olivia on speakerphone. “I know I said traditional cottage, but there’s traditional and too traditional. It looks like it hasn’t been redecorated in a hundred years.”
Penny’s suitcases were sitting at the bottom of the stairs, and her camera and editing equipment was piled on the sofa and chairs in front of the fireplace.
“It’s rustic, Pen. That was the brief. I sent cleaners, people to set up your internet connection, and filled your freezer, fridge, and cupboards with all the supplies you’ll need to start with. What more do you need?”
Penny sighed and looked at the fireplace. It was empty and desolate just like the rest of the house. How on earth was she meant to make a fire?
“I thought it would be cosy and warm at least. This place hasn’t been lived in for a long time. I’ve got to make it look warm and inviting for the viewers and set up the camera and sound equipment”—Penny threw her hands up in the air—“and write the book. I don’t know how I’ll ever get it all done.”
She walked into the kitchen and laid her phone down on the kitchen table, then held her face in her hands. It was all so overwhelming.
Olivia was quiet for a few seconds then said, “Do you want me to send down a production team for you? You know that’s what I wanted for you.”
“No,” Penny said quickly. “You know I do this on my own, Olivia.”
She heard Olivia sigh. “You’re so stubborn. If that’s what you want. Besides, stumbling and learning new things is part of the charm of your show. This could be big for you, Pen. I’ve got some American networks sniffing around.”
Penny, who was looking in the Aga and trying to figure out how it worked, stood up suddenly. “What do you mean sniffing around?”
“They’re interested in bringing you to American TV. They love the idea of the upper-middle-class socialite with a cooking show. They love your YouTube channel, and this new little English village vibe just adds to the charm.”
Penny started to feel the buzz of excitement that success in business gave her. It was everything she wanted, for Penny’s Kitchen to be a household name on both sides of the pond.
Suddenly the cottage was now a challenge, a means to an end for success. “I can do this, Olivia—just keep them interested. If we want to launch a Penny’s Kitchen range in America, a TV show could be a perfect vehicle. Only, no live shows. You did tell them that?”
“Of course. I promised you I would never ask you to do that again after…” Olivia hesitated.
Penny remembered the fear and dread of being on one of the biggest live daytime shows and feeling the telltale signs of a fit coming on. The video of her fitting had gone viral and embarrassed her to her core.
When she woke up in hospital, she thought her business and career, her way to succeed, had been ruined, but this idea of Olivia’s was her chance to give a shot in the arm to her company.
“I’m going to make it fabulous.” Penny smiled.
“That’s my girl. I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.”
Once Penny hung up, her dog started to bark at the front door. “What is it, Princess?”
She walked over and opened the front door just in time to see a Land Rover driving away. She looked down on the doorstep and saw a box of chocolates with a note sitting there. Penny lifted them up and read the note.
Dear Miss,
I don’t need a tip for giving directions. I own the farm next door. I used your money and bought these chocolates for you. Enjoy them.
Yours faithfully,
Sam McQuade
Penny laughed. “Oh my God, how old-fashioned. Dear Miss and Yours faithfully?” She hadn’t really noticed who had given her directions, and it was just second nature to tip anyone who helped her in her social circles.
Penny looked down at Princess and said, “Someone’s feathers are ruffled. We better smooth them over. We don’t want to make enemies this quickly.”
Princess barked and followed her inside.
* * *
A few hours later Penny got a box of her signature muffins she had brought from London to give to Harry and changed into a short pink floral-print dress. She popped Princess into her bag and walked down to where she had asked for directions. There was a small dirt road which led up to a farmhouse just over the brow of the hill.
Penny looked down at her heels, then back to the dirt road. “Princess? Do we really walk up there?”
It was a tough choice, but she didn’t need any enemies already, so she said to Princess, “Looks like we’re walking. Let’s hope this grumpy farmer appreciates my sacrifice.”
Gingerly Penny began to walk up the dirt road. She swayed as her heel stuck in the mud, nearly toppling. “Bloody Olivia. City girl in the country will be great. Yes, funny for everyone else that sees me falling on my backside at every turn.”
She finally got to the top of the hill and lifted her head. Penny stopped breathing when she saw the most delicious, tall, sturdy, well-made butch chopping wood at the front door of the farmhouse.
“How very Lady Chatterley,” Penny said smiling.
That must have been the woman on the road. She never noticed how gorgeous she was when she stopped to ask for the directions.
Penny stood silently, gazing at her swinging the axe. The butch was wearing just a white sleeveless T-shirt, and every time she swung the axe, Penny could see the play of her solid muscles and broad shoulders. Her jeans hung perfectly on her hips, and she wore heavy work boots that just added to her sexy ruggedness. Penny had never really seen anything like her. No one she had ever been out with in London had been quite like this rural farmer.
Maybe the country would have its compensations.
Just then a black and white collie dog came out of the house barking excitedly, and the farmer looked up. Penny took a step forward, tripped, and came crashing to the ground.
Princess was barking, and suddenly Penny had a flashback of falling as she fitted on live TV. Panic and embarrassment spread through her.
* * *
Quade ran over and lifted the woman’s head off the ground, supporting it gently. Dougal was barking, and a little poodle dog the woman was carrying was barking, making the scene all the more chaotic.
“Are you all right, miss?”
“Let me up,” the woman said angrily.
Quade held her there. “Take it easy. You could have broken something. I’ll check you over.”
“No.” The woman pushed against her, and Quade had no choice but to help her to her feet but took care to take her weight.
“What’s your name?”
“Penelope Huntingdon-Stewart.”
Quade wasn’t expecting that accent or that name. She sounded just like Harry and Bridge, and there wasn’t a person in the country who was taught history at school that didn’t know the name Huntingdon-Stewart.
“Okay, Penny, I’ve got you. Just be careful.”
Penny put her right foot down and cried out in pain. Quade scooped her up in her arms without a second thought and started for the farmhouse.
“What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?”
Quade ignored her and said to Dougal, “Watch out for the little dog, Dougal. I’ll come back for it in a minute.”
She looked down at the beautiful woman in her arms, and her heart skipped a beat, despite the scowl on Penny’s face. When she had looked up and saw what Dougal was barkin
g at, she nearly dropped the axe on her foot. The vision of Penelope Huntingdon-Stewart looked so out of place in her driveway. She appeared as if she had just stepped out of a designer store in London and had a chauffeur-driven car waiting for her. Was she dreaming? Penelope was like some kind of vision she had concocted in her mind of everything she found attractive in a woman. A tumble of long wavy blond hair, a beautiful figure, and with her luscious pink lips and nails, so utterly female.
“You better put me down, right now,” Penny demanded.
“I will in a second—I’m just trying to help you,” Quade said.
Why was she being so difficult?
Quade kicked open the living room door and carried Penny over to a leather armchair in front of the fire. She got her seated and brought over a footstool.
“Okay, let’s put your foot up here, and I’ll go and get your dog.” Penny grimaced as Quade lifted her leg onto the stool. “What’s his name?”
“It’s a she. Princess Baby Bear,” Penny said while she shifted about trying to get comfortable.
Quade burst out laughing. “Princess Baby Bear? You’re having me on.”
Penny looked up at her with indignation. “Her name is Princess Baby Bear.”
Quade held up her hands, “Okay, okay, touchy. I’ll get Princess Baby Bear.”
When Quade walked away, Penny brought her hands to her face. Her ankle was throbbing, she’d just made a complete fool of herself, in front of the stud farmer, and had to be carried in like a child. Like an object of ridicule.
More than the pain of hurting her leg, she felt the remembered humiliation of all the other pupils laughing at her and imitating her epileptic fit. Children were so cruel. And not just children. Even as she grew up, Penny always seemed to find herself on the ground, and feeling stupid.
Although she had to admit being carried in the sexy farmer’s strong arms was nice, she’d laughed at her. People always laughed.
