by Jenny Lane
‘Oh, I can just stay seated and it’s a family service today, according to the parish magazine, so it’ll be fairly short.’
Sophie didn’t point out that the pews would surely be equally as hard as the village hall chairs. She hurriedly washed up, helped prepare the vegetables, slammed in the joint and set the automatic timer, before dashing upstairs to change into something more respectable than a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt.
***
The service was about to begin when Sophie helped Aunt Rose into a pew. A moment or two later they were joined by Keir. He squeezed in beside Sophie and shared her hymn book, singing lustily in a deep tenor. She was incredibly aware of him and tried hard to concentrate, but was getting wafts of his cologne. As he closed the hymn book his fingers brushed hers, sending a little frisson dancing along her spine.
A shaft of wintry sunlight filtered through the stained glass window of the Norman church streaking Keir’s fair hair with gold. Sophie pulled herself together with an effort.
The vicar, a family man with two children of his own, was excellent with the youngsters in the congregation. At the end of the service, he gave out one or two notices.
Looking across at Keir he said, ‘Keir Ellison would like me to remind you that he’ll be giving a talk on ceramics on Tuesday, in the village hall, at seven-thirty. Tickets on the door to include refreshments, courtesy of our church ladies, and all proceeds to the church roof fund. It’s good to know that Keir’s as keen to help with charitable works as Hugh Mercer, our last incumbent of Rowanbank was.’
A number of people swivelled round to look in Keir’s direction and he smiled. Sophie could see the tips of his ears had turned pink and wondered if he was as confident as he appeared.
‘Shall we stay for a coffee?’ Aunt Rose asked when the service was over. ‘I need to thank Frances for those eggs, and have a word with one or two other people I haven’t caught up with recently.’
Keir consulted his watch. ‘I’m off out to lunch, but a quick cup would be welcome. It’s a chilly old morning.’
‘We seem to be making a habit of this,’ Keir said, as he and Sophie juggled with cups of coffee and biscuits.
Sophie laughed. ‘Yes, tea and coffee do seem to figure rather a lot when we meet up. Last night you were about to ask me something when Peggy came into the kitchen.’
‘Was I?’ he frowned. ‘Oh, I remember. It was only to mention the talk. To tell you the truth, this is a new venture for me. I’m not used to speaking to this kind of audience and could do with your input.’
‘You could? I’m afraid that what I know about ceramics, you could write on the back of a postage stamp, although I’m fascinated and would like to come.’
They had reached Aunt Rose who had managed to secure a table in the small designated area at the back of the church.
‘Ah, well that’s exactly it,’ Keir continued, as he set down the cups of coffee. ‘If Rose can spare you, I thought perhaps you could glance through my notes tomorrow afternoon, see if they’re on your wavelength. I’m quite passionate about my subject when I get going, but I don’t want to get too technical.’
‘So you want me to come along, so that you can practise on me — use me as a sounding board?’
Aunt Rose paused in her perusal of the church notice sheet.
‘What a good idea. Well, you’ve certainly come to the right person. After all, Sophie is an English teacher, so she’s got plenty of experience. If this young lady stays with me for too long she’ll be fully occupied with all the demands on her time.’
Just then, Crystal and her mother came across and the conversation turned to other matters. Crystal gave Sophie a meaningful look as they were about to leave.
‘Will I be seeing you in the library this week?’
‘Yes, I ought to get myself some bedtime reading. I’ve just finished the paperback I brought with me,’ Sophie replied, realising Crystal wanted to have a chat with her.
***
‘Would you look at that!’ exclaimed Aunt Rose, as they sat enjoying a television programme about antiques. ‘That man’s had that ugly old vase stashed away at the back of his cupboard and it’s worth thousands! I wonder if Keir’s watching this.’
‘You haven’t got a vase of Uncle Hugh’s in the attic, have you?’ Sophie teased.
‘No, dear. I’ve thought about all the things he gave Tom and I over the years and the keepsakes that used to belong to Mary, but I can’t come up with anything that has anything more than sentimental value.’
Sophie nodded sympathetically, having heard her parents say much the same thing.
‘It’s good that Keir’s so keen to support local events, isn’t it?’ she remarked.
Aunt Rose nodded. ‘We’re lucky to have him around. He’s an asset to the community. No wonder he and Hugh got along so well. He’s a man after Hugh’s own heart.’
Sophie stared at her. ‘I’d no idea Keir knew Uncle Hugh. You haven’t mentioned it before.’
‘Haven’t I, dear?’ At times Aunt Rose could be infuriatingly vague, Sophie had discovered. ‘Anyway, it’s now that’s important and I’m glad the two of you seem to be getting on so well.’
‘So you won’t mind if I go over to Rowanbank tomorrow afternoon, then?’
‘Good gracious no. Anyway, Frances said she’d call in to discuss the Easter Fayre. It’s a bit early, but she’s a great believer in forward planning.’
Chapter Four
As Sophie went through the hall on her way upstairs on Monday morning, she realised Aunt Rose was on the phone.
‘It’s your mother, Sophie. We’ve had a chat, so I’ll pass you over — here she is, Anne. Bye for now.’
‘Hi Mum, how are things your end?’
‘Fine — what about you, dear? Rose sounds in good spirits.’
They chatted away for a minute or two and then Anne Burnett said, ‘The main reason I’m ringing is because someone called Lynne, from the agency’s, just phoned. She wasn’t prepared to speak to me, so I fobbed her off by saying you were away for a few days and would get back to her ASAP. Apparently, she hasn’t got your mobile number and I didn’t like to give it to her without your permission.’
‘Thanks, Mum. I’ve got the agency’s number here, so I’ll get back to her now.’
‘Look, love, if you want to take the job, I can come down to be with Rose for a few days.’
‘Actually, Mum, I’m enjoying being here in Penbridge. There’s quite a lot going on and I’ve met up with Crystal Briggs again. So if Aunt Rose doesn’t mind, I think I might just stay on for a while longer.’
‘Really? Well, I think you should consider paying Rose for your keep, if you do that, dear. She’s a pensioner, after all.’
‘Yes, I’ve already thought of that, but I’ll need to be tactful. I’ve got a bit put away so I don’t need to worry about finances just now. How much do you suggest?’
Anne chatted to her daughter for a bit longer, ending by saying, ‘I’m glad you’re happy there, and Rose tells me she’s enjoying your company. Anyway, if you change your mind let me know and I’ll get straight in the car. It’s fairly quiet here at the moment and Tim and your dad can fend for themselves for a while.’
‘I’d be more than happy for you to stay as long as you feel able,’ Aunt Rose told Sophie. ‘It’s lovely for me to have your company, but as for paying for your keep — I should be paying you for all the jobs you’re doing for me.’
Sophie decided that when she went shopping she would pay for the purchases. It was the least she could do in the circumstances.
There was a sharp frost coating the grass like icing sugar. Aunt Rose decided to stay put and, after breakfast, Sophie assembled the ingredients for the Victoria sandwich Aunt Rose had insisted on making and, by the time the sun was making a watery appearance, the cake was cooling on its stand.
Sophie set off with a list and full instructions on how to get to the various places, including the farm shop.
; ‘I usually get a lift with Mrs Cole from church, but she’s got a bad cold,’ Aunt Rose had explained. ‘Anyway, I’ve plenty to occupy me here until you get back. Take your time, dear. And I heard Crystal asking if you were going to call into the library. I’ve got another book to return, if you’re going in that direction.’
Sophie realised she was going to have a busy morning and she hadn’t even phoned the agency yet. She drove to the farm shop first and stocked up on fruit and vegetables, and then sat in the small car park and spoke to Lynne at the agency.
She was offered a post which started with immediate effect in a school a few miles from the one she’d been working in. The member of staff had had an operation and was unlikely to be back at work this side of half term.
After she’d turned it down, Sophie sat for a few minutes longer, wondering if she’d made the right decision. She’d had no intention of staying more than a week or so when she’d first arrived in Penbridge, but there was something about the place that made her want to stay on. It was good meeting up with Crystal again. She smiled, and admitted to herself that, in spite of her better judgement, part of the attraction for staying on was Keir Ellison.
Having finished her shopping, Sophie popped into the library which was deserted, apart from a couple of students using the computers and an elderly lady selecting a large print book. Crystal grinned at Sophie.
‘I was hoping you’d drop by. Do you fancy a coffee? We’ve just got time for a ten minute breather before the kiddies come for their story-telling session.’
Crystal called across to her assistant who was tidying one of the shelves and disappeared out the back to return, a few moments later, with two brightly coloured mugs and a packet of chocolate biscuits.
‘Emma will have her break later. We take it in turns,’ she explained. She lowered her voice. ‘I think I’ve struck gold, Sophie. Alan’s gorgeous. We went out again yesterday afternoon and it’s all thanks to Keir.’
‘I thought you two looked as if you were hitting it off on Saturday.’
‘I’m not into blind dates as a rule, but Alan’s so lovely, so how could I resist? Anyway, you seemed to be getting on well with Keir.’
‘Oh, I should imagine Keir is one of those fellows who gets on well with everyone,’ she said nonchalantly. ‘He seems to have thrown himself into life round here.’
‘So do I take it you’ll be at his talk tomorrow night, then?’
‘Yes, although I’m not sure about Aunt Rose. How about you?’
Crystal beamed. ‘Alan’s volunteered to do the visual aids so, yes, I certainly will.’
‘Actually, I’ve been invited to Rowanbank this afternoon.’ Sophie explained.
‘You should be so honoured. Of course, I keep forgetting Hugh Mercer was a relative of yours.’
‘Yes, he was my father’s cousin, but he was miles older, which is why my brother and I called him Uncle Hugh. Anyway, I doubt if that has any bearing on anything where Keir is concerned. He hadn’t a clue who I was when I first turned up.’
‘Well, he certainly does now — he got Mum to fill him in. She’s a positive mine of information about local folk and their families.’
Sophie would have liked to question Crystal further — ask a few more questions about Keir — but she didn’t want to give her the wrong impression. After all, it was just idle curiosity about the man who had come to live in her late uncle’s house who seemed to be occupying more and more of her thoughts.
‘It’ll be interesting to find out what happens when Erica returns,’ Crystal commented.
Startled, Sophie stared at her friend. ‘How do you mean? Erica’s not likely to return to Penbridge, is she? Now that she’s sold Rowanbank.’
It was Crystal’s turn to look surprised. ‘But she hasn’t sold Rowanbank. Whatever gave you that idea? She’s just renting it out to Keir whilst she’s in Spain. That’s why it’s still full of her things.’
Sophie tried to get her head round this.
‘I’m sure Aunt Rose is under the impression that Keir’s here for good.’
‘Perhaps it’s best left like that for the moment. After all, Mrs Harding didn’t exactly hit it off with Erica, did she? Hugh Mercer had to go over to Rose Cottage if he wanted to see her.’
Sophie stared at Crystal, suddenly sensing there were things here that she didn’t understand. Setting down her coffee mug, she returned Aunt Rose’s book, selected a couple for herself, on Crystal’s recommendation, and left just as several small children were being shepherded into the library by their parents.
***
Rowanbank was a red brick house built in the 1930s. Sophie hadn’t set foot in it for a number of years, but she still felt a sense of pleasure as she stopped for a moment to admire it.
Keir ushered her into the study which was a small, book-lined room with a coal-effect gas fire, making it seem cosy. It had been Uncle Hugh’s domain and, apart from the fire and some new plum-coloured, velvet curtains, Sophie didn’t think it had changed much from when she’d previously seen it.
Keir sat opposite Sophie and shuffled some papers and, for the next hour, she listened and commented as he gave her an outline of his talk.
‘I don’t want to blind people with techniques or masses of history,’ he explained. ‘So I thought I’d just begin by giving a few examples of early pieces of pottery found in the area — show some illustrations of what they would have looked like originally — before moving on to stuff one might find in a church.’
Sophie frowned. ‘You mean like a chalice or patten, but surely most of those were made from silver.’
‘True, but some might have been ceramics. And then, there are the harvest jugs which are interesting. Moving on, I plan to touch briefly on the Staffordshire potteries and then show some slides to include Clarice Cliff and Moorcroft. I’ll finish off by giving a few examples of my own efforts and those of my students. I also plan to have some work on display in one of the side rooms. What do you think?’
She nodded. ‘It’s fascinating, but you must have got enough material for several talks there.’
‘Mmm, I’ll obviously need to keep an eye on the clock. I’ll round off the evening with a question and answer session, followed by refreshments for those who want to stay.’
‘I’m looking forward to it,’ Sophie assured him with a smile.
‘Come into the sitting room and have some tea — thanks for your input, Sophie.’
Over tea, she surveyed the duck-egg blue walls and the modern drapes and cream leather suite. Erica had certainly put her mark on things here. Sophie recalled the rather sober magnolia wallpaper and beige curtains that had been there previously and felt a sudden pang for how things used to be. The pictures were not to her taste either — gone were the gentle rural scenes, which had been replaced by rather bland Chinese prints.
Sophie wondered if they belonged to Keir, but somehow didn’t think so.
As if reading her thoughts he said, ‘Those are Erica’s. Apart from a few of my personal possessions, everything’s just as she left it.’
‘Well, this room is certainly very different from the way I remember it. No wonder Aunt Rose gets a bit emotional when she mentions it.’
Keir gave her a steady look from rich brown eyes. ‘But from what I understand, Rose would have opposed anything that Erica set out to do. They didn’t exactly hit it off, did they?’
‘That was hardly Aunt Rose’s fault,’ Sophie said, springing to the elderly lady’s defence. ‘I don’t believe she was made to feel welcome at Rowanbank once Erica had got her feet under the table.’
‘You don’t appear to like Erica either,’ he remarked. ‘What’s she done to you?’
‘Nothing! I don’t know what you mean. I scarcely know the woman. We only met on a couple of occasions. We weren’t invited to the wedding, which apparently was a very low key affair, but my family met up with Uncle Hugh and Erica for a meal when they were staying in St Albans. And then we met up with them again,
when they were in London for one of Uncle Hugh’s charity dos.’
Sophie was uncomfortably aware that Keir was studying her quizzically, a slight frown on his face.
‘Anyway, what’s it to you whether I like or dislike Erica? I suppose you’re going to tell me you’re a friend of hers.’
‘Yes. Actually I am. She’s allowing me to live at Rowanbank for a nominal rent whilst she’s in Spain.’
Sophie stared at him open-mouthed. ‘You mean Erica might be coming back here to live?’ she asked, when she’d found her voice.
He shrugged. ‘It’s early days yet. She hasn’t exactly found Penbridge a friendly place.’
‘Then maybe she should either work at it a little harder or consider moving away for good and starting afresh,’ Sophie said caustically, and then could have bitten her tongue, as she saw Keir’s severe expression.
‘Harsh words, Miss Burnett, but you don’t know all the facts.’
Sophie stood up, eyes smouldering. ‘I’m not sure I want to. But I do know none of my family have felt welcome here since Erica set foot in the place. It’s as if she wanted to erase all that had gone before. Aunt Rose was deeply hurt by Erica’s attitude and we’re bound to support her.’
‘Quite,’ he said reasonably. ‘I’m glad you’re so loyal. This subject’s obviously something we both beg to differ over, but that doesn’t mean to say we can’t be friends, does it?’
He caught her hands between his so that she was powerless to move, feeling the magnetism between them. Her eyes flashed as she surveyed him, long lashes sweeping her cheeks and he had a sudden overwhelming desire to kiss her, but instead found himself saying, ‘Has anyone told you, you have the most beautiful eyes, and when you’re angry they’re magnificent.’
For a moment, he’d rendered her speechless. Her colour heightened and her heart beat painfully against her rib cage. She gave him a little smile.
‘You can’t win me over by turning on the charm, Keir Ellison,’ she remarked, trying to keep her voice steady.
‘No, but I can always try,’ he rejoined and, bending forward, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her on the tip of her nose. ‘Thanks for all your help with my talk, Sophie.’
