Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange

by Jenny Kane

  She’d never forget the expression on Shaun’s face when, fresh from finishing the section of filming, he’d spotted her talking to Ajay and Andy. A complex mixture of relief, happiness and unease had highlighted every line on his face.

  Having introduced Thea to Phil, Shaun excused them both for an hour. They’d walked away from the house, and on through the grounds, until he’d declared them out of range of anyone watching from the manor.

  The moor was almost desert like, with heathers and gorse bushes littering the earth, between vast expanses of nothing much. You could tell it had been a particularly dry summer just by looking at the edges of the plants, many of which had been charred by their unsheltered exposure to so much sunlight.

  Thea held herself a little apart from Shaun as she broke the silence. ‘I can’t be sure, but I think Sophie was watching me from a window in the house.’

  ‘She would.’ Shaun sighed.

  Feeling awkward, Thea said, ‘You didn’t tell the AA about the tarpaulin.’

  ‘No. They’re lovely blokes, but terrible gossips. I take it you did?’

  ‘I assumed they knew.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’ Shaun edged closer to Thea, but she pulled away.

  ‘Thea?’

  ‘Oh come on, Shaun!’ Thea’s heart raced as she saw his startled face. ‘You can’t think I’m thrilled that you took another woman out for coffee? What if someone had recognised you?’

  ‘That’s why I chose somewhere away from the dig!’ Shaun said. ‘I was trying to do the right thing for Mill Grange. I was—’

  ‘So why didn’t you tell me about it until afterwards? It’s been Sophie this, Sophie that, since you got here! I’ve been going out of my mind thinking you’d met someone else.’

  ‘What?’ Shaun was gobsmacked. ‘But I asked you to come here, and I’m so glad you did.’ Shaun shuffled closer, stroking Thea’s hair, as if trying to commit the touch to memory.

  Relief filled Thea, but she hadn’t finished making her point. Pushing his hand away, determined to stand firm, Thea licked her dry lips. ‘I started to wonder if… Well, Sophie’s younger and, no doubt, prettier than me and—’

  ‘Stop right there.’ Shaun shook his head fast. ‘I love you.’

  Thea stared across the barren landscape. ‘Even so. Absence makes the heart not only grow fonder, but also forgetful. I’m sure Sophie could be very tempting.’

  Horrified, Shaun pleaded, ‘I didn’t even notice she liked me.’

  ‘I know that now. Ajay told me. But sat in Mill Grange, not knowing what was going on…’ Thea’s sentences petered into a sigh.

  Shaun reached out again, gently turning Thea to face him. ‘I’m so sorry. These last few weeks have not been my finest. I’ve been so obsessed with finishing here and getting back to Mill Grange, I lost sight of things a bit.’ Shaun raked a hand through his hair. ‘I suspect I’ve hurt Sophie’s feelings as well. I honestly wasn’t thinking in date terms, but I soon discovered she was.’

  Thea rolled her eyes. ‘How could you not have realised how she’d see it?’

  Shaun groaned. ‘I was bloody stupid, wasn’t I?’

  ‘Extremely. Aren’t you lucky you have an understanding girlfriend?’

  ‘Damn right.’

  ‘That doesn’t mean I’m not a pissed-off understanding girlfriend who expects such idiocy to be made up for!’

  Shaun pulled Thea to his side as he realised how close he’d come to messing up their relationship. ‘I’m sorry, love. I’m glad you’re here.’

  ‘Me too, but I’m not sure how it will help.’ Letting him off the hook for now, Thea grimaced. ‘My arrival could make it worse.’

  ‘I can’t see how. If she sees you’re a living breathing person, and not a figment of my imagination, Sophie’s bound to give up her ridiculous pursuit, if she hasn’t already.’

  ‘Or she’ll feel she has nothing left to lose and do something stupid to make you really notice her.’

  Shaun sat up straight. ‘You don’t think she will, do you?’

  ‘I have absolutely no idea.’ Thea stretched her legs out in front of her, before bending her knees and hugging them to her chest. ‘I know nothing about her. Sophie knows I’m here though. I could feel her eyes boring into me from her bedroom.’

  ‘The only good thing about last night’s insanity was that she’s kept her distance ever since. Hopefully, that will remain the case until we leave.’ He sighed. ‘I should have listened to Ajay but I never for a moment thought…’

  Flapping Shaun’s naïveté away, Thea asked, ‘And when will that be? Leaving here I mean.’

  ‘Depends on what else goes wrong. And Phil.’

  ‘In what way, Phil?’

  ‘Although Phil was happy to have Sophie on camera to fulfil her mother’s condition of having the dig here, now he wants me to re-film nearly all the stuff Sophie did to camera. He doesn’t want Lady Hammett to think we’re pandering to her after what she’s done.’

  ‘That’s mad. It’ll delay things further and therefore play straight into her hands.’

  Shaun sighed. ‘On top of that, I can’t help thinking that almost erasing Sophie from the show will make things worse.’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘The local press and television news have been here. Sophie Hammett has become something of a local celeb; albeit a five-minute wonder. Removing her from our screen time isn’t going to make all this go away.’

  Thea stared out across the moor. ‘Is the re-filming all that will take up the remaining time here?’

  ‘It won’t help.’ Shaun picked up a stone and threw it angrily across the open ground. ‘To be honest, I can’t see how we’ll ever get to Mill Grange; I wish I could say otherwise. And what if Phil does take out Sophie’s bits and then Lady Hammett goes to the press?’

  ‘I can’t imagine her doing that.’ Thea played a fallen leaf through her fingers.

  ‘You haven’t met her.’ Shaun clambered to his feet. ‘Either way, we’d better crack on.’

  Thea got up too. ‘Shame the excavation at Mill Grange has to be done so soon; but with the site pivotal to the work therapy offered, it really is now-or-never excavation.’

  ‘Then it had better be now.’ Shaun got to his feet. ‘And if it doesn’t happen, at least I’ll have done all I can to try and get us there. Will you help me?’

  ‘That’s why I’m here, but I have no idea what I’ll be able to do. I’ve never had to deal with a girl like Sophie.’

  ‘No, I mean, will you help dig? With Sophie hiding, we’re a pair of hands down. I need you to wield a trowel. Are you game?’

  ‘Of course, but…’

  ‘But?’

  ‘How will Sophie react to her spot on the excavation being taken by someone else? Especially if that someone else is me?’

  Shaun grunted. ‘I’m sick to death of worrying about what Sophie will do. Come on, this is an important excavation. It deserves to be done well. Let me introduce you to the lost church of St Guron.’

  *

  Helen could not have been more relieved to see Woody if she tried. As his lopsided stride brought him towards the dig, she felt the tension in her shoulders ease.

  She had no real reason to be uptight, but with the sudden departure of Thea, and the imminent departure of Sam and Tina, the arrival of Tom felt like too much on her shoulders when she’d hoped for a temporary escape from responsibility.

  It didn’t help that she was awful at small talk. Only minutes after Tom’s arrival that morning, they’d lapsed into a silence that held a distinctively awkward edge to it.

  ‘Helen!’ Woody waved as he reached the edge of the site. ‘You haven’t escaped Mill Grange’s clutches either then?’

  She laughed, more from relief that someone had broken the tangible hush, than because of anything funny. ‘At least I just stayed. You left and still they rolled you back in.’

  ‘Always been a glutton for punishment. But fear not, I’m only here unti
l Sam’s back. I was in the area having a bit of an extended holiday.’ Woody grinned. ‘Anyway, Gertrude was pining for me.’

  ‘Gertrude?’ Tom put down the pile of trowels he was sorting into separate tool packs. ‘Is that a friend of Mabel’s?’ He gave the newcomer a smile. ‘I’m Tom. Just started as the archaeology tutor.’

  ‘Woody. That’s fantastic, I fancy a bit of that myself.’

  ‘For now I’m just getting to grips with the place and helping Helen. Although, I suspect I’m just getting in the way of a tried and tested system.’

  Helen felt herself going pink. ‘Not at all. It’s good to have company.’

  Woody, picking up the vibe that Helen was finding working with someone she didn’t know difficult, oozed enthusiasm. ‘That’s as may be, but I think I should steal you away for a moment. If you are under the impression that Gertrude is a friend of the amazing Mabel, then your Mill Grange tour is incomplete. Allow me to put that right.’

  ‘That’s very kind but shouldn’t I do this?’ Tom regarded the half-sorted tool packs at his feet. ‘It’s only my first day. Don’t want to get in trouble with the boss yet.’

  ‘Don’t worry about that!’ Woody held up his hands as if to say he came in peace. ‘It was Sam’s idea. He thought you’d like a proper look round the grounds and house so you’ll know where it’s safe to bring your lad.’

  ‘He did?’

  ‘Sure.’ Woody stepped back as if to say he was ready to lead the way. ‘He’s under the impression you’ll need to be on dad duty sometimes.’

  Unsure what to say, Tom put his work down and nodded to Helen. ‘I’ll be back later. Sorry about this.’

  ‘Not at all. Say hello to Gertrude for me.’

  As she watched the men go, Helen cursed. If she’d known he had a child she could at least have asked Tom about his son. It would have been something to say.

  What the hell do you know about children though?

  Thirty-Four

  September 24th

  The car was gorgeous. She knew that somewhere along the line there had to be an advantage to Sam’s condition, but she’d never dreamt it would be getting to ride across the south of England in a vintage car.

  Tina had always loved old cars. Now she and Sam were navigating the lanes of Somerset between Upwich and the Devon border from inside a dark green MG Roadster from 1969, with the roof down, so they could join the motorway at Tiverton, prior to heading towards Malvern.

  They’d set off at six in the morning. Sam determined that, if he had a confinement crisis, they’d have time to make a stop every half an hour if necessary. Wrapped in layers of clothing, Tina enjoyed the blow of fresh autumnal air against her face as they whizzed along. Grateful it wasn’t raining, she decided not to think about how gusty the experience might be once they reached the motorway.

  Having made the decision to go so she didn’t disappoint Sam’s mother, as they passed the county border and entered Devon, Tina resolved to just enjoy the moment. She would take the trip for what it was. Life decisions could be made afterwards.

  ‘You alright?’ Sam called out over the sound of the wheels and the light rush of air.

  Knowing she sounded wistful, Tina replied, ‘I just realised that this is the first time we’ve been together off the estate.’

  ‘So it is!’ Sam grinned. ‘We’ll get out more once we’re up and running. Just us, together.’

  ‘Will we?’

  Sam briefly averted his gaze from the road to look at her. ‘Why so surprised? Once the business is up and running, we’ll have more time.’

  ‘Time like this?’ As she patted the car affectionately, Tina felt herself smile despite the nagging doubts about their future.

  ‘I’ll be saving for a posh car then, will I?’

  ‘Maybe after we’ve sorted the house, mill and greenhouse.’

  ‘Spoilsport!’

  ‘We could hire this darling every now and then though.’ Tina stroked the dashboard. ‘Bosses’ perk.’

  ‘Deal!’ Sam grinned. ‘I got a quote sorted for renovating the greenhouse, by the way.’

  ‘Break it to me gently.’

  ‘Ten grand.’

  Tina blew out a gust of air. ‘Steep.’

  ‘Labour, time and original materials don’t come cheap.’

  ‘I suppose not.’ Tina sighed. ‘I think I’ll call him Augustus.’

  ‘The greenhouse?’ Sam gave his girlfriend a sideways glance before negotiating a bend in the road.

  ‘No! The car. Don’t you think a car as lovely as this deserves a stately name? Maybe Gus for short.’

  ‘You’re mad.’ Sam laughed. ‘Which is a very good thing in my opinion.’

  *

  Tina twisted around and looked over her left shoulder to double-check, before saying, ‘I think that was our turning, Sam.’

  ‘It was.’ He swung the MG around the roundabout, deliberately missing the junction for the M5. ‘I thought I’d show you something on the way.’

  Resting against the leather seat, Tina examined their unexpected surroundings as the car slowed to a steady forty miles an hour. The motorway, to her left, was quickly pushed from the view by fields of varying shades of green and yellow, dotted with sheep. To the right, a few cottages were butted up against the edge of the road. Each had an air of shock about them, as if the road system, at least thirty years old, was still a surprising encroachment on their space.

  A mile on, and the countryside to the right changed to rolling hills and sporadic clumps of woodland.

  ‘The Blackdown Hills.’ Sam slowed further as he indicated right. ‘Fancy breakfast in Elizabethan splendour? Assuming you don’t mind a short walk.’

  Having wondered if a breakfast picnic would be the right time to readdress her concerns about his hidden past, Tina dismissed the idea. No. Meeting his parents is nerve-racking enough, without Sam and me not being on speaking terms when we turn up.

  ‘I never mind a walk, but where are we going?’ Curiosity filled Tina as the car wove its way through a picture-book village and on down narrowing lanes.

  ‘You’ll see.’

  *

  ‘Wow!’

  Sam threaded his arm over Tina’s shoulders as, having left the car in a secluded lay-by, they’d strolled up a gentle tree-lined slope. Suddenly it had levelled out, becoming open ground, with a view that ran for miles. In the foreground, all alone, sat a circular stone-built hut.

  ‘Welcome to Culmstock Beacon.’

  ‘It’s incredible.’ Tina ran forward, ducking inside the low open archway that acted as a door. There was a slight dip in the floor, which paired exactly with a hole in the centre of the domed roof above. ‘Is this an original beacon hut?’

  ‘It is.’ Sam ducked in after her. There was only just room for two people. ‘The torch staff would be balanced in the hollow at our feet, and then the top would be lit. As you can imagine, it would have been seen for miles around, so everyone in the area would have known that the Spanish Armada was coming.’

  Delighted that such a historical treasure was only an hour from her home, Tina surveyed the scene. ‘Can you imagine the men on lookout, waiting to see if the beacon ahead of this one would be lit? Wondering if they’d ever have to fire this one, and then, waiting, hoping that the next beacon team would see it, and the signal for invasion would be safely passed on.’

  ‘If you come outside, we can sit on the bench that points in the direction of the beacon the locals would have been waiting to see alight; whilst hoping not to of course.’

  Joining Sam, who was delving for some breakfast in the backpack he carried, Tina stared out across the downs. She could easily imagine how it must have felt to wait, day after day, night after night, wondering if the fire would have to be lit on your watch, not really understanding what an invasion by the Spanish meant in a region so removed from both Portsmouth and London.

  ‘How did you know about this place?’

  ‘Before I came to Mill Grange I s
pent a lot of time wandering. Just me, my tent and enough supplies for a few days at a time.’

  Tina’s breath caught in her throat. ‘Before Mill Grange?’

  ‘Yes. This was one of my favourite places to camp.’

  ‘I can see why.’

  ‘I wanted you to see it. To share it with you.’ Sam drew Tina to his side. ‘I hadn’t realised I was making you feel left out. I’m sorry.’

  Relieved that he understood how distanced she’d felt from his former life, she whispered, ‘Thank you.’

  ‘I’d like to show you more. All the places – well, all the nice places – that I visited before I found where I belong. I can’t share the big things because I’m not allowed to, but there’s no reason to cut you out of the rest of my past. If you’d like to know about it, that is?’

  Tina rested her head on his shoulder. ‘I would like that very much.’

  *

  Stretching her arm up over her head, Thea yawned before rolling onto her side so she was looking at Shaun’s head on the pillow next to hers. ‘One of the best nights of very little sleep ever, I do declare.’

  ‘Why thank you, Miss Thomas.’ Shaun grinned. ‘Am I forgiven for being an idiot now?’

  ‘Let’s just say your position is under review.’ Throwing back the duvet, uncovering them both at the same time, Thea gave Shaun an appraising smile. ‘Maybe a colder than usual shower for you, Mr Coulson?’

  ‘Or you could join me for a quick hot one?’ Shaun batted his eyelashes. ‘Help take the sting out of the nightmare day ahead?’

  Thea grabbed his hand and tugged Shaun towards the shower room with a wink. ‘I assume, when you say hot, you aren’t referring to the water?’

  *

  The aroma of fresh-cooked bacon and eggs hit Thea’s nostrils as they wandered towards the pub’s dining room. Half an hour ago the idea of a fry-up had appealed; now as they headed towards a breakfast meeting with Phil, Ajay and Andy, Thea’s appetite subsided beneath a wave of anxiety.

  ‘Are you sure I should be part of this? I’ve only just arrived. I’d hate anyone to think I was interfering.’

  Shaun took hold of Thea’s hand. ‘You have heaps of experience on preserving dig sites and you’re an excellent archaeologist. Your opinion is valuable.’