The Summer of Secrets

by Tilly Tennant

  Harper was silent as she watched him, his eyes bright, his expression full of love for his craft. Suddenly, she realised that her chin was resting on her fist and she was staring at him. She shook herself and reached for the teapot to top up their cups, hoping he couldn’t tell she was blushing.

  ‘Where are you from?’ she asked. He might think it was a nosey question, but perhaps it would take the heat out of the moment. ‘I mean originally.’

  ‘A little town called Åndalsnes,’ he said.

  ‘Sorry, I’m going to sound dim now. Where’s that?’

  ‘Western Norway. Situated on the Romsdalsfjord.’

  ‘It must be beautiful.’

  ‘It is.’

  ‘So why are you here?’

  He shrugged. ‘I like to travel. I came to England to see the places my mother grew up in.’

  ‘Your mother is English?’

  He nodded.

  ‘So how long will you be staying?’

  ‘Perhaps another six months, perhaps longer. I don’t know yet.’

  ‘I suppose it all depends on this book you want to write, does it?’

  ‘Yes.’ He clicked his pen closed. ‘I am supposed to be asking you the questions,’ he said, straight-faced but his eyes were bright with humour. Harper felt herself staring again, drawn to those orbs that seemed to hold the vibrant blues of the fjords within them. Now that she looked closely, they really were startling: the colour of storm clouds and lakes shot through with darts of indigo. Just to look into them made her feel all at once unnerved and yet safe, happy yet anxious.

  ‘Sorry…’ she replied, dragging her mind back. ‘Occupational hazard. Everyone always wants to tell me all about themselves when they come to visit the farm so I’ve got used to asking.’

  ‘I think that would be very good for me; I would get many stories from the visitors.’

  ‘Most of them amount to how far they’ve travelled that day to get to us, what the traffic was like and how many times their child was sick in the car.’ Harper grinned. ‘Not sure that’s the sort of detail you want in your bestseller.’

  ‘Perhaps not,’ he chuckled. ‘In that case, I will content myself with more of your story.’

  ‘My story?’

  ‘The farm,’ he said.

  ‘Right. The farm. I’ll do my best. I can’t promise it’ll be riveting.’

  ‘Could you get papers to say who has owned it in the past?’

  ‘I’ve never thought about it. I suppose the land registry might be able to give us that information. Microfiche at the library, parish records – that sort of thing. It’s not something I’ve ever had the time or inclination to do. As far as I was concerned, the farm was standing and it was mine.’

  ‘Would you approve if I researched the farm’s past?’

  ‘I certainly don’t have time. I don’t know what sort of official permission you’d need to search the history of somebody else’s property but I don’t mind if you’re allowed to.’

  ‘There are some documents I can get access to. We have already made good progress using online resources.’

  ‘You have? That’s good. And what have you found?’

  ‘Cesca does not know the significance of it yet. She’s asked me not to discuss it with anyone until she does. I hope you don’t mind.’

  ‘No, I completely understand.’ Harper took a bite of her shortbread. She understood, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t wild with curiosity. If Cesca wanted to keep it to herself for now, then it had to be significant. Perhaps the mystery was about to be solved.

  Chapter 22

  Cesca waited for Will to unlock the gates. Confused didn’t even begin to cover it. As the entrance to the driveway of Silver Hill House opened, Cesca drove out, while Will raised a hand in farewell behind her. Her mind was a cacophony of thoughts, all shouting for her attention. Had they just been on a date? They’d eaten a surprisingly good meal of omelette and green salad in the smallest kitchen of the house while they chatted about many things, not all of them concerning the find at the farm. While Will was hardly a natural at small talk, she did feel he was making a particular effort to be entertaining. The fact that she could see it was an effort told her that, but what had made him decide she was worth the trouble? She’d known him to be courteous but reserved, cold even at times, and yet all through lunch he’d been trying so hard to open up.

  What confounded her even more was that she’d enjoyed herself. Not in that careful way when new friends were still cautiously discovering each other, but in a way that felt familiar and comfortable. This was a side of him that didn’t scare her or repel her, but one she wanted to see more of. Even when she’d mentioned, tentatively, that he had to be prepared for the fact that the decision on the find might go against him, he’d been more gracious about it than at any other time since their first meeting. In fact, as she recalled, he’d been rather vocal about his entitlements during their first meeting.

  And then there had been another of those strange, charged moments as he left her to open the gates. He’d held her gaze, and for a moment she had the crazy idea that he might kiss her. But then he’d shaken her hand and strode off, eyes on the ground as he went, and she’d climbed into her car feeling confused and oddly incomplete.

  The clock on the dashboard showed five. Had she really been there all afternoon? Duncan would have left work by now, but his warnings about being absent from the office too often came back to mind. Despite feeling the need to go home and process her strange afternoon, if she wasn’t going to end up desperately behind in her workload, she’d have to go into the museum and get something done. At least her job allowed that flexibility, a fact she’d never appreciated quite like she did right now.

  * * *

  Back at the office, Duncan had left a scribbled note on her desk. Kristofer had called to speak to her, unable to reach her on her mobile, and said that he was going to Silver Hill Farm to see what else he could find out. Typical of Duncan, there was no time on the note so she had no idea when this would have been.

  Pulling out her phone and noting missed calls and a brief text from Kristofer telling her pretty much what was on Duncan’s note, she dialled his number. But this time there was no reply. It might have been worth driving up to the farm herself, but she’d just come from the area and it was likely the tearoom would be closed anyway. She’d try Kristofer again before she headed home, and if there was still no reply, then she supposed if he’d found anything new at all today it would wait until tomorrow.

  * * *

  ‘I think Terence likes you,’ Harper said, shooting Kristofer a sidelong look.

  He turned to her with a boyish grin. She couldn’t decide who looked more excited as they stood in the middle of the farmyard, knee-deep in pygmy goats and miniature sheep – the kids who usually visited or the soppy-looking Norwegian who was standing there right now.

  ‘My uncle used to keep goats,’ he said. ‘I haven’t fed one for years, though.’

  ‘I don’t know about your uncle’s but mine are excellent judges of character,’ she replied. ‘Terence more so than the others. So if he approves, then that makes you OK with me.’

  ‘I’m very glad to hear it.’ He gave a low chuckle as he rubbed Terence between his stubby horns. ‘I like you too, Terence,’ he said, bending down to talk directly to the goat. Terence gave a coquettish bleat.

  ‘See, he’s your new best friend,’ Harper said.

  Kristofer straightened up and turned to face her. ‘Thank you for a lovely afternoon,’ he said.

  ‘You’re going? But if you stick around a little while longer the bats will start to venture out and you’ll see them.’

  He raised his eyebrows. ‘Weren’t you very tired when I arrived? It is almost seven now and I have kept you far longer than I should have done.’

  ‘Ah, but that’s my fault. Any excuse to show off the animals and I’m there.’

  ‘You love them.’

  ‘I do.’

&nb
sp; ‘Your fiancé will be here soon, perhaps?’

  ‘He said he would be back to eat, but he’s late.’ Harper folded her arms, her good humour evaporating. Where was Shay? He’d promised to be back for dinner but at this rate they’d be going straight to bed. ‘But that doesn’t mean you can’t be here. Besides, he’s lived in this area all his life and he might be able to tell you a lot more than I can about its history; I think he’d be happy to talk to you.’

  ‘Perhaps. But he did not seem keen to talk to me when I met him at the pub.’

  Harper frowned. ‘You’ve already met Shay?’

  ‘I was having supper with Cesca after we left you the other day and he came to talk to her. But we weren’t properly introduced. He told Cesca that you needed the reward money for the farm.’

  ‘He keeps saying that but he has no right to. It’s my farm and I decide if I need the money or not.’

  ‘So you don’t?’

  ‘I didn’t say that. We could all do with a bit of help from time to time. But I’m not going to waste my life obsessing over it, particularly as it’s out of my control. It may well be awarded to Will, and if it belongs to him and his family, then that’s as it should be.’

  ‘You’re generous – and honest.’

  ‘Not especially. I just think it’s decent. I’d like to think that if the shoe was on the other foot Will would be that fair to me. And he’s trying very hard to make friends around here, despite a lot of the villagers not making it easy for him.’

  ‘He is not a popular man?’

  ‘He doesn’t seem to be, but I don’t know why. I know he can be quiet and serious and comes across as being a bit grumpy, but I think he’s a good man underneath it all. People should give him a chance. Just because his brother turned out to be a bad one, doesn’t mean he will.’

  ‘From what I’ve seen he doesn’t make it easy for people to like him.’

  ‘Like I said, he seems quiet and grumpy, but I don’t think he is. When people are nasty to you all the time, then eventually you’re going to cut yourself off from that. He’s just a little hedgehog rolling into a ball.’

  Kristofer threw back his head and laughed.

  ‘What’s so funny?’

  ‘Lord Frampton as a hedgehog,’ he said, chuckling.

  Harper gave a bemused smile. ‘You know what I mean.’

  ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I do. And I like very much the way you say it. You are nice.’

  Harper looked even more confused at this. ‘Thank you…’

  He smiled, seeming to study her as he did. Harper wasn’t sure what to make of the way it made her feel, but guilt was definitely one of her emotions. Shay had been absent for only a few hours and thoughts of others were creeping into her consciousness. What was wrong with her? If ever she needed Shay to come over and reassure her of normality, now was the time.

  ‘I must go,’ he said after a moment or two. ‘You will be OK?’

  ‘Always,’ she said. ‘I can hardly get into trouble out here with the goats, can I?’

  He tilted his head this way and that, as if weighing up the possibilities, before breaking into a grin. ‘Perhaps,’ he said.

  ‘Thanks for the vote of confidence.’

  ‘I am joking,’ Kristofer laughed. ‘Perhaps I should give you my phone number—’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Harper cut in hastily. ‘Thank you anyway. If Shay were to notice…’

  ‘Then he would think you have made a new friend.’

  If Harper knew Shay, especially given what she’d seen of his reaction to Will Frampton’s attempts to make friends with her, she didn’t think he’d take the addition of Kristofer’s number to her phone contacts well. He certainly wouldn’t assume innocent friendship. Harper vaguely wondered, as she looked up at Kristofer, whether he might have a point. Phone numbers were a definite no.

  ‘I think it’s best if you don’t,’ she replied, and it was hard not to wince at the disappointment evident in Kristofer’s now faded smile.

  ‘Of course,’ he said, nodding and obviously forcing a cheery tone.

  ‘But call in any time you like. There’s always cake and tea for you… and Terence would be happy to see you too.’

  ‘That’s very kind,’ he said.

  There was a moment when they simply looked at each other. With a friend, this was the point at which Harper would reach to give them an affectionate hug goodbye, and already she felt she’d become good friends with Kristofer. But what if it turned to something else? Her thoughts and feelings on the subject were so messy she couldn’t quite trust herself not to do something impulsive and stupid. She couldn’t be sure, but given the way he looked at her she didn’t think he’d fight her off.

  ‘I should let you go then,’ she said, stepping back slightly.

  ‘Goodnight, Harper.’ He turned to the stalls with a little bow. ‘Goodnight, Terence.’

  Harper smiled as Terence let out a bleat as if in reply. Kristofer gave her one last grin and turned to leave the farmyard.

  It was odd, but she missed him a little already.

  * * *

  Shay arrived an hour later, covered in cement dust and far from the considerate boyfriend who’d treated her to takeaway and wine the night before. Harper supposed he’d had a hard day and was as tired as she was, so she was content to let him go for a bath and fall asleep on her sofa, even though he could have done all that perfectly well at his own place and wouldn’t have been quite so miserable when she’d woken him to go up to bed. The part of her that had needed his attention and reassurance was far from happy, though. She could feel her grasp slipping, something shifting in their relationship and a vague sense of panic began to well in her. She’d always been so certain of what she wanted, and the thought of losing that certainty unnerved her.

  ‘I suppose you’re working again tomorrow?’ she asked as he brushed his teeth, almost knowing what his answer would be and that she wouldn’t like it.

  ‘Afraid so. Did you manage to sort some help?’

  ‘I was hoping I wouldn’t need to.’

  ‘I did say.’

  ‘I know… I suppose I’ll have to manage until Pip gets back.’

  ‘Have you heard from her?’

  Harper shook her head, leaning on the doorframe and watching him in the bathroom mirror. ‘I suppose she has a lot to sort out with Esther.’

  ‘I’ll be surprised if she bothers coming back,’ he said. ‘You should think about employing someone.’

  ‘I couldn’t do that, not until I know for sure.’

  ‘Suit yourself. If it was me I’d get something sorted sharpish – don’t want to be left in the lurch.’

  ‘It’s Pip’s job until she doesn’t want it – that’s how it works.’

  ‘Whatever… it’s your business.’

  Harper opened her mouth to mention Kristofer’s visit and his offer to help. She didn’t even know why she wanted to, knowing it would only put Shay in a worse mood. But the devil was in her, and she almost wanted to provoke the reaction, just to see what would happen. But then she closed it again, common sense grabbing her by the shoulders to give her a shake. On reflection, it was probably the last she’d see of Kristofer anyway after she’d refused to take his phone number, so what was the point of stirring things up for nothing?

  Chapter 23

  Exhaustion hadn’t meant sleep for Harper. Despite her eyes wanting to close, her brain had resisted, and she’d spent three hours listening to the steady rise and fall of Shay’s heavy breaths next to her before she’d finally succumbed herself. The alarm had gone off too early, and she’d seen him off to work, desperate to climb back into bed when he’d gone and curl up under the covers. But there was a farm to run and a tearoom to open and nobody but her to do it.

  With bleary eyes, she’d gone out to the farmyard to feed the animals and muck out the pens. She was keeping the petting zoo closed again, but the animals still needed tending to. Then it was back to the tearoom to sign for early
morning deliveries, stack clean cups and plates, restock snack shelves and lay tables with fresh flowers and clean cloths. By the time eight o’clock had arrived she was worn out and she hadn’t even had her first customer through the door. At least the day was overcast, the clouds low with rain. Not usually a cause for celebration, but it might mean that people were less inclined to take a drive out to the country to wander a farm and drink tea, and she offered silent thanks. Perhaps that was a business strategy best kept from her bank manager, though.

  It had been all too tempting to phone Pip and beg her to come back early, though she would never do that. The irony was, there had been no reason for her to lie awake with her brain racing – at least, nothing she could think of that made a bit of sense. But it was going to be another gruelling day running the place alone and all she could do was be ready for it.

  Half an hour after she’d opened for business, with the tables and chairs still waiting for the first patrons of the day, she turned at the sound of the door opening to see Kristofer walk in. She paused, phone clasped in her hand, halfway through a text to Pip to see how she was. To say that his appearance had surprised her was an understatement. After he’d taken his leave the previous evening, she hadn’t expected to see him again soon – if at all.

  ‘Good morning,’ he said. He glanced around. ‘You have no customers yet.’

  ‘It’s a bit early. To be honest, I’m not complaining. What brings you here at this hour?’

  ‘You said you would be working alone again today.’

  ‘Yes…’

  ‘And your boyfriend will not be coming to work with you later?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then I would like to help you.’

  ‘Well…’ she began, even more surprised by his offer than his early visit, ‘I couldn’t—’

  ‘I would not want to be paid,’ he added. ‘I want to help as a friend.’

  ‘I don’t know what to say… I mean, it’s lovely of you to offer but I’m sure you must have lots of things to do at home – your own work, for a start…’