Glancing at her soaps, though, she couldn’t help but think that although they were pretty good, they were also very plain.
A nearby sprig of lavender that had somehow escaped when she had been cutting them up caught her eye. She picked it up and pressed it into the top of the soap.
Not bad, she thought. Quite pretty, in fact.
But it still needed some kind of wrapping. A label telling the customer what the ingredients were. She tried and failed to think up any kind of cover. Then she struck on an idea.
She picked up her phone and sent a text. Hey Megan, she typed. When you’re back from your holiday, I’m going to be in dire need of your fabulous marketing skills.
In fact, during the time Megan was away, further changes were happening. Her Mum was now officially dating Ben and Eleanor couldn’t remember seeing her looking so happy.
Ben had also been a huge help with redistributing the last of the animals. He had found a donkey sanctuary in the next county and arranged for Daisy to join them. Any tears on her mum’s part had faded when she saw how happy the donkey was to be with her new friends.
Arthur had new tenants in one of the larger cottages that were next to a field as part of the estate. He had a word with them and it turned out that they wanted to become as self-sufficient as they could. So the chickens and the goat went to them.
‘Goodbye Buttercup,’ Eleanor had said as she was loaded onto a trailer.
‘She’s going to a really good home,’ said Arthur, who had come to ensure that all went smoothly. ‘And your mother can visit any time she wants.’
‘That’s very kind,’ said Eleanor.
She realised how considerate everyone was being towards her mum, including Arthur and Rose. This wasn’t about a tenant and her landlord. This wasn’t even about the troublesome animals. This was about community. Helping each other.
And as the house cleared of animals, they had begun to sort through her mum’s stuff. Most of it was destined for the recycling bin. Other boxes went to charity. But gradually the house felt lighter. Free. Happier. Just like them.
‘I might even paint in here,’ said her mum that morning, looking around the now quite spacious hallway.
Eleanor smiled at the memory. Everything felt so much better these days. So when the phone rang from her editor later that afternoon, she found herself letting it go to voicemail.
She replayed the message later on. Theresa was pressurising her about a story on Tommy King. She wished, for the umpteenth time, that she had never sent that text all those weeks ago after the charity walk. But Theresa would give up eventually. There wasn’t any story to tell. Besides, she didn’t want to be part of that world any more.
She wanted to stay in Cranley.
It was time for a new beginning. For all of them.
Chapter 46
The peace and quiet of the countryside in summertime was somewhat overshadowed by the arrival of Hazy Memory later that week.
Tom knew that they were the first band that Sam had ever managed and had been apparently named after a wild weekend in the early seventies which none of them could remember.
Annie told him that they had all met the band at Christmas. ‘They’re lovely,’ she said. ‘Not at all what you would think.’
But when Tom watched them clamber out of a silver Bentley, he realised that the band looked exactly as he had thought. Five leather-clad rockers with long hair and wrinkles that showed a wild social life.
The driver was Mick, the infamous womaniser and scratchy-voiced lead singer.
‘What happened to your old jag?’ asked Sam, walking across the driveway to shake his hand.
‘Broke down on the Kings Road,’ said Mick. ‘Now gone to the big scrapheap in the sky. But this is the replacement.’
‘Nice,’ said Sam. ‘But couldn’t you get anything more reliable? You know, perhaps something built in this century?’
Mick scoffed. ‘Leave off. It’s a classic. Besides, are you kidding? I could barely afford this with our royalties.’
Hazy Memory had the dubious honour of recording the most annoying Christmas single of all time. They all hated their one big hit song but knew it was the only way to make a living.
As they were enthusiastically shaking each other’s hands, Tom glanced over to see Eleanor making her way across to greet them. She was wearing a vest top and denim shorts. Nothing special but his insides still lurched as the lust unexpectedly slammed into him. He had thought of little else since their so-called fake kiss by the river. For him it had been anything but. And then there was the gentle, kind Eleanor who had come with him to his gran’s flat. He was falling for her in a big way.
So he watched in irritation as Mick turned his gleaming eyes towards her.
‘Hello, gorgeous,’ he said. ‘And what might your name be?’ He was a well-known ladies’ man and Tom desperately didn’t need him turning his attention towards Eleanor.
‘This is my friend Eleanor,’ Annie told him.
‘Gotta love that song,’ said Mick, breaking into a tune. ‘Elenore, gee I think you’re swell,’ he sang.
The rest of the band joined in for the chorus and Tom was surprised that they actually had decent singing voices, although that didn’t make him feel any easier about how he was leering at Eleanor
When they stopped singing, Annie asked, ‘So how are you Mick?’
‘Wondering how you ended up with my manager as always, beautiful,’ he told her.
Tom found himself relaxing somewhat. It appeared that Mick flirted with absolutely everybody.
‘Leave off,’ said Annie, blushing.
‘I agree,’ said Sam, putting an arm around his fiancée’s shoulders. ‘Definitely leave well alone.’
‘Anyway, I thought your new girlfriend was joining us this weekend,’ said Annie, looking around.
‘Oh. Yeah,’ said Mick, apparently having temporarily forgotten her. ‘Raquel’s coming here tomorrow if that’s okay?’
‘Sure,’ said Annie, with a shrug. ‘All the guest bedrooms are more or less finished.’
‘Are you sure you can’t put this lot up in the barn instead? With all the other animals?’ drawled Sam.
‘That’s no way to talk about our guests,’ said Arthur, heading across to join them.
‘Hello, Your Lordship,’ said Mick, shaking Arthur’s hand. ‘Good to see you back on your feet.’
‘Thank you, Mick. Lovely to have the pleasure of your company once more.’
‘Hello, gorgeous!’ said Mick, the lead singer, heading across the gravel. ‘Oh, and you too, Alex!’
‘Thank you!’ called Alex who had also just arrived.
Mick embraced Alex. Sam had confided in Tom that they had built up a friendship based on mutual respect, with a side-line in insults.
Alex stepped away and scrutinised Mick. ‘Whoever said you could pull off matching leather trousers and a jacket was obviously blind.’
‘It works well with the ladies,’ said Mick, with a twinkle in his eye.
That was an understatement, thought Tom, who knew of Mick’s reputation. He might have been tall and gangly, but his youthful blue eyes held a permanent glint, that he used to the best effect with the many ladies that he had wooed over the years, including his three ex-wives. With his long, dark hair, he had all the hallmarks of a classic rock star, albeit one now enjoying middle age.
‘Mind you,’ carried on Alex. ‘I suppose all that squeaking disguises the sound of your arthritic hips. You know, one day I will get you lot out of that leather.’
Mick laughed. ‘Ha! You wish, darling. I’m way out of your league.’
Alex hung back with Tom as they all began to head indoors.
‘It’s nice the way people still admire ancient relics,’ said Alex, shooting a grin and wink at Tom.
Sam gave him a nudge. ‘It’s so good to have you all here.’
Tom enjoyed the rowdy but fun evening spent wining and dining on the patio in the late sunshine.
&
nbsp; ‘Any advice for a newcomer like Tom here,’ said Sam.
‘Don’t get divorced, mate,’ said Mick with a sigh. ‘My ex-wives have cleaned me out.’
‘I was thinking more in the career stakes,’ said Sam, rolling his eyes.
‘What career?’ said Howard the drummer, helping himself to another piece of cake.
Sam frowned. ‘What’s up with you all? You’ve all been miserable since you arrived. Isn’t all this enough for you?’ He waved his hand around as they sat on the patio under the pergola.
‘It’s lovely but we’re just a bit fed up,’ said Mick. ‘Feeling the need to shake things up before we get too old, you know?’
‘What did you have in mind?’ asked Sam, looking interested.
‘You know, I got that message to ask if I wanted to go into the jungle,’ said Mick. ‘That I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here thing.’
‘What happened?’ asked Annie.
‘I realised that I couldn’t do without the three biggest things in my life. Coffee, curry and sex.’ He shot Eleanor a cheeky grin.
Tom gripped his glass a little harder. Which was ridiculous, he told himself. Mick had almost thirty years on him. Eleanor wouldn’t be interested in someone as old as that.
‘Why are you wearing leather trousers in this heat?’ asked Alex. ‘You must be all sweaty.’
‘Weight loss?’ said Ron, with a grin.
‘It’s what our fans expect,’ said Mick, leering at Eleanor’s legs in her shorts.
‘You should do a cover of “Suit and Tie”,’ said Alex.
‘Justin Timberlake?’ Mike rolled his eyes. ‘We could own his skinny arse.’
Alex grinned. ‘Can you sing like him?’
‘Better, love. And we’re more handsome too.’ He grinned before stretching out on his chair. ‘This is the life, eh? Nice digs in the summer to retreat to.’
‘Are you coming to our summer fete?’ asked Rose.
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world, sweetheart,’ replied Mick before looking at Annie. ‘What fete are we talking about?’
‘Willow Tree Hall has one every year,’ she told him. ‘On bank holiday Monday. We’re hosting the whole thing here.’
‘Excellent. Can’t wait.’
Annie smiled, but Tom could see that she was inwardly grimacing. She wasn’t sure Hazy Memory, with their leather outfits and long hair, were quite going to fit in with her dream of bunting and home-made cakes.
He, on the other hand, was finding himself enjoying their company.
As long as they kept their hands to themselves and well away from Eleanor, of course.
Chapter 47
Megan had come back from her holiday glowing both with a suntan and happiness. As they sat on the patio at Willow Tree Hall in the shade, Eleanor thought that her friend hadn’t looked so relaxed for years.
‘We’re going to save up every year for a holiday,’ said Megan. ‘It’s done us both the power of good.’
She was also hugely enthusiastic about helping Eleanor out with the business.
‘You need to think about pricing,’ said Megan, running down the list of notes she had made. ‘You also need to conjure up some other stuff to make. Creams with something other than carrot or lavender. You’ve got to speculate to accumulate and all that.’
‘Okay,’ said Eleanor.
‘Is it okay with you if I create a website?’ carried on Megan.
‘Sure,’ said Eleanor, laughing. ‘I haven’t got a clue about that kind of stuff. But only if you’ve got the time.’ She looked over at Annie but she was busy stressing about the fete. The worry now included the potential weather forecast.
‘Do you think it will be too hot on the day?’ she asked, looking across the garden. ‘Will we need to put up some shade?’
‘Of course, it might actually rain instead,’ drawled Megan.
Annie spun round looking horrified. ‘Oh God! What if it does? What will we do?’
Rose, who had just arrived home, smiled down. ‘Darling, we will soldier on and survive,’ she said, putting her arm around Annie’s shoulders. ‘Just like Willow Tree Hall has all these years.’
Knowing how stressed Annie was, Eleanor decided that the best thing she could give her friend was some lavender water, which was left over from when she made her infusions. She made a note to bring some up with her from the workshop after lunch. Later that afternoon, Eleanor helped Annie put up the last pairs of curtains in the vacant guest bedrooms.
Alex also came with them. ‘The curtains are fabulous,’ he announced. ‘Where are they from?’
‘My mum,’ said Eleanor, feeling proud.
June had done a lovely job in keeping Annie’s ideas of separate colours for each of the guest bedrooms.
‘Style really does run in that family,’ said Alex, nodding his approval. But then he stopped short when they reached the blue bedroom. ‘What the hell’s that smell?’ he snapped.
Annie grimaced. ‘Do you mean the dog?’
‘No!’ scoffed Alex. ‘It’s gorgeous and it ain’t no doggy aroma.’
‘Then it must be Eleanor’s lavender spray that she’s just given me,’ said Annie with a proud smile as she looked at her friend. ‘It’s so relaxing. It’s really helped me sleep.’
Alex sniffed once more. ‘I’ll need six bottles to take home with me. This stuff’s going all round my apartment. Unless you’ve got something more earthy? I’ve got a hot date on Friday night.’
Eleanor thought quickly. ‘I’m not sure.’
But Alex had already moved into the guest bathroom. ‘Now, what have you put in here? No, no, no! I don’t need all that supermarket rubbish cluttering up the place. Hey, London girl. Do you do anything other than room sprays?’
Eleanor thought quickly. ‘I’ve got some hand-made creams and soaps.’
‘Perfect. You’re hired.’
So Eleanor found herself leading Alex down to the stables so that he could decide which ingredients he wanted.
‘Well, you have been busy,’ he said, staring around at the bottles of creams and soaps hardening on the benches.
She had hung bunches of lavender upside down to dry them off and used a sprig on top of the soap. She had then experimented by tying a sprig of lavender around each plastic pot to make them prettier as well.
‘It’s a brilliant space to work in,’ she told him.
‘Of course, the view’s pretty great as well,’ Alex drawled, looking out of the window to where Tom was sawing some wood.
‘I haven’t noticed,’ said Eleanor, trying to turn away.
But Alex jumped in front of her. ‘What, are you blind? I mean…’
As his voice trailed off, Eleanor glanced behind and saw Tom removing his T-shirt. She stared at the hard muscles of his chest. The smattering of dark hair that went down below his belt.
‘Christ, I need a cold shower,’ said Alex, gulping.
Eleanor tried to pull herself together. ‘Annie’s right,’ she croaked. ‘You’re very naughty.’
‘Given half a chance,’ he quickly replied. ‘Right. I’m going to talk to our future countess about bunting. And perhaps stand next to the open fridge for a while.’
After he had gone, Eleanor allowed herself the odd glance at the shirtless Tom before she too had to go and cool down.
Chapter 48
Mick and the band stayed for longer than anyone expected, especially Annie. She seemed to be run off her feet with all the additional work. But told Eleanor she didn’t mind.
Eleanor had to agree that they were all quite nice people, once you got past the flirting and the double entendres.
The lawn was so huge that the band were able to set up a large area for football and enjoyed a kick-around most days. Finally, having ditched their leather for shorts and T-shirts, they were able to relax and enjoy themselves.
The only slight blip in the happiness was Mick’s latest girlfriend, a peroxide blonde called Raquel.
‘Actually, it’s spelt R
-A-C-K-E-L-L-E,’ she announced within five minutes of arriving. ‘Is this Pimm’s made with zero-calorie lemonade?’
Rackelle’s demands were far greater than anyone else, from what Eleanor could see. Wasps and flies in their bedroom needed to be eradicated immediately. Her nail polish required frequent upkeep. Her stilettoes kept getting stuck in the lawn.
‘Can’t you have it tarmacked over?’ she asked, picking at the grass on her spindly heels. ‘These are Louboutins.’
As soon as she was out of earshot, Annie grabbed Mick by the elbow. ‘How long is she going to be with us?’ she hissed.
‘Not long, love. She’s nearly past her best before date already.’
Annie’s main complaint was that Rackelle slept in until gone lunchtime each day.
‘It's very hard to make beds when they're full of people,’ she moaned to Eleanor.
‘Then don’t worry about it,’ said Eleanor. ‘It’s a home not a hotel.’
At least Rackelle seemed to like her creams and soaps.
‘This is sick,’ she announced, holding up one of Eleanor’s soaps one afternoon. ‘Where did it come from?’
Eleanor then had to produce various different ingredients for Rackelle to choose from.
‘At least she’s placed a large order,’ said Megan later. ‘Make sure you get payment in cash though.’
But Eleanor’s worst complaint about Rackelle was her endless flirting with Tom. She obviously felt that her time with Mick was nearly at an end and had decided to move onto the next, far bigger celebrity. She was always pawing at Tom with her long fingernails and thrusting her considerable chest at him.
Thankfully Annie had created a secret hideaway for Eleanor and Tom to sneak away for some privacy. She had dug out some old rugs and striped towels to lounge on in the shade of a large oak tree near the river. Hidden from the house, it was a place where they could both relax.
‘And it’s just a little bit romantic,’ Annie had told her with a wink.
Eleanor groaned. She was having enough troubles dealing with her own feelings for Tom under normal circumstances. Let alone a place with extra romance added.
*
Escape to the Country Page 27