Ciara took Ellie’s coat and hung it, along with her own, on an antique stand at the left side of the door. “Grab a seat,” she said brightly, “and I’ll make the coffee. Have you ever tried Ethiopian?”
Ellie gazed at her as though she’d misheard. “Did you say, Ethiopian?” she asked.
Ellie nodded. “Yes, I did. Very nice it is too, in my humble opinion. Coffee growing hasn’t really expanded, but we’ve now come to appreciate other coffee cultures in some countries you wouldn’t believe. Let’s see, what have I got in the cupboard at the moment?” As she opened a wall cupboard at the side of the sink, Ellie smelt the strong aroma of coffee wafting in her direction. Her mouth watered involuntarily.
“I have Sumatran, Ethiopian, Guatemalan, Ugandan, Mexican, and Indian. All the rest are downstairs,” she added proudly.
Although Ciara had asked her to take a seat, Ellie was still pacing around the room. Her eyes widened as Ciara spoke.
“Good heavens!” exclaimed Ellie. “I noticed a couple of those when I originally looked on the list downstairs, but I don’t think I’ve had any other than the Guatemalan.”
She made her way towards where Ciara had begun grinding the beans. When finished, she put in another load and ground those too. She took out a cafetière from the cupboard below, tipped in some of the coffee, put the remainder in an airtight container, and placed it in the fridge.
She turned and looked at Ellie. “Breakfast,” she said with a chuckle. “I’m never my best in the morning. Bloody silly job I have, really.” She closed her eyes and shook her head.
“Ah,” said Ellie knowingly. “I know someone else like that.” Ellie thought briefly and suffered a pang of guilt. Although she’d dismissed the phone call from Holly, it was sitting like a white elephant in her subconscious. Why couldn’t she stop feeling guilty? She hadn’t done anything out of place to deserve it. Even if Ciara had been gay, and Ellie slept with her, it wouldn’t have anything to do with Holly. Ellie was a free agent—that was all there was to it. Why then, could she not drag her mind away from the thought of Holly? She found Ciara attractive, but it was more than that with Holly… deeper in some way. Ellie couldn’t find words to describe the desperate longing she was feeling for Holly. Until she could, she didn’t see the situation changing. At least from Monday, the work would be full on for goodness knows how long. At least there would be some kind of distraction.
Each of the two women took a seat at either end of the plush brocade settee. Peace had settled in the room, both the women drifting away into their own worlds in companionable silence. Finally, Ellie placed her white china mug on the ornate coffee table in front of her.
“What a wonderful cup of coffee,” said Ellie, opening and closing her eyes slowly. “I think it’s the most refreshing cup of coffee I’ve ever had. That certainly surprised me.”
Ciara nodded. “I have to agree. One of my favourites.”
As she walked into her hotel, Ellie covered her mouth as she gave a little yawn. The plan was to read for a short while, but it looked as though she’d have to change her mind and take a nap. She really didn’t like sleeping during the day because it messed up her sleep pattern. Sometimes, needs must win out, she thought to herself.
When she was nearly across the reception desk, she heard a timid voice, call after her. “Excuse me, ma’am. I have a package for you.”
The young lady, whom Ellie had seen once or twice during the last few days, held out a small padded envelope, the size belying the weight inside. “Thank you,” Ellie said politely, deciding to wait until she got to her room before opening it.
Once there, she teased open the envelope, tipping the contents onto the bed. “Of course!” she said aloud. “I’d forgotten.”
On the bed lay the key to Rochford Manor and a folded piece of paper. It was a short note from Amelia Cowdrey, hoping all was well and looking forward to seeing her on Monday around ten thirty.
Ellie laughed aloud. “All right for some,” she muttered under her breath. Ellie’s plan was to be there by eight, ready for the expected deliveries. Until they arrived, she wouldn’t even have access to a kettle and the crew wouldn’t be there to bail her out. She pushed the contents of the envelope to one side and eased herself onto the bed. She slipped off her outdoor shoes and let them land with a heavy clatter on the floor. She yawned again and stretched upwards, straightening the kinks out of her back. As she put the spare pillows behind her head, she was filled with a renewed confidence. Where it had come from, she’d no idea, but she was determined she would make her mark on this job. It was her time to leave her stamp on the world.
The last thing Ellie remembered was putting her head back and sighing away the worries of the day.
The following evening, after eating her dinner in the restaurant, Ellie sat on her bed staring at her phone. She told Ciara she would phone Holly and she was going to. Their evening meal should be over by now, but it would be a while before Leah was due to go to sleep. Ellie was eager to know how the last weekend’s gardening with her dad had gone.
She pressed Holly’s number with some trepidation. It was answered on the third ring.
“Hello,” said Holly, her voice low and cool. There was the sound of the TV echoing in the background.
“I’m sorry I missed your call yesterday,” she said. “I was in a pub having lunch. Actually, I was in the loo.”
“Right,” answered Holly. There was no indication of any enthusiasm in her voice. Gone was the usual timbre that radiated warmth.
“Have I done something to upset you?” asked Ellie, ready for a quick retort.
“No… no, what would make you think that?”
“Ciara asked you if you’d like me to ring you back, but you didn’t answer. Why did you end the call without answering?” There was silence on the other end.
“I don’t know,” was the given answer, so emotionally charged, it took Ellie by surprise. “Not one of my proudest moments.”
Ellie knew, if she continued with the questioning, there would be tears. Holly’s voice sounded the same as when they had sat the kitchen table talking about Holly’s parents. Ellie decided to swap tack. “Would you mind if I spoke to Leah?”
“No, why would I? Leah, Ellie would like a word.”
There was scrambling movement in the room, then a shuffling before Ellie heard Leah’s voice. “Hello, Ellie. I’m sorry you had to go away so soon. I missed seeing you.”
Ellie cleared her throat and put on a cheery voice. “Yes, I’m sorry, Leah. Sometimes, when problems happen, we have to go and sort them out. How about sometime next week we video chat, then I can show you Rochford Manor. Would you like me to do that? Providing I can get a signal, of course. I haven’t tried out my mobile there yet.”
Leah’s voice sounded excited. “Cool!” she said. “Is it very pretty? I know it’s old, but is it pretty?”
Despite herself, Ellie laughed. “Yes, it is, sweetheart. Very pretty. You’ll see for yourself next week, hopefully. I’ll be in touch straight after school, and then you’ll be able to see it in the light. Anyway, how did your gardening go last weekend?”
“We planted some potatoes and some beetroot and some carrots. Oh, and spinach, I think,” she said breathlessly. “But first we had to do some tidying up and weeding. I didn’t like that as much as planting. Your dad says we have to keep up with the rows now. Make sure they don’t get bugs and stuff.”
Ellie laughed, knowing her dad wouldn’t use that phraseology, but it was obvious his words had sunk in. “Well, you sound as though you’re thoroughly enjoying it.”
“Oh, I am!” said Leah dramatically. “Do you know yet when you’re coming home?”
Ellie had a twinge of sadness. “No, not yet, but when I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
There was a brief silence on the other end. “I think your dad misses you,” said Leah, sadly. “He seemed upset when he spoke to you last Saturday.”
Ellie felt guilt now, along wit
h the sadness. “I know he does, Leah. I miss everyone, including you and your mum, but it’s my work. It will all be worth it in the end—you’ll see.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled.
“It’s a surprise, and I’m not saying any more, so don’t ask.”
Leah giggled. “All right, I won’t. I promise.”
“Okay, away with you. It will be your bedtime in a while. I’ll be in touch next week. Tell your mum I’ll speak to her then.”
“All right, Ellie. Bye.”
The silence on the other end of the line choked Ellie into sobbing.
She cried for a very long time.
28
As she turned into the drive of Rochford Manor, Ellie was met by a blaze of colour. What a difference a few weeks made. Gone was the barren look of the landscape as it began clawing its way back from winter. Beneath the trees stood great swathes of colour as the bluebells poked their heads towards the canopy overhead. Their delicate elongated bellflowers turning upwards at the edges gave the frilled perimeter her dad loved so much. On impulse, she stopped the car, stepping out into the warmer air, the sun hazy behind a thin veil of cloud.
She walked slowly up the drive all the while pointing her phone at the different flowers on display to take some photos for her dad. As the blues had done on the one side of the drive, the winter aconite covered the more open ground on the other side in a bright yellow sea, making its way towards the house, only petering out as the drive began to curve. Ellie was surprised to see a few clumps of Snakes Head Fritillary in and amongst it. The reddish-purple heads hung down on thin stalks, with intricate snake-like markings on the heads. The flowers had fascinated her when she was a tiny child, and she would stare as her father handled the heads—she always thought he’d get bitten. Perhaps the latest owner of the house was attempting to preserve protected species. She knew both these before her, including the bluebells were on the endangered list.
Closer to the house, near the bend in the drive, the tall daffodil stalks were now bearing heads too, but at the moment, none were open, and the edging of Lily of the Valley was giving out a delicate fragrance. As the sun broke through clouds, Ellie’s world became brighter. There would be a lot of hard work ahead, but she would be more than happy to spend her time at Rochford Manor.
A sweep around the premises allowed Ellie time to tick items off the list of furniture that had been added to each room since her last visit. The specialist exterior and interior designers had done the owners proud. It must be hard work trying to stick to regulations when driven by an artistic bent. When they saw the outcome, though, they must be so proud to have been part of the project. Ellie knew she was. Amelia Cowdrey had generated a printed map, plus each individual room’s contents and fittings, and what should be added where. Ellie had never taken on a project like this before, and if Mick had, he certainly hadn’t mentioned it. At least they would be all learning together. One thing she had remembered from university was what a minefield planning for a listed building was.
Before the first of her deliveries was due to arrive, Ellie decided to have the breakfast Ciara had provided for her. Along with the coffee in the thermos, there was a bag full of savoury pastries, Danish pastries, croissants already buttered and jammed, and bottles of water. Plus, there was a brie and grape baguette for her lunch, just in case she didn’t have time to go out. Ellie couldn’t thank her enough, as she had placed a takeaway Ethiopian blend coffee and a large carrier bag in her hands before she left. A drink for her travels, breakfast and lunch. Ciara was such a kind and thoughtful person. Ellie had promised to keep in touch as they swapped details, and she would. They’d only known each other a week, but Ellie liked to consider her a new friend. Ciara said she would pop over to Rochford Manor if she could organise with Margaret to have a day off one weekend. Ellie looked forward to seeing her again, knowing she would get that familiar glow of friendly companionship.
Ellie was interrupted in her clearing of the breakfast things when she heard a loud rapping from the knocker on the front door. She made her way from the kitchen, excitement rising as she glimpsed the delivery van from the window. Inside, her heart was hammering in anticipation of what was to come.
Let the mayhem begin!
Amelia arrived just as the kitchen appliances deliverymen left the drive. She greeted Ellie with a broad smile and a wave of the hand. She stepped out of the car and slammed the door behind her.
“Lovely day,” she said cheerily, shielding her eyes from the glare of the morning sun with a hand above her eyes. The air was still a little crisp, and she pulled her lightweight jacket closer to her body with her other hand. “Was that the first of the deliveries?”
Ellie nodded. “Yes, that was for the kitchen. As you know, the Aga is already in and working. Very cosy in the kitchen if nothing else. Would you like a coffee? A friend in Scarborough supplied me with a large thermos of Ethiopian blend before I left this morning, but I’ve only had a small amount from it. You’re more than welcome to some.”
Amelia shook her head. “No thanks, Ellie. It’s only a flying visit. The owner just wanted me to tell you there’s now a caretaker/gardener on site residing at the lodge, and also asked me to check that everything was okay, deliveries and the suchlike. Plus to have a look round to see that the furniture was fine, for insurance purposes, you understand.”
“Oh, of course,” said Ellie. “You can never be too careful.”
Amelia set off at a brisk pace, leaving Ellie trailing in her wake. At last, she was satisfied everything was in order, at intervals letting out cries of delight when something really pleased her.
“Okay, Ellie,” she said as she reached the front door. “I’ll leave you to it. If you run into any problems, just get in touch, and I’ll look forward to seeing your updates.”
“Yes, of course. The crew will be arriving Tuesday evening ready for work on Wednesday morning. I’ll forward videos of the progression and a short report as to the work covered.” Ellie couldn’t believe how confident she sounded. Inside, her heart was pounding.
“Thanks, Ellie,” said Amelia as she walked to her car.
Ellie waved to her as she drove away then turned on her heel and made her way to the kitchen to sort out the appliances, making a mental note to introduce herself to the gardener.
By four o’clock, all the deliveries apart from the kitchen ones were safely stowed and locked in mobile storage cabins to the rear of the property, taking up most of the space in the gravelled area behind the great hall. One was completely filled with breathable paint of different hues. Because the House was single-skinned, special paint had to be used to allow the walls to breathe. Ellie had never seen so much paint all in one place, except displays in the DIY superstores, and found the prospect of using it all… daunting. Doubt about taking the job was still haunting her but had ceased to be the all-pervading fear it once was. She could and would do this job. Everything and everybody would be here—it would get done.
She locked the door behind her when she left for the day. First, she needed to find the caretaker/gardener and then the B&B she was booked into. The car was warm, having been heated by the sun for a few hours, a blast of heat hitting her as she opened the door. Once seated, the warmth made her muscles relax ,and her excitement was beginning to ebb a little now her first day was over. She knew the lodge belonging to the house was at the bottom of the formal garden, which was accessible either by walking through the various grassed areas or via the gravelled path, edging the walls. She also knew it had its own entrance a short distance down the road. Left out of the gate, then first left.
She drove slowly up towards the lodge, careful not to make the chippings under the wheels move too vigorously. Unlike the view from the drive to the main house and its great display of flowers, this was bordered either side with a mixture of mature evergreen and deciduous trees, creating an odd canopy of light and shade. Ellie shivered despite the warmth, suddenly aware of a change in atmosphe
re. She whipped her head around, searching amongst the tree trunks, convinced she someone was watching her. She shivered again as she thought of being alone in the spooky darkness. The air seemed to be crackling, giving her an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach. The new gardener was a brave man. She felt a great relief when she reached the end of the drive.
The house was obviously a later addition to the property, Ellie guessed somewhere in the early Victorian era, guided by the single gable front and a room either side.
As Ellie grabbed her bag, she noticed to the left of the house, nestled in a rhododendron bush, a small patch of orangey red. She startled when she saw the bird, then immediately laughed at herself. The bird gave a slight movement, and it was then Ellie noticed the faint patch of black where the red met the grey plumage. She blinked—twice.
Could it be that Alex had managed to follow her again? Her eyes filled with tears at the unexpected jolt into the past, yet her spirits felt as though they were soaring. If it was her robin, her son Alex, where was he getting his strength? Did he actually exist or was he a figment of her trauma-damaged imagination? She kept her eyes trained on the bird as she left the car, wondering if he would be brave enough to approach her. She closed the car door, and as she bleeped it locked, she saw his wings fluttering as he took flight. Her vision tracked him as far as the nearest large oak, then lost him amongst its branches. She waited for many moments to see if he reappeared but then gave up hope... with a tinge of sadness.
Ellie walked to the door of the lodge and rapped loudly using the black lion-headed knocker. She didn’t receive any reply so made her way around the side of the house to see if there was any sign of him. She honed her hearing and thought she heard the faintest sound of music coming from behind the wall that edged the house. She followed it until she reached a break in the wall, and then peeked inside. She received a shock.
The Harbinger Page 24