Bay Tree Cottage

by Anna Jacobs

  The door opened before Ginger got there and she at once felt a little easier because the man who stood there had such a nice, kind smile.

  ‘You must be Jean Brunham,’ he said. ‘I’m Angus Denning.’

  ‘Pleased to meet you, but do call me Ginger. No one ever uses my real name. Well, it’s so plain, isn’t it, Jean? And I don’t even have a middle name.’

  She sounds as nervous as she looks, poor thing, Angus thought as he ushered her in. ‘This is my wife, Nell, and this is one of our resident artists, Elise Carlton. Ladies, our visitor prefers to be called Ginger.’

  ‘Lovely to meet you, Ginger,’ Elise said with one of her lovely smiles.

  ‘Nice to meet you, too. What sort of art do you do?’ Ginger asked.

  ‘Paintings. Yours is more unusual these days. I loved your stump work pieces.’

  Their visitor blushed. ‘Oh. Well, thank you.’ She turned to Nell, holding out her hand. ‘Pleased to meet you, Mrs Denning.’

  ‘Nell.’

  ‘Nell, it is. How lucky you are to live in such a beautiful house. And the gardens – well, I had to stop the car to admire the flowers. I love flowers.’

  Angus indicated a chair and she stopped talking to sit down and look at them like an inquisitive robin wondering if you were going to throw it some breadcrumbs.

  When they went through the interview questions, it took longer than it had with Warren Cutler, because she not only talked more, she asked them questions about how they did things, too. That was a point in her favour as far as Angus was concerned.

  Ginger showed them her work and Elise asked if she could hold it. ‘It makes me want to touch it. Do you mind? This is beautiful. You have such talent in your choice of subject matter. I’ve never seen modern people shown in quite this way in embroideries and it really works. Do you have other pieces in your bag? May I see them as well?’

  In the end, Angus saw Nell looking at her watch and wasn’t surprised when she brought things to a close. The third applicant was expected shortly, he knew. But he’d enjoyed talking to Ginger. And he hadn’t enjoyed talking to Cutler.

  How important was that in making their choice? The artists would have to talk to visitors, after all.

  ‘That’s all we need to know for now, thank you, Ginger. We’ll let you know who is selected within two days. Will email be all right for that?’

  ‘It’ll be better if you use my mobile phone, Nell. I’m, um, taking a little holiday before I go home, so it won’t be as easy to get online. I’ve never been to the south of England before, you see, and Wiltshire looked so beautiful when I checked it online that now I’m here, I’m going to make the most of this trip.’

  Chapter Six

  As Ginger stood up, Angus saw her sway and clutch the arm of her chair. If possible, she had gone even paler.

  ‘Are you all right?’ he asked.

  ‘Just a bit dizzy. I think I’m starting flu or something. I hope I haven’t shared it with you.’

  ‘I’ll walk out to your car with you. Here, let me carry your bag.’

  He put it in the boot, closed it and waited for her to leave, but when she turned the key in the ignition, all that happened was a brief cough of sound.

  He heard her groan and say, ‘Oh, no! Please, no!’

  He waited as she tried again to start the car. It didn’t even cough this time, just clicked.

  ‘Perhaps one of your leads has come loose,’ he suggested. ‘If you open your bonnet I’ll check it.’

  The car was quite old but it had clearly been well cared for. Unfortunately, he could find nothing obviously wrong.

  ‘Sorry. I can’t think what’s wrong. Are you in a motoring organisation?’

  Tears filled her eyes. ‘No. I don’t usually drive far from home and I have to be careful with money, so I didn’t bother to join. Oh dear! I don’t know what to do.’

  He watched her rub her forehead as if she had a headache. The poor woman definitely wasn’t well. ‘I’ll call my local garage and then find you somewhere to wait for them. We have another interview coming up, so I can’t stay with you, I’m afraid.’

  She sniffed, but a couple more tears escaped and rolled down her cheeks. ‘Thanks. I do hope it won’t be expensive. I have to—’

  She gasped and crumpled suddenly, falling to the ground right at his feet. It was so unexpected, he didn’t even realise what was happening in time to catch her.

  Nell must have been watching from the house, because she came running out to join them. She knelt beside him to help Ginger, who was recovering slowly but wasn’t yet fully alert.

  Elise had followed her out and when Angus explained about the car, she said, ‘I can put Ginger up for a night or two. She shouldn’t be left alone if she’s not well.’

  ‘Is that wise? She may not get the residency.’

  ‘Never mind that, Angus. I can recognise a woman in trouble when I see one. Didn’t you notice the bruise on her arm when her sleeve rode up? Looks to me as if someone hit her recently.’

  ‘She could have bumped into something.’

  ‘I think someone must have been holding her too tightly as well. You can see the fingermarks. I’m absolutely certain she needs help and I’m certainly not going to abandon her.’

  ‘Well, if you’re sure about putting her up …’

  ‘I’m very sure.’

  Ginger opened her eyes and blinked at the three people surrounding her. It took her a few seconds to realise where she was. Oh, no! She must have fainted. What would they think of her? She tried to get up but everything wavered around her as she moved.

  ‘Let me help you sit in your car.’ Angus helped her to her feet, steadying her as he eased her to sit sideways in the rear passenger seat of her car, feet on the ground.

  ‘Thank you. I’m so sorry to be such a nuisance.’

  Elise moved closer and said gently, ‘You’re not doing it on purpose. Just give yourself time to recover.’

  Ginger turned her head towards Elise and everything spun round her again, so she had to clutch the car door frame. ‘Sorry. Still feeling dizzy. Could you call your garage, please, Angus? I’ll just sit here quietly till they come. I’m sure I’ll be better by then.’

  ‘You shouldn’t be left on your own if you’re unwell enough to faint,’ Elise said. ‘And you certainly shouldn’t be driving, even if they can fix your car. Look, I have a spare bedroom and you’re more than welcome to use it.’

  ‘I can’t ask you to do that.’

  ‘You didn’t ask. I volunteered.’

  ‘Thank you but I’ll be all right soon.’ Only things were still spinning and the sun was too bright, hurting her eyes. Ginger closed them. All she wanted to do was lie down.

  ‘You may have flu or some sort of virus,’ Elise said. ‘I don’t think they’ll look after you properly in a B & B. Do stay here with me.’

  That kindness was too much. Ginger burst into tears and it was a few moments before she could stop sobbing.

  ‘You don’t want to catch flu if that’s what she’s got,’ Nell whispered to Elise.

  ‘I can’t remember the last time I caught anything. And I had my flu shots last winter. This woman needs help.’ She raised her voice. ‘Angus, will you help me get Ginger upstairs to my spare bedroom?’

  ‘Yes, of course. Come on, Ginger. Lean on me. After we’ve interviewed the final person, I’ll drive over to your B & B and pick up your things, if you like.’

  ‘Thank you. That’d be so kind.’

  A car turned into Saffron Lane.

  ‘Oh, heavens, that must be the third applicant,’ Nell exclaimed.

  ‘Take him into the house,’ said Angus. ‘I’ll help get Ginger upstairs, then I’ll call the garage before I join you.’

  Nell stepped aside to let Elise move past and lead the way into her house. ‘We’ll wait for you before we start the interview.’

  ‘I’ll settle Ginger in my spare bedroom, then join you. But I’m coming back to her as soon as I
feel I’ve got the measure of the third applicant. I wasn’t all that fussed about his pottery, anyway.’

  ‘He’s won prizes for it.’

  ‘Ha! Experimental twiddly bits, I call it.’

  Nell didn’t let herself smile, but she loved some of Elise’s vivid descriptions of modern trends.

  Angus helped Ginger up to the second bedroom, where Elise quickly removed a laundry basket from the bed and turned down the covers. ‘Go and phone the garage, Angus. I’ll follow you down in a minute.’

  She turned back to Ginger, who was shading her eyes, so she went across and pulled the curtains closed.

  ‘Sorry to be such trouble, Elise.’

  ‘You’re no trouble, dear. I shall enjoy the company. And the bed is ready made up. The bathroom is next door if you need it.’

  Ginger slid down. ‘I think what I need most is a nap.’

  ‘Don’t go to sleep until I’ve got you some aspirins. I have some in the bathroom.’

  She had to nudge Ginger awake when she got back and after the pills had been swallowed, her visitor’s eyes were closed again before Elise reached the door on her way to the interview. Frowning, she stared back at the bed. If this wasn’t a woman in desperate need of help, she’d never met one.

  As she went downstairs, she thought suddenly, I hope they don’t appoint that Cutler fellow. I shan’t vote for him whatever the others say.

  Nell was left with a scruffy-looking young man. ‘Rick Tyler?’

  ‘Yes. You must be Mrs Denning.’

  ‘Do come in.’

  He followed her inside and she explained quickly what had happened. ‘To make matters worse, her car won’t start. If you don’t mind waiting for a few moments, we’ll start the interview when the others join us. My husband is calling the garage.’

  ‘That’s rotten luck for the artist. I’m not in a hurry to get anywhere else, so I’m happy to wait.’

  At least this one seemed kind, Nell thought. But was he talented enough?

  Angus joined them soon afterwards but it was a few minutes more before Elise came in from Number 3.

  ‘Sorry to keep you all waiting. She’s asleep now.’

  Angus introduced her to Rick then glanced through the window. ‘They can’t send anyone from the garage to fetch Ginger’s car for an hour or so as their tow van is out on another call. Shall we get on with the interview?’

  All three turned to Rick, who answered their questions cheerfully. But his conversation was without sparkle when he spoke about pottery and his own work. Indeed, he seemed far too laid-back about everything. And the plate he’d brought to show his latest piece was again ‘experimental’, with some bizarre fragments of pattern and texture scattered here and there across it.

  They studied it and he did too, head on one side. ‘I like to try different techniques but I don’t think this one came off as I’d hoped.’ He shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

  ‘No one can be perfect every time,’ Elise agreed.

  They were able to get rid of him quite quickly, then Nell asked, ‘How’s Ginger?’

  ‘Sleeping rather heavily. I think she’s got a virus of some sort and she’d run herself ragged getting ready to leave. I gave her a couple of aspirins and left her in my spare bed.’

  ‘We should discuss the applicants while we can.’ Nell looked from one to the other and when neither said anything, she started the ball rolling. ‘I think Mr Cutler is the most talented of the three.’

  ‘I suppose so. If you like nasty stuff.’ Elise sighed. ‘I couldn’t live with his carvings, though. They’re spiteful and I bet he is too.’

  Angus whistled softly. ‘You’ve taken a major dislike to him, haven’t you?’

  ‘I have, rather.’

  ‘What about Rick?’

  ‘He’s a nice young chap, but he and his work don’t have any pizazz,’ Nell said. ‘I doubt he’ll ever be more than a hobby potter. He hasn’t got the passion.’

  ‘The other pieces he sent were quite good,’ Angus said.

  ‘Yes, technically, but he didn’t have an individual style, did he? He was hopping from one technique to another.’ Elise looked from one to the other. ‘What about Ginger? Her work is exquisite.’

  ‘But is it commercial?’ Nell asked. ‘Even if people love her embroideries, how will she ever do enough of them to make a living? We have to be practical about this.’

  Silence fell, broken by the sound of a vehicle drawing up outside.

  Angus looked out of the window. ‘The guy from the garage is here. We’d better get Ginger to come out and talk to him.’

  But when Elise and Angus went into Number 3, they found Ginger still fast asleep looking flushed, and she only murmured and turned away when Elise laid a hand on her shoulder and said her name.

  Elise felt her forehead. ‘She’s got a temperature. I think we should let her sleep. You talk to the garage people, Angus. If they need a deposit I’ll give it to them.’

  ‘Leave that to me.’

  He came back a short time later. ‘They think it’s the carburettor. Not an expensive repair but this isn’t a modern car, so it’ll take a couple of days to get the part. I told him to go ahead and do it and I’ve guaranteed the payment.’

  ‘We’d better get Ginger’s things out of her car, then, and bring them in here,’ Elise said.

  ‘You’re sure about her staying with you?’

  ‘Of course I am.’

  They went to look in the car. ‘Did she say which B & B she was staying at?’ Nell asked. ‘There are only her embroideries here.’

  Angus gave her a resigned look. ‘No, she didn’t say, but there are only two places in town that are cheap B & Bs. I’ll ring them and find out which she’s at. Can you pick up her things from there? I don’t think a man should do that.’

  ‘Yes, I’ll see to it.’ Nell turned to the older woman. ‘If Ginger is going to be too much trouble, we can take her to the big house, Elise.’

  ‘No need. Putting her up will be a sort of payback for the help I got from a friend after I broke my hip.’ She looked from one to the other. ‘So you both think Cutler should have the residency?’

  ‘I’m afraid so.’

  ‘I shall have to record a dissenting vote, then. I don’t think he’ll deal well with the public. But it’s your decision, so I’ll get back to Ginger.’

  When Elise had gone, Angus said quietly, ‘I’m not sure we’re doing the right thing, love. I have to confess that I didn’t like Cutler either.’

  ‘It’s his talent that counts and whether he’ll make money for us, not whether we’d want him as a friend. We agreed to be practical about this.’

  ‘I’ve never been happy with pure bean counting as the reason for doing something. But still, his work is superb. You’re right about that. You’ll get in touch with him, then, let him know he’s got the residency?’

  ‘He’d rather you did it.’

  ‘He’s not that bad a chauvinist!’

  ‘Oh, yes, he is!’

  As Angus got out his phone, Nell decided that he hadn’t experienced the sort of subtle discrimination most women would have, so it was no use arguing. Were they doing the right thing here? She thought so, hoped so. She realised Angus was watching her, waiting for her to bring her attention back to him. ‘Sorry. Just thinking about it all.’

  ‘Let’s find out where Ginger is staying, then I’ll check how the work’s going on in the end houses while you pick her things up. The guys have almost finished there now. There will just be the gardens to sort out. I forgot to tell you that they found a nameplate for Number 6 when they cleared the years of weeds and growth from the front garden: Bay Tree Cottage.’

  ‘Is there really a bay tree there?’

  ‘They haven’t touched the back garden yet. There may be. I’ll have to look bay trees up online. I don’t think I’d recognise one.’

  ‘It’s a nice name for a house. Let’s keep it whether we find one or not.’

  It was thre
e hours before Elise heard someone using the bathroom upstairs, so she switched the kettle on and when she heard a door open, called out, ‘Want a cup of tea, Ginger?’

  ‘I’d kill for one.’

  ‘Do you want to come down or shall I bring it up?’

  ‘I’ll come down. I’ve given you enough trouble.’

  Elise watched Ginger come slowly down the stairs, still looking rather unsteady. ‘How are you feeling?’

  ‘A bit better.’

  ‘I don’t think so. You look flushed and yet you’re shivering. Come into the kitchen.’ She grabbed a shawl from a hook in the hall and flung it round her visitor’s shoulders. ‘Here. It’s my comfort shawl.’

  Ginger snuggled it round her neck. ‘I messed up at the interview, didn’t I?’

  ‘No. They chose a man who does woodcarvings because they thought his work was more commercial. I was the dissenting vote for that. He’s a brilliant carver but I didn’t take to him and unfortunately he’ll be my neighbour at Number 4.’ She shrugged. ‘Oh well. It’s done now. Angus and Nell have to do what they think best. Come and sit down on my rocking chair.’

  She waited till her guest was clutching a mug of tea to say, ‘Nell brought your things across from the B & B. We thought you might like to stay with me till your car’s repaired.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Of course I am. It was my suggestion.’

  ‘But you don’t need the trouble and I might pass whatever this is on to you.’

  ‘You might, but I’m probably old enough to have had everything twice already and therefore be resistant.’ She reached out to clasp Ginger’s hand. ‘Don’t reject an offer of help when it’s freely made.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘But nothing. I have a spare bedroom and I think you need a breathing space.’

  A pause, then Ginger nodded. ‘I do. But don’t Mr and Mrs Denning mind?’

  ‘Not at all. They loved your work, you know. They just thought it wasn’t commercial enough to bring them the return they need. They have a big old house eating money for its renovation needs and they have to be practical.’