by Jenny Lane
‘Yes, I returned to live with my parents for a few months.’
Sophie told Crystal briefly about the agency work.
‘I’ve no idea how long Rose needs me here, but it makes a pleasant change from town life. So what about you?’
Crystal shrugged. ‘Oh, I was going out with someone for a time, but then he moved away because of his work. We kept in touch but, after a bit, things fizzled out. Sad, isn’t it? I keep thinking some gorgeous hunk of a man will walk into the library one day and sweep me off my feet!’
Sophie smiled as she had a flashback of Keir rescuing her from outside the library and remembered the warmth of his arms about her. She shrugged off the memory. She’d got absolutely no intention of getting romantically involved with Keir Ellison. For one thing she was only staying in Penbridge for a week or two and, for another, she’d just learnt he was involved in an enterprise that was inevitably going to have such a devastating effect on Aunt Rose and Peggy Munn.
Crystal told her that, although Keir was throwing himself wholeheartedly into village life, no-one seemed to know too much about his background.
‘He seems to be a bit of a mystery man. He’s passionate about his ceramics, that I do know, and it’s infectious. He runs a couple of evening classes at the secondary school where he works. They’ve got kilns, and I’ve had to order in a load of books on ceramics from other libraries.’
Crystal passed her the plate of chocolate biscuits and they nibbled in silence for a moment or two.
‘Changing the subject, has anyone mentioned the concert on Saturday?’
Sophie shook her head. ‘Tell me more.’
‘It’s a police concert, brass band, to raise money for the church roof appeal and some other charity, which slips my mind for the minute. Anyway, I’ve got a couple of tickets if you’d care to come. The friend I was going with has had to cry off because her youngest has got the dreaded lurgy.’
‘Oh, what a shame! I’d feel a bit guilty leaving Aunt Rose, but if she didn’t mind, that would be great.’
‘There are some rather good looking gentlemen in that band!’
Sophie laughed and realised that, for the first time in ages, she hadn’t been spending every waking minute thinking about Brett.
When she mentioned the concert to Aunt Rose the older woman nodded.
‘Peggy and I had intended going to that, but we’ve decided against it. Those seats are so hard and her knee’s playing up again. Anyway, you go and enjoy yourself. It’s so popular the tickets sell like hotcakes. Perhaps you could drop me off at Peggy’s and I could keep her company. A couple of old crocks together!’
Sophie laughed. She was enjoying her time in Penbridge and got on well with Aunt Rose. Nothing had been said about how long she was to stay, and she realised she’d need to broach the subject sooner or later.
Keir appeared at the back door balancing a box of eggs.
‘Compliments of the vicar’s wife. She sent them via Mavis. Frances didn’t realise you’d been in trouble, Rose, what with the snow and everything said you should have given her a ring.’
Sophie put the kettle on yet again and, presently, they sat round the kitchen table enjoying a fresh brew and some ginger cake that she’d bought at the local bakery.
‘I’m actually killing two birds with one stone,’ Keir said. ‘I was wondering if the pair of you would like to accompany me to the police concert on Saturday?’
Sophie felt a pang of disappointment and Aunt Rose explained for both of them.
‘Right, then would you mind if I accompanied you and Crystal, Sophie?’
‘I, erm — that would be nice,’ she mumbled, feeling like a schoolgirl being asked out on her first date.
‘Have you already got the tickets?’ asked Aunt Rose.
‘Yes, but that doesn’t matter. They’re crying out for them so I can sell the spares, if I can’t find a home for them. I could even ask one of my students along to make up the party.’
Sophie’s heart had been hammering ridiculously, but now she realised he was just being kind. She wasn’t sure how Crystal would react to having a student foisted upon her.
Keir set down his cup. ‘You must come over to my place for tea some time soon. I’m always accepting your hospitality, Rose.’
Rose shifted uncomfortably in her chair and mumbled something non-committal and, shortly afterwards, Keir departed.
‘Have you ever been across to Rowanbank since Keir’s been living there?’ Sophie asked casually.
Aunt Rose was busily examining the eggs. ‘Look at those! Still got some feathers sticking to them. That’s so kind of Frances. I don’t know how she fits everything in. Could you pop them in the larder for me, dear? In answer to your question, no I haven’t set foot in Rowanbank since Hugh’s funeral. Quite frankly, it distresses me to see what Erica’s done to the place. Poor Mary would turn in her grave.’
‘Well, I suppose it’s inevitable that she’d want to put her own stamp on things, just as Keir will want to do,’ Sophie said reasonably.
Rose did not reply to this merely asking, ‘Do you fancy macaroni cheese for supper?’
Sophie was dying to see the inside of Rowanbank again and was disappointed that Aunt Rose hadn’t accepted Keir’s invitation.
***
On Saturday, Sophie was undecided what to wear. She hadn’t brought much with her, not intending to stay long. In the end, she decided on black trousers teamed with an attractive, coral pink top, which she supposed wouldn’t be seen anyway beneath her jacket.
Keir turned up promptly at six-fifteen. ‘Alan’s going straight there because it’s first come first serve with the seats. Apparently, only families and special friends have reserved ones in the front rows.’
‘And they’re welcome, because brass bands can be very noisy,’ Aunt Rose pronounced. ‘Peggy always removes her hearing aid.’
Sophie met Keir’s amused eyes and lowered her gaze, as she felt her lips twitching.
They deposited Rose at Peggy Munn’s and arranged to collect her about ten o’clock. Crystal was talking to some friends just inside the village hall when they arrived.
‘So where’s this mystery friend of Keir’s?’ she hissed, as Keir showed the tickets.
‘Apparently he’s gone ahead to reserve some seats.’
Alan turned out to be a mature student from Keir’s evening class, whose daytime job was with computers. Much to Sophie’s relief, it wasn’t long before Crystal and Alan were chatting animatedly.
The concert was brilliant. Sophie sat enthralled, periodically stealing a glance at Keir who appeared to be equally rapt. At one point, during a particularly uplifting piece, he placed his hand over hers making her pulse race.
During the interval, Sophie went with Keir to get some refreshments, leaving Alan and Crystal engrossed in their conversation.
‘So what do you think?’
‘About the concert or about Crystal and Alan?’ Sophie enquired.
‘Both.’ They were standing in a queue and, glancing across the hall, Sophie could see Crystal and Alan still deep in conversation.
‘They seem to be getting on OK,’ she said with a smile. ‘Why, do you fancy a new vocation as matchmaker?’
He laughed and, seeing a gap in the queue, caught hold of her arm and moved forward.
Sophie caught her breath, feeling as though she’d received an electric charge. Keir was having a serious effect on her and she’d only known him such a short time. Well, it was no good getting involved. She was only here for another week at the outside. Besides, she was decidedly off men, wasn’t she, after Brett? But emotions were stirring inside her which had been dormant during the past months and she was finding it increasingly difficult to ignore them.
‘That was delightful,’ Keir pronounced, when the concert came to an end shortly before ten o’clock. Everyone agreed.
‘Anyone for a drink?’ asked Alan.
Sophie and Keir declined on account of picking up Rose fro
m Peggy Munn’s. Crystal looked disappointed but brightened when Alan suggested the two of them went anyway.
Sophie caught her friend’s eye and winked, and Crystal turned pink.
Sophie and Keir could have walked the short distance to Peggy’s and Sophie was disappointed that they’d arrived so quickly. She’d enjoyed the evening and wished it could have gone on longer. She pulled herself together sharply. In all probability, Keir had someone tucked away. Perhaps they were having an amicable separation to give themselves some space.
Aunt Rose didn’t seem in any hurry to leave and Peggy insisted on putting the kettle on for more tea. Peggy’s sitting room was rather like the gift shop, only not so dusty. It was full to bursting with knick-knacks. A large ginger cat sat and surveyed them warily from his perch on the arm of a chair. Keir carried the tray for Peggy and set it down carefully.
He then handed round cups of rather milky tea, followed by a plate of garibaldi biscuits.
‘I was telling Rose how much I missed her in the shop on Thursday,’ Peggy said.
‘During the winter months I’m only opening between ten and four o’clock, and I’m closed all day on Wednesdays and Saturday afternoons.’
‘Well, if I’m free next Thursday, and Aunt Rose doesn’t mind, I could come and give you a hand,’ Sophie volunteered.
‘Would you, dear? That would be such a help. My son, John, and his wife lend a hand when they can, but they don’t get much free time. John’s not quite retired yet, you see.’
Sophie went into the kitchen to wash the cups and Keir followed.
‘Well, we’ve had that drink, after all. Lovely pair of ladies, aren’t they?’
Sophie smilingly agreed. ‘I’ve known them all my life.’
‘So do I understand you’re planning to be around for a while yet, then?’
‘I haven’t got the remotest idea,’ she told him truthfully.
He leant towards her. ‘Only, if you were perhaps ...’ He trailed off as Peggy Munn came into the kitchen.
‘Oh, you shouldn’t have troubled to wash up — those pots would have kept til the morning. I’ve had such a lovely natter to Rose. Thank you so much for bringing her here, Mr Ellison.’
‘Keir,’ he told her smilingly.
‘Your parents must have named you after that Scottish politician — Keir
Hardie.’
His eyes danced with amusement. ‘That’s an interesting thought,’ he told her, ‘but I think it was more likely to have been after a hero in a book she was reading at the time. Now, I think I’d better run Rose and Sophie home.’
‘I’ll look forward to seeing you next week, dear,’ the old lady told Sophie.
Sophie nodded, wishing that Peggy hadn’t chosen that precise moment to come into the kitchen. What had Keir been about to say?
***
‘Well, that was a very pleasant evening,’ Aunt Rose said, as they sat over breakfast the following morning. ‘I feel quite like my old self.’ She glanced at the clock. ‘So much so that I’m wondering — how do you feel about accompanying me to church? We’ve still got enough time.’
‘Well, if you’re sure you can manage. Isn’t there rather a lot of up and downing?’
‘Oh, I can just stay seated and it’s a family service today, according to the parish magazine, so it’ll be fairly short.’
Sophie didn’t point out that the pews would surely be equally as hard as the village hall chairs. She hurriedly washed up, helped prepare the vegetables, slammed in the joint and set the automatic timer, before dashing upstairs to change into something more respectable than a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt.
***
The service was about to begin when Sophie helped Aunt Rose into a pew. A moment or two later they were joined by Keir. He squeezed in beside Sophie and shared her hymn book, singing lustily in a deep tenor. She was incredibly aware of him and tried hard to concentrate, but was getting wafts of his cologne. As he closed the hymn book his fingers brushed hers, sending a little frisson dancing along her spine.
A shaft of wintry sunlight filtered through the stained glass window of the Norman church streaking Keir’s fair hair with gold. Sophie pulled herself together with an effort.
The vicar, a family man with two children of his own, was excellent with the youngsters in the congregation. At the end of the service, he gave out one or two notices.
Looking across at Keir he said, ‘Keir Ellison would like me to remind you that he’ll be giving a talk on ceramics on Tuesday, in the village hall, at seven-thirty. Tickets on the door to include refreshments, courtesy of our church ladies, and all proceeds to the church roof fund. It’s good to know that Keir’s as keen to help with charitable works as Hugh Mercer, our last incumbent of Rowanbank was.’
A number of people swivelled round to look in Keir’s direction and he smiled. Sophie could see the tips of his ears had turned pink and wondered if he was as confident as he appeared.
‘Shall we stay for a coffee?’ Aunt Rose asked when the service was over. ‘I need to thank Frances for those eggs, and have a word with one or two other people I haven’t caught up with recently.’
Keir consulted his watch. ‘I’m off out to lunch, but a quick cup would be welcome. It’s a chilly old morning.’
‘We seem to be making a habit of this,’ Keir said, as he and Sophie juggled with cups of coffee and biscuits.
Sophie laughed. ‘Yes, tea and coffee do seem to figure rather a lot when we meet up. Last night you were about to ask me something when Peggy came into the kitchen.’
‘Was I?’ he frowned. ‘Oh, I remember. It was only to mention the talk. To tell you the truth, this is a new venture for me. I’m not used to speaking to this kind of audience and could do with your input.’
‘You could? I’m afraid that what I know about ceramics, you could write on the back of a postage stamp, although I’m fascinated and would like to come.’
They had reached Aunt Rose who had managed to secure a table in the small designated area at the back of the church.
‘Ah, well that’s exactly it,’ Keir continued, as he set down the cups of coffee. ‘If Rose can spare you, I thought perhaps you could glance through my notes tomorrow afternoon, see if they’re on your wavelength. I’m quite passionate about my subject when I get going, but I don’t want to get too technical.’
‘So you want me to come along, so that you can practise on me — use me as a sounding board?’
Aunt Rose paused in her perusal of the church notice sheet.
‘What a good idea. Well, you’ve certainly come to the right person. After all, Sophie is an English teacher, so she’s got plenty of experience. If this young lady stays with me for too long she’ll be fully occupied with all the demands on her time.’
Just then, Crystal and her mother came across and the conversation turned to other matters. Crystal gave Sophie a meaningful look as they were about to leave.
‘Will I be seeing you in the library this week?’
‘Yes, I ought to get myself some bedtime reading. I’ve just finished the paperback I brought with me,’ Sophie replied, realising Crystal wanted to have a chat with her.
***
‘Would you look at that!’ exclaimed Aunt Rose, as they sat enjoying a television programme about antiques. ‘That man’s had that ugly old vase stashed away at the back of his cupboard and it’s worth thousands! I wonder if Keir’s watching this.’
‘You haven’t got a vase of Uncle Hugh’s in the attic, have you?’ Sophie teased.
‘No, dear. I’ve thought about all the things he gave Tom and I over the years and the keepsakes that used to belong to Mary, but I can’t come up with anything that has anything more than sentimental value.’
Sophie nodded sympathetically, having heard her parents say much the same thing.
‘It’s good that Keir’s so keen to support local events, isn’t it?’ she remarked.
Aunt Rose nodded. ‘We’re lucky to have him around. He’s an
asset to the community. No wonder he and Hugh got along so well. He’s a man after Hugh’s own heart.’
Sophie stared at her. ‘I’d no idea Keir knew Uncle Hugh. You haven’t mentioned it before.’
‘Haven’t I, dear?’ At times Aunt Rose could be infuriatingly vague, Sophie had discovered. ‘Anyway, it’s now that’s important and I’m glad the two of you seem to be getting on so well.’
‘So you won’t mind if I go over to Rowanbank tomorrow afternoon, then?’
‘Good gracious no. Anyway, Frances said she’d call in to discuss the Easter Fayre. It’s a bit early, but she’s a great believer in forward planning.’
Chapter Four
As Sophie went through the hall on her way upstairs on Monday morning, she realised Aunt Rose was on the phone.
‘It’s your mother, Sophie. We’ve had a chat, so I’ll pass you over — here she is, Anne. Bye for now.’
‘Hi Mum, how are things your end?’
‘Fine — what about you, dear? Rose sounds in good spirits.’
They chatted away for a minute or two and then Anne Burnett said, ‘The main reason I’m ringing is because someone called Lynne, from the agency’s, just phoned. She wasn’t prepared to speak to me, so I fobbed her off by saying you were away for a few days and would get back to her ASAP. Apparently, she hasn’t got your mobile number and I didn’t like to give it to her without your permission.’
‘Thanks, Mum. I’ve got the agency’s number here, so I’ll get back to her now.’
‘Look, love, if you want to take the job, I can come down to be with Rose for a few days.’
‘Actually, Mum, I’m enjoying being here in Penbridge. There’s quite a lot going on and I’ve met up with Crystal Briggs again. So if Aunt Rose doesn’t mind, I think I might just stay on for a while longer.’
‘Really? Well, I think you should consider paying Rose for your keep, if you do that, dear. She’s a pensioner, after all.’
‘Yes, I’ve already thought of that, but I’ll need to be tactful. I’ve got a bit put away so I don’t need to worry about finances just now. How much do you suggest?’
Anne chatted to her daughter for a bit longer, ending by saying, ‘I’m glad you’re happy there, and Rose tells me she’s enjoying your company. Anyway, if you change your mind let me know and I’ll get straight in the car. It’s fairly quiet here at the moment and Tim and your dad can fend for themselves for a while.’