Love in Spring BoxSet

by Jenny Lane

  Sophie beamed at Mavis Briggs’ daughter. ‘Crystal! I’d forgotten you worked here.’

  ‘My mum told me you were staying with Mrs Harding. Have you come to collect her books? I was so sorry to learn she’d had an accident. Such a pity she’s not nearer the village. It’s good to know her neighbour’s been keeping an eye on her, though. Mr Ellison’s such a nice man.’

  Crystal paused to scan an elderly couple’s books and to pass the time of day with them.

  ‘We had some great times years back at Rowanbank, didn’t we?’ Sophie said. ‘How’s your sister?’

  Crystal reached for Rose’s books and took the library card Sophie handed her.

  ‘Oh, Teresa’s fine. Her little girl’s almost eight now. Amy loves to visit Mrs Harding to see the dolls’ house furniture, just as we did when we were children.’

  The rather plump lady, who was next in the queue, was looking impatient and Crystal said hastily, ‘Won’t be a minute, Mrs Thomas. Look, I’d love to catch up some time, Sophie.’ She scrawled her phone number on a card and popped it inside the top book.

  Leaving the library, Sophie saw Keir was still standing outside. He was deep in conversation with a stylish, auburn-haired young woman. Her hand was on Keir’s sleeve and she was hanging on to his every word.

  Sophie paused and, a few moments later, the red-head made off in the direction of an alleyway between two houses. Distracted, Sophie continued down the steps and missed her footing on the last one, scattering books in all directions.

  The next moment, she found herself enfolded in a pair of strong arms, her head leaning against a broad, muscular chest.

  ‘Are you OK?’ enquired Keir, solicitously.

  ‘Thank you, yes,’ she mumbled into his coat. She straightened up, feeling unspeakably foolish but, at the same time, aware of just how comforting it felt to be held so close by such a deeply attractive man.

  Keir did not immediately release her and she could feel her heart beating a wild tattoo.

  ‘Are you quite sure you’re OK?’ he asked again gently. ‘I mean, we don’t want two casualties in the cottage, do we now?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ she assured him, enjoying being in the shelter of his arms for a moment longer. ‘Why don’t you catch up with your friend.’

  ‘Oh, Glenda’s one of my students. I run a couple of ceramics classes in the evenings at the school where I work.’

  He gathered up the library books and handed them to her, looking rather amused.

  ‘Well, if you’re quite sure you’re in one piece, at least let me give you this.’

  He produced a folded shopping bag from his capacious pocket and held it open for her, as she popped the books in. He was obviously one of those infuriatingly, organised people who was always ready for every emergency.

  She thanked him again and walked off with as much dignity as she could muster, aware that at least two ladies from the library were watching her curiously from their stand by the window, and that Aunt Rose would be champing at the bit by now.

  ***

  Crystal Briggs phoned Sophie that evening to invite her over to her home for coffee the following evening, as her parents were going out for a meal. Now that the snow had gone, Aunt Rose was feeling a lot happier and had arranged for one of her friends from the Women’s Institute to pop in and keep her company.

  Crystal and Sophie had always got on well and the more they chatted, the more they recalled happy summers when the sun had always shone and they’d gone off for cycle rides.

  ‘Those halcyon days can’t be recaptured — more’s the pity,’ Crystal sighed. ‘Everything’s changing and not necessarily for the better. I keep wondering how long it’ll be before they talk about closing the library.’

  ‘Oh, surely not! It seemed pretty full when I went in the other day.’

  Crystal sighed. ‘Yes, but that’s not significant. It’s a small concern and the building’s ancient. I can see us having to amalgamate with one of the larger ones and then we’ll all have to reapply for our jobs and everyone in the village will have to rely on a mobile library van.’

  Sophie sympathised. It seemed an ideal moment to mention the rumours concerning the new craft centre. Crystal nodded.

  ‘That’s a classic example of what I’m talking about. I suppose I can see the benefit for certain people. You ought to have been at some of those meetings. I take it you’ve actually met Keir Ellison from Rowanbank?’

  Sophie grinned. ‘On more than one occasion.’ She filled her in with their last meeting outside the library and Crystal burst out laughing.

  ‘Wished I’d seen that! Lucky you falling into his arms! He’s good-looking, isn’t he? You’re blushing!’

  Sophie lowered her gaze, annoyed with herself for displaying her feelings.

  ‘Go on — what were you going to say about Keir?’

  ‘Well, for a incomer he was quite vocal at the meetings. Upset some of the older residents who’d lived here all their lives and wanted very different things for the village.’

  ‘I see — was Aunt Rose there?’ she asked.

  ‘No, but Fiona and Ian Knight, her neighbours from Laburnum Cottage, were and they were fully in support of Keir, as were many of the younger generation. And then there was a contingent representing the opposing view, including Peggy Munn’s son. Yes, there were some lively discussions during those meetings.’

  ‘So what would you like to see happening?’ asked Sophie.

  ‘To be honest, I quite like the idea of a craft centre, but perhaps it’s a bit ambitious. My parents were in favour of the old chapel being used as a new venue for the farmers’ market. At the moment it’s held in the village hall, but that’s not always available or so central. Anyway, it looks as if the craft centre’s going ahead so everyone will just have to get used to it whether they like it, or not — more coffee?’

  ‘Please. I’m concerned about the impact this will have on Aunt Rose and Peggy Munn’s business,’ Sophie said worriedly.

  Crystal poured the coffee. ‘Let’s be brutally honest, Sophie, that gift shop is sadly in need of a makeover. I think it’s a great place, don’t get me wrong, but some of the stock must have been there for decades, like poor old Peggy.’

  ‘But, it would break her heart if she was drummed out of business by this new craft centre and I don’t suppose she can afford any improvements to the shop.’

  As they sat over second cups of coffee and slabs of Mrs Briggs’ fruit cake Crystal asked, as Sophie had known she would, ‘So what’s been going on in your life recently? How come you’ve got the time to come here in January? Sorry, was it a relationship?’ she prompted, seeing the bleak expression in Sophie’s eyes.

  Sophie nodded. ‘It didn’t work out end of story,’ she murmured, not wanting to enlarge on what had happened. ‘I suppose I must be one of the most gullible women in the universe. I didn’t see it coming.’

  ‘Men, eh? So do I take it that’s why you left your permanent job in Bucks?’

  ‘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 he
r 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 from 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?’