Midsummer Dreams at Mill Grange

by Jenny Kane

  ‘Perhaps we could pop into Sybil’s for a cuppa and see if she’d mind putting some cards up advertising the space for rent?’

  ‘Now you’re talking. I would kill for one of Sybil’s cheese scones.’

  ‘Cheese scones and not lemon cake? Are you quite yourself?’

  ‘I’m not entirely sure I am.’ Thea got to her feet. ‘There’s some whitewash in the stables. I could do with doing something practical. Working out what has to be done all the time, but not actually doing it, is driving me mad.’

  ‘Likewise. Let’s go. I could do without thinking about anything but avoiding spiders for a while.’

  As Tina spoke, Thea saw her friend glance outside. Sam was talking to Derek. They were fashioning a new rope pulley between them, both laughing, both obviously happy with the day that stretched ahead of them.

  ‘Are you alright, Tina?’

  ‘I wish I knew why he won’t come into the house beyond a commando-style raid on the bathroom.’

  ‘Shaun reckons Sam will tell us when he’s ready.’ Wondering if her friend had started to accept she was interested in Sam, Thea returned the discussion to work. ‘Come on, if we’re busy at the mill then John won’t find me and deliver his daily list of complaints.’

  Still watching the men working through the window, Tina nodded as Sam caught her eye, before looking hurriedly away. ‘I’ll call Malcolm again on the way. I still think I should do it.’ She grimaced. ‘It’s my job after all.’

  Not having missed Tina’s glances to the window, Thea said, ‘Sam looks at you a lot when you aren’t looking at him.’

  ‘Does he?’

  ‘You like him, don’t you?’

  ‘He’s a nice man. Very clever.’

  ‘That isn’t what I meant.’

  Tina gave a heavy sigh. ‘You know he isn’t what I’m looking for.’

  ‘He wasn’t what you were looking for. Now, you’re not so sure, are you?’

  An image of Leon in his designer suit, gold cufflinks and crisp white shirt flitted across her mind. ‘Sam’s a bit scruffy and sort of weird.’

  Offended on Sam’s behalf, Thea couldn’t stop herself saying, ‘And he’s up a ladder, sorting out a problem that would have cost us money we don’t have. He’s worked his arse off since he’s been here, and never complained or caused trouble. Would Mr Silver Fox have done that? No, he’d have waved a credit card and the problem would have gone away with no thought and no effort.’

  ‘But the problem would have gone away!’

  ‘Don’t be such a bloody gold-digger!’ No sooner had the words left her lips than Thea felt awful. ‘Oh hun! I didn’t mean that. I’m so tired. It all came out wrong and—’

  Tina’s round face creased with distress. ‘I…’

  ‘Oh hell. Tina, I’m so sorry. I meant—’

  ‘I know perfectly well what you meant, thank you very much!’ Tina grabbed her bag from the back of the chair. ‘Well, if that’s what you think of me, I’ll be on my way.’

  ‘Tina! I didn’t mean it, I—’

  ‘If you want me, I’ll be working from the Trust office.’

  ‘But they’ve agreed you should work here.’

  ‘And if I need to I will, but when I do, I’d appreciate if you’d keep your opinions about my private life to yourself.’

  *

  Thea had taken over an hour to stop shaking. Calling Tina’s mobile had produced no response, and so far she hadn’t received a reply to the long, apologetic email she’d hammered out.

  Wishing it was possible to take back words or erase time, Thea decided the only thing she could do, especially if she was going to have to get Mill Grange sorted without her right hand woman, was tackle something practical and physically tiring.

  *

  Hunting through the stables, Thea was beginning to think she’d imagined seeing whitewash there, when she caught sight of two faded tubs in the corner, semi-hidden behind a mound of trestle tables. As she bent down to tug them into view, a male voice cut across her concentration.

  ‘Now there’s a view to gladden the heart.’ Shaun strode through the open double doors, a broom in one hand and a dustpan and brush in the other.

  Despite the new heaviness in her heart, Thea couldn’t prevent the grin that crossed her face. ‘That’s the second potentially sexist remark you’ve made to me in the last twenty-four hours.’

  ‘Is it sexist to admire a beautiful woman?’

  Thea wrinkled her nose. ‘Let’s just say that, in recent years, the rules have become a little blurred.’

  ‘Don’t I know it! Us chaps can’t smile at a woman anymore without worrying about a court appearance.’ Shaun gave a theatrical bow. ‘Do I have permission to tell you I think you look good, whenever I like, providing it’s in private?’

  ‘Granted.’

  ‘And that having very little sleep has a very sexy effect on your voice?’

  ‘Maybe.’ Thea’s grin widened as Shaun battled to keep a straight face.

  ‘Good. So, when do the chickens arrive?’

  Remembering Tina’s excitement about the arrival of the chickens, Thea felt her moment of optimism dip. ‘Not until this afternoon thankfully, so I’ve a bit of time to crack on.’

  ‘Are you alright? Your smile disappeared very quickly at the mention of chickens. I thought you were looking forward to fresh eggs for breakfast.’

  ‘I am. Just seems like something else to worry about, that’s all.’

  ‘Aren’t Tina and Sam going to look after them?’

  ‘Tina’s had to go to the office for a while.’ Looking away so Shaun wouldn’t see the sadness on her face, she added, ‘I’m sure Sam will cope though.’

  ‘More than likely. He’s a capable chap.’ Propping up the broom and dropping the dustpan and brush, Shaun took the whitewash from Thea’s hand. ‘For the mill?’

  ‘Yes. I want to make a start on freshening it up. Even if we have to admit defeat and sell it rather than split it into rentals, it’ll need some TLC first.’

  ‘I don’t know about TLC But I do know you’ll need a ladder and a tall person for those hard to reach places.’

  ‘Are you volunteering?’

  ‘I certainly am.’ Shaun hooked a paint tin onto his arm and picked up the broom. ‘I want to hear what the trustees had to say about last night.’

  ‘Tina was going to call Malcolm, but I suppose she’ll speak to him in person now.’ Mentally crossing her fingers that Tina would still honour her promise to liaise with the Trust about the nightjar incident, Thea forced out a smile. ‘Thankfully Sam and Derek think they can handle the window, so it’s the vase and table that need addressing.’

  ‘Just the vase.’

  ‘What?’ Hope clutched at Thea’s heart for the first time in days.

  ‘Obviously, Malcolm will have to be told about the table, but you can also let him know that a French polisher has been engaged, and is already on his way. A mate of mine, Richard, will be with us by eight o’clock tomorrow morning.’

  ‘But…’

  ‘I’m sure you are going to say something very dull about money. However, Richard is one of the experts lined up for the next series of Landscape Treasures. He is an expert on furniture and its restoration. I gave him a call and sent him some photos of the table. He got all excited about a Gillows dining table being so far from where it was made in Lancashire, and agreed to take a look in return for potentially featuring it in the show. What do you think?’

  ‘Have Mill Grange on your TV show?’

  ‘Yes. It’d be fabulous publicity. It would be a side feature, mainly featuring the interior of the house, but it might help get some interest in the Open Day. Help ticket sales a bit maybe.’

  Dropping her paintbrushes, Thea ran to Shaun’s side and hugged him. ‘That’s amazing. Do you really think he’d do the polishing for us?’

  ‘I do. He’s good. Used to work for Christies.’

  ‘Bloody hell. I can’t wait to tell Tina… Oh.
’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I upset Tina. I didn’t mean to.’ Thea sighed. ‘She said she was going to work from the office from now on.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it?’ Shaun ran a gentle palm over her cheek.

  ‘No thanks. It’s my fault. I’ll sort it out.’ Thea reached out and found her unspoken request for a hug instantly granted.

  ‘If you’re sure.’ Pulling Thea closer, Shaun’s voice was suddenly husky. ‘I think we have a few things to discuss when we go out tonight, and not just Mill Grange’s potential television show.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Such as why, young lady, you are hugging me, without so much as asking me first? Rules work both ways you know.’ Shaun held Thea tighter. ‘May I kiss the management?’

  ‘You may.’

  Twenty-Six

  April 18th

  ‘Do you know why I haven’t asked you which room you’re sleeping in?’

  Thea lowered the spoonful of lemon ice cream that had been on the way to her mouth. ‘I assumed it was so you didn’t accidentally ravish me without asking permission first.’

  ‘Precisely.’ Shaun’s teasing eyes took on a more serious sheen. ‘Although, I have a confession to make on that score.’

  ‘Then confess.’

  Thea, relaxed under the effects of alcohol, good food, lack of sleep and the heat of the pub fire. They were tucked away in a village on the edge of Taunton, far enough away from Upwich for her not to worry about them being seen out together. Her calm state was helped by the fact that, contrary to expectations, not only had Tina honoured her promise to inform Malcolm of what had happened, he hadn’t gone mad about the damage to the house. He’d been impressed by their handling of the situation and relieved that the ill wind meant some good in the shape of an insurance payout. The lost vase could now pay for all the materials needed to update the mill before renting it out.

  Shaun watched Thea lick ice cream from her lips as he said, ‘I am going to find it challenging not to search the attics for your room tonight. That being said, would you rather I stayed here? They have rooms.’

  Thea studied his expression, not sure if he was joking or not. ‘And what would I do if you were here and another member of Exmoor’s wildlife population decided to visit the house in the middle of the night?’

  ‘Call Sam?’

  ‘An impractical suggestion for obvious reasons. Anyway, he’s promised to watch the chickens tonight. They are so cute! And as Sam is taking his promise to care for them very seriously, I’m not calling him away.

  ‘Anyway, if you remember, you drove us over here. Hence why you’re on lemonade and not beer. If you stayed, I’d have to stay too.’ Realising that idea was not unappealing, Thea picked up her spoon and stared into her bowl. ‘Now stop being so chivalrous and eat your pudding.’

  Shovelling a large helping of Baked Alaska, Shaun shook his head in mock despair. ‘Well don’t blame me if I get lost going to bed and end up in the wrong room.’

  ‘I promise I will guide you safely to where you belong.’

  ‘Will you?’ Shaun placed a palm on her leg. ‘Will you, Thea?’

  She nodded, her mouth suddenly too dry to talk despite the ice cream.

  ‘I don’t want to force the pace, and this isn’t just me taking advantage of an exhausted woman in a deserted house.’ He winked before becoming more serious. ‘Truly. I’m not trying to get my leg over before disappearing in a puff of smoke.’

  Swallowing, knowing he was dead right about the exhaustion, Thea said, ‘If you happen to be passing my bedroom door, feel free to come in.’ She started to laugh. ‘Although frankly, I’m more likely to fall asleep on your shoulder than anything else.’

  Shaun smiled. ‘That sounds rather nice.’

  ‘But not as much fun as what you had in mind.’

  ‘I had it all in mind. Slowly, over a period of years. Including lots of cuddled sleep.’

  Thea reached out her hand and laid it over his. ‘You mean that, don’t you?’

  Shaun said nothing, as his eyes filled with desire.

  Whispering under her breath to stop anyone overhearing, Thea said, ‘There’s no way you’d fit into my bed. I hardly fit in it. Victorian serving girls were clearly built on much slimmer lines than twenty-first-century heritage managers.’

  Shaun’s eyes dropped to her chest and back again. ‘And thank goodness for that.’

  Thea shifted on her seat. ‘Perhaps we should talk about something else for a minute.’

  ‘I’d rather whisk you back to the manor right now and test your bed theory, but I do have something else I want to talk to you about.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘Come round here and I’ll tell you.’ Shaun patted the place next to him on the short settle.

  ‘Will I fit?’

  ‘Cheek! I’m not that big you know!’

  Shaun budged up a fraction so Thea could squash up next to him. His arm came around her shoulder, half due the lack of space, and half because it felt good to be held and be holding.

  ‘What do you have to tell me? You’re being whisked away from the manor and can’t help after all?’

  The words had come out lightly. A joke. But as soon as they’d escaped her flippant lips, Thea saw how real that possibility was – a fact echoed by the uncomfortable look in Shaun’s eyes.

  ‘Oh God, I was only joking. You’re not really leaving, are you?’ Shaun’s earlier words swam back to her. ‘You’re about to disappear in a puff of smoke?’

  Resting his free arm on the table, Shaun fiddled with his lemonade glass. ‘Richard, the bloke coming tomorrow to start work on the table, needs to take me away for a few days to give a possible filming location a once-over.’

  ‘Oh.’ Thea felt her heart sink. Tina had gone, and now she was losing Shaun too. ‘How long for?’

  ‘A week. Ish.’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘Maybe more, but hopefully not.’ Shaun shuffled around so he could see Thea properly. ‘I’m sorry. I know this is rotten timing with Tina not being around. The production company told me I wouldn’t be needed for another month at least. Apparently there is a place in Cornwall ripe for investigating, but the owners need convincing. They want to meet me to reassure them that I won’t be riding roughshod over their land just for the sake of it.’

  ‘The perils of being the front man.’ Thea tried to ignore the disappointment that had gripped her insides. ‘I’m sure Tina and I will be okay soon.’ It was ridiculous. She shouldn’t feel this desolate. He was only going for a week. He’d been amazing already, and the fact that Richard was coming to take him away meant that the table was going to be fixed sooner rather than later.

  ‘I’d rather stay.’

  Thea smiled up at him. ‘This is your job. You have to go.’

  ‘I’ll come back as soon as it’s sorted.’

  ‘It’ll be longer than a week though won’t it? There’ll be other things that have to be done. You’ve been away from your post for a while already.’ Being more practical than she felt like being, Thea added, ‘We’ve been very lucky to have your help for as long as we have. Mabel will be gutted though.’

  Shaun spoke into his glass as he took a drink. ‘If I thought you’d agree, I’d invite you to come with me. Your expert eye would be welcome, as well as your company.’

  ‘If you’re going to Cornwall, you’re hardly likely to need the eye of a Roman historian.’

  ‘I think we both know that you’re much more than that.’ He flicked back her fringe and smiled into her eyes.

  Thea lowered her eyes to her lap. If she looked at him now she’d either kiss him or her fatigue and guilt over hurting Tina would take over and she’d humiliate herself by bursting into tears. Despite her best efforts earlier, she noticed there were still specks of white on her palms. ‘We should have the mill whitewashed completely by the time you get back. I can’t believe how much we got done today.’


  Recognising Thea’s determination to stay positive, Shaun squeezed her closer to his side. ‘Why don’t you visit Sybil’s place tomorrow and get those adverts for the rented space up?’

  ‘A good excuse for comfort food, as well as a sound business move.’ Thea gave him a brave smile.

  ‘Talking of mixing business with pleasure,’ Shaun said, withdrawing his arm, ‘I’m going to drive us home now.’

  *

  John sat very still. They hadn’t seen him. He hadn’t been sure he was going to follow them until the very last minute. Even now, he wasn’t entirely sure what he hoped to achieve by doing so. He’d been very careful about where he’d positioned himself. Behind them, and shrouded by a half-draped curtain that divided the restaurant from the bar.

  He suspected however, that they wouldn’t have noticed him even if he’d paraded in front of them stark naked, they’d been so wrapped up in each other.

  This is what Thea was warning me about – about not wanting to hurt me again – but the boring archaeologist is going away.

  John scrolled through the emails on his phone. He needed to get back to Bath if he was going to consolidate his promotion.

  But without Thea, I might not be able to keep my post anyway.

  He drank the rest of his pint of Coke slowly. It was time to come up with a better plan.

  *

  April 19th

  ‘Who is that gentleman in with Shaun?’

  Mabel, clipboard clutched to her chest, arrived in the office with her usual lack of greeting.

  ‘Richard. He’s a furniture expert who is going to try and save our table.’

  ‘Oh.’ Immediately satisfied that her territory hadn’t been invaded and that her work schedule hadn’t been messed up, but merely added to, Mabel referred to her list. ‘Aren’t you and Tina heading back to the mill today?’

  ‘Just me, Mabel. Tina is at the Trust office dealing with the insurance company about the vase.’ Thea crossed her fingers under her desk. ‘First, however, I have a mountain of paperwork to sort out. I have to book the health and safety people to come and give the place the once-over in time for Open Day.’