Four Silences Broken, page 9
“How did Becky take the news?”
“I think even though she’d been told what to expect it was still a shock. It didn’t help that her divorce papers arrived yesterday too. I suppose it must all feel very final to her.”
“Should I go and say something sympathetic to her?” asked Rachel as she carried two mugs of tea over to the table where her mother was now arranging slices of apple on to the base of the pie.
“I don’t think she wants to talk about it. Besides, she isn’t here. Nish has taken her and Minty to the cinema to see the new Disney film.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. So much for Becky being in shock—and why had she left their mum on her own? Had she forgotten what day it was?
“Now, don’t look like that,” chided Mary. “It’s good that she’s keeping busy, taking her mind off things, and Nish seems like a very nice young man. Don’t you approve?”
Rachel shrugged. “I think she should take things more slowly, but Nish seems okay. He is Meera’s brother after all and apparently he’s helping Lucy with her campaign to become our MP.”
Mary looked up in surprise. “What? Lucy an MP? Becky said something about that. I thought she was joking.”
Rachel grinned. Her mother’s reaction was typical of everyone else in the village when they heard about Lucy’s plan. “I know it’s completely mad, but she thought the other candidates were useless, so she put herself forward.” She paused. “Part of me wonders if she just wanted a distraction from Sadie’s biography and the court case against Guy.”
“Poor Lucy.” Mary sighed, shaking her head. “She’s been through such a lot.”
“Let’s talk about something more cheerful. Have you heard Jo and Jack are expecting a baby?”
Mary’s face immediately brightened. She loved children. “Yes! Isn’t it exciting? I don’t think Shirley has stopped smiling.”
“It’s made Jo want to find out about her own parents and if there’s really a connection between them and Hartwell. I promised her I would ask you about it again. Was there any gossip or scandal back then?”
Mary turned away and went over to the sink to wash her hands. “My goodness, I can barely remember what happened yesterday, let alone thirty-odd years ago.”
“It was probably around thirty-one years ago. Jo turned thirty a few months ago. Me, Jack and Rupert would all have been toddlers,” she persisted. “Were there any rumours of an affair or did someone disappear suddenly?”
Mary shook her head. “Nothing springs to mind, love.”
Although Mary looked and sounded perfectly normal, Rachel got the distinct impression her mother was hiding something, but before she could press her any further, she changed the subject.
“Actually, I’m pleased you called around. I’ve been giving a lot of thought to this idea of yours for a heritage centre in the village.”
“Really? I thought you were only humouring Sarah.”
Rachel and Sarah had gone to the farmhouse for lunch with Mary the previous Sunday and Sarah had explained all their plans in great detail.
“Don’t be silly. She had some very interesting ideas, and it sounds exactly the sort of thing the village and you need.”
“I need?”
“Yes. You’ve always been a bit restless. I know you enjoy your job, but you need more of a challenge, something to get your teeth into. So, I was thinking why not use the stables and the old barn. They could easily be converted, and I don’t think it would cost anything like as much as Rob would want for the Hayloft.”
“Bailey is happy up at Dan’s so the stables are empty, but where would you put the tractors if we used the barn?”
“I’ve been thinking we might not need them much longer. I’m thinking of asking Dan to take on the flock.”
“You want to stop farming? But the Foxtons have always farmed here,” protested Rachel. She could feel a sense of growing excitement inside her at the thought that their dreams could soon be a reality, but it felt somehow wrong to be talking about this on her dad’s birthday.
“Dan’s a Foxton. Look, love, I’m not getting any younger.” Rachel opened her mouth to protest, but Mary held up her hand. She looked unusually determined. “Max might have been behind all the problems I thought I had, but it did make me realise I shouldn’t take my health for granted, and it’s sensible to make plans for the future. You know as well as I do that it’s getting harder and harder to make money out of farming. Mick and Tony have both talked about wanting to retire in the next few months. I know you’ve always helped me out with the business side of the farm, but neither you nor your sister want to be sheep farmers. You and Sarah have these plans for creating something new and exciting here in Hartwell and we have a whole range of farm buildings standing empty on the other side of the yard. Why not use them for this scheme you and Sarah have come up with?”
“I don’t know what to say,” replied Rachel feeling quite overwhelmed.
“You don’t have to say anything yet. Why not go and tell Sarah and see what she thinks to the idea?”
*
Rachel was so excited to tell Sarah her news, she almost ran back to the cottage. When she arrived, slightly out of breath, she found her in the kitchen peeling carrots. Sarah looked round when she heard the door.
“There you are! Have you been running all this time? You’ve been gone ages. I’m making a start on lunch,” she said.
“I went to see Mum too,” replied Rachel.
“Is she okay?”
“Fine and I’ve found a place for the heritage centre—or rather Mum has.”
Sarah put down her knife and turned around in surprise. “In Hartwell?”
“Yes.”
“Can we afford it?”
“It won’t cost us a thing. At least not in the first instance. We’ll still need to renovate it obviously.”
“Well, where is it?” demanded Sarah.
Rachel grinned and held out her hand. “Come with me and I’ll show you.”
Less than five minutes later, they stood outside Bailey’s old stable.
“It could be perfect. The first stable could be a ticket office, the second a gift shop, the barn next door is much bigger and has a mezzanine floor so that could house the main exhibition, then the tractor shelter here at the end could be the café. I know it’s a bit open to the elements right now, but if we glazed over the entrance the visitors would have a wonderful view of the village. You can actually see the Hayloft from here.” Rachel smiled as Sarah gabbled away excitedly. “We could give them a map of the village with their ticket. When they’ve finished here they could walk down to the burial site and visit the well. How much would it cost?”
“A lot less than buying the Hayloft and hopefully some of the heritage grants you applied for will help. We’ll need planning permission for changing the use of the buildings, so we’ll need to get the parish council on side and hope nobody else has any objections.”
Sarah pushed her red curls away from her face and took Rachel’s arm. “Are you sure this is all okay with your mum?”
“She said she wants to wind down the farm and thinks this will be a better use for the buildings.”
“Isn’t it wonderful that she has such faith in us?”
“It is. Now let’s see if we can convince the rest of the village.”
Chapter Nine
Lucy curled up on the sofa in the library and cringed as she watched a video of herself. When Nish had dropped off the leaflets, he had encouraged her to start using social media in her campaign too and according to him, a few Facebook posts simply wouldn’t cut it.
“You need to get the younger voters on side, Luce. The oldies will vote the way they always have,” he insisted as he pointed the camera on his phone in her face.
Happily, she was distracted from analysing her performance when Rob returned from his early morning trip to check on the progress of one of his sites in York. He joined her on the sofa and peered at the screen.
“Wow. You’re getting a lot of views.”
“I can’t think why. Does my voice really sound like that?” She sighed as she folded the screen down. “I suppose I shall have to get used to it. I’m being interviewed on local radio later today.”
“Well, whatever you are doing it seems to be working. The Yorkshire Post has done an opinion poll. You are only a few points behind Devizes.”
Lucy picked up the paper and looked at the front page in astonishment. “Really? That can’t be right.”
“Why not? I’d vote for you; in fact I’ve asked an agent down in London to try to find a place near Westminster, so we’ve got somewhere to stay if you need to be down there to vote or debate or whatever.”
“Are you serious? Somewhere in central London will cost a fortune. It’ll be a total waste of money. I’m not going to win.”
“I think you might, and you’ll need a base. Besides, I’ll want to invest in somewhere else when I eventually sell the Hayloft. If Sarah and her lot ever stop digging up Druids, that is.”
“It was very nice of you to let her take all this time.”
“She’s got big plans for Hartwell. She wants to open some sort of centre about the history of the village. It could be good for the place. Besides, if I hadn’t let her, I would have had Rachel to answer to.”
Lucy smiled, but Rob wasn’t going to be put off.
“So, what do you think to getting a place in London? I was thinking a two-bed apartment, so Freddie has his own room. During term time I’ll be up here with him and keeping an eye on everything and you won’t need to be down there in the holidays, but there will still be half-terms. If we are all away, Joan and Bill will be able to look after the dogs, so we probably won’t need any outside space.”
“I’m not sure. Even somewhere small will be terribly expensive and I really don’t think I’ll win.”
“Either way, it could still be a good investment.”
Lucy chewed her lip. In truth, she really hadn’t considered for one moment she might win this election. Now this opinion poll and Rob’s talk of a place in London and being away from Freddie and the dogs sent a wave of panic through her. What had she got herself into? Next to her, Rob shifted his position, so he could look at her directly.
“Is the expense the only reason you are worried about me buying a place in London for us?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you having doubts about us?”
Lucy stared at him in horror. “No! Why would, I? Are you? Is it the politics thing? I know it’s not what you signed up for, but I only really…”
“Hear me out. At the risk of sounding like Jo again, politics is a dirty business. Your opponents will want to get at you and living with a man who has been to prison…” he paused “…they’ll use it against you. Now, I don’t mind. They can say or write what they want about me, but I saw how upset you were when you saw that article your mum gave the press.”
Lucy looked away. The latest instalment of Sadie’s biography had been all about how she had hurried back from South Africa to console her only daughter after the mysterious disappearance of her husband. It had gone into even more lurid detail of Rupert’s drug addiction and violent behaviour.
“Being with me might make life more difficult. That’s all,” Rob finished gently.
“How can you say that? I’m not sure of many things in life, but one thing I know for certain is that I have never felt as safe and as happy as I am when I’m with you.”
Rob stood up and taking her hand pulled her to her feet too.
“Then leave London to me and you go and get ready for your interview.”
*
For once, Lucy was ahead of schedule and thought she might actually be early for her interview until she noticed her skirt button dangling on a thread as she passed the antique mirror in the hall.
“Oh bloody hell,” she cursed as she dashed into the kitchen. “Joan can you be a lifesaver and fix this button or I’ll have to change my whole outfit and I’ll be late.”
In one smooth motion, her housekeeper put down the potato she was peeling, wiped her hands on her apron and reached for her sewing box.
“Keep still—it won’t take a second—and calm down. All this dashing about can’t be good for you.”
Lucy had heard that tone before. “You don’t approve of me standing, do you?”
“Of course I approve—my car is covered in your stickers—but I do worry you’ll wear yourself out. Running this place and being an MP.”
“I don’t know why everyone thinks I’m going to win. Rob has even been talking about getting a place in London.”
“That would be much more sensible than lots of travelling, and don’t fret about this place while you’re away. Bill and I will take care of things.”
“I know you’ll do a marvellous job, thank you.” Lucy paused, wondering if she should mention something that was always in the back of her mind, but she rarely spoke about. “And actually the more I think about having a base in London, the more I think it might be good for Freddie to get away from Hartwell.”
Joan looked up at her in surprise. “Really? I can’t see him taking to city life when he’s used to all the freedom and space he has here.”
“I know but since Sarah and her team arrived in the village, there’s been a lot of talk about the curse of the Hartwell noble. As he gets older, it might be better for him to, you know, not be under its influence or whatever.”
Joan tutted and shook her head. “That’s a lot of old nonsense. Look at Lord Rupert. It was down in London where he got himself into the most trouble.”
“I suppose so,” conceded Lucy.
“And don’t take my word for it—even my great-granny used to say it was a load of rubbish.”
“I forgot your family were from round here. By the way, do you have a Hartwell noble?”
“I inherited one from my granny, but I haven’t seen it in years. Why do you ask?”
“I was thinking about Jo. She’s trying to trace her parents. The only thing she was left with was a noble. You must have seen her wearing it around her neck.”
“Oh, that’s right. I think I have now you mention it. Such lovely news that she and Jack are going to have a baby. She’ll soon be too busy to think of anything else and sometimes the past is better left in the past.”
“But do you think it means she’s connected to Hartwell?”
Joan shook her head again. “Good heavens, how your mind flits about. You’ve gone from London property to curses, to coins in less than five minutes.”
“Don’t they say a busy mind means a happy heart or something?” replied Lucy with a grin.
“No, love. They don’t.”
With that Joan tied off the loose thread, expertly bit through it with her teeth and sent Lucy on her way.
*
As Lucy set off to York, she checked her watch. She still had an hour before the interview, so she took a slight detour via the surgery. That morning she’d sneaked into the ballroom to check on the progress of the workmen the film company had employed. They had worked miracles. The place was beginning to look exactly as it would over two hundred years ago and it had given her an idea.
The grumpy receptionist, sitting behind the plastic screen, reluctantly told her Meera could be found in the kitchen.
“Oh hello, we don’t usually see you here. Is anything wrong?” asked her friend who looked a little startled to see her. She had been staring out of the window when Lucy appeared.
“No, not at all. I have a proposition for you. How would you like to hold your wedding at Hartwell Hall?” asked Lucy, immediately. “Rob was talking to Ben in the pub and he said you’d been having difficulty finding somewhere and I know you wanted a Regency theme and I thought our ballroom would be perfect with all the work the film people are doing. It could be my wedding present to you. I’ve been racking my brains for what I could get you both. What do you think? Say no if you hate the idea.” As usual when she was excited her words came tumbling out.
Meera stared at her for a second and her eyes began to fill with tears. Lucy was horrified.
“Oh bugger! Have I said the wrong thing? I’m so sorry. Honestly, Meera, forget I said a word.”
To her great relief Meera shook her head and smiled. “Oh, Lucy, no I’m not upset. Thank you so much. The ballroom would be perfect.” She reached for a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m sorry I’m crying, but everything about the wedding seemed to be going wrong. I thought perhaps it was a sign that I was rushing into things, that it wasn’t meant to be, but your offer makes everything perfect again.”
Lucy clapped her hands together in glee, then hugged Meera tightly. “Oh, I’m so pleased. And not at another word about the wedding not being meant to happen. You and Ben are perfect for each other and you deserve every happiness and a fab wedding. Okay?”
“Okay,” agreed Meera, but her smile had left her face again.
“Is something else up?”
“Not really. We’ve got Ben’s mum staying with us at the moment and…well, to be honest, we aren’t getting on as well as I had hoped.”
Lucy couldn’t comprehend anyone not getting on with kind, gentle Meera, who was always there to provide encouragement and sensible advice to her friends.
“Give it time. I’m sure she’ll love you as much as we all do. Mothers-in-law can be tricky. Look at Caroline, although to be fair she’s an improvement on Sadie. What I mean is, sometimes, it can take a while to get to know someone. Take your brother for example. He’s been a huge help.”
“What on earth is Nish helping you with?” asked Meera in surprise.
“Loads of things—printing leaflets, social media stuff. I can’t think why you always say the two of you don’t get on.”
“We’re just very different people.”
“Do you think so? He reminds me of you a lot.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. You’re both outgoing, helpful and friendly. He seems to know loads of people. Whenever I’m struggling to get something done, he always has a mate who can help out.”
