For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Once back home, Anna took a long walk on part of the coastal path but, fed up with her own company, she then headed down to the local pub for her supper, content to read her book and pause to people-watch. Gavin and Sebastian, who owned The Lugger, had only recently tied the knot, and they were regaling the locals with tales from their honeymoon in Thailand, including Anna in their friendly banter.
Tuesday dawned fair and mild, typical after a long holiday weekend, and Anna had barely finished hanging out some washing when Daniel came around the corner of the house.
‘Just the person I need to see.’
He smirked. ‘And those are the perfect words to cheer you up when you’re in the pits. Got any cake, Anna?’
‘Why so glum?’ Was it because his cousin had gone away again? Alex seemed to have that effect. She’d certainly felt out of sorts yesterday.
Daniel sank into his usual seat and grabbed a biscuit from the plate. ‘Thought I’d got myself a date but she blew me off.’
‘Oh, that’s a shame.’ Anna busied herself with the coffee pot. ‘A visitor?’
There was no answer, and Anna glanced over at Daniel but his attention was with his phone.
She soon had the table laid up with the usual: a pot of coffee, mugs, sugar, milk and a plate of chocolate brownies she’d made the previous day.
Daniel shoved his phone back in his pocket and smiled. ‘Excellent.’ He reached for a slice and took the mug of coffee from Anna. ‘You’re a treasure, Anna Redding.’
‘I have my motives.’ Anna sank into the seat opposite, keen to grab a moment before anyone else appeared. ‘Daniel, you know I’m thinking of opening a B&B?’
He nodded as he munched.
‘I phoned the council this morning to find out what I need to do. I’ve got to register with them at least twenty-eight days before I start taking guests, and then they send round an Environmental Health Officer to do an inspection, but before that happens, I need some work done on the house. That includes setting up a separate food prep area so I can keep Heathcliff out. I thought perhaps the utility? I want to upgrade the appliances, too.’
‘Of course. What about the sinks in the bedrooms?’
‘They’re in good condition for their age, but I think if I’m offering guests a room, I do need some power showers in both bathrooms. It’s a shame I don’t have any en suite rooms.’
‘You won’t have any problems. Not with this view.’ He gestured towards the window. ‘But yes, I can sort that for you.’
‘Thanks, Daniel. You’re the treasure, not me.’
His smile faded. ‘Wish Claudia thought so.’
Claudia? Claudia was the girl he tried to get a date with?
‘Claudia Bond-Smythe?’
Daniel looked surprised. ‘You know her?’
‘Not really. I was introduced to her briefly.’ Her drink in the pub with Alex seemed ages ago.
Daniel put his mug down. ‘Known her for years. Asked her out this weekend. It didn’t go well.’
‘I’m so sorry.’ Anna eyed Daniel’s paint-splattered overalls, the long ponytail and the copious facial hair. He was a lovely man, with warm brown eyes and an engaging smile, but with Claudia’s glossy finish, it would be like trying to pair a solid workhorse with a dressage pony. Perhaps if Nicki gave him a makeover…
‘Wasson, my lovelies?’
Anna and Daniel looked over as the door opened to reveal Mrs Lovelace, followed shortly by Nicki, who carried a large black bin bag, which she stowed by the door before joining the others at the table.
‘Anything you need to tell us, Nic?’ Daniel dipped his head in the direction of the discarded sack.
‘Collecting for the stall sale.’ She smiled at Anna as she handed her a plate. ‘Raising funds for the Christmas lights.’
Anna was puzzled. ‘Isn’t it a bit early?’
‘Goes on all year.’ Mrs Lovelace jabbed a finger towards the bin bag. ‘They goes door to door to see if anyone has anythin’ they don’t want or need no more.’
‘They really go to town when the lights are launched.’ Daniel took a sip from his mug. ‘Probably the highlight of the village festive calendar, other than Biffy Bates squeezing into his Santa suit and turning up at the Three Fishes with a full sack.’ He waggled his eyebrows meaningfully, and Anna and Nicki were in stitches.
‘I might have some things for you.’ Anna wiped her eyes, thinking of all of Aunt Meg’s clothes still hanging in her wardrobe. She hated the thought of removing them, but she’d already decided a charity shop was the best option. At least that way, someone would benefit from them. The wardrobe certainly didn’t. ‘I’ll put a bagful of bits and pieces together.’
Busying herself with the coffee pot, Anna glanced at the clock. She had a couple of hours yet before she needed to get ready for work, which was a good thing as everyone was clearly up for a good chat.
‘All going well at the big house, Anna?’ Nicki took a bite of a brownie. ‘These are lush!’
‘Thanks.’ Anna sank back into her chair. ‘Yes, I’m enjoying the job. Oliver’s an amazing historian, and his writing is so absorbing. It’s a real treat, to be honest. Not really like work at all.’
‘Still keeps himself to himself, do ’e?’ Mrs Lovelace’s face was alive with interest.
‘I’m not sure I’ve worked him out. I mean, he’s taciturn, almost to the point of rudeness sometimes, but I think half the time it’s because he’s so wrapped up in what he’s doing he doesn’t realise how he comes across.’ Anna smiled as her gaze drifted out the window towards Harbourwatch. ‘He’s always very nice towards Mrs Clegg though.’
‘Cleggie never has a bad word about him.’
There was a pause as Mrs Lovelace went to the bathroom and everyone had their mugs topped up, but although Anna was pretty certain Oliver wouldn’t appreciate being their topic of conversation, she couldn’t shake the feeling she was missing something.
‘He must enjoy gardening if he helped look after Aunt Meg’s garden, but why would he then employ someone to look after his own?’
Nicki shrugged. ‘Pots and hanging baskets aren’t really gardening, are they? Maybe he appreciated the physical workout this garden brought. He’s in pretty good shape, after all.’ She smirked at Anna, who rolled her eyes. ‘That, or he’s a bit of an eccentric.’
‘That’s what I thought at first. I mean, he’s got all the house staff, but this chap doing the pots and so on seems really odd. It’s a big house, but the paved terraces aren’t like having to maintain Tremayne Manor with all its manicured grounds.’
Mrs Lovelace sniffed. ‘They definitely have a team of gardeners for all those acres. Ruined it in recent years, too. Used to be laid out by that Calamity Brown.’
Anna exchanged a small smile with Nicki. ‘I didn’t know “Calamity Brown” had designed the grounds at Tremayne. How fascinating.’
‘Much good it did him. Her Ladyship’s had it all reworked now. Young Phoenix’s dad was one of the gardeners on the job a few years back. All the villagers was jumping.’
Anna topped up the plate of biscuits, her mind still on the enigma that was Oliver Seymour.
‘He’s considerate. At least, towards Mrs Clegg, and Daisy, and Old Patrick.’
Nicki turned in her seat. ‘You didn’t hear about what happened to Cleggie, then?’
Anna looked up. ‘No. Why? Is she okay?’
Mrs Lovelace tapped her nose. ‘It’s not widely known. Mr Seymour asked Cleggie to keep it to herself. Only told me, she did. And then I told Nicki.’
‘Told you what?’
Nicki picked up her cup. ‘Mrs Clegg was a tenant in a row of cottages on Deeping Lane, all owned by the Tremayne estate. The whole run has, one by one, been sold to out-of-towners, all willing to pay a premium. Locals didn’t get a look-in at those prices, so now they’re all second homes or holiday lets. Once Cleggie’s lease was up for renewal…’
‘It wasn’t renewed.’ Anna chewed on her bottom lip. ‘What did she do?’
Daniel leaned forward. ‘Yes, go on. I hadn’t heard this. I wasn’t living here back then.’
Nicki sighed. ‘It was all very sad. She was very distressed. She’s retired. Only got a small pension. The rent had been a peppercorn one, as she and her husband had lived there for decades. He worked for the Tremayne estate all his life. The council were looking for a small flat or bedsit for her in Bodmin. She was so upset about leaving the cove and perhaps not finding room for her pets. But then someone stepped in.’
‘Oliver?’
Mrs Lovelace folded her arms. ‘Gave her a home and a job. Took in her animals. She lives rent-free and gets a wage, too.’
‘What about the others?’
‘Old Patrick were right devastated when his wife died last year.’ Mrs Lovelace shook her head. ‘Wed these fifty years or more, they were. Went into a terrible decline. Then, he gets a call, sayin’ Mr Seymour needed someone to do odd jobs and maintenance. Part time, about twice a week, but Cleggie says it’s done him so much good. Given him a reason for livin’, made him feel wanted, so he tends to pop in every day to see if there’s anythin’ he can do.’
‘And Daisy?’
Nicki smiled. ‘She’s not trained for anything. When the Mariners Tea Rooms shut down, she wasn’t sophisticated enough to get a job in the coffee shop or any of the boutiques. Cleggie told Mr Seymour, and he offered her the job of helping her out at busy times.’
‘He doesn’t entertain though, or have visitors.’
‘Daisy still goes in every day. She loves it. Feels wanted too.’ Nicki looked around. ‘He’s probably got no idea we all know.’
‘He doesn’t seem to go out much, other than to business meetings,’ mused Anna. ‘I’ve not known him do anything remotely sociable.’
‘Mrs L has a theory about that, don’t you?’ Nicki turned in her seat to face the elderly lady.
‘Aye.’ Mrs Lovelace nodded. ‘You’m mark my words, young’uns. One-woman man is our Mr Seymour. Never been seen out with a young lady here in the cove, has he?’ She eyed her audience keenly. ‘He still be hung up on his ex-wife. That’s what I reckons. One woman only for him.’
Daniel leaned back in his chair. ‘He was out last night, as it happens.’
Everyone exchanged a look, and Nicki grinned. ‘Don’t tell us he finally did have a date?’
Daniel picked up the last slice of brownie, but when he realised three pairs of eyes were fastened on him, he paused. ‘What? Oh! No. I was coming out of the Three Fishes, quite early on, and passed him. Looked like he’d been walking that dog of his. He was helping old Charlie back to his cottage.’
Anna threw him an indulgent look. ‘Walking the dog is hardly “out”, Daniel.’
‘Charlie’s proper teasy of late. You’m mark my words.’ Mrs Lovelace looked around sagely.
Anna got to her feet. ‘So who’s this Charlie?’
Nicki and Daniel spoke in unison: ‘Charlie the Crab!’
Anna smiled to herself as she carried the empty plate over to the sink and turned on the tap. She’d discovered quite early on that people were defined by where they lived or what they did. Aside from Ray down the End, the electrician, there was Brian up the Top, a plumber, Tommy the Boat, the retired fisherman who did trips for the visitors in the season, and Colin the Cod, who ran the village chip shop.
Charlie the Crab was a new one, however. ‘Don’t tell me,’ she turned around as the sink filled with water. ‘Another fisherman.’
Daniel stretched his arms above his head. ‘Nah. He’s a bit too fond of the sauce. Most often seen walking sideways as a result.’
Anna turned back to the sink, conscious of a wave of contentment sweeping through her. Polkerran Point, with its stunning views, happy memories and its funny people, warmed her heart.
Aren’t you forgetting something? whispered a voice in her head. Oh yes, and Alex. The boy she’d fallen hard for all those years ago.
The one who’d kissed her.