Thea passed Sam a mug of tea as he stood by the front door. ‘I wanted to apologise for my behaviour, and to thank you for looking after me and Tina last night.’
‘You have nothing to apologise for.’
‘John didn’t do anything. I didn’t even see him.’ Thea raked a hand through her tousled hair, ‘He might have been about to apologise and tell me he was leaving.’
‘You don’t really believe that. He’s come this far – why would he quit now? I’m sorry Thea.’ Sam shook his head, ‘I’ve met men like John before. They don’t give up easily when they don’t get what they want.’ He sounded apologetic. ‘Tina explained the situation. How putting some distance between you and John was one of the reasons you came to be at Mill Grange in the first place, I mean.’
Thea wasn’t sure what to say. ‘Did you watch outside the door all night, or did you get some sleep?’
‘Never mind how much sleep I did or didn’t get. You haven’t slept, that’s very clear. Go back to bed now.’
Thea’s voice was laced with panic. ‘How can I? No one but you and Tina know I’m sleeping here. If I go to my room now, I’ll be a hostage in there all day. Plus it’s already almost eight o’clock. There’s stuff to be done. The chickens need cleaning for a start, and let me tell you, Gertrude and her gang do not like being out of routine.’
Sam gave her a reassuring smile. ‘I have already seen to Miss Gertrude and her cohorts. Tina is in the office looking at quotes for the greenhouse. Until John arrives, I’m going to tackle another long overdue job, which is to clear all the tools out of the entrance to the butler’s pantry. If we moved everything to one of the actual sheds, it would be further for us to get what we need, but an extra room of interest would be available to open to the public.’
Thea suddenly felt she might burst into tears. She knew very well that Sam was proposing to tackle that particular job because it meant he could see the main door and the access path to the back door from where he worked.
Sam and Tina’s kindness, on top of Shaun’s desertion and John’s endlessly bizarre behaviour, felt too much and she could only croak, ‘When the others arrive, what will you tell them? Where will you say I am?’
‘That you are having a well-earned day off.’ Seeing Thea was about to object again, Sam held up a hand. ‘Now, go up to your room, get enough things for an overnight stay. Tina’s going to drive you to her place. You need some time away from here. Twenty-four hours with a modern shower, a modern bed, Wi-Fi and coffee shops.’
‘But—’
‘Thea, you are going to crack if you don’t take a break. Men like John can’t be got rid of that easily. They are so used to getting what they want in life, whether it’s their dream job, because they know the right people, or a fast car because they’re paid way more than they’re worth. But don’t you worry, I’ll keep an eye on him.’
Looking across the driveway at the lack of cars, Thea tried to smile. ‘It’s Sunday, so at least it’ll be quiet this morning, but I suspect Mabel and Derek, if not Bill and Diane, will be here later. I’m less sure about the others.’
‘If John does appear, what’s he supposed to be working on?’
‘I’m not sure. Mabel has the rota.’
‘Then he can help me. I need a hand with clearing the debris from the greenhouse before it’s removed or saved, or whatever happens to it.’
‘It’ll be pulled down, I think. So sad. I can picture it full of oranges and lemons and all sorts of heat-loving plants. But, we’ve been pushing our luck with the budget already. There’s no way we can save it all.’
‘Well, either way, it needs a tidy up. John can help me.’
‘Are you sure you want to work with him?’
‘I’m sure I don’t, but I will, because I don’t want him near anyone else.’ Sam paused. ‘Shaun would never forgive me if he got near you for a start.’
‘Shaun?’
‘He asked me to look out for you. Fine job I’ve made of that!’
A flutter of hope sparked inside Thea, but she batted it away. Shaun could have been in touch. But he hadn’t been. End of story. She’d already decided to give him one more week to get in touch; if not, she’d start to hunt for new celebrities to open the manor and mill. It would be a nightmare explaining to everyone who’d already purchased an Open Day ticket why their guest star wasn’t going to appear, but needs must.
‘John’s weird behaviour isn’t your fault, Sam, nor is it your responsibility to watch over me. It was kind of Shaun to show concern, but he’s clearly moved on.’ Thea, realising she sounded ungrateful, gave him a tired smile. ‘I think you’re right. Perhaps a day away from here would be good for me.’
Unruffled by Thea’s objections, Sam shooed her away. ‘Go and pack a bag. Let’s get you out of here before John arrives.’
*
‘Are you sure your housemate won’t mind?’
Tina rolled her eyes. ‘How many more times are you going to ask me that?’
Thea allowed her friend to tuck her up in her own bed, and fuss around her. ‘Sorry.’
‘I’ll be back this evening and we’ll go to the pub for dinner. We can both stay here overnight, and then we’ll head back to the manor tomorrow with enough stuff to live at Mill Grange until opening. Until then, sleep, lounge about, watch crap on the television. Do whatever you like, but don’t work.’
‘Thank Sam again, won’t you?’
‘I will, now go to sleep.’ Tina placed a door key on the bedside table as Thea’s head hit the pillow. ‘My housemate will be at work all day, so you’ll have total peace and quiet.’
Thea’s reply of ‘Thanks, Tina,’ was overtaken by instant blessed sleep.
*
For a few blissful minutes on waking, Thea had forgotten why she was cosy under a soft king-sized duvet in a room with central heating.
The cruel interruption of recent memories sent her eyes snapping back shut and a long groan escaping from her lips.
John.
Even if he got what he wanted and she gave in and went out with him, she couldn’t see how that would make him happy. He’d always have to live with the knowledge that she’d given in to him for a quiet life. That she’d never love him, that she’d always resent him and that she’d do anything to keep him at arm’s length. Where was the victory in that?
Reaching for her phone, Thea braced herself to face the screen. She only wanted to know the time, but there was a high chance that there’d be text messages and emails flashing for her attention – and at least one would be from John.
It was a quarter to four in the afternoon.
Thea sat bolt upright. How the hell had she slept that long? The day was all but gone.
She rechecked the phone, to make sure she wasn’t imagining things, just as the digital display changed from 15:45 to 15:46.
Ignoring the envelope symbol that declared she did indeed have texts waiting, Thea swung her legs out of bed, ready to rush to the bathroom for a shower and crack on with what was left of the day.
She sat down as soon as she’d stood up. Where did she think she was going? Tina wouldn’t be here for another couple of hours, and she had no transport to get back to Upwich.
A grumble from her stomach urged Thea towards the kitchen. Hoping it would be obvious what food belonged to Tina, so she didn’t accidentally steal anyone else’s supplies, she went in search of food and coffee.
Thea needn’t have worried. On arrival she found a cake tin with a piece of paper placed on top, held down with a mug and a tin of coffee. Addressed to her, it instructed Thea to help herself to as much of the contents as she wanted, as well as to anything on the lowest shelf in the fridge and the third cupboard along above the oven.
Opening the tin, Thea inhaled deeply as the familiar waft of lemon cake assailed her nostrils. She hadn’t realised how hungry she was until the scent of Tina’s baking hit her.
Ten minutes later the entire cake and a knife sat on the coffee table. With a steaming mug of black coffee to hand, Thea curled up on the sofa in front of the television. It was so long since she’d watched television that she was momentarily thrown by the number of channels showing so little worth watching.
Trying not to feel guilty about her time away from the manor, she aimed the remote control at the screen, channel-hopping away from the third true crime show she’d found and onto the fifth reality makeover programme. The only good thing she could say about them was that however bad things got for her, at least she wasn’t the victim of humiliation on reality television.
Flicking onto the next channel, Thea froze as Shaun crossed the screen. A lump formed in her throat, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away. It was an old episode, one of his earliest appearances on Landscape Treasures. She’d seen them all, although she’d never told him that. His hair had been more foppish then, with a fringe hanging over his eyes, which he continually swept aside so he could see the cameras or the archaeological site in front of him. That was how he’d looked at the conference. When Becky had tricked him into bed. When at the same time, Shaun had claimed, he’d been getting up the courage to ask her out.
But you didn’t, Shaun. You didn’t ask me. Just as you haven’t been in touch for weeks.
Watching as he moved around an Iron Age hillfort, Thea tried to be glad that she hadn’t given in to her baser instincts and slept with Shaun before he’d left for Cornwall. But she couldn’t. She’d wanted to and couldn’t see how it would hurt more if she’d done what she wanted.
‘At least I’d have a nice memory. One better than saving me from a rough night with a lost nightjar.’
Even as she’d said it, Thea knew she was being unfair. Not many people would have helped her as much as Shaun had. And as she watched him walking around the excavation, she was reminded just how much he loved his job, and how good he was at it.
He’s as dedicated to Landscape Treasures as you are to Mill Grange.
Putting down her coffee, she picked up her mobile. ‘Maybe he’s been waiting for me to get in touch. Maybe he’s in Cornwall wondering why I haven’t called him?’ Thea sighed. ‘No. He knows how hard it is for me signal wise, and he said he’d be in touch. And he hasn’t been.’
Her eyes fell on the envelope symbols. There were four of them now. They could be from John, but equally, Tina could have been checking on her. Taking a deep breath, Thea pressed the receive button on her phone and forced herself to look at the small screen.
One text was from Tina saying she’d booked them a table at the Lamb and Flag for seven o’clock.
The other three were from an unknown number.
Thea sat on the edge of the sofa, her heart thudding almost as fast as when she’d been running away from the Stag and Hound.
She read the first text.
It’s Shaun – got new phone number. I’ve spoken to Sam. I’m on my way.
‘What? On your way to the manor, or did Sam tell you I was here?’
The second text answered her question.
I’ve been a fool. I believed the messages were from you. I’m on my way. Tina says she’s booked us a table at the Lamb and Flag.
‘Messages? What messages?’
Thea? Are you getting these messages? You should have a signal at Tina’s. Are you okay?