Shaun had begun his speech by thanking so many people for coming, and then launched into a vote of thanks for the volunteers in general and Mabel, Diane, Bill and Derek in particular, before moving onto Tina and Sam. Thea listened with one eye on the man in black. She was so intent on her study of the stranger that she almost missed Shaun’s request for her to join him at the microphone.
Inwardly cursing him for drawing attention to her when she’d rather hide at the back of the crowd, Thea hoped no one would notice how melancholy she felt. This really was the end of her time at Mill Grange. So much had happened, and she felt she hadn’t had time to process any of it.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Miss Thea Thomas. Thea came to Mill Grange a few months ago to help oversee the final stages of the manor’s restoration. I think those of you who have taken the tour, or just explored the house and grounds alone, will join me in thanking Thea for doing such a wonderful job.’
As a rousing round of applause echoed around her, Thea felt herself turn a deep scarlet. She turned to Mabel, who was clapping as hard as everyone else as she sent a nod of approval her way. Hoping like hell that Shaun wasn’t about to pass her the microphone, Thea muttered her thanks as, mercifully, Shaun carried on with the speech he’d rehearsed so often she knew it as well as he did.
Five minutes later, having officially introduced everyone to the team from Landscape Treasures, and saying that autographs were available should anyone want one, he wrapped up with another thank you to everyone for coming and to tell them that the grounds would be closing in half an hour.
Then, just as Thea began to relax, he cleared his throat again.
‘Just one more thing, ladies and gentlemen. I have a message for you from the new owner of Mill Grange.’
Thea’s head snapped up and she found herself looking straight at Tina, who was equally bewildered. A silent tug at her arm revealed that Mabel had spotted two more faces in the crowd that she hadn’t noticed.
‘Malcolm and Grant are here. Did you invite them, Tina? Thea?’ Mabel scowled. She still hadn’t forgiven Malcolm for what she saw as his spinelessness in letting the manor go.
The girls shook their heads as they watched the trustees move to the front of the room and approach the man in the black suit.
‘That’s it, isn’t it? All over.’ Thea sighed, ‘I thought it must be him.’
Mabel had taken a firm hold of both girls’ arms and was manoeuvring them to the front of the crowd before Thea could protest, with Bert coming up behind them, mumbling something about resistance being futile.
Shaun caught Thea’s eye, but rather than pull a sympathetic grimace, he winked.
‘What?’ Thea whispered out of the corner of her mouth, ‘Tina, did you see Shaun wink or am I imagining things?’
‘If you’re imagining it, then so am I.’ Tina put her hand out to Thea as she watched Sam. He was talking to the suited chap, his brow furrowed.
‘Come on Shaun, spit it out, man.’ Thea could have hugged Bert as he called across the crowd. ‘Don’t keep us in suspenders.’
Mabel poked him in the ribs. ‘Bert, really, you mean suspense.’
‘I know what I mean, Mabel love.’
Shaun turned to Malcolm and Grant, who signalled agreement before the speech continued. ‘I have been asked to tell you, the good people of Upwich, Exmoor, Somerset, Devon and beyond, what the future of Mill Grange holds.
‘Mill Grange will be opened to the public on special occasions, but mostly it will be used as a creative retreat for those recovering from the trauma of accident or incident suffered while in the forces. A place of readjustment for those who have suffered a life-changing injury.’
Tina and Thea stared at each other, their mouths open.
While the village applauded approvingly, Bert broke the stunned silence that had spread over the women. ‘That young Sam’s the buyer then. Good for him. Good chap, that one.’
*
The air was still. Everyone had gone.
Mabel and her team had made short work of the washing up and the marquees were empty and ready to be taken down the next day. The entrance money had been safely delivered to Bert, who was detailed to guard it with his life. Everything else, Sam had declared, could wait.
‘How?’ Tina’s delighted expression was openly puzzled.
‘I have a full forces pension doing nothing and an inheritance from my parents that I haven’t touched. I didn’t feel I deserved it.’
Tina laid her head on his shoulder as Thea sat opposite them at the nearest picnic table. ‘Why didn’t you tell us?’
‘Because I might not have got it. The surveyor came today. If he hadn’t, the sale wouldn’t have been official yet. I didn’t want to get your hopes up and then dash them again.’
‘The surveyor?’ Thea frowned. ‘The man in the black suit?’
‘Yes. He did a survey on the quiet on and off while you were asleep, out of the manor and, well, here and there really. It’s all been a bit awkward, but worth it.’
Tina was having trouble keeping up with events. ‘You have an inheritance that means you can afford a manor house?’
‘Yes. I just needed something worthwhile to do with it.’
‘But…?’
Sam was suddenly awkward. ‘I’m the son of an old school earl. An earl who isn’t exactly chuffed with how I live my life, but an honourable man anyway. I asked for my inheritance early as I’m a third son. I’m very much the spare. Better to have me out of the family picture somewhere doing something suitably charitable and useful.’
As Tina sat there getting over the shock of dating an earl’s son, Thea said, ‘Can I ask a question?’
‘Of course.’
‘You’ve just purchased a large house and a burnt-out mill that you’ve never been inside beyond a glimpse of the kitchen and the lower bathroom.’
‘True.’
‘How are you going to run the house as a retreat if you can’t go inside it?’
‘I’m not. Not yet. I will once I can, but until then I’ll live as I am, in my tent in the garden.’ Sam looked at Thea while reaching for Tina’s hands. ‘I was rather hoping you and Tina would like the job. Part-time, of course, to start with.’
Tina’s mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish as Thea asked, ‘Part-time because?’
‘Because I need you to run the excavation at the same time. What do you think, Thea? Fancy managing the opening of the house to the public in the summer and leading the excavation of the Mill Grange Roman Fortlet the rest of the year?
‘And Tina, do you fancy being co-manager with Thea and teaching me the finer points of excavation when I’m not busy being the retreat manager?’
‘But?’ The women spoke in unison as they looked at each other and then Sam and Shaun.
‘Oh, I should probably add, that it would be part of the job description to live at Mill Grange.’ Sam gave a cheeky smile. ‘After all, I can’t go inside and we’ll still need coffee and lemon cake, won’t we?’