The Perfect Match (22 page)

At last, her spirits still yo-yoing from blissful anticipation to deepest gloom about how he would flinch from her nakedness, it was time to set off for Michael’s house. On balance, she decided, she was happy. And very excited.

Michael was satisfyingly pleased to see her. He hugged her long and hard and Alice’s fears faded.

‘Is this all you’re taking?’ he said, seeing her case, when he’d put her down after kissing her.

‘It’s only a long weekend,’ she said, smoothing her clothes.

‘Yes, but what a long weekend it’s going to be!’ said Michael, putting his arm round her and squeezing her to his side.

‘I know. I didn’t want to pack too much but however little you pack you often only wear half of it.’

He laughed. ‘The trick is to know which half! Right, shall we get going?’

Then they were on their way to the airport in Michael’s car.

Nevil had made his excuses about the weekend, but maybe he would want to do something on Friday night. Just as she was wondering what, if anything, she should do about it, he called her.

‘So sorry, sweetie, did I say? I’ve got to shoot off down to Sussex the moment I’ve finished up this paperwork.’

Bella longed to ask for details, the plans she’d found in the photocopier sharp in her mind, but was fairly sure she wouldn’t get any so she just said, ‘I’ll see you on Monday then.’

‘You’re very understanding,’ he said, obviously relieved.

‘I am understanding. You could try explaining things to me sometime. I might well grasp it all quite well.’

‘Bella!’ he said reproachfully. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Never mind, Nevil. You do what you have to do and have a good weekend.’

‘You’re a honey,’ he said.

‘I know,’ she agreed. ‘Bye now.’

It was late and having made herself a sandwich she went upstairs to run herself a bath. Seeing her godmother’s bits and pieces round the house, Bella couldn’t help thinking about Alice and wondering how she was getting on. It was nice to have someone else to think about. Her own life seemed such a mess at the moment. She hadn’t heard from Dominic. Had he received her email? Or was it just that he couldn’t help her? She went to bed, tired and somewhat downhearted.

Bella was aware it was a beautiful summer Saturday the moment she awoke. She was pleased. It meant that most of the meeting between the Agnews and Jane could take place in the garden, which really was the best bit about the house. It was also the bit that worried Jane most. Since Bella had suggested that she sleep downstairs, Jane had mostly ignored the upstairs. But it was here that the major work needed doing. The Agnews would have to be tolerant about living with workmen for a few weeks if they wanted to move in immediately. If indeed they wanted to move in at all. And if Jane wanted them to.

It was rather a radical way to solve two sorts of problems, Bella realised. Usually the owner of the big house would decide to divide it up and then look for buyers – buyers who were up for living in a shared house, and who hadn’t put ‘detached’ at the top of their list of requirements.

What she was suggesting was all about-face, really. But if Jane liked the Agnews as much as Bella thought she would, it could be perfect.

She realised she could never have told Nevil about her unconventional approach – even if she didn’t suspect him of almost criminal activity. He just wouldn’t have understood. When she’d first got to know him she’d had to accept he had a much more businesslike approach to selling property than she did. Bella felt it was all more to do with the people and their different personalities. She really hoped she was right in this instance. Then the Agnews would finally find a home they could love, and Jane could stop worrying about a huge great house crumbling about her ears that she would soon have to leave.

Bella took her tea out into Alice’s garden, a little bit sad that she wasn’t there to join her. There weren’t so many mornings when breakfast in the garden was a possibility. On the other hand, Alice was in Marrakesh – with a lovely man; she could probably have breakfast anywhere she liked.

Bella smiled ruefully as she sipped her tea. What had she done wrong? She was in her twenties and well up for adventure. And yet it was her sixty-year-old godmother who was halfway across the world with a wonderful man having, she sincerely hoped, the romantic weekend of her life. She sighed. Maybe when she was Alice’s age things would come right for her.

After catching up with her washing, she went on to the internet again. She put in Nevil’s name and tried to find a picture of every person he was linked to. The trouble was, the bit of video was so difficult to see details on. She probably wouldn’t have been able to identify Nevil if she didn’t know him so well. He’d also been linked with dozens of people, and none of the matey pictures had a ‘dodgy property developer’ tag on them.

If only she could have asked Tina! She had lived in the area all her life and seemed to know everyone in the county and beyond. But until Bella had something a bit more concrete it would be wrong to involve her. If Nevil found out, Tina would lose her job. Dominic was the only one she could consult as things stood. She wished he’d answered her email before now, so she wouldn’t have to rely on him being at Jane’s.

She set off for Jane’s just after three thirty. The Agnews were, as usual, early. She saw them in their car, parked well out of the way. Knowing they would be, Bella was too.

‘Hello, you two!’ she said gaily, in spite of feeling anything but. She wanted her plan to work so much, and yet going on past experiences with the Agnews, it was very unlikely to. ‘Aren’t we lucky with the weather?’

Mrs Agnew got out of the car. ‘Aren’t we? And what a lovely house. It’s just a pity we couldn’t afford all of it.’

Bella chuckled gently. This had always been their problem: stately-home tastes on semi-detached money. ‘You are talking several hundred thousand above your budget,’ she said. ‘And it isn’t for sale anyway. Mrs Langley won’t be selling until she absolutely has to, which won’t be for a while.’

Mr Agnew got out too and they leant on the car to chat. ‘So, what’s the story?’

‘Basically, she doesn’t want to move, but the house needs quite a lot of work doing to it. She has no money apart from her house. If it could be divided in some way – and I know just the person to make a really good job of that – it would mean she could go on living here. The advantage to you would be that you could live in part of a really gorgeous house with very large level garden. You’d be able to have at least one really big reception room and a good-sized kitchen, and as much upstairs as you’d need . . .’ She drew breath. She realised she had more emotional investment in this coming off than was strictly professional.

‘What we like about you, Bella,’ said Mrs Agnew, ‘is that you obviously care. I think you want us to have our dream house just as much as we do!’

Bella laughed. ‘Well, not quite as much, I don’t suppose.’

‘By the way,’ Mrs Agnew suddenly asked, ‘have you found out any more about those two men digging in the garden of Badger Cottage?’

Bella had never admitted she was supposedly engaged to one of them. ‘Not really. I am working on it though.’

‘I am sorry we didn’t feel we could make an offer, but in the circumstances . . .’

Bella shook her head. ‘Oh no! I completely understand. Seeing two men digging when you were expecting to see badgers must have been an awful shock!’ They both smiled. Put like that, it did have a funny side. ‘But I think this will suit you much better actually. Apart from sharing, I think it will have every box ticked.’ She twinkled at Mrs Agnew. ‘Even the rose arbour – I think that was your “sacrificial box”, wasn’t it?’

‘It was!’

‘And there are plenty of outbuildings for train sets,’ Bella said to Mr Agnew. ‘Although you might need help to get them cleared out.’

Mrs Agnew sighed ecstatically. ‘Is it time to go in now? I can’t wait!’

Bella opened the gate. She could see Jane Langley with her hands together in the middle of the lawn. She was wearing the pretty silk dress she’d worn when she’d come to Sunday lunch for her birthday, and Bella realised she’d dressed up because she was nervous. Bella was nervous too. If this didn’t work she’d have three disappointed people to console – as well as herself.

‘Jane!’ she said as she led the Agnews up to her. ‘This is Mr and Mrs Agnew – Mrs Langley.’

‘How do you do?’ said Mrs Agnew. ‘Oh! There’s a goldfinch! How lovely! Sorry, I got distracted!’

Jane Langley smiled as she took Mr Agnew’s offered hand. ‘They are delightful little birds, aren’t they? Do you like birds generally?’

‘Love them,’ said Mrs Agnew. ‘One of the main reasons we wanted to move to the country was because of the wildlife. We have badgers and foxes in Oxford, and I also love having them – but you get more birds here.’

‘Of course I encourage all wildlife. It’s why I won’t have a cat. Would you like to see the garden, Mrs Agnew?’

‘I’d love to! But please call me Imogen. And my husband is Alan.’

‘And I’m Jane.’ She smiled warmly. ‘Now come with me.’

As the two women strolled across the lawn, talking hard, Mr Agnew and Bella looked at each other.

‘They seem to be getting on OK!’ said Mr Agnew. ‘Do you know if Mrs Langley allows badgers to dig up her lawn, like my wife does?’

Bella chuckled. ‘Yes, she does. For such a keen gardener she’s very tolerant. Mind you, she says you might as well welcome them in, because they’re awfully hard to keep out! Shall we join them?’

Bella and Mr Agnew wandered along behind the others, who were talking about gardening with a fervour they both admired but couldn’t quite share.

‘Oh!
Clematis armandii
! I’ve tried to grow one for years! I usually get them through the first couple of winters and then they die on me,’ said Imogen Agnew.

‘To be honest,’ said Jane, ‘that is my third attempt. It’s been there a few years now so I’m optimistic.’

‘And what’s this rose? I love that little green centre!’

‘“Madame Hardy”,’ said Jane. ‘Are you a fan of roses?’

‘Oh yes. If I could only have one sort of flower it would have to be roses . . .’

As Alan Agnew went to join his wife and Jane, Bella detached herself from the back of the pack. She went to sit in the shade of the rose arbour and got out her phone. She wanted to see if there was a message from Alice. While she knew her godmother was an adult and all that, Bella felt she’d taken a big step with Michael in a very early stage of their relationship. It would be awful if it all went hideously wrong. A
having an amazing time
text would be reassuring.

No message from Alice, but there was one from Dominic.
Been away, but hope to be up this weekend. Things a bit tricky this end. D.

It wasn’t much but it sent Bella to heaven for a few moments. Jane hadn’t been certain if he’d be able to come. Then she chided herself for being pathetic and went to join the others. She might be needed.

Just as she was about to head off for the vegetable garden, where she could see the others examining the broad beans, she saw Dominic’s car pull up. She stayed where she was, and realised he had Dylan with him. Unable to help herself she went over to greet them.

‘Hello! Hello, Dylan!’

The little boy gave her a beatific smile. ‘Hello. Can we go to the swings and have ice cream?’ He’d obviously remembered the last time he’d seen Bella.

‘Well, probably not right now, but I do know that your – Dominic’s – Aunt Jane has got an old tin bath we could put water in and use as a paddling pool. Did you bring your trunks?’

‘Hello, Bella,’ said Dominic and kissed her check.

Her heart flipped at the sight of him. He looked gorgeous in jeans and a casual shirt, but she realised he could be wearing a onesie and she’d probably still fancy him.

‘Did you bring yours?’ he went on.

Bella blushed. ‘What? My swimming trunks? No. I’m working. The Agnews are here. They seem to be getting on with Jane really well.’

‘That’s partly why I’m here,’ said Dominic. ‘She told me of your plan, and although it’s a bit off-the-wall I think it could be perfect. But this is a big decision for Aunt Jane. I felt I should be here to help her make it.’

‘She doesn’t have to decide anything today. This is just a preliminary meeting, to see if the idea is remotely possible.’

Dominic nodded. ‘I got your email, by the way, but I didn’t have a chance to give it the attention it needed.’

‘I hope you didn’t mind my using contact details I got from your file, but I didn’t know who else to ask.’

‘It is tricky.’

Then Bella noticed Dylan twisting Dominic’s hand and realised this wasn’t the moment to discuss it. She crouched down to his level. ‘Shall we go and find a drink? This hot weather does make me awfully thirsty.’

Dylan nodded.

Dominic looked down at the little boy. ‘If you’d be happy to go inside with Bella, Dyl, I should go and find Aunt Jane and meet these Agnews I’ve heard so much about.’

‘They were by the veg patch when I last saw them but they might have progressed to the fruit cages by now,’ said Bella. ‘Come on, Dylan. I happen to know there are smoothies in the fridge. And ice lollies.’ She knew this because, at Jane’s request, she’d stocked her fridge earlier in the week.

‘Cool,’ said Dylan, and Dominic and Bella exchanged glances.

THE GROWN-UPS,
as Bella now thought of them, seemed to be taking a long time to look round the house, but she was very happy with Dylan. She had always got on well with children – especially ones like him. She just wished she could be as sure that Dominic liked her.

Of course she knew he thought she was a nice person, or he wouldn’t have dreamt of leaving Dylan with her while he kept himself on hand for his aunt in case there were any legal issues to discuss. But did he ‘like’ her the way Michael liked Alice? He certainly wasn’t giving anything away.

Jane gave permission for the outbuildings to be explored, and Bella and Dylan had found some interesting things in one of them. One of these was a tent, which, using some rope and the branches of the apple tree, Bella managed to erect. It wasn’t exactly fit for a night on a mountaintop, but it made a great den for a sunny afternoon in the garden.