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THE YOUNG MAN WHO had bought Mrs Carrington's bureau sat in his car, parked unobtrusively in the quiet road, and watched Tessa pull in at the gate and stop her car in the drive. She climbed out, shut the gates and released the two labradors from the back. They flopped out heavily and went to drink at a large bowl by the back door. Tessa let herself in and the dogs lay down, panting stertorously, on the concrete apron in front of the garage. The young man had his eyes on his watch. Two minutes passed, three, four ⦠He imagined her kicking off her boots, hanging up her coat, going into the kitchen and filling the kettle ⦠He switched on the engine and drove along to the gate.
Romulus and Remus heaved themselves up and, with a bark or two as a token of their vigilance, came wagging to greet him. He touched their heads perfunctorily, his glance alert; no one seemed aware of his arrival. He went to the front door and rang the bell. After a moment Tessa opened the door. She was still wearing her woollen hat and on her feet were thick socks.
âSorry.' He managed to appear both slightly surprised and apologetic. âI was hoping to have a word with Mrs Carrington. Is she about?'
âI'm afraid she's away. Back tomorrow.'
He bit his lip, frowning. âOh, that's a pity. I was hoping ⦠Never mind. You look as if you were on your way out. I don't want to keep you.'
âOn my way out? Oh â¦' Tessa swept off her hat and shook her head. âI've just come in actually.' She hesitated, studying him. âDon't I know you?'
âAmazing!' He laughed in his relief. âYou've made my day. I remember you, of course. Who wouldn't?' He made a gallant little bow. âI came to collect Mrs Carrington's bureau last Easter.'
âYes.' She grimaced ruefully at her forgetfulness. âSorry. I remember you now. Is there anything I can do?'
âWell â¦' He looked thoughtful, rubbing his chin as he stared past her into the hallway. âSince I'm in the area ⦠She suggested that I might come back and have a look at one or two things ⦠Oh dear. Am I being indiscreet?'
âOf course not.' Tessa stepped back and opened the door wider. âI'm sure she won't mind if you have a look. Although I'd better stay with you, if you don't mind.' She shifted uncomfortably. âYou know how it is?'
He smiled at her as he preceded her into the hall. âDon't give it a thought. I understand perfectly. You are responsible in her absence.'
âThat's fine, then.' Tessa relaxed. âCome on through. Where do you want to start?'
The young man looked about him. âThere were one or two things in here and a chest of drawers in her bedroom.' He sighed and shook his head. âI have the horrid feeling that Mrs Carrington would really rather not part with her treasures. Sometimes my job is not a nice one.
Tessa looked at him sympathetically, liking him for his compassion. She thought of all Mathilda's things, glad now that the fear of selling them had receded for the time being.
âHave you one of your leaflets?' she asked him. âOr a card?' If an emergency cropped up and they were obliged to sell any of Mathilda's pieces, this young man would at least be sensitive about it.
He was digging in his pocket, staring at a small inlaid table which
stood under the window. âI hope
you
haven't got to part with some family heirloom.'
âNot yet.' She took his card and studied it. âAre you Adrian Pearson? '
âI am.' He made her another little bow. âAnd you ⦠?'
âI'm Tessa Rainbird.' They shook hands a little awkwardly. âI look after people's dogs and houses.'
âQuite a responsibility. Especially in these lawless times.'
âI must admit that there are one or two places where I feel rather nervous.' Tessa perched on the arm of a chair and watched him examine the little table. âJust a couple of the houses are fairly remote. I have to rely on the dogs to protect the stuff. And me.'
He laughed with her, dropping down to balance on his heels whilst he examined the table underneath. âI think I'd better give you some of my leaflets to take round with you.'
âWell, I could I suppose.' Tessa sounded a little reluctant. She shrugged. âWhy not?'
He looked at her quickly as he straightened up. âWell, I was joking actually but I suppose it's not a bad idea. You never know when people might need some ready cash. You'd get a commission, of course.'
She frowned and he saw that he might have looked too eager. âDon't be offended. It would be only fair, if you think about it. You have access to places I could never hope to find. I wouldn't be happy if you weren't rewarded for your trouble.'
âWell, it's hardly a trouble to leave a few leaflets about but it's nice of you to offer.' She slipped off the chair. âFinished?'
âI think so.' He was making notes in a little book. âIf I could just have another look at that chest?'
âOf course.' She led the way to the bedroom and stood at the door watching. âIt's pretty, isn't it?'
âVery.' He ran his hands gently over the polished rosewood of the little bow-fronted chest.
âWe've got one like that.' She spoke without thinking. âWell, it looks like that. I don't know anything about antiques.'
âThat's at your home, is it?' He spoke absently, running the drawers in and out, examining them closely.
âYes.' Tessa smiled to herself. âIt's at my home.'
Isobel and Will had given her Mathilda's bedroom and the little chest stood against the wall bearing a tiny bookcase of strange old books, so small that she could hardly read the writing. It was wonderful to go into that room and shut the door and feel that she belonged there ⦠Adrian was watching her curiously and she smiled quickly, defensively.
âSorry. Just daydreaming. All done?'
âAll done,' he agreed. He glanced at his watch. âIf you're quite serious about those leaflets â¦?'
âAbsolutely,' she assured him. âIt's no problem.'
âIf you're certain.' He looked concerned. âI feel that I offended you over that commission business. I was clumsy â¦'
âNo, honestly.' It was her turn to look distressed. âDon't give it a thought.'
âIf you say so.' He smiled at her. âLook, I've had an idea. It's nearly lunchtime. Perhaps I could take you out and buy you a drink and you could give me a contact number and I'll give you the leaflets. Please,' he said pleadingly as she hesitated. âThen I know you've really forgiven me.'
âHonestly ⦠OK.' She gave in. âBut I mustn't be too long. We could go to the Pack Horse in South Brent and have a sandwich.'
âWonderful.' He looked so pleased that she felt flattered. âI'll wait in the car while you lock up.'
Tessa called the dogs inside and, dragging off her thick socks, slid her feet into her trainers. As she laced them up she found that she was thinking about Giles and their lunch together at the Elephant's Nest. He was so nice ⦠She grimaced a little at the word. He had made her laugh about his job as a photographer and had listened in turnâ
and with a concentration she was unused toâas she recounted some of the more amusing moments of her work. She remembered how he'd listened to her at the Roundhouse and how, hardly knowing him, she'd talked to him so openly. She wondered if it might be because he was so much older, or because she felt she already knew him through Kate. She had arranged to see him again when she was next in London ⦠Tessa dragged her thoughts away from Giles, locked the back door and hurried out to where Adrian waited patiently for her in his car.
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âTHE THING IS â¦' SAID Giles. He paused and Kate braced herself, knowing that these words generally prefaced a confidence. âThe thing isâI didn't want to rush it.'
Kate and David studiously avoided meeting each other's eye. They had been having supper at the London house when Giles had arrived. He had sat with them, drinking wine while they ate and now, with supper cleared away, the moment for which Kate and David had been waiting had arrived. Even as a child it had taken Giles some time to come to the point. âBut he's more open than Guy,' Kate had once told David. âGuy never tells me anything at all.' Giles thought things through carefully and rarely did anything on the spur of the moment. He was not over-confident but he was kind and sensitive to the needs of others.
âWell.' David cleared his throat as the silence lengthened interminably. âI wouldn't say that two meetings in three months is absolutely rushing it, old boy. No need to fear that.'
Kate who, in her anxiety had drunk too much wine, knew an urge to giggle hysterically. She made a strange noiseâa cross between a groan and a screamâand David glanced quellingly at her.
âThat's true.' Giles swirled his glass of whisky thoughtfully. âI was just wondering whether ⦠I can't decide ⦠If she's down there with Felix â¦'
âGiles!' said Kate sharply. âCome to the point!'
âSorry.' He looked guiltily at her. âI was wondering if I might just pop down to see her. You know. Just for the day or something.'
âWonderful idea,' said David easily. âPoor girl must get terribly lonely with only old Felix to keep her company. I should go ⦠if I were you.'
âWould you?' Giles looked at him eagerly. âYou don't think she'll wonder if I'm ⦠well, pushing it a bit?'
Kate clutched her glass tightly and closed her eyes for a moment. She took several deep breaths lest she should scream with frustration. David smiled quickly at Giles.
âShouldn't think so for a moment.' He pursed his lips and shook his head as though giving the matter serious thought. âAfter all, it's your home, isn't it? No reason why you shouldn't be there.'
âIt might be embarrassing for her. That's what I was wondering. There on her own. As if I'm hoping that â¦' He took a quick gulp at his whisky. âWell, you know what I mean.'
âPerhaps she might like it,' said Kate. Both men stared at her. She stared back at them. âDon't look at me as if I'm some kind of pervert,' she said crossly. âDo you know what I think, Giles? I think you should go down to Devon and tell Tessa exactly how you feel. Just do it! Stop pussyfooting about! Stop trying to find the answers before she's even thought of the questions. Stop wondering if she might be offended or shocked. Just go down and ⦠and
do
it!'
Giles looked at her with an expression of such hope and excitement that Kate felt a great surge of love for himâfollowed by a pang of guilt. Was it because of her unhappy marriage and subsequent divorce that her sons were both so chary of relationships with women? They seemed so afraid of committing themselvesâbut could she blame them? They'd witnessed at first-hand a disintegrating and unhappy situation; was it so surprising that they were unwilling to take the risk? She knew that it was the girl who had taken the initiative in Giles's first relationship and she had seen how he had been prepared to be miserable rather than break it up. She guessed that if he finally
committed himself to Tessa, he would remain loyal whatever happened. No wonder that he wanted to be certain that it was absolutely right. He was unable to enjoy casual sex. In a rare moment of confidence he had once told her that for him sex, without love, was no good. She respected him for it and was relieved, too, in these dangerous days but she wished that he could find love and be loved in return. He had a good many friends of both sexes but she suspected that he was often lonely. Had her own mistakes put happiness out of court for him?
She smiled at him, wondering if it were possible to pass through life without feeling continually guilty. It corroded and destroyed and prevented her from seeing clearly; she overreacted in an attempt to compensate. She knew that her guilt would encourage her to sympathise with Giles; it made her afraid to be tough with him lest she spurred him on to actions which he would regret or which would hurt himâleaving her with more guilt. Deliberately she hardened her heart, remembering her instinctive reaction to the sight of Giles and Tessa together at the Roundhouse. She must not allow him to dither.
âHonestly, Giles,' she said quietly, âI really think you should go. I think that you know in your own heart how you feel about her. Tessa may be young but she's grown up in a hard school. There's nothing precious or silly about her. She'll be honest with you, either way. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.'
He stared at her, impressed by her serious tone, feeling his fears sliding away. He knew that he tried to cross too many bridges, to make certain that no one would be hurt, to legislate for every eventuality. Usually his relationships sank beneath all these anxieties before they ever got launched and usually it really didn't matter too much. He had been surprisedâand rather frightenedâat just how much Tessa mattered.