Bulbury Knap

Bulbury Knap by Sheila Spencer-Smith Page A

Book: Bulbury Knap by Sheila Spencer-Smith Read Free Book Online
Authors: Sheila Spencer-Smith
needed somewhere to stay for the moment, Andrew, and I was glad to be able to provide it. No problem at all.’
    Andrew hunched his shoulders. ‘No problem you say? And you’ve accepted this person’s offer to pay rent then, have you?’
    â€˜You don’t think we should?’ Sir Edwin looked anxious. ‘Perhaps not, but the young lady insisted.’
    Andrew gave a short laugh. ‘I’ll bet she did. She saw the chance to get a firm foothold here and took it.’
    Lady Hewson broke the startled silence that followed. ‘I don’t think it’s like that at all,’ she said. ‘She’s Kathryn’s friend you know, Andrew, not some stranger we know nothing about.’
    â€˜Kathryn’s friend? And you don’t think that’s worrying?’
    Sir Edwin ignored the insinuation behind the words. ‘You’re quite right about one thing, my boy. We must make a point of not accepting any money from her. She’s our guest here at Bulbury Knap and as such should be treated as a friend of the family.’
    â€˜I shall be looking into the question of allowing her to remain on the estate,’ Andrew said. ‘And I shall certainly speak to your solicitor about the situation.’
    Kathryn felt the keenness of Andrew’s glance in her direction. She hadn’t heard the last of this from him. For the time being, though, he said no more and accepted a cup of tea from her with a slight nod of thanks.
    *           *          *
    Kathryn glanced at the box of brilliant pink cyclamen Michael had placed at his feet on the cobbled yard as she emerged from the kitchen for a few minutes restorative air this bright February morning. She paused, surprised to see Michael so smartly dressed at this time of day.
    â€˜What gorgeous colours,’ she said. ‘Are they for the house?’
    He nodded. ‘Lady Hewson is fond of them. She wants the place to look welcoming for the Garden Club visit tomorrow. I thought I’d drop one off for Zillah at the same time to brighten up the cottage. I know she likes them.’
    â€˜You do?’
    Michael gazed down at the flowers, a smile curving his lips. His white shirt gleamed in the sunshine and his jeans looked new.
    â€˜Zillah’s in Lyme at the moment,’ said Kathryn.
    He looked disappointed. ‘I’ll leave it outside her door then.’ He made to pick up the box again but then hesitated, as if suddenly remembering something. ‘So, how’s it going then, Kathryn? With Andrew, I mean?’
    She sighed. ‘I can take aggression and everything else. But not cold and polite. What’s he playing at, Michael?’
    He frowned. ‘Some devious plan afoot, I shouldn’t wonder.’
    They looked at each other in silence. Then his face softened. ‘It’s useless to worry, Kathryn. There’s nothing we can do at the moment.’
    â€˜Except make the garden visit the success of the century.’
    â€˜That’s the spirit.’
    â€˜He wants Zillah out of course.’
    â€˜And not only Zillah.’
    â€˜Me too?’ She knew it was true, of course. By agreeing to stay on at Bulbury Knap to keep the position open for her mother she had helped make it possible for the Hewsons to remain here. ‘So why doesn’t he want Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson to stay on here if it’s at all possible?’
    â€˜You’re aware of what Andrew’s business is?’
    â€˜Hotel management. I know he’s got a string of places to look after.’
    â€˜Maybe he wants to strike out on his own.’
    She looked at him, startled. ‘He’d actually turf his aunt and uncle out and take over the place himself so that he could run it as a hotel?’ The idea that Andrew would do such a callous thing was appalling. She stood up straight. ‘You can’t just throw someone out of their

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