Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (the little red hen ebook .txt) 📗

‘Are we still aiming for the three front rooms, to keep everyone together?’

‘Yes, although I’m going to offer…’ Tina referred to her notes ‘…Woody, the use of the downstairs room if he would prefer it. Sam said he’s not always comfortable with stairs.’

‘Why’s that I wonder?’

‘Sam said that Woody would tell us if we asked, but that it was his story to share.’

‘Fair comment.’ Thea lifted the curtains, relieved to find no evidence of arachnid occupation. ‘I guess we’ll have to get used to not asking questions like that.’

‘Shame we’re both so nosy!’ Tina grinned. ‘Do you think Mabel will cope with not knowing why people are choosing to come here?’

‘Publicly yes, privately it’ll drive her nuts.’ Thea opened a window and shook out her duster. ‘Talking of Mabel, I saw her menu for tomorrow night’s meal. It’s fantastic.’

‘I’m so glad she’s helping on this. I don’t mind cooking, but I get a bit daunted by getting amounts right when I’m catering for groups.’ Tina lifted the glass by the bed up to the light to make sure it was clean. ‘The first evening, while everyone settles in, Mabel has offered to cook. After that, she’ll just plan the menu and buy the ingredients; our visitors will do the actual cooking on a rota basis.’

‘Just as it will be when we have proper guests.’

‘Exactly.’ Tina felt nervous. ‘Although Woody, Ann and Dave feel like they’ll be proper guests. I hope it works.’

‘It will.’ Thea, who’d also been worried about how it was all going to come together once their visitors were in place, forced herself to sound confident. ‘Sam has a good grasp on what’s needed, and we’ve worked hard to make sure the manor is as ready as it can be.’

Tina played with her left plait as she added, ‘He has also put together some packs of local walks for those who want to escape from people for a bit, or simply some extended exercise or fresh air, as well as gardening and household tasks for everyone.’

Looking around the large room, Thea tugged unnecessarily at the already straight bed spread. ‘This room is done.’

They’d declared the third bedroom good to go before Tina brought up the subject of Treasure Hunters again. ‘You have to tell Sam about the other TV offer. Whether he’s Shaun’s friend or not, it isn’t our decision to make, it’s his.’

Thea grimaced. ‘I know. I was just putting off the evil hour. Thought you should deal with the letter issue first. When are you two going to Malvern House?’

Tina gave a nervous squeak. ‘Not for ages, I hope. Sam is determined to be able to eat in their dining room, which apparently is so big it makes ours look like a lean-to shed.’

‘I still can’t get over the fact that Sam is an earl’s son. All those years you were hunting for a rich man to keep you in the style to which you’d like to become accustomed, and then…’

Sticking her tongue out playfully, Tina said, ‘Oh no you don’t, Miss Thomas. No avoiding facing that you have to talk to Sam about the TV issue by going off into my murky past.’

‘Fair enough.’ She poked her tongue out in return. ‘Worth a try.’

Flicking a duster over a shelf of books in the corridor, Tina said, ‘Maybe you should tell Shaun too, at the same time I mean. Do a three-way Skype.’

‘That’s not a bad idea.’ Thea was tempted by the idea of safety in numbers, but her conscience pricked the back of her mind. ‘We will all need to talk it through together, but I’ll tell Sam first. It’s only fair.’

‘Wise. Look what happened when I didn’t tell him about his mother writing, even though I didn’t realise it was her until it was too late.’

‘Quite.’ Thea let out a heavy sigh. ‘I’ve been thinking like Shaun’s girlfriend and not Mill Grange’s co-manager. If I’d never met Shaun, I’d be biting Treasure Hunter’s hand off, wouldn’t I?’

‘Probably.’ Tina smiled. ‘But you are Shaun’s girlfriend, and he is Sam’s friend, so he’ll understand your reticence.’

As they strolled back along the upstairs corridor, popping into each bathroom as they went, ensuring clean towels and plenty of toilet rolls were in place, Tina added, ‘You’d be doing me a favour if you told Sam today. He’s so nervous about going to see his parents, and what with that and his determination to beat his claustrophobia by October, he could do with a diversion.’

‘I’ll go as soon as we’re done here. I want to show him the fortlet before I cover it over anyway.’

‘Cover it?’ Tina was surprised. ‘Aren’t you going to dig it?’

‘I am, but we can’t start too soon if Landscape Treasures are coming. They’ll want something to film.’

‘Which makes it even more important for Sam to decide as soon as possible which TV show is going to cover it.’ Tina shook her head. ‘Amazing to think we have a site that’s considered worthy of so much attention.’

‘You should see the requests for visits and magazine articles, not to mention academic papers on the Mill Grange Fortlet.’

‘Really?’

‘I’m wondering if I’ll have time to be the retreat manager that Sam wants me to be if he also wants all these other avenues followed.’ Thea picked up a pen ready to write another list. ‘We need to have a proper management meeting soon. So far, I’ve just jumped from jobs that need doing instantly, to things that want doing now!’

Tina laughed. ‘Same here. Every day I think I’ll get into a routine, but there’s always something that needs checking yesterday. The only time I’m sticking to a schedule is with the Trust work, and I’m resenting that time more every day.’

‘You should be able to give that up when things get going, especially once we’ve been on television. The guests will roll in.’

*

Bert and Sam were sat on one of the benches by the kitchen door. Sam was bent