Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (a court of thorns and roses ebook free txt) 📗

Smiling by way of thanks, Bea ran her palm up the smooth banister, her eyes taking in everything around her as Tina walked nervously by her side, feeling as though she was waiting for a verdict from a court cased.

Lady Bea had almost reached the top of the stairs, when she stopped and inhaled. ‘What’s that wonderful smell?’

‘The wood polish?’

‘No, it smells like someone’s cooking.’

‘That’s Mabel. Well, the smell isn’t Mabel, it’s lasagne.’ Tina shook her head and started again, ‘What I mean is, Mabel is in the kitchen cooking lasagne.’

‘Mabel is Bert’s wife?’

‘Yes.’ Pleased Bea had remembered, Tina was taken back when her guest turned around.

‘To tell you the truth, Tina. I don’t need the bathroom. I was just dying to see inside the house. Shall we go to the kitchen? It’s the heart of a house, don’t you think?’

Twenty-eight

Saturday April 4th

‘Oh, it’s perfect,’ Lady Malvern muttered as she stood at the threshold to the kitchen, blocking Tina’s path so she couldn’t dart through and warn Mabel, who was deep in concentration, that she was being watched.

Bea’s eyes shone with delight as she ran her gaze from the Aga to the dresser, and on to the little old lady sat at the wooden table, umpteen recipe books laid open before her. ‘You must be the inestimable Mrs Hastings. I’m delighted to meet you. Sam and Tina told us all about you when they came to Malvern. They owe you so much, and so, therefore, do my husband and I.’

Mabel jumped to her feet in surprise and wavered. Tina could see she was unsure if she should curtsey, and was relieved when her friend settled for holding her hand out in greeting.

‘That’s most kind of you, my Lady.’ Mabel’s eyes darted in alarm to the dishes waiting to go in the dishwasher and the empty coffee mug by her side. ‘You must excuse the mess. I wasn’t expecting you to come in here.’

Flapping the apology away, Bea sat down opposite Mabel. ‘I love a kitchen, Mrs Hastings. You can learn more about a home and its household from a kitchen than anywhere else, don’t you think?’

‘I most certainly do.’ Mabel was in full agreement. ‘I was about to make up a tray of coffee and cake. Do you still want it outside, Tina?’ Mabel glanced at the kitchen clock. ‘Or would you like lunch? Time seems to be galloping away this morning.’

‘I think coffee and tea to start with.’ Tina headed to the coffee maker. ‘But I’ll do it. You two look comfortable.’

Lady Malvern was already leafing through the nearest cookery book. ‘Your lasagne smells incredible. Is it your own recipe?’

‘More a combination of other peoples, from which I’ve created my own.’ Mabel took a piece of paper from her ever present list pad. ‘Would you like me to write it down for you?’

‘I’d love it. Thank you. Charles is most partial to Italian food. I’ll pass it onto Karen. She’s our cook at the moment. Brilliant girl. Doing a Physics PhD.’

Feeling she ought to contribute to the conversation, Tina said. ‘Lord and Lady Malvern employ post grad students, so they can earn while they learn.’

‘What an excellent idea.’ Mabel got up from her seat and fetched a cake tin from the cupboard. ‘That must be where Sam gets his goodness from. You should see him with the guests here. He coaxes them out of themselves without them even noticing.’

Placing cups onto the tray, Tina smiled. ‘I’m so proud of him. Although, I must say, the whole team here are excellent.’

‘They are,’ Mabel concurred. ‘Tom and Helen, they run the archaeological dig and the training that goes with it. They’re so skilled, and the guests love them. Then there’s Thea and Shaun of course. They’re away filming on Landscape Treasures, would you believe! When she’s here, Thea helps Sam and Tina run the place.’

‘Sam told us all about you having a celebrity in your midst. I must say, I love Landscape Treasures!’

‘Shaun and Thea should be here this afternoon; you’d be welcome to stay and say hello.’ Tina, who’d previously wanted to get their visitors in and out of the house as soon as possible, found herself hoping Bea would stay.

‘That would be lovely. I can’t wait to tell the ladies at bridge club that I met Shaun Cowlson. Several of them have a serious crush in that direction.’

‘Really?’ Tina wondered how Shaun would feel about having a team of aging groupies, when she suddenly realised he was probably used to it. ‘Both Thea and Shaun will help with the dig once Helen leaves next week.’

‘You’re losing a staff member. That’s a shame.’

‘It is.’ Tina – who hadn’t given up hope that Helen would decide to stay – was afraid Bea would think there was a sinister reason for her leaving, so quickly added, ‘She was only here on sabbatical. Helen runs the Roman Baths in Bath.’

‘Goodness. Now that’s a job and a half I’m sure.’ Bea got to her feet and headed to a chest of drawers. ‘Cutlery in here? Shall I dig out the forks for that delicious cake?’

‘Thank you, Lady Malvern.’ Tina saw Mabel’s eyebrows rise. Helping out in the kitchen obviously did not fit with her picture of how the aristocracy should behave.

‘My pleasure, and please, you must both call me Bea. Having a title does rather get in the way of relaxed friendships. Sometimes I do wish I was plain Mrs Philips.’

‘Then you must call me Mabel.’

‘Thank you, Mabel. I can’t tell you how tired I get of formality. It’s important to keep up standards of course, but with family… well, I’d love it if we could just relax.’ Bea straightened up, her shoulders losing their previous rigid uprightness. ‘So, tell me, Mabel, what would your go-to cake recipe be? I just love a Victoria sponge. Traditional maybe, but when done right – perfection!’

‘You are so right, Bea. My mother made the lightest