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

she stood in The Carthorse beer garden, grateful that no one was around to see her as she gathered herself, Thea knew that what she was about to do was probably in breach of data protection and possibly illegal.

Thea had felt uneasy when Ajay had suggested recording her meeting with Julian. She had a feeling Ajay was intending some sort of mild blackmail, but as an image of Julian in his bathrobe floated through her mind, it squashed down her guilt. He’d been underhand with her; she was simply returning the compliment.

With a deep breath she headed to the bar. Ajay and Andy were in the corner of the room, bent over their laptops, making sure all the geophysics graphics for the broadcast were in order, so they too could go home.

Here goes nothing.

*

Sam hung up the phone, turning to Tina as she broke eggs into her lemon cake mix.

‘All sorted. The marquees will go up on the afternoon before the wedding. I’ve offered mine and Tom’s services as labour, so that will cut costs a bit. One will be in the walled garden for the ceremony, and then two others will go on the main lawn for the reception.’

‘That’s great.’ Tina squeezed some vanilla essence into the mix. ‘Sybil confirmed this morning that she’ll provide afternoon tea for forty, to be served under a marquee in the main garden. My dress is sorted, and we have two bridesmaids primed and dresses sorted – thank goodness!’

Sam wrapped his arms around her as Tina stirred a spoon through the bowl. ‘I can’t believe I’m in a kitchen, inside, with the woman I love, soon to get married. I never dared dream that one day…’ Sam broke off, suddenly unable to finish his sentence.

‘It’s okay, I know.’ She kissed him gently. ‘I can’t believe my luck either. Not only do I get to marry the kindest man in the world, I get to see him in a suit.’ She winked playfully. ‘Even more of a miracle perhaps.’

‘Cheek!’ Sam pulled playfully at her pigtails. ‘And I can report that the suit is, finally, in the process of being sorted. Tom found someone who’ll come to us, rather than me to them. He’s going to sort Bert as well. I’ll be relying on you to sidetrack Mabel, so Bert and I can tackle the tailor without her well-meaning help.’

‘I’ll do my best, but I’m promising nothing!’ She gestured a floury hand towards the clock. ‘I was just wondering how Thea was getting on with Shaun. I know they’ve both promised to still be best man and chief bridesmaid, but it would be a hell of a lot nicer for everyone if they had sorted themselves out before the wedding.’

‘Got back together you mean.’ Sam rubbed at his stubbly chin. ‘I’m wondering if that will be one miracle too far.’

‘But they love each other.’ Tina dropped her spoon with a clatter against the side of the bowl. ‘If they’d just get off their high horses and talk to each other.’

‘You can’t manufacture happy endings for everyone you know.’ Sam kissed the top of her head.

‘I could try though, couldn’t I?’

*

She’d almost called Tina. A chat to her best friend for some advice would be more than welcome, but as she didn’t know how much time she had before Julian turned up, Thea headed to the AA.

The moment Ajay spotted her, he pulled out a chair and patted it conspiratorially. ‘What happened? Did it work?’

‘I have no idea. I don’t dare check in case I press the wrong thing and mess it up.’

Andy looked surprised. ‘You can work an app, surely?’

‘Of course I can, but this is important, and not just to Landscape Treasures.’ Thea lowered her eyes. ‘The mosaic filming is finished. Julian’s checking the last few bits to camera now.’

‘So where’s Shaun?’ Ajay glanced towards the door. ‘He’s usually first through the door for a post episode pint.’

‘I left him on site.’ Not particularly wanting to replay the one-sided row they’d just had, Thea laid her mobile on the table. ‘How do we play this back?’

‘I think first,’ Ajay picked up the phone, ‘if you have no objection Thea, I will back up the recording onto the computer.’

Feeling as if she’d fallen into a spy movie, Thea said, ‘Whatever you think best.’

Andy leaned forward, his expression eager. ‘What did he want anyway? Was Shaun right about you being in the frame for his job?’

A sound behind them made Thea jump. She spun around, guilt etched all over her face, expecting to see Julian. Instead, Shaun stood with his hands deep in his pockets. He looked utterly defeated. ‘Well Thea, was I right?’

*

Mabel finished grating a pile of cheese ready to make lasagne to stock up Mill Grange’s freezers. She approved of Tina’s plan to make sure Shaun and Thea were manoeuvred together, so they had no choice but to talk, but she couldn’t see how it could work.

‘Surely, by the time they’re back here, they’ll either be back together or completely apart. Anything we do will come too late.’

Tina sighed. ‘Thea plans to come straight back here after they’ve finished filming. Tomorrow, hopefully. There wasn’t much left to do.’

‘And Shaun?’

‘He told Sam he’d be back before the wedding.’

Mabel took a large pan from the cupboard, and drizzled in some olive oil, ready to fry some mince. ‘So he might not arrive until the day before the wedding?’

Tina’s resolve faltered a little. ‘I’d assumed he’d come back here after filming too. I mean, where else would he go?’

‘Where did he go between filming before he met Thea?’

‘Hotels I think.’ Tina passed Mabel a spatula from a tub behind her. ‘He’s never mentioned a place of his own.’

Thoughtful as she adjusted the flame beneath the pan, Mabel added some pre-chopped onions to the oil. ‘With any luck, they’ll be mended again before they get home, but if they aren’t, then perhaps…’

‘Perhaps?’ Tina smiled as she saw a calculating expression cross the old lady’s