Page 37 of Escape to the Country

‘Nonsense!’ cried Rose, before turning to face the crowd. ‘Is everybody ready?’

A wave of anticipation and nervous giggles sped around the crowd.

‘And who are you?’ asked the journalist, holding out his phone.

‘Me?’ Rose straightened her back and lifted her chin. ‘I’m Rosemary Genevieve Harris, sister to Arthur, Earl of Cranley. My family is seventh generation and my home, this estate and the whole village have been in our name for nearly two hundred years. Shall we begin?’

With a winning smile, Rose flung off her silk shirt to reveal a pointy-cupped bodice that even Madonna would have been envious off.

There was a gasp of appreciation and shock before a small round of applause broke out.

‘Rose!’ said Annie, blushing on her behalf. ‘What are you wearing?’

‘Dolce and Gabbana, darling,’ said Rose. ‘I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to wear this for years!’

Thankfully the sight of a seventy-year-old woman in a designer leather bodice was enough to capture the journalist’s interest.

‘I don’t know what Sam’s going to say about this,’ muttered Annie. ‘Thank god he’s away until this evening.’

‘I think she’s bloody brilliant,’ Megan told her.

‘So do I,’ said Eleanor, laughing in amazement.

‘Let the inaugural Cranley Charity Walk begin!’ cried Rose, with a flourish of her hands.

And Eleanor, Annie, Megan and the others set off.

As it was late in the afternoon, quite a lot of people were stood out on the paths and in their front gardens cheering all the walkers on.

Eleanor found that she was enjoying the chatter and cheerful atmosphere as the route took them around the village. She was pleased to see her mum clapping them as they went past. June had been quite upset that she couldn’t participate because of her broken foot but had set cups of lemonade and water along the front wall for people to help themselves to. Eleanor was pleased that her mum appeared to be in less pain as the days went by. Of course, that meant that her services as a helper were no longer as necessary. Her mum had even begun to subtly ask when she was returning to London. Eleanor had yet to think up a decent excuse and had carried on with the ‘holiday owed’ line.

She tried to use the rest of the walk to try and work through any solutions to her problems but came up with nothing, as usual.

Due to the advanced age of some of the ladies, they walked at a slow pace and therefore did not arrive at the finishing post at the back of Willow Tree Hall until just after seven o’clock in the evening.

‘Well done everybody!’ called out Arthur, standing on the patio as they all walked towards him. ‘What a marvellous undertaking. Come and have a refreshing drink inside.’

‘Gin and tonic for everyone!’ called out Rose, ushering everyone indoors.

Eleanor watched as Arthur’s grey bushy eyebrows shot upwards at the sight of his sister in her bodice, but he had the good manners not to say anything. In public, at least.

Eleanor made sure that nobody had been left behind and was just about to follow them inside when she noticed a light in the woods to her right. Someone was in the recording studio. Annie had already told her that Sam was away at a meeting until later that evening.

Which left only one person.

Tom was obviously working there, concentrating entirely on himself and not bothered in the slightest at not showing up to help start the marathon.

Okay, so she hadn’t been entirely unselfish when she had asked Tom to be involved in the walk. In fact, her main priority had been to find out more about him in the hope of writing her story but now she couldn’t help but feel annoyed at him letting everyone down.

All of her frustrations about everything that had happened recently bubbled up inside. Eleanor drew herself up straight and marched towards the barn. Pushing hard against the main door in her increasing fury, it ricocheted off the wall and bounced back towards her again with a loud bang.

As she strode inside, she realised that the noise had managed to wake Tom, who must have been fast asleep on a couch. Which made her even more angry.

‘Oh, I’m sorry!’ she snapped, going to stand next to him. ‘Did I wake you?’

‘Whattsamatter?’ he muttered, struggling to sit up.

‘Where the hell were you?’ she shouted, putting her hands on her hips.