reminded her that it, too, had been in the wars, and a pair of comfortable jeans.
‘Are you all right?’ Pen watched her limp across to the kettle and switch it on. ‘I was in the village shop and Mrs Judd said she saw some man helping you home.’
Life in Cranbrook might have changed out of all recognition in the last decade but the impossibility of doing anything without everyone knowing in ten minutes flat remained a constant. Which meant that Hal North couldn’t be living in the village. He wasn’t a man you would miss when he pitched up in your neighbourhood and Penny, who was always urging her to get out and find someone, would have been full of it.
‘Earth to Claire…’
‘Sorry, Pen. I fell off my bike.’
‘I wonder who he was?’ Penny said, ten minutes later when, hands clutched tightly around a warm mug, she’d heard the severely edited highlights of her accident.
‘You haven’t taken on anyone new?’ Claire asked. ‘I hear the estate has been sold.’
‘Who told you that?’ she demanded. ‘It’s not being announced until Monday.’
‘So who’s bought the place? Don’t worry, I won’t say a word before it’s official. I just want a chance to dig up some background details.’
Something to add a bit of sparkle to the two-page spread of the history of the house and the Cranbrook family that she’d been working on since it was evident that the estate would have to be sold. Without some background on the new owners, it was just that. History.
‘Well…’ Penny stretched the word like a piece of elastic as she helped herself to a chocolate-chip cookie and propped her elbows on the table. ‘According to the solicitors’ clerk it’s been bought by a millionaire businessman.’
‘Well, yes. Obviously.’ Who else could afford it? ‘He’ll need millions if he’s going to live there.’ Spend millions to bring it up to modern specifications. That had to be good news for the local economy. ‘What kind of business, do you know? Is he married? Does he have children?’ They were the details that the Observer readers would want.
‘Sorry, but I did have a call from a Ms Beatrice Webb this morning, who wants to discuss my future with the estate on Monday.’
A woman? Well, why not…
‘I should have asked for more information but to be honest I was too shocked to do anything other than say I’d be there.’
Claire curbed her impatience. ‘That sounds hopeful.’
‘Does it? With Steve on short time and Gary without a hope of a job, my few hours in the estate office and the money you give me for taking care of Ally after school is all that’s keeping us afloat at the moment.’
‘The estate will still need managing, Penny. The new owner, whoever he or she is, is going to need you.’ She didn’t mention her appeal to Hal on Gary’s behalf. No point in raising false hopes.
Penny pulled a face. ‘Ms Webb sounded capable of running the whole shebang with one hand tied behind her back.’
‘She’s probably got more than enough work to keep her busy in London.’
‘London?’
‘I imagine that’s where the millions are made. A country estate is a plaything. A weekend retreat,’ she added.
If Ms Webb planned to use it to hold shooting and fishing parties for business contacts she’d need someone who knew what he was doing to run the place. Take care of the game birds, the trout stocks.
Someone like Hal.
A tiny flutter of anticipation invaded her stomach and she grabbed a chocolate-chip cookie in an effort to smother it. The man was a menace and she had enough on her plate without getting involved.
Involved! That was a joke. Hal North was never going to be interested in a buttoned-up woman with a sharp tongue. The hot imprint of his lips on hers meant nothing.
‘The rumour in the post office on Monday was that it’s going to be converted into a hotel and conference centre,’ Penny said.
‘There are all kinds of rumours flying around,’ Claire said, ‘but that wouldn’t be such a bad thing and you have to admit that the Hall has got everything going for it. The location is stunning and there’s probably room for a golf course on the other side of the Cran.’
‘Really? How much room does a golf course take?’
She grinned. ‘I’ve no idea, but look on the bright side. Whatever the future, a new owner means that there’s going to be work for local builders, craftsmen, grounds men and that has to mean work for Steve.’
‘Maybe Gary, too,’ Penny said, cheered. ‘There might even be more hours for me.’
‘Absolutely.’ Then, as casually as she could, she asked, ‘Is Gary at home today?’
‘According to him it’s a study day although the only thing he’s studying is how to cast a fly.’
Which answered that question. ‘Well, if he could spare the time, I wonder if he’d pick up my bike for me. It’s still on the footpath.’
‘When he comes home to raid the fridge I’ll ask him.’
The minute she’d shut the door on her Claire picked up the phone and dialled the number for the Hall.
‘Cranbrook Hall.’
The unfamiliar voice was rich and plummy. ‘Miss Webb?’ On being assured that it was, she said, ‘Welcome to Cranbrook Park. I’m Claire Thackeray—’
‘Yes?’
No ‘how can I help you?’ No easy way in.
‘—from the Maybridge Observer. I understand that Cranbrook Park has a new owner,’ she said, pausing briefly. Nothing. ‘As you can imagine, there are all kinds of rumours flying around at the moment and, inevitably, there are concerns about jobs.’ The few that there were. ‘The hope that if the Park is going to be developed commercially there will be work for local people,’ she prompted.
Still no response.
‘There has always been a very close relationship between the town and estate,’ she continued, despite the lack of encouragement. ‘Charity events, that sort of thing?’ Good grief, this was like drawing blood from a very dry stone. ‘I wondered if you could spare me half an hour to talk about the future of the estate? Maybe fill in some background detail for our readers?’ she added hopefully.
‘Don’t you people talk to one another?’ she replied, impatiently. ‘Your editor called half an hour ago and I told him what I’ll tell you. Mr North does not speak to the press.’
Ouch.
‘I’m sorry, I haven’t been in the office this morning and while the editor would be looking for facts, something to fill in the gaps in the announcement about the sale, I’m more interested in the human-interest
