Bulbury Knap

BULBURY
KNAP

BULBURY
KNAP

Sheila Spencer-Smith

British
Library Cataloguing in Publication Data available

This eBook edition published by AudioGo Ltd, Bath, 2012.

Published by arrangement with the Author.

Epub ISBN 9781471300240

U.K. Hardcover ISBN 978 1 408 44210 4

U.K. Softcover ISBN 978 1 408 44211 1

Copyright © Sheila Spencer-Smith, 2009

All rights reserved.

Jacket Illustration ©
iStockphoto.com

CHAPTER
ONE

Kathryn, long hair swinging, turned from the open window of the small flat to check that her mother's belongings were all on the bed waiting to be packed.

‘Why the sigh?' asked Sarah briskly.

Behind Kathryn the London traffic roared. She shut the window with a bang and at once the sound was muffled. ‘Oh Mum, Bulbury Knap is such a long way away. Are you sure you're doing the right thing?'

Sarah, busy folding clothes and placing them in her suitcase, looked supremely confident. ‘Of course, love. Haven't I said so a thousand times?'

Kathryn smiled, though her mouth felt stiff. ‘A hundred at least,' she admitted. This was not the moment to voice lingering doubts about this place, Bulbury Knap. What if it was a complete dump, run down and impossible for one person to cope with? Mum hadn't even seen it, for goodness' sake, or met her prospective employers. Charming as this great-nephew sounded from what Mum said when he interviewed her on their behalf he wasn't going to be at Bulbury Knap all the time. And why the haste in getting her down to Dorset? Suppose there was some dark reason for his hurry?

But
it was too late to change anything now and all she could do was help clear up the flat and offer to see Mum safely on to the coach for the West Country.

‘I still can't get my head round it,' said Kathryn. ‘It's all happened so quickly. One minute you're working for your old lady, the next she's whisked off to a residential home by her family leaving you jobless. Then you're heading out of London to work in a place miles away from anywhere.'

‘Stop worrying, love,' Sarah said gently. ‘Think how lovely the countryside will look now it's springtime. And Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson sound charming people from what the nephew said. They're anxious to stay in their own place and just need somebody to keep an eye on them and see to the house.' She closed the lid of her suitcase and zipped it up with a flourish. ‘There, that's done. And we've plenty of time for a cuppa before you drive me to the coach station.'

As they sat side by side in the living room drinking tea, Kathryn began at last to be affected with her mother's enthusiasm. Bulbury Knap was in a part of the country where Mum's father had been evacuated to as a child during the Second World War. He'd taken his family on holiday there. The place had memories for Mum, for goodness' sake. Of course it was the right thing for her to do.

‘I'm not the only employee down at Bulbury
Knap,'
Sarah said. ‘There's an estate manager who looks after the grounds, Michael Carey by name. A bit of a bossy boots from what the nephew said.'

‘They don't get on?'

Sarah frowned. ‘It seems not. The nephew doesn't like him, for sure. He didn't say why but he gave a strong impression he'd like to give him his marching orders. But Michael's well in with Sir Edwin apparently. Takes him about a bit. Lady Hewson likes him too.'

‘Intriguing.'

Sarah shrugged. ‘Oh well, the house will be my province and there'll be plenty there to keep me occupied. I'm looking forward to it.'

‘Does this Michael Carey live in?'

‘The nephew was very cagey when it came to talking about him so I didn't pursue it. I'll find out soon enough, I expect.'

Kathryn got up and collected the mugs to carry them through to the kitchen.

‘Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson open the place to the public during the summer months, I gather,' said Sarah, following her and picking up a tea towel.

‘What?'

‘The house, Bulbury Knap.'

‘They do?'

‘Garden clubs mostly. As well as looking round the grounds the members get the run of the house too. I'll enjoy that. It'll be interesting meeting people.'

‘Of
course it will,' Kathryn said. ‘I'm pleased for you, Mum, really I am. They're going to be lucky having you as their housekeeper.'

*          *          *

Kathryn's eyes were moist as the coach turned the corner and she could see it no more.

Feeling suddenly bereft, she headed for the nearest café. She needed time to come to terms with Mum's departure before returning to the flat to check that all was in order for the next tenant.

Seated at a table in the window, she clicked on her mobile and rang her sister's number. To her surprise her brother-in-law answered. ‘Dan? Is anything wrong?'

‘Helen's in bed, feeling a bit under the weather. Nothing to worry about.' His voice sounded anxious and far away.

Well, Cornwall was far away. Not so far from Dorset, though, where Mum was heading. One of the bonuses for Sarah taking the job was to be nearer her pregnant daughter.

‘Helen's going to be all right?'

‘Asleep, I think, or you could talk to her. I'll get her to ring you back. The doctor says everything's fine. Just has to take life easy with no worries.'

‘You're at home at the moment?'

‘I've got the afternoon off so I can meet
Jamie
from school. A good thing the weekend's coming up. She'll be fine, Kathryn.'

‘Could you tell her I've just seen Mum off on the coach for Dorset?'

‘Will do. Take care.'

‘You too, Dan. I'll be in touch.'

Later, Kathryn unlocked the door of her own flat with a feeling of relief. She would have a shower and get herself down to the restaurant to spend the evening in Nick's company. This wasn't one of her nights for working there but it would be good to see him.

Eyes closed, she let the warm water flow over her body. Kathryn smiled. Letting the strain of these last few days stream away was wonderful.

At last she stepped out and reached for her bath sheet, rubbing herself dry with increasing vigour so that her skin glowed. Since she wasn't due to be working in the restaurant this evening she chose to wear her new jeans with a soft olive-green top, her colour of the moment.

She went downstairs.
The Green Walnut Tree
wasn't busy tonight. Good, that meant Nick, as owner-manager, wouldn't be heavily involved and perhaps not busy at all. Some of the tables were occupied but most were still in their pristine condition waiting for diners who might come later or might not come at all. She and Nick would have time to talk and catch up on things.

Kathryn pushed open the door and went
inside.
Soft classical music floating in the warm air and the murmur of voices were welcoming. She saw the flash of green and white as one of the waitresses vanished through the serving door, a hint of roast lamb aroma floating into the room as she did so. Bella, the new waitress, greeted her.

‘Seen Nick about?' Kathryn asked.

Bella hesitated, glancing swiftly at the door that led into the passage on the other side of the room. ‘Nick's not here,' she said.

Kathryn smiled at her. Not quite the question she had asked, but never mind. She walked across the room to the door at the far side. This led to Nick's office and a couple of the rooms used for storage.

She heard the voices as she walked down the passage. Afterwards she thought she should have been warned, but nothing prepared her for the shock when she opened the office door.

‘Nick!' she cried, her voice strangled. She should have kept quiet, crept out of the room again and pretended she had seen nothing. That way she could have walked back through the restaurant, smiling at Bella with her pride intact.

Nick and Anna sprang apart.

Even then Kathryn's mind couldn't quite take in what she was seeing. She was unable to move for the time it took Anna to button her white blouse and straighten her skirt.

Kathryn
raised her eyes and looked at Nick. Suddenly she could see exactly how it was, how it had been between him and his head waitress for some weeks past. Often there had been a certain stillness between the two of them, a feeling of communication without anything being said that hadn't disturbed Kathryn at the time but she now knew was significant. She should have known.

*          *          *

The phone rang.

Nick of course, Kathryn let it ring but then could stand it no longer and rushed to pick up the receiver.

‘We've got to talk,' he said, his voice hoarse.

She almost laughed and the sound came out as a strangled sob. ‘How long has this been going on, Nick?'

‘I can't leave the restaurant at the moment,' he said.

Well no, she supposed he couldn't but where did that leave her? No way was she going to return to
The Green Walnut Tree
and see Bella's pitying looks. How long had Bella known, had everybody known except herself? She imagined them talking about her, wondering what Nick had seen in her when the gorgeous Anna was working with him in close proximity five days a week. Now they would know he had thought her gorgeous too.

‘Stay
there,' he ordered. ‘I'll come when we close.'

And when would that be, midnight? She had a teaching job tomorrow. ‘I'm going to bed,' she said. ‘I've an early start in the morning.'

‘Don't you want us to get this sorted out?'

‘What is there to sort out?' she asked crisply. ‘It's finished between us, Nick. I can see that. Finished.' She managed to get the last word out without breaking down but it was a struggle. Not wanting to risk her voice any more, she put the phone down and then stood with her hand pressing on the receiver as if she expected it to bob up again.

He didn't try to ring again and Kathryn knew he would wait until tomorrow and then come up with some excellent excuse for what had happened. An unpaid navvy, that's what she had been, helping out in
The Green Walnut Tree
whenever she could. What a fool. But not any more.

*          *          *

Kathryn woke late. She was due at Meadowland Primary at eight-thirty and it was now eight o'clock. She tried not to panic as she grabbed her clothes and threw them on. No time for even a cup of tea. She had to hit the road immediately. She hated cutting it fine like this but at least it gave her no time to think of
the
events of yesterday evening. Her personal feelings must remain hidden for the time being for the sake of the children she would be with today.

Head held high, she walked through the noisy playground and entered the building.

There were times during the busy day when the agony threatened to surface in spite of her resolve and the effort of keeping it hidden was acute. She wondered that no one noticed.

When at last she was free to leave she almost ran out of the building to reach the seclusion of her car, glad that the traffic was heavy and the drive home needed all her attention. She half-dreaded that Nick would be on the doorstep waiting for her, but there was no-one there. He would come later, she was sure, but in the meantime she would have something to eat and drink and fortified, be prepared to stand her ground and finish with him.

The bell rang at eight o'clock. Kathryn pressed the button to release the lock on the outside door and waited, heart thudding. Nick came in slowly and looked pale as she felt she did herself. His usual immaculate look had gone and in its place was a scruffy stranger she no longer wanted anything to do with.

‘I can explain,' he said when he reached her.

‘No
way,'
she said. ‘I'm glad I've found out at last. There's nothing to be said, Nick. I don't want to see you again, ever. This is how it is.'