Country Plot (31 page)

‘Did you tell him it was my idea?' Jenna asked. That would put the kybosh on it.

‘Well, he'd know that anyway, wouldn't he?' Kitty said reasonably. ‘But why should that make any difference?'

Jenna had to be careful. ‘I think there's some feeling that I'm an outsider without a proper understanding of local matters,' she said.

‘But that's exactly why you're so useful,' Kitty said indignantly. ‘None of us came up with a single idea in all this time, but you brought a fresh perspective, and your London savvy, to the problem.'

‘I think it's my “London savvy” that's suspect,' Jenna said, but smiled, to keep it light.

Kitty dismissed it. ‘Oh, you shouldn't pay any attention to this country-versus-town nonsense. Anyway, Xander doesn't think like that. I've heard him say many times that the small-mindedness of county people drives him mad.'

‘Um,' said Jenna, unconvinced. But at least it seemed he hadn't blown the gaff on his disgust and hatred for Jenna and her metropolitan morals. He had kept his word. ‘So he thought it was a viable idea?'

‘He didn't go that far. He said he'd think about it before giving his judgement.'

Good of him
, Jenna thought. ‘Would you not go ahead if he was against it?' she asked.

Kitty looked troubled. ‘I shouldn't be happy not to have him onside. He's the nearest thing I have to a son. But I always make up my own mind in the end. I wouldn't give it up just because he didn't like it.'

Jenna was glad to hear that.

Bill came down on his way to lunch and said, ‘I've put all those rocks and things into boxes and numbered them, and I've had a look at the cabinets. They're in pretty good condition really – I don't suppose they've seen much action, stuck away on the top floor like that. A bit of regluing here and there, touch up the scuffs, give them a good waxing. One's got a broken pane, but I've got a bit of glass in one of my sheds I can cut down for that. The satin inside is a bit marked and worn, but I imagine that'll be covered up by whatever you put in them. I'll work on them up there, and when you're ready I'll get young Kevin Walton to help me move them down. I'll pop up there this evening and have a word with him, sound him out about the parking job, too. And his mum, Jackie, might be good for helping with the teas. She cooks part-time at The Crown,' he explained to Jenna. ‘I think she'd be willing to make some cakes, and she might even help serve. She's a nice, cheery person.'

Kitty told of her progress, and added, ‘We seem to be getting on quite quickly. I'm beginning to think this really is possible.'

‘Of course it's possible,' Bill said. ‘Anything is, if you're willing to put in the effort.'

‘I've had an idea about getting started,' Jenna said. ‘We ought to have a grand opening day, by invitation, and invite all the local people who can help us. And by that I don't just mean people who might volunteer. We should mark a wide radius on the map and invite anyone inside who's in the tourist business. Anyone who does B and Bs or holiday lets, or who has another tourist attraction, whether it's a house or garden or riding stable or petting zoo.'

‘Well, there are quite a few of those,' Bill said.

‘Shop owners, pub and café owners. Petrol stations, hotels. Tourist information offices. Local newspapers. English Country Cottages. Other National Trust places in the district. Anyone who might be in a position to recommend us as a place to visit. Eventually we'll get leaflets done and give them to all these people to stock, but until then it'll have to be word of mouth, so we need to get them onside. Invite them to an opening gala, guided tour, impress them with the place, and give them a really terrific tea.' She smiled at Kitty. ‘Just for this one time, sandwiches will be wanted, not to mentioned scones with jam and cream, cakes, and maybe even strawberries. What do you think?'

‘I think it sounds wonderful,' Kitty said. ‘It'll be just like the old days. I do love a party.'

‘I think it sounds likes a good business plan,' Bill said more soberly. ‘The local newspapers would cover a gala event, which would be free advertising for us, and having a launch party like that would give us something to aim for, and focus our efforts. Otherwise, given that we're none of us professionals in this business, we might just drift and put things off, and never get started.'

‘My thoughts exactly,' Jenna said. ‘But it does mean you have to be sure this is what you want to do, and commit yourself to it,' she added to Kitty, ‘because there'll be some financial outlay and a lot of hard work involved.'

‘And once everyone knows you're doing it,' Bill added with a smile, ‘there's a certain loss of face involved if you fall flat on it.'

Kitty dismissed that with a wave of the hand. ‘Oh, phooey, my face can stand a little falling on. My mind's already made up. I
want
to do this.'

‘When do you think we should aim for?' Bill asked.

‘Well,' Jenna said, looking at them speculatively, ‘I think the sooner the better, otherwise you'll miss the whole of this season. It'll take a bit of effort, but I think it's doable: how about one month from now?'

‘A month?' Kitty said.

‘It can be done,' Bill said firmly. ‘As long as we can get the pool of volunteers – that'll be your special task, Kitty. The rest, as Jenna said, is just hard work and organization.'

‘You're right,' Kitty said, girding herself. ‘We'll do it.' Then she seemed to remember something, and looked at Jenna doubtfully. ‘Oh, but I was forgetting. You were only going to stay another couple of weeks, originally. You will stay on, won't you? I don't think we could do it without you.'

In the excitement of the moment, Jenna had forgotten all about the original timetable. She thought fleetingly of London, of taking up the threads of her old life and getting her career back on course, but that all seemed faint and shadowy compared with saving Holtby House. What was a few weeks, or even months, out of the mainstream? She couldn't leave them now. She didn't think either of them had the organizational and computer skills to pull it all together. ‘If you want me to, of course I will,' she said warmly. ‘I want to see how it comes out. And I wouldn't miss the gala tea for worlds.'

That afternoon, while Kitty went back out to canvass, Jenna completed her notes on the drawing room and dining room. She was about to go upstairs and make a start on Lady Mary's Room, when she received a surprise visitor. There was a skidding sound of gravel, a familiar black sports car pulled up on the turnaround, and Caroline came striding in through the front door. She was wearing beige slacks, a cream silk blouse, chocolate brown suede waistcoat, and a silk scarf knotted round her neck in a swirling pattern of the three shades. How coordinated of her, Jenna thought, noting also the dark brown courts and matching handbag. She had never had a matching handbag in her life. Hers were always long-serving, adored and singular, and had to fit in with whatever she was doing.

The Ice Queen's hair and make-up were also perfect, and as Jenna appeared from the dining room to greet her, she looked under her eyelids at the sweat pants, baggy T-shirt, bare feet, and hair scraped back in a scrunchie which Jenna had considered suitable for working attire.

‘Hello, Caroline,' Jenna said, trying not to sound too unwelcoming. ‘Kitty's out, I'm afraid.'

‘It's all right, it was you I came to see,' Caroline said, surprisingly. Barney came from the conservatory to see what was what. ‘Keep that dog away from me,' she commanded. ‘I don't want his dirty footmarks on me.'

Jenna caught his collar as he reached her, and pressed his rump to make him sit. Barney looked up at her.
I wasn't going near the nasty old witch anyway
, he said. ‘What can I do for you?' she asked.

‘Oh, nothing. It's the other way round, really. I was quite upset to hear about this quarrel between you and Alexander.'

Jenna felt her mouth make a grim line. ‘How did you hear about that?'

‘He told me, of course.' Caroline smiled. ‘He tells me
everything
.'

‘How nice for you,' Jenna muttered.

‘Well, one must have absolute trust in a relationship, and I must say, there are no secrets between Alexander and me. And I have
no doubts
about his feelings for me.' She gave a little laugh. ‘He adores me. I can't deny it. It's touching, really.' The smile switched off. ‘So when I heard about this silly tiff between you, I said straight away that he was wrong.'

‘You did?' As well as being deeply ungrateful for the intervention, Jenna was surprised. She thought Caroline loathed her and would have sided with Xander against her.

‘Of course,' said Caroline superbly. ‘It's perfectly natural for two attractive young people like you and Harry to want to sleep together. Everyone does it these days.'
Did that mean she had slept with Xander
, Jenna was about to retort; and then thought that she didn't want to know. ‘I can't see the harm in it,' Caroline went on. ‘Neither of you has any interest anywhere else. I told Alexander that in no uncertain terms. You and Harry have every right to a sexual relationship.'

Jenna gritted her teeth. ‘You really shouldn't concern yourself with my affairs,' she said.

‘Not at all,' Caroline said graciously. ‘I like to help where I can.'

‘No, I mean you
really
shouldn't,' Jenna said. ‘I can take care of myself. And it isn't your business, is it?'

Caroline stiffened with affront. ‘I
beg
your pardon? I think when you're going out with my brother, it certainly is my business.'

Jenna left aside the weird world view this suggested, and said only, ‘I'm not going out with your brother, not in the sense you mean.' Then she wished she hadn't. Why give Icy the satisfaction of telling her anything?

‘Well, that's not what
I
heard,' Caroline said. ‘But if my help and advice isn't wanted, I'm the last person to press it on you. I meant it kindly, and if this is the thanks I get, I'm sure I shall leave you to stew in your own juice in future.'

She was going off in a huff, when Jenna reflected that she couldn't afford to make any enemies in this village, with Kitty's big adventure about to be launched; and especially when it was Xander's beloved, known for her viciousness, and who could cause Kitty so much heartache with nothing more than a few words. So she gritted her teeth and said, ‘Caroline, I'm sorry. It was – ungrateful of me. I do appreciate your kindness. I'm sorry if I offended you. Please forgive me.'

Caroline turned back, all graciousness again. ‘That's quite all right. And I shall do my best to make Alexander understand that you and Harry are an item and he's not to mind.'

‘Thank you, but it's not necessary. There's nothing between Harry and me. Really.'

Caroline looked taken aback. ‘Oh. But you are seeing him again?'

‘In a friendly way, that's all. And, please, don't let Kitty hear that Xander and I had words. He promised he wouldn't tell her, and I should hate her to be worried.'

‘Oh, I won't say anything,' she said, looking thoughtful. ‘I'm discretion itself. Anyone will tell you that.' She smiled suddenly. ‘Anyway, you won't be here for much longer, so things will sort themselves out.'

Evidently she hadn't yet heard about the Holtby House gala and the extension to Jenna's stay. Jenna felt it best to leave her in ignorance. And for Kitty's sake, she waited until Caroline had got back into her car and was driving away before letting go of Barney's collar and saying, ‘Kill, Barney! Bite her! Bite her!'

The planning meeting on Tuesday evening was held in the church hall, a stone-built, ecclesiastical-style Victorian building next door to the church which had once been the village primary school. The place was packed when Kitty and Jenna walked in. They were soon surrounded by Kitty's friends and acquaintances, and it was clear that the planning dispute was running only a short head in front of the Holtby House plan for conversational eminence. Jenna let Kitty do most of the talking, listening more to the tone of what people said than the substance, glad it was approving sounds she was hearing. Her attention was wandering about the room, and she realized she was looking for Xander – it would be the first time she had seen him since the quarrel and she wondered how he would behave. She couldn't see him anywhere. Perhaps he had gone home first, or was meeting with Caroline and coming on with her.

She had been wondering on and off all day about Caroline's visit of the day before. What had she been up to? She remembered what Harry said about his sister not being able to go straight even if she was on rails. She must have some agenda, Jenna concluded, but she couldn't think what it was. It was a pity, but she would have convinced Xander beyond doubting that Jenna had slept with Harry. She didn't know why she minded that – it was none of his business, as she told herself crossly. But all the same, she hated that he thought badly of her, for whatever reason. Oh, there he was now – without Caroline. She felt a rush of peculiar gladness at the sight of him, pushing his way slowly in from the back of the hall. It surprised her. She had expected to feel nothing but irritation, or perhaps apprehension. But instead, on seeing his tense, unhappy expression, she had a weird desire to cradle his head to her bosom and comfort him. She shook herself briskly, and seeing that he was aiming to join Kitty's group, she slid away in the opposite direction, and found herself shortly afterwards nose to nose with Harry.

‘I didn't see you arrive,' she greeted him.

‘I've been here a while. I can be pretty invisible when I want.'

‘I believe you now. Why did you want?'