‘Some people would love it for that very reason.’ Liz looked around. ‘It’s a beautiful home and a spectacular garden, Emilia, and there are people who really do want peace and quiet. I’d hate to have a school and pub next door to my home!’
‘But there have been no offers from anyone, I promise you.’ Emilia sighed. ‘Now I’m wondering what they have in mind for their next little assault.’
Liz didn’t want to start speculating. ‘We’ll show this to Matt as soon as he’s finished doing a Tommy Walsh in the garden.’ She pointed to the note, the police officer in her observing that the envelope was plain and obviously hand-delivered and was of the self-seal variety that did not require licking the flap down. ‘May we keep it, Emilia?’
‘With my blessing! It will be a relief to have it out of my home.’ Emilia straightened up. ‘Now, I think it’s time your lovely partner had some tea.’
She went to the fridge for milk, and added, ‘Actually I do have to go away quite soon. I have a yearly meeting with my accountant, who is based in London. We are old friends, so I generally go up on a Friday night, stay over and travel back the following Monday morning. The thing is, I’m picking up my new car on Thursday, and I dread leaving it here unprotected while I am away.’
‘Then why not leave it with us? We are only a few miles away,’ Liz volunteered. ‘What car did you choose, Emilia?’
‘A Volvo V60 estate. It was love at first sight, and it’s not as ostentatious as the Lexus, or one of those super Mustangs.’
Liz’s concern escalated. A brand-new car would be a bloody great magnet for anyone wanting to cause Emilia distress. ‘Then you really must bring it to Tanners Fen. And while you are here, lock the garage every night without fail.’
‘Oh, I will! My timing isn’t exactly flawless, is it?’ Emilia said ruefully. ‘But living here I have to have a reliable vehicle.’
Maybe that banger would not have been such a bad idea after all. A sparkling new Volvo and a person with mischief on their mind didn’t mix too well in Liz’s book. ‘Of course you must. Meanwhile, we really do need to find out who is doing this and stop them, Emilia, so if you see either of us, or our car hanging around, don’t concern yourself. We’ll be keeping a close eye on you from now on.’
For a moment she thought the “tough old bird” might give way to tears, but Emilia took a deep breath. ‘You are very kind, both of you.’
Taking that as an assent to their unofficial investigation, Liz smiled at her. ‘Let’s go and tell Bob the Builder that he’s earned himself a cup of tea — and that we’re upping our game.’
CHAPTER FIVE
Will and Kate’s argument on the day of Matt and Liz’s visit had left a shadow hanging over them. It would take them some time to get over it. For now, they maintained an uneasy truce.
Kate spent a lot of time behind the closed door of her studio, but at least she made the effort to join Will for meals, and to eat more regularly. Will soldiered on with his renovations, while Kate, when not painting, spent the rest of her time walking the marshes, or planning and researching her project for the renovation of Holland House. She seemed to have become stronger, and even helped with the design aspects of the garden.
The following weekend was humid and stormy, but despite this, Kate seemed almost restored to her old self. Will began to relax again. Perhaps the worst had passed?
Initially, they took great delight in watching the jagged forks of lightning zigzagging down into the Wash, but after a while the constant storms became tedious and now Kate was becoming unsettled and irritable again.
She had begun revamping the kitchen and was at the same time trying to oversee his efforts at restoring the Victorian greenhouse and get parts of the garden back under control.
‘Damn and blast! Bloody weather! Another hour and I could have finished that bed around the well.’ Kate flopped down on a kitchen chair and rubbed her hair angrily with a hand towel.
‘There is always tomorrow, sweetheart. Don’t forget what we said about not pushing yourself too hard. Anyone would think our time here was limited. We have all the time in the world, remember?’ Busy with the tea, Will missed the look of annoyance that she threw his way.
‘Have you fixed those windows yet, Will? I thought you said the fanlights were almost done.’
‘That greenhouse is a nightmare, Kate. Every time I fix one thing, something else fall to bits. I’ve practically had to rebuild those frames — they’re all rotten.’
Kate’s tone was tetchy. ‘Well, it needs to be weatherproof for the winter. I’m hoping to get some seedlings in before the frosts start.’
‘It’s not a simple job, Kate. Trying to re-hang window frames with a dodgy arm is not exactly easy, you know.’ He tried to keep his tone even, but he had been doing his best, and it rankled that it wasn’t appreciated.
‘Well, if you’re not up to it, then I’ll get someone in.’
‘I never said I wouldn’t finish it, did I? I meant don’t push me. It’s not a simple job.’ He went silent. Kate, apparently realising that she had been, in his words, out of order, took the mug of tea from him and ruffled his hair.
‘Sorry, Bear.’
He smiled. She hadn’t used his pet name for ages. When they first met — on a fun run to raise money for a local children’s hospice — he had been dressed as a teddy bear. He had nearly expired beneath the heavy costume, and Kate had given him a cold drink. He became her Bear from that day forth.
‘I know. I’m being a total pain in the bum.’ She sat down again and looked at him. ‘I just want everything right, and there just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day.’
‘Is it the book? Are you behind with the illustrations?’ he asked tentatively.
‘No. In fact, because I’d done so many sketches, and because they want to use my original paintings as the plates, I’m well ahead with Angela’s bloody book.’ She gave him an apologetic grin. ‘I know I promised to slow down but I want the damn thing finished, so I have been pushing it a bit.’ She paused. ‘I have also told Hubert I need a break before the next one and, joy of joys, he reckons Angela’s nowhere near ready yet. If she’s got writer’s block, that’s fine with me. Long may it last.’
Will looked anxiously at his wife. She was suddenly edgy and bad-tempered, “mardy-faced,” as his mum would have said. He feared that she was going to slip back into her unpredictable frame of mind again, where he no longer recognised his lovely wife.
‘Actually, talking about getting someone in to help us,’ Kate’s voice was suddenly soft and back to normal, ‘I want to have a word with the builders’ merchants just outside town about some more gravel for the side entrance to the garage, and I was thinking of getting some of those circular paving stones for the patio. The concrete is breaking up badly. One of us will fracture an ankle before long.’
Will groaned. ‘That sounds like pretty hard and heavy work for me and my wonky arm.’
‘I have no intention of letting you do the patio, Bear. I thought I’d see if one of the workmen at the builders’ yard might like to earn himself a few pounds. The old rubble would have to be taken up and carted away before the new stones could be laid, and your arm wouldn’t stand up to it. Hopefully, I should be receiving a nice fat cheque in the post soon, so we’ll let someone else get a hernia — if that’s alright with you?’