‘Ah, the charm bracelet – that happened to have an Eiffel Tower charm on it.’ The lines deepened at the corners of his merry blue eyes. ‘I’m enjoying putting all these puzzle pieces together.’
‘Layla gave it to me on my birthday and by the next morning I’d managed to lose it. That’s why I was so desperate to get it back.’ He may as well hear the whole story. ‘When I fell off the bus, that was when I’d gone into Cheltenham to buy the replacement.’
‘I’m sorry. I’ve no idea what happened to the first one,’ said Benny. ‘Ingrid probably put it in the bag for the charity shop.’
‘It was my own fault for trespassing. I don’t make a habit of going around breaking the law.’
‘Just here.’
Rosa nodded ruefully. ‘Yes. And how did you know I was skulking around in your garden tonight?’
‘I just happened to look out of the landing window on the top floor. You were pretty much hidden from view by the tree, but I saw your hand stroking the grass. Well, I saw a hand,’ Benny amended. ‘I didn’t have a clue what was going on. But now I do.’
‘I’m glad I don’t have to feel guilty any more.’ Rosa rose to her feet, anxious not to outstay her welcome. ‘Anyway, I should be going.’
‘There’s a ladder in the shed. Would that be a help, to get you over the wall?’
‘It’s OK, I’m used to it.’ She brushed bits of cut grass off her trousers. ‘There are really good footholds between the stones. But thanks.’
‘You’re welcome,’ said Benny as she made her way across the lawn. ‘And I mean it,’ he added. ‘Any time.’
Chapter 22
Five days later, confident and pleased with himself, Benny nudged open the door to the master bedroom with his foot and carried the loaded tray through with a flourish. ‘Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happ—’
‘Thank you.’ Ingrid raised a hand. ‘It’s OK, you don’t have to sing that song to me. I’m not six.’
‘I always sing it to you,’ Benny protested.
‘I know you do. I should have told you before.’ Ingrid gave him one of her forthright looks. ‘But I’m saying it now. The breakfast looks wonderful, though. Thank you.’
‘And there’s presents, too.’ He placed the tray on the bedside table, handed her the glass of iced orange juice and retrieved the parcels from his side of the fitted wardrobe.
‘Goodness, look at those.’ Ingrid was visibly impressed. ‘Who wrapped them up?’
‘Me, of course.’ Well, it was only a white lie.
He sat on the side of the bed and passed her the first one. He loved making people happy, and watching them open presents was always a special pleasure. As Ingrid pulled off the ribbons and ripped open the turquoise and silver paper, he admired her ice-blonde hair, her slender shoulders and the lingering scent of the perfume she’d worn as long as he’d known her. The perfume had been something of an acquired taste in the first weeks of their relationship, but he was used to it by now.
‘My God, I don’t believe this. I love it.’ Having already opened the eyeshadow set and the face and body creams, Ingrid held up the silky-soft honey suede jacket. ‘You’ve never bought me anything like this before!’
Then came the moonstone pendant. ‘Benny, it’s like you’ve turned into a mind-reader!’ she exclaimed. ‘This is so me.’
Benny looked suitably modest. He was unused to such praise, more accustomed to being on the receiving end of Ingrid’s disappointment. He passed her the next parcel and saw her eyes widen as the paper came off.
‘It’s a new Ulrika Nilsson? Oh my goodness, you’re a genius. I can’t believe you found this.’ She threw her arms around him. ‘My most favourite artist. And such a beautiful painting.’ She laughed. ‘A bit better than that terrible sculpture you gave me last year, remember? And those hideous candlesticks!’
He’d guessed she hadn’t liked the sculpture when it had promptly disappeared from the house. Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen the carved marble candlesticks either. Passing her the envelope containing the final surprise, he watched as she tore it open.
‘Oh darling, you shouldn’t have,’ she said.
Possibly inspired by the story behind the Eiffel Tower charm on Rosa’s bracelet, he’d arranged to whisk her off to Paris tomorrow to stay at the George V overnight and fly back on Monday morning.
‘Don’t be daft, you’re worth it. Happy birthday . . .’ Just in time, he remembered not to break into song once more.
‘I meant you really shouldn’t have,’ Ingrid told him. ‘Not without checking with me first.’ She indicated the e-tickets on the duvet in front of her. ‘I promised to meet up with Hedda. I can’t let her down.’
Hedda was her Dutch friend, currently living in Oxford. ‘But . . . she wouldn’t mind, would she? For something special like this?’
‘Benny, that’s unkind. Hedda’s been feeling low recently and she’s looking forward to seeing me. I don’t dump my girlfriends when I get a better offer. That would be an awful thing to do.’
Of course it would. Benny shook his head. ‘Sorry, I didn’t know you’d made plans.’
‘That’s because you didn’t ask.’
‘I wanted it to be a surprise.’
‘Well it was a nice idea, so thank you for that. And it’s my birthday today so we’re going to have a wonderful time. Tomorrow I’ll see Hedda and stay over at hers. Then on Tuesday I’m off to New York.’
She was a hard worker, he couldn’t take that away from her. ‘Right, I’ll cancel the flights and the hotel.’
‘What time is our table at the Manoir booked for tonight?’
‘Seven thirty.’
‘I’ll wear this beautiful jacket.’ Ingrid lovingly stroked the butter-soft suede.
Benny said, ‘I lied about wrapping the presents. It wasn’t me.’
She looked amused. ‘Why am I not surprised to hear this?’
‘I didn’t choose them myself either. A friend helped me.’
‘Again, I thought there might have been someone else involved.’ Sitting back against the pillows, Ingrid began spooning up her favourite breakfast of granola and plain yoghurt. ‘Who was it? Someone very beautiful?’
‘Rosa Gallagher.’
‘Ha, really? The secret garden interloper who also fell off the bus? So I can relax and stop worrying that she might steal you away from me!’ Ingrid flipped back her hair. ‘Still, I’m grateful to her. I wouldn’t have thought she’d have such good taste. She found me some very nice gifts.’
‘And wrapped them up too.’
‘You mean she did all this for you in exchange for being allowed to sit in our garden at night and speak to her dead husband? This town is full of strange people.’
‘I don’t think it’s strange,’ said Benny.
‘And now you’re defending her.’ Ingrid’s tone was playful as she tapped his hand with the back of her spoon. ‘Maybe I should be jealous after all.’