It was about ten when Jago turned up the following day. He was holding the empty shortbread tin.
‘I can’t believe you’ve eaten it all already!’ Helena said when she saw him.
‘No, although it was absolutely delicious. I put what I didn’t eat into another box. I popped over to arrange a time to go and see this building.’
Aware that he was busy and it was very kind of him to try to find her somewhere for her loom, Helena said, ‘When is good for you?’
‘Now, actually. I could start another job but then I’m due over at another part of my vast empire.’ His tone was expressionless and it made Helena smile.
‘I could do now too. Just let me get a jacket. It’s still not warm, is it?’
A few minutes later she swung herself up into his pickup.
‘It’s not far, we could walk really, but we’re both busy,’ he said. ‘It’s an old barn I’m converting. But it’s not a priority – haven’t currently got the cash to do it up.’
‘I’m never sure about barn conversions,’ said Helena. ‘How on earth do you heat them? They’ll never be cosy with the heat going straight up to the rafters, which would get dusty and be hell to clean.’
He laughed. ‘You’re probably right about the rafters, but underfloor heating solves the other problem. This’ll have a wood burner as well. For the look of it really. When I’ve finished, it’ll be energy neutral, more or less.’
‘Oh, very green!’
‘I try to be. I hope to sell this one for loads of money and then I can reinvest in some more affordable housing.’
‘Very philanthropic,’ she said, but more seriously this time.
‘I try to be,’ he repeated.
Helena glanced across at him and caught him looking suddenly very serious. There was a glint of real determination in his expression. She looked out of the window quickly. There was something behind the jolly-builder exterior of Jago she didn’t want to disturb.
He pulled back a large sliding door to a substantial barn. It was empty of agricultural trappings but although there was a wooden floor and staircase, indicating where the bedrooms would be, the rest was still as it had been when it had been a working building.
‘So you see, it’s a work in progress,’ he said. ‘You could put your loom in here in return for a bit of lime mortaring.’ He indicated the huge gable end of the barn.
‘Just a bit. Can’t you plaster it?’
‘I could but people love a bit of exposed stone and I’m building to sell here.’
‘I think too much exposed stone makes it look like a prison,’ said Helena, aware she might be doing herself out of a work space.
‘I like to give buyers a certain amount of choice. I’d need to point it anyway. Those gaps in the stone need filling, whatever the final finish is.’
‘It’s a big space!’
‘Too big?’ he asked. ‘I’ve got industrial heaters you can use if you feel cold.’
‘Summer is on its way – they tell us – and if I could just be in here until I’ve done enough work for my big exhibition that would be great.’
‘Presumably it takes a while to set the loom up?’
She nodded. ‘It does. But as I insisted on having a large loom instead of just the small ones that Amy has, I have to pay the price. I can do much bigger stuff on a large loom.’
‘I haven’t met Amy yet. I’ve been remiss as a landlord.’
She laughed. ‘We must make a plan so we can get together. If I don’t do it, she will! And when she’s met you, we can tell her, and for the moment her only, that we’re an item. I can’t wait to see her reaction!’
Helena couldn’t help feeling relieved that she had seen Jago before Amy had. Whoever Amy had her sights on just this minute may well have not got a look in had she seen Jago.
Chapter Seven
‘Mrs Claire? It’s Leo Simmons, the house valuer.’
Gilly wouldn’t have admitted to anyone how excited she was to hear Leo’s voice at the other end of her landline, a couple of days after he had valued the house – and not because she was desperate to know the value.
‘Gilly, please. Hello, Leo.’
He laughed softly. ‘Hello, Gilly. I’ve rung to tell you how much your house is worth.’
‘Go on then. I’m keen to know.’
‘Well, I hope you’re sitting down.’
‘Goodness,’ she said when he had told her. She’d thought she had a rough idea of how much her house was worth; this was quite a lot more.
‘Don’t make any hasty decisions,’ said Leo, ‘but if you do decide to sell, I’d be delighted to advise you. While I’m not really an estate agent – more a property consultant – there are a lot of charlatan estate agents out there and I could help you stay out of their clutches.’
‘I’ll definitely consult you if I decide to sell.’ She paused. ‘So, how much do I owe you for the valuation? And where and how do I pay?’ She wasn’t sure if you did pay for valuations but thought she’d better make sure.
‘Nothing. I did it as a favour.’
‘You can’t! You don’t even know me – I mean – before. I insist on paying.’ Gilly hated getting things for nothing.
‘I can, because I have a favour to ask you in return.’
‘Oh, well, that is a bit different. What can I do for you?’
He didn’t speak immediately. ‘It’s a bit awkward and you might think it terribly forward besides being very short notice …’
‘What is it?’ Gilly was on tenterhooks.
‘I was forced to buy two tickets for Music at Gainsborough tomorrow night. Do you have a clue what I’m talking about?’
Gilly laughed, feeling relaxed and very happy. ‘Of course! I’ve been a couple of times. It’s our local Glyndebourne, only they have it in a barn. It’s a shame it’s so early in the year but apparently they have it then because the singers are cheaper to hire or something. The gardens at Gainsborough House would be such a perfect setting for opera. Then it really would be like Glyndebourne.’
‘But it’s only extracts, isn’t it? Being new to the area I don’t know what to expect. Will you come with me? You’re probably going already – it’s such short notice,’ he repeated.
‘I’d be delighted to come with you, but as a pleasure, not a favour.’
‘Tell you what, you bring the picnic and we’ll call it quits. But let me do the wine. It’s a hobby of mine.’
‘Then I’ll do the food. It’s a hobby of mine.’
A second later she wished she hadn’t said that. Food definitely was a hobby of hers and ideas for a sumptuous picnic were already going round in her head but she didn’t want him to expect too much.
‘That’s wonderful! I’ll ring you tomorrow when I’ve worked out the details. I’ll arrange a cab so I can enjoy the wine.’ He sounded very pleased. ‘This is so kind of you,’ he said.
‘It’s so kind of you to invite me!’