Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (fiction books to read .txt) 📕

yet, Helen hoped Tina wouldn’t want to talk about her leaving for Bath.

*

‘There’s something rather lovely about the smell of newly laundered sheets, don’t you think?’

Tina flapped an Egyptian cotton sheet towards Helen, who waited on the opposite side of the bed in the manor’s main bedroom.

‘Absolutely.’ Helen inhaled the scent of fresh air and cotton as they smoothed the sheet into place. ‘I assume we’re making up this room in case Sam’s parents decide to stay overnight?’

‘They haven’t mentioned staying. I just want everything to look perfect while they’re here. Is that daft?’ Tina reached for a pile of pillow cases, passing two to Helen.

‘Not at all. And it makes it look as if you hoped they’d stay. That can’t be a bad thing, can it?’

‘True. Although whether they’ll come round to our way of thinking about the wedding venue…’

Helen sighed. ‘Look, Tina, this is your home and Sam’s home. It’s also your wedding day. That makes it your choice. I know tradition can be hard to budge in ancestral families, but it isn’t as if Sam’s the heir to the estate – so stand firm. You’re feeling guilty, but you haven’t done anything wrong.’

‘It’s obvious I’m feeling guilty about holding out for what I want, then?’

‘Not to anyone who doesn’t know you.’ Helen gave her a kind smile. ‘It’s allowed, you know, for the bride to have what she wants on her wedding day. Sam’s parents know that. They’re just battling with their expectations.’

‘You may be right.’

‘I am right.’ Helen plumped the last pillow into a fresh case and went to open the window. ‘It’s stuffy today. I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a burst of spring sunshine.’

‘That would be good this weekend. Mill Grange looks even more beautiful when the sun shines.’

‘Umm.’ Helen mumbled her agreement as she spotted Tom and Sam heading towards the walled garden. Her insides gave an involuntary clench at the sight of her boyfriend.

Why haven’t I told Sam and Tina I’m not leaving?

As if reading her friend’s mind, Tina said, ‘Sam told me he’d asked you if you’d like to stay. I don’t want to hassle you or anything, but the tenth of April is less than a week away and—’

‘And you could do with knowing if you’re going to be another member of staff down when the place reopens on the twentieth.’ Helen dug her hands deep into her jeans pockets. ‘I should have said before, I’m sorry. It’s just, I’m—’

‘Spending a lot of time thinking about a tall slim archaeologist with piercing green eyes?’ For a split-second Helen thought about denying it, but then realised there was no point. Tina wouldn’t be fooled. If Thea was there, the two of them would probably be plying her with scones and portable thumbscrews, in a kindly, but unstoppable hunt for information about her love life.

‘Perhaps.’

‘You two have obviously been getting closer. You’d have to be blind not to notice the glances that pass between you when you think no one’s looking.’

‘I suspected you’d guessed.’ Helen kept her gaze fixed on the garden. The men had disappeared from view, but she could see the impressive sweep of the garden as it blended with the woodland, and beyond into the heart of Exmoor. ‘At first we weren’t ready to share, and then we thought we should tell Dylan first.’

‘Of course you should. I won’t say anything. How long have you been a couple now, if you don’t mind me asking?’

‘Thirteen days.’ As Helen spoke, the words unlucky for some, taunted her thoughts.

‘And now his son is moving in, and you have a job to go back to and everything is moving just a bit too fast.’

‘Yes.’ Helen turned around. ‘How did you know?’

‘It was all rather a whirlwind with me and Sam. I knew what I wanted to do, but wasn’t sure I was ready, or if it was the right thing to do.’

‘That’s it, you see.’ Helen was amazed. ‘Two weeks ago, I was just an archaeologist who fancied a nice man, but never thought anything would happen. And as I was leaving soon anyway… But then…’

‘Then Tom realised he felt the same and now you’re torn.’

‘I really want to stay, but it just isn’t that straightforward.’

‘Because of the job in Bath or because of Dylan?’

Helen shrugged. ‘Both.’

‘Look, why don’t we work and talk. Being busy often helps put things in perspective.’

Helen laughed. ‘And there’s heaps to do and no time for moping?’

Tina grinned. ‘There’s that as well.’

*

Tom threw the chickens a generous handful of pepper slices before joining Sam in front of the greenhouse.

‘Tell me honestly, do you think the two of us can do this?’ Sam studied the old structure, its glass panes gone, its framework intact, but battered by years of neglect, it still held a gothic beauty.

‘I’d be lying if I claimed to know the answer to that, although I’m more than willing to have a go.’ Tom passed Sam a list of the supplies they’d need to renovate the greenhouse. ‘I got all the information you asked for, and this is what we’d need if we did the job ourselves. But I’ll be honest, mate, I can’t see how we’d ever manage to do it up without Tina noticing.’

‘Maybe I should just do it up a bit and string up some fairy lights for the big day as Tina suggested in the first place?’

Tom checked back over his figures. ‘The cheapest quote I found you wasn’t cheap – if someone else did the work, that is. It would take him a week – if not more. I’m sorry, Sam, but unless you can take Tina away on holiday for a fortnight, this is one secret that would leak out in seconds.’

‘As opposed to the secret that you and Helen are now a couple, you mean?’

‘What?’ Tom dug his hands deep into his pockets. ‘Not as subtle as we thought then?’

‘Nope.’ Sam winked. ‘I’m pleased for you.’

‘Thanks.’ Not sure if he should ask again, but asking