Catherine George - The Mistress of His Manor

LOW afternoon sunlight was so dazzling after the gloom of the grafting house he fished dark glasses from a pocket as he walked past the potting sheds and greenhouses to skirt a virtual traffic jam of loaded trolleys on the main concourse. Excellent. Business was good. Even better, one of the trolleys was manned by a very attractive girl. He heaved a sigh as two men joined her, one of them holding a toddler by the hand. Damn. Not single, then. And years younger than her husband. Lucky dog. As he drew level the girl gave him a smile that stopped him in his tracks.

Could you give us directions, please? We need winter-flowering pansies.

Of course. Ill take you there, he said promptly. Or anywhere she wanted.

Thank you. She bent to kiss the childs cheek. You go with Daddy and Grandpa, poppet.

Come with you, the little girl said mutinously.

Darling, youre a bit hot, and it will be even hotter where the pansies live, so ask Daddy to buy you an ice cream.

The magic words sent the child towards her father, beaming.

Ill meet you all at the main entrance afterwards, called the mother, and turned to her guide. Rightsorry to keep you hanging about.

No problem at all, he assured her, and led her on a shamelessly roundabout route. Her husband could spare her for a minute or two, he told his conscience. When they finally reached the colourful display of pansies he commandeered an empty trolley and took his customer on a conducted tour.

She gave him the smile again. How beautiful. You have the most gorgeous plants here.

You come here often? Hellcouldnt he have come up with something better than that?

No. First visit. My mother trusted pansy selection to me. She wants every shade of pink on offer, plus yellow and white.

No violet? he said, surprised.

Apparently not. Thank you for your help, she added, but you must be busy. I can manage now.

I can spare a few minutes. Or hours. You choose; Ill load up.

He eyed her covertly as she made her choice, sure hed seen her somewhere before. But for the life of him he couldnt remember where or when. She was certainly a pleasure to look at as she moved from tray to tray to pore over the blooms. Nothing size zero about this lady. She was delectably curvy in jeans and a plain white T-shirt, with a sweater knotted by its sleeves at her waist. The straight, heavy hair curving in below chin level was the exact sheen and colour of the conkers it would soon be his interminable job to help clear up, but the eyes she turned on him were dark, almond-shaped, and bright with that traffic-stopping smile again.

There, she said with satisfaction as he put the last tray on the trolley. Time to call a halt before I break the bank.

Our prices are very reasonable, he assured her. Competitive, at least.

Im sure they are. But we rather went mad today before I even started on the pansies. And now I must find my way back to the tribe. Thank you so much for your help.

My pleasure, he assured her, and summoned a hovering assistant. Show the lady where to pay and take her back to the main entrance, please.

Youve been a long time, said her father, Jack Logan, when Jo rejoined the others. Madam here was getting restless.

Sorry. It was a really long way to the pansies. She grinned. Funny thing, though, the way back was really short.

Jack raised an eyebrow. Led up the garden path, were you?

Literally. Her eyes danced. Which is flattering. My guide was very tasty under all that earth.

Tired, wailed a small voice.

Her father smoothed the dark curls from the little face burrowed against his shoulder. All right, Kitty-cat, lets go home to Mummy. Weve stowed the other plants in the car already, Jo. Are you staying on to look over the Hall?

She hesitated, not sure she still felt like it, but then nodded. After making a fuss about driving myself here to do just that, I may as well. Ill leave my car here and walk over to see how the other half lives.

I could stay with you, her grandfather offered, but she shook her head and kissed him lovingly.

You look tired. Go home with Jack and Kitty, and tell Kate I did my best with the pansy selection. Ill ring later to see how she is.

I just hope she spent the afternoon in bed, as promised, said Jack, frowning.

If youd stayed there with her she might have done, said Jo. Grandpa and I could have brought Kitty to buy the plants.

The idea was to get Kate to rest.

So put Kitty to bed for her, then make a nice little supper for two.

He smiled. That was my plan, Miss Bossy. Are you going to share it with us?

No. After my tour of the stately pile Ill drive straight home to my place and get an early night. Jo reached up to kiss the drowsy child, then with a wave to her men set off along a carriageway that wound through undulating parkland for a longer distance than shed expected before it reached the crenellated gatehouse of Arnborough Hall.

She bought a guidebook, handed over the substantial entrance fee, and then walked along a paved pathway through green velvet lawns to cross a moat so wide the ancient house appeared to float in it like an enchanted castle.

Im afraid youve missed the last tour of the day, said a steward, when Jo entered the Great Hall. But if you care to look round on your own, please do. Your guidebook gives the route.

Thank you. Ill do my best not to trespass. Jo gazed with pleasure at the lofty ceiling and the suits of armour in niches in the high stone walls. Its such an impressive space, yet the comfortable furniture gives it the feel of a huge, welcoming drawing room.

The woman smiled. Thats exactly what it is. On special occasions the family use it to entertain. Please take your time. Forty minutes yet before we close, and youll find stewards everywhere to answer questions.

Thank you. Jo was only too happy to explore alone. Guidebook at the ready, she started in the library to admire its wealth of books and a pair of magnificent terrestrial and celestial globes. The room smelt of old leather sweetened by potpourri, and she paused, frowning a little, sure shed seen a room like this before. She had the same feeling in a small formal drawing room with gilded furniture, and again in a lofty dining room with a long table laid for a banquet. By the time she reached the ballroom she was convinced shed visited Arnborough Hall in a former life, and indulged in a pleasant little fantasyimagining herself twirling around in waltz-time under its magnificent chandeliers.