Chapter 6
As I stepped over the threshold, my eyes widened in delight at the sight that greeted me. I felt like I’d been transported back to the Victorian era. The hallway’s beige carpet might not have been in keeping with that period, but the walls were papered in a beautiful vintage floral damask, and designed in burgundies, coppers and greens, which had a gold shimmer to it. A solid wood staircase led up to the bedrooms. Clearly original, not only could I see where its banister had been worn by hands sweeping up and down over the years, it still had its ball-shaped finials, top and bottom.
The decor might not have been quite to my taste, but I couldn’t deny how fabulous it was and I had to admit the house felt warm and welcoming.
I let Frank off his lead so he could go and explore, while Oliver leaned down and tugged at the corner of the flooring. “I’ve already had a peek,” he said, pulling back the carpet to reveal the most beautiful black, beige and terracotta tiles. “What do you think?”
Keen to give them a closer inspection, I lowered myself down to his level, suddenly caught off guard by a waft of the man’s aftershave. I took a deep breath, savouring the fragrance. Oliver Chase smelt as divine as he looked.
He turned his head to look at me and with his face inches from mine I did my best not to blush.
“Hopefully, there’ll be more secrets to uncover,” he said.
His words woke me from my scent-induced trance. “Excuse me?” Convinced I must have misheard, I stared at Oliver, aghast. Nobody had said anything to me about redecorating or restoring. In fact, Jules had distinctly told me not to do anything. Oliver laughed as he rose to his feet, ready to continue with the tour, while I made a mental note to contact my friend and clarify exactly what my remit was.
“Don’t worry. I’m under strict instructions not to let you do anything to the house. Everything has to stay exactly as it is. I just thought you could let Jules know it’s not all doom and gloom. The house does have its good points.”
He indicated a room off to the right and following him in, my eyes were immediately drawn to the cast-iron fireplace with flames dancing in the hearth. I took off my hat, gloves, and jacket; after being out in the cold the warmth was just what I needed.
“I thought you might appreciate me setting the fire in readiness,” Oliver said.
“I do,” I replied. “Definitely.” The man was an angel.
I glanced around. Pictures and framed photos filled the walls, while a floral three-piece suite took up the centre of the room. I noticed that Oliver’s coat lay slung over the back of the sofa. The seating was clearly arranged to make the most of the fire, in front of which sat a rug, while the rest of the floor had been left boarded. Against one wall was a display cabinet, crammed with ornaments, while a solid dark wood sideboard sat against another. I dreaded to think how much stuff the latter piece contained but going off the clutter on top of it, I could hazard a guess. I filled my cheeks with air and slowly exhaled.
For all anyone knew, Jules’s Aunt Lillian could have been born at Number 3, Bluebell Row – which meant I could’ve been surrounded by almost a hundred years of personal possessions.
“It would seem Lillian was a bit of a collector,” Oliver said, as if reading my mind.
“It certainly looks that way,” I replied. But at least the place was clean, I had to acknowledge.
Frank appeared in the doorway, took one look around and then left again.
I chuckled. “He’s got the right idea,” I said, relieved it wasn’t my job to sort everything out.
“I can give you the names of a couple of valuers to pass on if you like?” Oliver said. “To scan their expert eyes over everything. When Jules is ready, of course?”
“She’d appreciate that.” I moved to take a closer look at one of Lillian’s photos. Black and white, it was of a glamorous young woman. She wore a button-down shirt, tucked into high-waisted, wide-legged swing pants and her shoes were two-tone loafers. The whole ensemble looked wonderful. “Is that Lillian?” I asked.
Oliver came for a closer look. “It certainly is.”
“She clearly had a strong sense of style as well as adventure,” I said. I looked down at my oversized woolly sweater, scruffy jeans and Doc Martens boots, feeling positively dowdy in comparison.
Oliver grinned, but before he could say anything his phone began to ring. Pulling it out of his jeans pocket, he checked the number. “Mind if I take this?” he said, before clicking the answer button.
I left him to his call and made my way out and down the hall to the kitchen. Like the rest of what I’d seen, the room was spotless yet dated. Consisting of wooden units, an old ceramic sink, and an electric cooker, it didn’t have the same romanticism as the hallway and living room. But it had the basics like a washing machine, a dining table, and a couple of chairs. The walls were pasted with paper designed to look like tiling. It was all right for me, who was staying rent-free, but I couldn’t imagine a paying tenant being very happy with it.
I looked out of the window onto the rear garden, to see a long winding path cut down the middle of a dead lawn, leading to what looked like a stone workshop at the end. Flowerless borders followed the fence line on both sides, and the stems that were out there were brown and brittle. There was a definite order to the space, and I could imagine how beautiful it would have been when Lillian was at her green-fingered best and it was filled with colour.
“Sorry about that,” Oliver said, interrupting my reverie as he appeared in the kitchen doorway, coat in hand. “A plumbing emergency in the next village.”
“The life of a letting agent, eh,” I said.
“Frozen pipes. Happens every winter,” he replied. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave you to it.” He dipped his hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it over along with Aunt Lillian’s house keys. “My contact numbers. Office and mobile.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“I’m only up the road, so if you need anything, please, just give me a shout.”
“Anything?” I asked, wondering what services the man had to offer that didn’t involve property. My cheeks flushed red and wanting the ground to open up and swallow me whole, I couldn’t believe I’d just said that out loud.
“Within reason,” he replied, making me blush even more.
“I’ll see you to the door, shall I?” I said.
