Page 105 of Escape to the Country

‘Thanks,’ said Tom, looking as if he was going to step around him.

But her dad blocked Tom’s way. ‘I couldn’t get a selfie, could I?’ he asked. ‘My mates are never going to believe me when I tell them that you’re dating my daughter.’

‘What?’ said Eleanor, aghast.

Her dad turned to look at her. ‘Well, when I saw your mum just now, she told me that you were spending a lot of time up here. And obviously the papers are full of the news that Tom’s staying at the hall. It doesn’t take an idiot to put two and two together.’

‘Well, your answer is five because you’re completely wrong,’ said Eleanor, putting her hands on her hips.

‘Come off it, Ellie,’ said her dad. ‘That photo from Glastonbury? Well, it looks just like you.’

Eleanor groaned and looked at Tom. ‘I’m sorry but could you just give me and my dad a minute?’

‘Of course,’ he told her.

He walked away with Dylan at his heels, leaving Eleanor alone with her dad.

She waited until Tom was out of view before spinning around to face her father, snatching her hair out of its ponytail and letting it loose in the hope that it might help the stress headache that had suddenly appeared.

‘Why did you go and see Mum?’ she snapped. ‘I don’t want you upsetting her.’

‘I wanted to find out the latest gossip,’ he said, smiling. ‘Who’d have thought little old Cranley would get into the newspapers, eh?’

She scowled at him. ‘You weren’t that interested in it when you left in such a hurry all those years ago.’

He studied her. ‘My little Ellie, all grown up,’ he said, seemingly oblivious to her remark.

‘Don’t call me Ellie,’ she told him. ‘You don’t get to call me that anymore.’

‘You’ve changed your hair,’ he said. ‘It’s not straight.’

‘No, this is its natural state,’ she replied, running her hand through it. ‘You would know that if you knew anything about me.’

‘Its natural state?’ His eyebrows shot up. ‘So what, you’re letting yourself go now? Becoming a hippy like your mother?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘I’m not letting myself go, Dad. I’m being me. I can’t do the whole perfect appearance thing anymore. It’s too exhausting. Anyway, I kept myself perfect because that’s what I believed would bring you back to us. Because you’re all about the looks, aren’t you?’

‘I like to look nice,’ he said, becoming defensive. ‘There’s nothing wrong with that.’

‘But you didn’t come back, Dad. It turned out you were never that bothered about me in the first place.’ Her voice broke.

He didn’t reply, just looked confused.

‘You’re dressed thirty years too young and you look ridiculous,’ she told him, becoming irritated at his lack of reply. ‘People get older. They mature. But not you. You want to know something? I have freckles. My hair is wavy. I’m not perfect and nor are you!’ She grew weary suddenly. ‘Why are you here, Dad? I mean, it’s not my birthday so you don’t need to send me a two-line text. It’s not Christmas so you don’t have to sit through an excruciatingly painful lunch with me, which, by the way, I always make up an excuse so I can leave early. So what gives?’

He tried to look self-important. ‘I just wanted to show my support for my daughter. I read the papers. I know what it’s like to be hounded by the press.’

‘No, you don’t!’ She found she was shouting now. ‘You loved it! Giving all those interviews. Talking about the wonderful Susanna and how she was the love of your life. Was that the third or fourth love of your life, by the way. I lose count when you get through so many Z-list celebrities.’

‘Now listen, young lady,’ he started.

‘No, Dad,’ she told him, shaking her head. ‘You don’t get to give me advice or tell me anything! Not anymore.’

He drew up his chin. ‘It’s my duty as your father to protect you.’

‘That’s rubbish and you know it,’ she told him. ‘What did you care all those years ago when you left us for her. Did you even remember us back then when you were busy trying to get famous off the back of that actress?’

‘Well, aren’t you doing just the same with Tommy King?’ he said, sneering.