Page 28 of Escape to the Country

Chapter 10

Sometime in the afternoon and still struggling with a Prosecco-induced headache from her night out with the girls the previous evening, Eleanor flung open the back door, feeling close to despair.

‘How was the walk?’ asked her mum.

Eleanor glanced down at herself. ‘I can’t remember,’ she replied, picking a lump of what she hoped was mud off her T-shirt. ‘I was too busy hiding behind a tree.’ She looked across at the Great Dane as he slurped his way down the water bowl in seconds flat, leaving a trail of water across the floor. ‘He’s an absolute terror. I’ll be thankful when he goes back home this weekend. I will never understand what it is you like about them.’

The dog finished his drink before trotting up to collapse next to her mum, who leant down and stroked his head. ‘Unconditional love,’ she replied, choosing not to notice the water stain now appearing down her leggings. ‘They don’t care how scruffy I am.’

Eleanor stared down at her damp, slightly torn, muddy jeans which had been quite expensive. ‘Well, that’s where we must differ.’

‘You’ve always liked to look nice,’ said her mum, nodding her approval. ‘I think you must get that from your father.’ She cleared her throat before continuing. ‘Have you spoken to him recently?’

Eleanor shook her head. ‘No. He doesn’t bother much with me these days.’

What was the point? Her mum was the better person. The nice parent. The caring one. The peacemaker, despite the way he had treated her. Her dad only contacted her at Christmas and on her birthday. And then it was just out of guilt.

‘I’m going up to get showered and changed,’ she announced, heading up the stairs, feeling desperate to look like herself again.

‘What are your plans for the rest of the day?’ her mum called up.

‘I thought I’d see the girls tonight if you don’t need me to do anything for a few hours.’

Eleanor was keen to at least make a start with her story about Tommy King. But she was also anxious to catch up with the girls again, just in case she ended up heading back to London in the near future.

She called Megan first after her shower. ‘Hey,’ she said. ‘What are you up to later? I thought we could meet up.’

‘Really?’ said Megan, sounding surprised. ‘That would be great. We only usually get to see you once before you bugger off to the city to be with your more glamorous friends.’

Eleanor felt sheepish at the gentle ribbing, but knew in her heart that it was probably true. She hadn’t spent an awful lot of time with Megan or Annie in recent months. Or years, come to think of it. She had to start making amends.

‘What about your job?’ carried on Megan.

Eleanor gulped. Was it possible that Megan had guessed what had happened? Surely not.

‘They’ve given me some extra time because of Mum’s leg. So how about we meet up later for a drink?’

‘I’m not sure I can stomach any alcohol again. I haven’t recovered from yesterday yet. But sure. We’ll do something. Neal can have the kids for once.’

‘The only thing is, I don’t have a car,’ said Eleanor.

‘No worries. I’ll pick you up.’

The lack of a car was a bit annoying, especially as there was nowhere around to hire one from. Also, Eleanor was reluctant to spend her three months’ pay-off from the magazine. Goodness knows how long she would have to make that last. She knew that if she got desperate she could always borrow her Mum’s bicycle. But that had a basket on the front and more rust than actual solid metal. But there was no public transport in the middle of the countryside. She longed for the ease of the underground and red double-decker buses.

Dwelling over the ease of her old life, she sent a quick text to Lucas.

Hi. Save me, she wrote. I’m knee deep in the countryside, surrounded by farmyard animals. Please send an SOS package of caviar and Prosecco immediately.

But she got no reply, although she could see that he had read the message.

With nothing else to do, she repainted her nails and smoothed on some more antiseptic cream in the hope that it might help the eczema on her hands.

The hours dragged by until Megan picked her up.

Her friend raised her eyebrows when she arrived. ‘Nice outfit,’ she said, a smile playing on her lips. ‘I thought we were staying in at the Hall unless we’re going to a wine bar or something?’

Eleanor glanced down, feeling slightly overdressed compared to Megan’s cut-off jeans and baggy T-shirt. Perhaps her khaki silk jumpsuit and high heels were a bit much in the countryside.