Page 95 of Escape to the Country

‘No, no, I’m fine,’ said Arthur, as he stood and regained his balance. ‘Many thanks. You see? No blue blood and yet you have better manners than many of my ancestors.’

They had reached the stable blocks when they saw Annie coming across to meet them.

‘Hello,’ she said, smiling at them both. ‘What have you been up to?’

‘No need for the search party,’ Arthur told her. ‘I’m in safe hands.’

‘Glad to hear it,’ she replied, with a knowing smile at Tom before she turned to face Arthur. ‘I wanted to ask you something. Eleanor needs to make some soap and it’s all a bit tricky apparently. She needs somewhere quiet to work away from people as the stuff she uses is a bit toxic. Is it okay with you if she uses one of the old stables for a little while?’

Arthur smiled warmly at her. ‘You know, they’re your stables too,’ he told her gently.

Annie blushed. ‘I’m still getting used to all that.’

‘It’s absolutely fine,’ said Arthur. ‘Tell her to come over anytime.’

The three of them followed Dylan back up to the main house for lunch.

Tom felt ridiculously pleased that Eleanor would continue to visit the hall. Presumably, with whatever concoctions she would be creating, he would be seeing a lot more of her.

He even found he was humming a new tune as he made his way towards the recording studio later that day.