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Nessa’s face fell. ‘But you must be happy that the house has been saved.’
‘Of course I am. Wow. I really am.’
It had only just properly sunk in that Driftwood House, her anchor, would not be reduced to rubble. Whether the Eppings made it into a guesthouse or sold it on as a family home, it would remain here on top of the cliffs, keeping watch on the village below.
‘No one wants you to go, Rosie. I bumped into Belinda by the castle ruins on the way here and she said she wished you were staying – eventually, after giving me all the goss on Fiona’s recent tummy tuck. John feels the same, and Katrina gave me a regal wave from her posh car when my bus went past her earlier. She probably knew I was coming here.’
‘That’s kind of Belinda and John, but I doubt that Katrina will miss me. She’ll be too busy getting it on with Liam behind Stephen’s back to even notice I’ve gone.’
‘Ooh, no, she won’t be happy with Liam right now. He gave her the old heave-ho.’
‘After sleeping with her?’
Rosie wasn’t sure which was worse – sleeping with a woman behind her boyfriend’s back, or discarding her immediately afterwards. Both were pretty awful.
‘No,beforesleeping with her,’ said Nessa, scanning through the letter again.
‘But you saw them getting into Katrina’s car on Saturday night.’
‘I saw them heading for her car but Liam thought better of it. I told you he’d changed.’
‘Are you quite sure?’
‘Absolutely sure. Siobhan Jones – you know her, wears loads of red lipstick. She spotted them from her bedroom window. Katrina had a face like thunder when Liam walked off, apparently. Anyway, she told Belinda, who told Martin, who told Lucas, who told John, who told me.’
Heaven’s Cove really was gossip central, but this was gossip that made Rosie’s heart glad. ‘So Liam definitely didn’t sleep with Katrina while her boyfriend was in New York?’
‘No, he didn’t.’ Nessa narrowed her eyes. ‘Why? Does that make you more likely to stay?’
‘Why would it?’
‘Why, indeed.’ Nessa was smirking. She suddenly shielded her eyes with her hands. ‘Who’s that? Well.’ She gave Rosie a hefty nudge in the ribs with her elbow. ‘I do believe it’s Liam and Billy. Hey, Liam! We were just talking about you.’ She started waving, huge arcs of her arm in the air. ‘You’re just in time for the celebrations. Guess what’s happened? It’s such good news.’
‘What news?’ Liam strode up while Rosie tried to steady her breathing. She hadn’t expected to see him again, ever.
‘Rosie’s just found out that Driftwood House is saved. Isn’t that fantastic?’ Nessa swooped in for a hug with Rosie. ‘Apparently the Eppings are thinking of building a hotel somewhere else instead.’
‘I wonder what changed their minds.’
Liam didn’t look happy about Driftwood House’s reprieve, and ever affable Billy, picking up his master’s mood, started growling softly.
‘It’s absolutely brilliant news, isn’t it?’ said Nessa, not sounding so sure now. She glanced at Liam’s face, which was set like stone, and grabbed the dog’s collar. ‘Billy could probably do with stretching his legs a bit more. I’ll walk him out towards Sorrell Head. See you two in a minute.’
She scuttled off, dragging a very reluctant Billy with her.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Rosie, but Liam paced up and down in front of her, not catching her eye.
‘You tell me. This letter was just delivered to the farm by a man who asked for directions to Driftwood House.’
He thrust an envelope at Rosie, who pulled out the paper inside with trembling hands. Cold dread was seeping through her.
Dear Mr Satterley,
I am writing on behalf of my clients, Charles and Cecilia Epping, regarding the land south-east of your property which is rented from the aforementioned clients. The rental agreement comes to an end later this year and they are giving you notice that it will not be renewed.
The letter continued with lots of legal language but Rosie had got the drift. ‘How much land is it?’ she asked, her heart sinking into her boots.
‘Enough to make all the difference between Meadowsweet Farm surviving or failing. I couldn’t work out why the agreement would be cancelled just like that and came here to find out why the delivery man was coming here too, but now I know. The Eppings aren’t thinking of a hotel up here any more. My farm is now the potential site for their business venture.’
