AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Hmm. So what else are you working on while you’re here?’
‘I’ve got a meeting with a local landowner tomorrow, though I’m not sure the land he has for sale will be suitable for development. There’s no sea view and a history of flooding because it’s so close to the river. It’s a shame because he’s keen to sell. Whereas, the land I really want to get my hands on isn’t for sale.’ He winked. ‘Not at the moment, at least.’
‘What’s so special about Mrs Allford’s land?’
‘It all comes down to location, location, location. The land juts out into the sea, a little peninsula, and it has the most amazing views. We could build a tiny holiday village – a holiday hamlet, if you like. Just two or three houses, and get top-dollar prices from visitors. Look, if you stand up you can probably see it from here.’
Lettie got to her feet and followed the line of Simon’s pointing finger across the village.
‘There! If you look out to sea and then to the right, can you see the land I’m talking about?’
Lettie squinted at the flash of blue ocean that she could glimpse between the cottages. Just visible to the right, the land pushed out into the sea, forming a headland with high, red-stoned cliffs. Simon was right that the views must be amazing from up there, in all weathers.
‘It’s officially called Cora Head but it’s known locally as Lovers’ Link because it links two coves and I daresay lovelorn locals used to throw themselves off it. They’re quite literal around here.’
‘Does the whole of it belong to Mrs Allford?’
‘The slice of it that I’m interested in does. Though she’s getting on a bit so it’ll be the singing fisherman’s soon enough.’
Anticipating Florence’s death so callously seemed rather off, but Lettie let it go.
‘Does she have plans to build on it herself?’
‘No, she wants to leave it as it is. Land that’s perfect for development! It’s selfish really, to deprive holidaymakers of that view.’
‘Is the headland open to visitors at the moment?’
‘There’s a footpath that runs right across it, though I bet grumpy Allford would do his best to stop that, if he could.’
‘So holidaymakers can still enjoy the view.’
‘They can, but think of waking up with that vista before you. It’s not my kind of thing, endless sea and sky. But marketing the holiday lets to stressed city types would be a piece of cake. I can’t believe the old lady has turned me down, especially with the price I’m offering.’
‘Not everything comes down to money, I suppose.’
Simon looked at her as if she was mad. ‘Absolutely everyone has their price, I’ve found. But I’m sure her grandson is pressuring her not to take the money, even though it would make the end of her life much more comfortable.’
‘Why would he do that? He seems to love his grandmother.’
‘He’s a bit of a Green warrior, very into preserving the village and stopping progress.’
Perhaps that was one thing she and Corey might have in common.
Lettie gave Simon a tight smile. ‘I guess he’s used to things being the way they are. The headland must be wild and amazing. It seems a shame to blight it with development.’
‘Blight it?’ If looks could kill, Lettie would be stone dead. Simon got to his feet. ‘I’d improve it, and more visitors would boost the local economy. It would be good for Heaven’s Cove.’
‘Maybe in some ways. So where would your holiday hamlet be?’
‘Right there, in the middle. Look.’
He moved towards her and that was when she caught sight of Corey hurrying past the church.
She smiled, glad to see that he’d returned safely from his mercy mission out at sea. But he scowled after catching her eye and hurried on.
That was when she realised that Simon had his hands on her shoulders and was positioning her so she could see the location of his proposed holiday hamlet.
Great! Spotting her and Simon together wouldn’t do anything to allay Corey’s suspicions. Lettie wasn’t sure why she cared so much about the opinions of a grumpy singing fisherman in the depths of Devon, but she did.
