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‘It was fine. She’s quite a formidable woman, your grandmother, and she’s very proud of the Allford family.’
‘She certainly is. So much so that she insisted her husband take on the Allford name.’
Lettie laughed. ‘So I heard.’
‘The name was set to die out with Cornelius but she wasn’t going to let that happen. I also don’t think she fancied becoming a Smith, which was what would have happened otherwise.’ He grinned. ‘She was very happily married for over fifty years to John, who was a lovely man. We both still miss him.’ He stared across the landscape for a moment. ‘I almost came upstairs with you and Gran but thought it was probably best to leave you to it.’
Lettie thought back to the writing desk that she’d hoped might help to unravel old secrets.
‘We got on OK. I apologised to your gran for upsetting her and I had a look at the desk. But you’re right, there are no locks.’
‘So nowhere for this key to fit.’
When Corey reached across and picked up the key that was hanging around her neck, Lettie realised she’d stopped breathing. He was so close, she could see the individual prickles of stubble on his chin and the faint white lines around his eyes where he squinted in the sun.
‘You look a lot like Cornelius,’ she managed, imagining how it must feel to see a man like Corey go off to war and never come back.
‘That’s what Gran says.’ He dropped hold of the key and leaned back, his cheeks flushed. ‘There’s somewhere I’d like to take you once we’ve finished lunch; somewhere I think you might like to see.’
One picnicand a half hour drive later and Lettie was in very different surroundings. Corey had driven them into a deep, green valley on the fringe of Dartmoor and parked at the edge of a dense wood that lined the banks of a shallow, rushing river. The tor had been breathtakingly beautiful in its barrenness, whereas this place was full of life – from the birds tweeting in the trees and the rustle of leaves in the breeze to the barking of dogs splashing in the water.
Together, they walked along the bank of the river which twisted and turned among the trees. A small child ran along the opposite bank, followed by a young couple walking hand in hand.
‘Where are we?’ asked Lettie, to the sound of water tumbling over stones.
‘The locals call it Kellen Woods, but my sister and I called it the Secret Wood when we were growing up. Mum and Dad used to bring us here all the time. It’s my family’s favourite spot, other than Cora Head, obviously.’
‘Then I feel honoured that you’ve brought me here. Is your sister older or younger than you?
‘Evie’s two years younger.’
‘Rosie told me you have a nephew too?’
‘That’s right. Mum has moved to live near her so she can help with George.’
‘And you’re here helping your gran.’
Lettie saw the shrug of his shoulders, even though the path had narrowed and he was ahead of her. ‘I don’t mind. She needs the help around the house, and the company. There isn’t really anyone else.’
It was a little like her helping out her parents and sister all the time, thought Lettie. Though, in her case, there were others who could help out – if they would only decide to.
Corey walked on a few more steps before stopping again and turning round.
‘So here I am, a single divorcé who’s living with his elderly grandmother. It’s not quite how I imagined my life would be in my mid-thirties.’
‘Me neither. Life doesn’t always turn out the way it should, which is pretty outrageous really.’
She’d wanted to make Corey smile so she was delighted when he laughed.
‘It’s totally out of order.’ His face became serious again. ‘So tell me about your life, Lettie Starcross. What hasn’t turned out for you the way it should?’
Where to start, wondered Lettie.
‘Well, I live alone in a bedsit on a busy road with a neighbour who fancies himself the next Eric Clapton and practises electric guitar in the early hours, my family thinks I’m their PA, my mum constantly sets me up on blind dates, and I’ve just been fired from my job.’
‘Gosh.’ Corey’s face creased into a beaming smile. ‘I don’t mean to be lacking in empathy but you’ve just made me feel a whole lot better about my life.’
‘Charming!’
