‘I don’t think of it as a job,’ Tasha said. ‘I think of it as a bit of time to myself and I do love the chickens. People think they’re dense, but they’re not. This breed, the Light Sussex, are really sociable and clever. Did you know that they have been here for nearly two thousand years? Isn’t that amazing? Granny says they could even have been here when Jesus was alive although people think they might have been first bred in Britain around the time of the Roman invasion in AD43. There’s a cool Roman villa at Brading. You must go if you’ve got time. The mosaics are amazing.’
She hesitated and tugged at a bit of hair.
‘That’s if you’re interested in that sort of thing. Some people aren’t. Sorry, if I’m boring you.’
‘You’re not boring me.’
Jules thought that no fourteen-year-old could ever be boring. You just had to draw them out, listen to them, find out what they were interested in.
‘And I’ll keep my eyes peeled for your hen.’
‘Thanks. Sussexes are a curious breed and Scattihen, that’s the one I’m looking for, she’s a bit too nosy for her own good. Granny says the fox is bound to get her one day.’
‘Oh no! That would be awful. We must find her.’
‘She’s probably found somewhere shady to rest or some good bugs and worms to eat. If she’s not back later, do you mind if I stop by and look around the garden?’
‘No. Come around now if you like.’
‘I can’t. Jo’s picking me up to go to the pottery. Scatti’s obviously okay because that egg’s fresh. I bet she came to meet you and left that as a present.’
‘Well, I must thank Scattihen when I see her. There are some hens at that house as you come into the village. Could she have gone up there?’
‘They’re Cressie’s hens and yes, anything’s possible. I’ll get Granny to check when she goes up. I’d better scoot or I’m going to be late.’
‘Have a good time,’ Jules said and watched as Tasha bounded back towards the house, swinging the basket of eggs as she went.
‘So,’ Carrie said, tapping into her boiled egg, ‘what do you fancy doing today?’
Jules didn’t actually feel like doing anything. What she really wanted was to go back to bed, close her eyes and never wake up. But from the determined set of Carrie’s mouth, that wasn’t going to happen.
‘Beach?’ Carrie asked. ‘It’s going to be a nice day. I could show you the dinosaur foot casts. They’re amazing. Or we could take a trip to Carisbrooke Castle. That’s pretty impressive.’
Jules dipped a toast soldier into the top of her egg and half shook her head at the same time.
‘I’m happy to just mooch around here today if you don’t mind.’
Carrie wrinkled up her nose.
‘Mooching is not good.’
‘Sometimes it’s all you’re capable of.’
‘Why don’t we wander up to the gardens then? It’s closed to the public today, but we can still have a mooch around there for an hour and then you can carry on your mooching back here.’
Jules really didn’t have the energy to protest, which is how she found herself following Carrie into The Manor gardens and closing the solid side gate behind them. Carrie had brought a flask of coffee, and she led the way down some steps into what was called the tropical garden. There was a grass maze in the middle of the lawn, borders all around the edge and a choice of four wooden benches to sit on.
‘We can have two each,’ Carrie said, ‘and then you don’t have to talk to me. Take your pick.’
Jules settled herself on a bench at the far side with a tall stone wall to the back of her and the sun slanting in from the side. She was glad that Carrie had suggested taking a hat and sunglasses. She couldn’t think of anything practical at the moment and she was normally such a practical person.
Carrie poured the coffee and produced a couple of ginger biscuits from her pocket.
‘Where are you going?’ Jules asked, as she began to walk away.
‘Over there,’ she said, pointing to a bench on the far side of the lawn.
‘Now I feel guilty.’
