Meg was about to say ‘I’m twenty-two’ when she realised this was not quite what Colin was implying. ‘I manage,’ she said and, with a sharp tug, withdrew her hand.
‘Meg is being modest. She does far more than manage, Uncle Colin,’ said Justin. ‘She’s been praised by Basil Knott-Dean.’
‘Oh, really?’ said Colin, obviously completely au fait with the name. ‘You mean the one who’s the main contributor to that guide? The one all the really smart places are mentioned in?’
‘That’s the one,’ Justin confirmed. ‘This hotel is going to have an entry.’
Colin gave a hearty laugh. ‘Oh, well done! That’s absolutely splendid!’
Justin exchanged looks with Meg. ‘Let’s go in,’ he said.
‘I’ll organise some coffee,’ she said, keen to escape.
She carried the tray through to the sitting room, which was still in some disarray from the evening before. But Colin and Justin didn’t seem to notice. They’d made themselves comfortable in the window embrasure, looking out into the garden.
‘There are some pastries to go with the coffee,’ said Meg. After she had put down the tray she made to go back into the kitchen, where she felt most comfortable, but Justin put a hand on her arm.
‘You should stay, Meg. You can answer Colin’s questions when I can’t.’
‘Please stay, lovely girl,’ said Colin, giving her a smile which may well have charmed birds off trees but did nothing for Meg.
She sat, and as she’d put three cups on the tray, accepted a cup of coffee when Justin handed her one.
Cherry came in from the office, looking flushed and excited. ‘Meg? Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.’
Meg leapt up. ‘It’s fine. Do you need me?’ How she hoped the answer was yes!
‘It looks as if you’ve got good news,’ said Justin.
‘I think I have!’ said Cherry. ‘Apparently the review that I heard Basil ringing his newspaper about has been published. Already! And everyone and their wives wants to book before the hotel gets well known.’
‘You have remembered not to accept anything while the play is on?’ asked Meg, suddenly anxious.
Cherry smiled reassuringly. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve blocked out all that time. Are you sure all the rooms will be taken by the theatre people? There’s the head groom’s cottage. It’s got three bedrooms, which is unusual, but will my dad have put in the bathroom in time for the play, do you reckon?’
‘I hope so. We’ll need all the cottages.’ Meg shot a glance at Justin and his uncle. Colin was looking at her as if she was some sort of child film star, and Justin was as inscrutable as ever. ‘I did wonder about converting some of the farm buildings that are no longer used. My friend in Provence—’
‘The one with the chateau,’ added Justin.
‘—has converted farm buildings with great success,’ finished Meg, giving Justin a stern look. Was she always mentioning that Alexandra had a chateau? When it wasn’t relevant? She must make sure she didn’t.
‘This all sounds really interesting. You’ve made enormous improvements now my conservative brother is out of the way. Can I have a guided tour when we’ve finished our coffee?’ Colin asked.
‘Of course,’ said Meg, feeling unable to say anything else.
Cherry went back to answering the telephone.
‘Who’d have thought a woman could have such entrepreneurial skills, eh, Justin?’
Meg was so cross she didn’t know how to respond. She had had ideas on her own but her partners in the scheme had also been women. How could he be so blind and so stupid?
‘These pastries are good,’ said Colin, apparently assuming that Meg was basking in his compliments.
‘Meg’s pastry is famous,’ said Justin firmly. ‘She’s an excellent pastry chef, better than many men I’ve worked with.’
Meg blushed as she looked at him. He’d said this almost as if he was proud of her.
Colin seemed very impressed with all the improvements and Meg found herself warming to him as they walked round.
