Reading it, Fern flapped her hand at Daniel. ‘We have a message from Eliza Valentine! She has a lead on the wedding dress and has invited us over for brunch! It’s a Hampstead postcode.’
‘Where’s that?’
She passed her phone to him so he could read the message. ‘One of London’s greenest, most enviable corners. The kind of place where houses come with manicured gardens, sweeping staircases and family portraits older than the street itself.’
‘Wow!’ replied Daniel as he read the message and passed the phone back to Fern.
‘Looks like we’ve got a brunch date. Are we ready to find out who the mysterious groom is?’
‘I have to say I’m intrigued about the bride, too! It could be something or nothing.’
‘Either way, we can make a decision to sell the dress, now we have some idea of its worth. That money could help spruce up the shop. Maybe even replace the windows and the front door.’
But Fern’s mind had already drifted, her attention snagged by a different notification lighting up her screen, an email from Edgar Carmichael, Puffin Island’s solicitor. She skimmed the subject line.
Offer Received: No. 17 Curiosity Lane.
The email was short and to the point: a client of Edgar’s, someone private but serious, had made an offer for the shop including all its contents. A very generous one. The kind of figure that needed careful consideration. She glanced sideways at Daniel, who was drinking his coffee with a blissful smile on his face.
Could she really sell it? This offer wasn’t just a passing daydream or a ‘what if the right buyer came along?’ scenario. It was a hefty six-figure sum. This was real and the pros were easy. Money in the bank, and she wouldn’t even have the headache of getting rid of any of the stuff. But the cons… they came with faces. One in particular, and he was lying right next to her. Edgar hadn’t mentioned Daniel in the email. She didn’t think he could persuade him to leave. Or maybe she could, if the price was right?
Fern sighed, staring at the screen. The temptation was so strong but the question that was really playing on her mind was: was financial freedom worth the risk of hurting Daniel and destroying their relationship?
Daniel’s voice cut through her thoughts. ‘We’d best shower and make ourselves presentable for brunch.’
‘We’d best,’ she replied, taking a swig of coffee.
‘We’re going to crack this case… it’s all about teamwork.’
Fern watched as he jumped out of bed and straight into the shower, but all she could think about was Edgar’s client’s offer, which seemed way too generous for the old, rundown antique shop.
ChapterThirty-One
Fern and Daniel hopped off the tube at Hampstead. The streets here were quieter than the usual city chaos. Just quiet roads, leafy trees swaying like they had all the time in the world, and houses that gave off serious old-money energy. They followed Google Maps up one immaculate street after another, passing homes that seemed like they’d stepped straight out of a magazine shoot. As they rounded a corner, the address on her phone matched up with a house. Fern slowed to a stop. ‘This is it.’
‘Blooming hell,’ Daniel muttered, pulling his sunglasses down like it might help him process the view.
It wasn’t just a house, it was a mansion. The kind of place that had probably seen more champagne corks pop than most wedding venues. The gates alone looked like they belonged outside a palace.
The house behind the gates was beautiful– grand, old-school, with cream stone walls, wide bay windows and a perfectly mowed front lawn.
‘This place feels like it should come with a butler and at least one family ghost,’ murmured Fern.
‘This place is worth millions. Imagine living somewhere like this.’ Daniel pointed to the intercom.
Fern pressed the button and they waited.
The intercom crackled. ‘Good morning! How can I help you?’
‘It’s Fern and Daniel, we’re here about the wedding dress.’
‘Come on in.’
The gates creaked and then swung open. As they walked up to the front door, Fern turned to Daniel. ‘Why is it I’m suddenly feeling nervous?’
The front door opened and they were greeted by the Eliza they’d met the day before. ‘Do come in. It’s lovely to see you both again.’
‘What a beautiful home you have.’
