Britta here in the cottage. Ella’s stomach clenched in sudden nerves. Was that a good idea?
‘A quick break will do me the power of good. I can fill you in on all the latest goss including the lowdown on Patrick. Much as I think you’re crazy burying yourself in the sticks, I think the treat him mean, keep him keen strategy is working.’
Ella’s lips twisted in wry disbelief. When she’d left London, she hadn’t had enough energy to plan a trip to the toilet, let alone a strategy. All she’d wanted to do was hide from view, lick her wounds and avoid having to do anything or make any decisions.
Tess opened both eyes, lifted her head and watched her with uncanny intensity, eyes zeroing in on her movements as if she was worried about Ella. It was funny how in tune the dog seemed to be with her, almost as if Tess could read her emotions. ‘It’s OK,’ Ella murmured in reassurance. The dog blinked owlishly, yawned and rested her head back on her front paws.
‘What?’ asked Britta.
‘Sorry, B, I was . . . I was thinking out loud.’ Britta would think she’d gone barking, talking to the dog or even thinking the dog understood her thoughts.
‘Yeah, I think he’s really missing you. Seems what they say about absence is paying off.’
‘Oh.’ Ella didn’t know what to say. ‘I’ve not heard from him.’
George was talking to someone else on the green now as he hung onto his end of the banner. Oh, hell, it was Devon. The heat of yesterday’s embarrassment flooded over her again.
‘Well, duh! Isn’t that the whole point of being on a break?’
‘What?’ She prayed Devon wouldn’t turn around and see her.
‘That’s the whole point, I said.’
‘Oh, yes, I guess so.’
Patrick wasn’t known for his patience but she had said she’d be in touch. She was surprised he’d managed to respect her wishes this long. Had he put Britta up to this?
‘Shit. I’ve . . . ’ Devon had suddenly materialised at the bottom of the front garden. He gave her a wave. Damn, she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t seen him. ‘I’ve just seen the time. I must go.’
‘Go! Go where? Don’t tell me you’ve got a hot date with a couple of cows, a few horses, a sheep and a pig.’
‘An . . . er . . . appointment. Dentist.’ That was it. ‘Toothache. Bad toothache.’
‘Off you pop, then. I’ll look up some trains. Let you know when I can make it.’
‘Right, fine.’ Typical B, to assume that Ella would have no other plans.
‘What’s the name of the station in this one-horse place you’re in?’
‘Tring is the nearest station.’ Ella was already in the hall, ready for the knock at the door.
‘Tring? OMG, seriously. Sounds horribly quaint. Do they still have steam trains? Will it take six years to get there?’
‘No, it’s a commuter line from Euston. Quite a lot of people round here work in London. You’ll be just fine. Believe it or not, they run pretty frequently.’ Ella didn’t understand why she needed to defend the place. ‘Look, I’m going to be late. Text me when you’re coming and I’ll pick you up. Gotta run.’
Tess stared balefully at her. Ella pulled a face. ‘So I’m a liar, sue me.’ With a decisive click, she switched the phone off, shaking her head.
In the meantime, she had to face Devon. What on earth did he want? She yanked open the front door.
As usual he had that ruddy healthy outdoors glow about him and his unruly hair was well and truly windblown.
‘Hi, I came to see if you were OK. I . . . er . . . felt a bit bad about leaving you yesterday. You seemed a bit . . . ’
She blushed, the tide of heat sweeping right down to her toes.
‘I’m fine. Thank you.’ What else was there to say? She’d made a complete fool of herself.
‘I’m really sorry.’
