‘Right, come on. Ready for round two? I fancy something a bit heavier, have you got any Muse? We need a big thumping base.’
‘What a difference already,’ said Devon chugging down a beer and leaning against the island. He’d arrived after all the work had been done although to be fair, he’d had both dogs all day to keep them out of the way. They were now charging around the garden like a pair of dervishes.
‘Do you take commissions, Ella? I could do with some advice for next door. Looks like I’m going to be here for quite some time.’
‘Next door?’
‘Yes, Dad did up the barns a few years ago. Turned them into flats and cottages as holiday lets and for Jack and I to live in if we ever came home. There are five in all. Bets lucked out and got the smallest.’
‘I only need the smallest. I’m here on my own most of the time.’ Her face fell. ‘Although I couldn’t afford to live anywherehalf as nice as this and not on my own. Better hope Jack doesn’t dump me.’
‘Hey! Don’t be silly. That’s not going to happen.’ Devon gave her a brotherly nudge. ‘Dad wouldn’t hear of it. Where else would he get the best veterinary nurse this side of the universe?’
Ella winced. He’d rather missed the point. She and Bets exchanged a glance which clearly said,men!
That odd look was back on Bets’ face. ‘So, it’s Saturday night. As we’re all a bunch of Saturday night losers, anyone fancy a takeaway and a Trivial Pursuit marathon?’
‘Sounds perfect,’ commented Devon, tipping back his bottle and swallowing the last of his beer. ‘Count me in.’
Ella considered her options. Being alone in the cottage or here. ‘Sounds good to me too.’
‘Tell you what.’ Bets beamed at them both. ‘You two take the dogs for a walk. And I’ll nip into Tring and pick up a takeaway. What do you fancy? Chinese? Pizza? Curry?’
‘Curry!’ Devon and Ella spoke in unison with equal vehemence as if there was no other choice. Ella caught his eye and they shared a smile.
‘OK. Message received and understood,’ teased Bets. ‘I’ve got a menu somewhere.’
They chose their food and then Ella left, heading down the road with Tess to change into some sensible shoes and a warmer coat. Ella couldn’t help feeling that Bets had engineered things, somewhat.
Predictably Tess was beside herself, twisting in and out of Ella’s legs. ‘Just let me change, you dumb dog. And I promise, we’ll go straight out.’ As she glanced in the mirror in the hallway she winced. There was just time to wipe away the spots of paint which had congregated in an acne rush across the top of her cheeks, run a brush through her hair, which had becomeflattened unbecomingly to her skull by her scarf, and maybe pop a quick slick of lipstick on. Oh God, had Devon really seen her like this? He was used to Marina and despite what he’d told her, she’d seen the woman on TV. The woman was the patron saint of animal care and bloody gorgeous to boot.
Perhaps she’d brush on the barest touch of mascara. Nothing to do with Devon. She pulled a face at herself, noting the nothingness of her hairstyle. It reminded her she hadn’t had a haircut in weeks and that she usually never left the house without make-up. There was nothing wrong with wanting to look nice for herself. Nothing at all, she told herself firmly as she added a quick touch of discreet eyeliner to her eyelids and toyed with her blusher brush. A tad of colour wouldn’t do any harm. She examined the results in the mirror. Her heart sank. What was she thinking? She was going on a dog walk, for God’s sake.
The doorbell rang. She frowned at herself. It was too bloody late now. With a last look in the mirror, she tossed her head and marched down the stairs. Devon probably wouldn’t even notice and if he did, so what. It certainly wasn’t for his benefit.
Grabbing Tess’s lead, she opened the front door. Tess immediately came padding through. The dog had bat ears or extra sensory perception when Ella so much as touched the lead.
‘Hi, be with you in a sec.’ She pulled on her wellies and coat, and grabbed a scarf. ‘Right, all set.’
She switched on the porch light to guide her home later.
‘You look nice,’ said Devon.
Ella blushed. ‘Saturday night. Thought I’d make an effort for a change.’
Devon nodded and thankfully didn’t say anything else about it. ‘Which way shall we go. Quick circuit of the reservoir? Bets said she’d order the takeaway and go pick it up at seven, so we’ve got plenty of time.’
‘Don’t mind.’ Ella lifted her shoulders. ‘Reservoir sounds good . . . as long as the fishermen have all gone.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.’ He drew himself up tall, pretending to draw a sword. It struck her that he seemed lighter and less unhappy.
‘How was the painting today?’
‘Got loads done.’
‘What? In between the two of you strutting your stuff?’
Ella closed her eyes. ‘You saw us?’
