‘Yeah, can’t believe I made the change after so long at Berkeley, but I haven’t looked back. Celyn and Catrin tied the knot last summer, I don’t know if you know that?’
‘I haven’t stayed in touch with anyone,’ I admit.
‘I hear from Bethan from time to time. Harri left too, after they split up, but she’s seeing Jac now.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, I know! I always thought he was such a lad, but they live together at number two.’
‘You mean at the workers’ cottages? They weren’t sold?’
‘What planet have you been living on? No, I don’t know what all that was about, but Lord Berkeley seemed to lose interest in the idea after you left. Or maybe the sale was ticking along in the background, but then he had his stroke and was incapacitated—’
‘Peter Berkeley had a stroke?’
‘Two, in the end. The second one took him out.’
Am I cruel to feel no sympathy?
‘What happened to Ash?’
‘Well, obviously he inherited because he sold the place, but Lady Berkeley is still at the house. Ash did a deal with the NT so she could carry on living there.’
My insides are a writhing tangle of nerves. ‘I couldn’t find anything about his wedding to Beca.’
‘Wedding?’
‘I saw an engagement notice online.’
‘Fake news! God knows where that came from.’
I’m barely able to concentrate on what she’s saying. My head is buzzing, my pulse tripping.
Is it possible that Ash is out there somewhere with no ties to anyone or anything?
Hope blooms bright, lighting my insides, and the daisies inside my chest cavity lift their heads and reach for the sun.
‘Do you know where Ash is?’ I interrupt Siân to ask outright.
‘I’m afraid not, but Celyn might. Do you have his number?’
‘No. Could I have it? Does he still live at number five?’
‘As far as I know, but I made it a point not to ask. Let me find his contact details.’
Celyn doesn’t answer, but it doesn’t matter. I can try again once I’m on the road.
Just before I leave, I open the Airbnb app, find my booking in Southwold and press the button to cancel, not even flinching at the penalty I’ll be paying for the late cancellation.
I dread to think what would have happened if I’d heard this news earlier in the week – I suspect I might well have walked out on the best job I’ve ever had.
I need to be in Wales right now, looking for answers.
Finding Ash.
I’m terrified.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
