‘Hi, Ruby.’
‘Hello, Adira. I’ve been looking forward to this.’ Ruby shuffled into the room, giving Adira a warm smile.
‘Still getting the headaches?’
‘Hmm, afraid so.’
‘You sit here, Ruby,’ Adira patted the chair in front of her. ‘If you could remove your jacket, so your neck’s bare.’
Ruby did as she was told and sat still in the chair.
‘Just relax.’ Her shoulders immediately sank. ‘That’s it. I’m going to start here, at the nape.’ Adira’s hands gently rubbed the tender area, which was stiff with tension.
Slowly, the muscles started to soften, and she carried on in the same slow motion up to Ruby’s skull, gradually working her way round her whole head, taking particular attention to the temple area.
‘Oh that feels better already,’ sighed Ruby, closing her eyes.
No wonder she’d been having headaches, thought Adira, feeling the tightness in her scalp and neck. The oil she used contained lavender for soothing the senses, and after twenty minutes, Ruby was practically asleep.
‘There you go, all finished,’ murmured Adira.
Ruby’s eyelids fluttered open with obvious reluctance. ‘Lovely, thank you, dear,’ she murmured.
Adira smiled; she was so like her twin sister, Lilly. She pictured them as little girls together, then imagined Fletcher growing up with them; the older influence, always looking out for them like an older brother.
As if reading her mind, Ruby commented, ‘You’ve made big improvements at Fletcher’s house, I believe.’ Her eyes had the same twinkle as her sister’s. ‘Lilly sings your praises.’
‘Does she?’ laughed Adira. ‘Lilly has helped too.’
Ruby chortled. ‘Lilly would do anything for Fletcher. She adores him. Always has.’
‘Really?’ Adira was surprised, it had never occurred to her that Lilly could harbour romantic feelings towards Fletcher. But why not? She’d known him all her life and he had obviously been quite a catch in his day. It wasn’t hard to envisage how handsome he would have been –just like Jasper, she thought.
‘Oh yes,’ replied Ruby with conviction, ‘but Fletcher never saw it.’
‘Oh.’ Adira felt her heart sadden a little, knowing how Lilly must have spent all those years pining for a man who was oblivious to her feelings.
‘Too busy with his eye on someone else.’ Ruby looked wistfully into the distance, deep in thought.
Adira frowned, puzzled by the statement.
There was a pause, as if Ruby wanted to divulge more but wasn’t sure if she should. ‘Typical Fletcher, to fall for someone out of bounds.’ She shook her head. ‘He always did make life difficult.’
Adira’s inquisitiveness rose. Who was Ruby talking about? She had often speculated why Fletcher had never married, especially when he clearly had so much going for him – good looks, personality, country estate. So it seemed unrequited love was the reason, or at least prohibited love. How desperately sad. Poor Fletcher.
‘Now don’t go feeling sorry for him,’ warned Ruby, her eyes cold and unforgiving as the winter frost. ‘If Fletcher had woke up and seen sense, he could have had the love of a good woman in Lilly,’ she nodded her head firmly. ‘And been happy,’ she added with force.
Adira was a little taken aback. The subject was evidently an emotional one for Ruby who had, first-hand, seen the hurt and upset Lilly must have suffered over the years.
Not really knowing what to say, Adira awkwardly looked towards the tiled flooring.
‘Right,’ said Ruby, ‘I’d better be on my way and thank you, dear. I feel so much better.’
‘You’re welcome, Ruby,’ smiled Adira.
As the petite old lady left, Adira couldn’t help but wonder if it was the head massage or spilling her emotions which had made Ruby feel better.
Jasper was busy at his desk in the library, leafing through the paperwork which Colin had given him. He was deciding which of the crumbling old outbuildings were worth salvaging and was still considering how best to utilise the fields. Having Adira’s camper van on site had given him the kernel of an idea. Camping, or rather glamping, was all the rage these days. In his mind’s eye, he could see twee shepherds’ huts and maybe a few yurts in the fields nearest the stream. It would be an ideal spot – Adira had certainly thought so, he grinned to himself. The thought of her heated his blood.
