Mae threw her hands in the air. “Well, the races are the perfect opportunity, aren’t they? Get the whole community out here! He’d have to be blind not to see how much this house is loved.”
“I’m not sure the Summer Fair will be enough of a demonstration, to be honest. He’s so bloody grumpy,” Pippa huffed. “I so much as mention the significance of this place and he shuts down.” It was increasingly clear that the house was not just a source of irritation as she’d initially presumed, but actually one of outright pain. “Seriously,” she went on. “I don’t know how I’m going to even talk to him about this place, let alone convince him not to sell.”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way.” Mae stood and walked to the window. “God, what a view. How anyone could walk away from this I do not know.” She squinted. “Is that a veg patch?”
Pippa joined her. “Yup. Thinking about doing it up and giving gardening a go,” she said. “Any tips?” Mae’s pub garden was her pride and joy, an explosion of lavender and climbing plants.
“Yeah. Manure!” she replied firmly. “I have to time when I use it so as not to damage trade, but you find yourself a good supply of shit and you’ve got it made.”
Pippa pointed. “Well, I do live next door to a pig farm. I could have a constant supply of shit, if I wanted.”
Mae laughed. “Oh, I bet the smell must be heavenly.”
“Nah.” Pippa shrugged. “He stores all the muck on the other side of the farm until he sells it, so I never catch wind of it.”
“God, can you imagine if you did?” Erin shuddered. “Wouldn’t be quite so idyllic, would it?”
Erin’s words sparked an idea in Pippa, and she grinned devilishly. “No, it wouldn’t,” she said.
ChapterTwelve
The next day was greyer and cooler, with a brisk wind rolling in off the hills. Rain was a promise. After waking early to get started on Fair organisation, Pippa was nearing the end of an epic dusting session. It had taken the entire morning, but every flat surface was sparkling. From the hallway, she heard chatter. She recognised the voices and peered out from the dining room to have her suspicions confirmed. Call-Me-Stef and Toby fromTop Staywere back, only this time they had a lanky, shabbily dressed youth with thick glasses and a vivid orange neck tattoo. Her mood hit the floor; they must be seriously interested in buying the place.
“This is Ezra, our Vibe Consultant,” Steffany was saying proudly.
Wolfie’s face remained as impassive as ever, but Pippa thought she’d known him long enough now to recognise incredulity beneath the surface. His restraint was admirable.
“Did… did you sayvibe?” Wolfie shook the man’s hand politely.
“Yep! Clients bring me in to help them determine if a location fits their, like, well, their vibe,” Ezra explained. “I’ve done branding for a number of corps, and I am never wrong.”
Toby lifted a hand. “It’s unusual terminology I know,” he said. “But we consult Ezra when we have multiple options for a new location. Helps us narrow down our choice.”
Steffany brought out a tablet from her leather bag. “It’s like this. We want to get a sense of the place for ourselves, what kind ofTop Stayexperience do we want to create?”
“Same as all the others?” Wolfie replied acidly.
“Oh no!” Steffany turned her tablet to him. Pippa could just make out the images. “Look at the Leamington Spa site.” Steffany swiped through a series of photos depicting a neat, Spartan space in the trademark coral and turquoise. “Relaxing, no? With a chic touch for the city slicker needing a break. But then you look at our Dorset location.” She flicked to photos seemingly identical to the first set. “As you can see, the Dorset vibe is much more patrician, an understated elegance designed with the older, discerning day-tripper in mind.”
Wolfie blinked. “Seriously?”
“Oh, yes.” Steffany nodded enthusiastically. “I mean, look at Swansea.” She swiped more. “A cheeky, slightly sexy hotel for the naughty weekend-away types, know what I mean?” She attempted a humorous elbow nudge, but she may as well have done it to a stone, such was the response.
If Wolfie thought it was bullshit then he hid it well. “Right.” He gestured behind him. “How do you see this place then?”
Steffany and Toby turned to Ezra reverently.
Ezra narrowed his eyes. “I’m still vibe-ing,” he said in all seriousness. “But I’m thinking eco-tourist, hiker, cool dudes. Flowing air, bring nature inside. You know?”
Wolfie stared at Ezra, agape. Then his mouth snapped shut. “Right. I suppose you need a tour?”
“Yes, a tour!” Ezra enthused. “Tell me everything about this place.”
“You know what?” Steffany said. “Let’s start with the USP. That view?”
Pippa stifled her giggles behind her hand. That meant they were visiting the garden, and she knew for a fact there would be something out there not to their liking. She was unable to resist following them through the house.
The execs and Wolfie traipsed to the kitchen, whereupon the view of the moors revealed itself through the large windows. TheTop Stayexecs murmured in delight, Steffany wittering about the ‘oxygenation of the great outdoors’.
