‘I checked out his website and it seems he is. Some of his pieces go for the high hundreds.’
‘What about his wife – Sarah?’
‘She seems quiet but nice. Not sure if it’s his wife though. I don’t see a ring.’
‘She seems a lot younger than him.’
‘I’d say a good twenty years.’
He nodded and then stood up. ‘No need to know if he’d be bothered about you waving to him. He’s just beckoned us over.’
Juliette followed Danny to the edge of the garden where Richard was waiting.
‘Hi there,’ Danny greeted, looking down on him.
‘Hi, have you settled in okay?’
‘We’re getting there, slowly emptying boxes. I never knew we hoarded so much until it came to packing up. At least we didn’t bring it all with us.’
Richard smiled. ‘Well, if you need anything, feel free to grab either of us if you see us out in the garden.’
‘I will, thanks.’ Juliette returned his smile.
‘I was wondering if you fancied joining us for a barbecue tomorrow evening. I’m not sure if you have plans but the weather is glorious at the moment so you have to seize your chances.’ He laughed. ‘Although please feel free to say no if you have something on.’
Danny looked at Juliette and raised his eyebrows. She nodded at him.
‘Sure, that would be great,’ Danny replied.
‘Fabulous.’ Richard clapped his hands together. ‘About seven?’
‘Okay. Shall we bring anything with us?’ Juliette asked as the men began to leave.
‘Just yourselves.’ Richard waved again before disappearing into the house.
‘I hope this is a good idea,’ Danny said.
‘It’ll be fine. If we don’t get along, we’ll have a few uncomfortable hours and we need never do it again.’
‘Sounds good to me.’ Danny grabbed her hand again. ‘I feel like a teenager since I left London. I wascounting down the hours before I caught the train. Then when I saw you, I couldn’t wait to ravish you. Now I want to explore the garden, but with a view to having you in every corner of it.’
They ran across the lawn and through the gate into the field at the back. Juliette still couldn’t believe it was all theirs. Three acres of fields surrounded by hedgerows. There was a brook and a farm further along but here it was extremely private. One day she hoped they would have a smallholding. With another child, or two, to help them to look after their menagerie. Her eyes brimmed with tears. She was so happy right now.
‘Come on, Mrs Ansell,’ Danny said, pushing her gently up against a tree. ‘Get those shorts off.’
‘What – here?’
‘We’re secluded.’
‘I know but?—’
He silenced her with his lips and as he fiddled with the buttons, she let him. Danny was right, no one could see them here. And it was fun. Just what their marriage needed. Time to make babies without either of them thinking about it.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sarah had hidden her anxiety when Richard told her what he’d done.
‘It’s for show,’ he told her. ‘We welcome them once and they can’t ever say we weren’t hospitable then.’
