The Grayson Trilogy Page 4

  9. There is a gym (next to the kitchen at the Manor) which you are encouraged to take full advantage of whenever you would like to.

  10. Mrs F has left some supplies which I hope will make your first evening comfortable. She has also invited you to tea in the kitchen between 3 and 4, if you arrive early enough today. If you drive to the Manor and then follow the road round to the rear of the house and into the courtyard you will see the kitchen door at the top of a short flight of steps.

  I apologise for not meeting you today but will call this evening to sort out arrangements for tomorrow. I hope you settle in well and look forward to meeting you soon.

  Kind regards

  Trent

  I finished reading and sat for a moment, taking it all in, almost having to pinch myself to believe it was real. Clearly keen on my safety and security they really knew how to look after people here. This was much more than I’d ever imagined and it made me feel…wanted, which was unusual.

  I went to see what supplies Mrs F had provided. In the fridge there was a steak with new potatoes and a green salad, as well as some eggs, bacon, milk and cheese and a bottle of white wine chilling. A bottle of red was on the side together with a tin of biscuits and a loaf of bread, both of which appeared to be home-made. In one of the cupboards there was a supply of jam and marmalade, again home-made, and tea and coffee. I warmed to Mrs F immediately and felt I should definitely join her for tea; it would appear rude not to thank her properly.

  With that thought in mind I got on with emptying my car of the rest of my belongings, which for the moment I brought into the house and dumped in the kitchen. I set up Susie’s bed and water bowl in the boot room and put the rest of her supplies in the cupboards. I took my clothes upstairs to my room with the intention of putting them away later. The only thing I did unpack was my framed photo of Eva, which stopped me in my tracks as I sat on the bed to look at her, taking a moment to imagine how she would have loved to have come exploring with me.

  “Don’t dwell,” I told myself firmly as I got up, placing her photo on the bedside cabinet before leaping back down the stairs, unloading the provisions I’d brought with me into the fridge, freezer and cupboards as appropriate, keeping busy in an attempt to distract myself from my thoughts. I walked back outside and opened the garage doors before reversing my beloved car into her new home. Closing the doors I headed over to the stables, closely followed by Susie.

  Opening the gate in the post-and-rail fence I had a look over each door. There were four large and two smaller pony stables. Each had a brick floor, an inbuilt corner manger and a window next to the door to give more light, fitted with shatterproof glass and protected by a wire mesh covering. The main structure looked sound, but the stables had clearly not been used for a long time and needed to be completely cleaned out, though it seemed a bit of general maintenance and painting should be all that was required to make them ready for the horses’ arrival. I made a mental list of what I needed to get at the hardware store later, in readiness for my start the next day.

  I’d noticed that there were padlocks on the three remaining doors, and bringing out the bunch of keys from my pocket found there was a key on the ring which fitted all three. The first door opened to a room that looked like it had been used as a feed room in the past, as there were large rodent-proof metal bins along one side. The second and third rooms were currently empty and I decided I would set one up as a tack room and the other for storing items such as the wheelbarrows, forks and yard brushes.

  Behind the stables was a large brick barn which on examination was empty. There were two paddocks behind the barn, and as I looked across these I saw that the ground dropped away a little, and further downhill I could see the Manor in the distance, which from first sight I’d found to be attractive and welcoming. Trees were scattered across the parkland and whilst stark and wintery when I’d come before now they were verdant. From here I could see the Manor was huge, spreading out a long way behind its façade with various other buildings behind it.

  Next to the paddocks was a large all-weather schooling arena, which looked like a recent addition, and both this and the paddocks were surrounded by post-and-rail fences.

  I checked my watch and seeing it was three o’clock already went back to the house to get the keys for the pickup and the gate control box, slipping the credit card into my back pocket. Susie was in her bed when I left, telling her I’d be back later.

  I started the pickup, which felt huge compared to my little car, and set off out of the yard, turning right and driving through woodland again before coming to a fork in the road. I took the right-hand option and a little further on emerged from the trees, finding myself then only a short distance from the Manor. I followed the road round to the back of the main house, pulled into the courtyard, parked and got out.

  I went up the steps Trent had referred to in his instructions and knocked timidly on the kitchen door, suddenly feeling a bit nervous at the thought of meeting someone new. As I knocked the door moved, so I pushed it open a little, calling “Hello” as I did so. Hearing a responding, “Hi, come on in,” I opened the door fully and was met with a view of the most astonishingly large kitchen I’d ever seen. It was beautifully old-fashioned with dressers and wooden cupboards and shelving, all packed with equipment and ingredients, as well as a couple of huge range cookers. A variety of gleaming copper pots and pans lined the walls on high shelves which ran round the expanse of the room. The most noticeable feature though was the long, scrubbed wooden table that stretched from nearly one end of the room to the other, and it was at the end of this that a group of women sat looking at me. I hadn’t anticipated there being anyone else here other than Mrs F, and hoped I didn’t look as surprised as I felt.

  One of these women stood as I entered. She was a little shorter than me with neat auburn hair feathered around a smiling face.

  “You must be Grayson – we’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I’m Annie Forster. Please come and sit down and have a cup of tea and we can do the introductions.” She was welcoming and saying a general hello to the group I sat between her and an older woman who wore her grey hair in a smart bob.

  “How do you like it?” Mrs F asked, pouring me a cup.

  “Milk, no sugar please.”

  She pushed the cup towards me and indicated to a plate of biscuits. “Help yourself.”

  “Thanks,” I said, taking one, only then remembering I’d not had any lunch and was now famished.

  “Okay, so…introductions. I’m the cook. Elsie Bray, sitting the other side of you, is the housekeeper. Then we have all the girls who work wherever needed on the estate – Chloe West, Clare Greene, Lizzie Young and Kay Burton.” With each name Mrs F indicated who it belonged to and we exchanged smiles and nods as I tried to link names with faces.

  “I’m Emma Grayson. I wasn’t sure if I was to use my first name or not.”

  “We tend to use full names for introductions, surnames only from then on when on the estate, and first names when off, in our own time. Although, we get so used to it being surnames only it’s quite often easier to stick to that off the estate as well,” Mrs F explained. She then added, “Though I’m Mrs F and Elsie prefers Mrs Bray.”

  I frowned, a little confused. “Can I ask why you’re Mrs F?”

  “Yes, sorry, should’ve explained that. I married Forster, who I know you’ve already met and it seemed easiest so there’s no confusion between us.”

  “Ah, I see,” nodding at this clarification. Now the introductions were over everyone relaxed and the girls went back to finishing whatever they were talking about before I’d entered the room.

  “Have you got everything you need at the stables?” Mrs Bray asked.

  “Absolutely,” I replied. “I can’t believe how lovely everything is there.” And turning a little to Mrs F, I continued, “Thank you for all the wonderful supplies you’ve left. That was a real treat to arrive to and completely unexpected.”

  “No p
roblem at all. You’ll find as produce becomes available on this estate it tends to get shared out among us all, so don’t be surprised if you find other things turning up on your doorstep.”

  I noticed then that the four girls had turned their attention and conversation in my direction, and suddenly I was at the centre of an inquisition, the like of which can only be experienced when faced with four such bubbly girls who were intent on extracting information from you.

  I thought probably Greene was closest in age to me; she had long blond hair which was tied in a single plait falling forward over one shoulder. The other three were in their early to mid-twenties and I’d recognised West as she’d brought in the refreshments when I came for my interview. Burton stood out among the group, having the most striking combination of fiery ginger hair and vibrant green eyes.

  They started asking all about where I’d moved from and where I’d worked before but I felt the questioning only really started getting interesting for them when they got onto my relationship status. I fended off the questions as best I could, eventually explaining that I was divorced before starting to turn the questions back onto them which they seemed to be equally happy with. Young was perhaps the quietest and studied me carefully, only dipping into the conversation now and then as her fingers played with one of the many rings her ear was adorned with.

  It was a strangely enjoyable, if rather draining experience for me, having not been involved in as stimulating a conversation for a long time. At four o’clock I made my move to go, thanking them all for the tea and company. Mrs F told me I was always welcome in the kitchen, but they had a pot of coffee on at around eleven and tea between three and four if I was ever able to get away and join them. I didn’t want to hurt any feelings so I said I would, though qualified this by explaining that once the horses arrived there’d be less chance of being able to do so, keeping to myself my reluctance to commit to any socialising due to my desire for solitude.

  “You’d better try and come as often as possible in the next couple of weeks then,” Mrs F said with an encouraging grin.

  I left the kitchen and set off in the pickup to go and get supplies for the morning. Managing to negotiate the main gate using the magic button I headed off towards the hardware store using Trent’s directions. It was only a few miles away and I found it easily enough. I wandered the aisles, filling my trolley as I went with a variety of cleaning products, including a couple of yard brushes, disinfectant, buckets, pots of white paint, paintbrushes, a few tools and a pair of one-size-fits-all overalls.

  When I got back to the yard I unloaded everything into the feed room before locking that for the night, then carrying the overalls I went back to the cottage to be greeted by Susie who leapt out of the cat flap before running towards me. On investigation I was pleased to find the cat flap could be locked closed, deciding I’d lock it each night and anytime I needed Susie to stay in, for her own safety. I didn’t want her wandering about in the dark or when I was not around.

  I gave her a cuddle then finished unpacking before cooking dinner. Putting the potatoes on to boil and the green salad onto a plate I poured myself a glass of red. As I waited for the potatoes I had a look at my new phone. Trent had indicated I could use it for personal calls so I entered the only number I needed from my old life, being the one for the letting agent. I decided to cancel my old number, severing my last link with Alex. Well…other than the one with which we would always be bound: Eva. Since he’d left me he’d irritatingly dropped round occasionally to see me. To bring this to an end I hadn’t told him I was moving and now he wouldn’t be able to call me either. That suited me – I’d thought he’d only kept contacting me to ease his conscience anyway and I didn’t want the reminder.

  I cooked the steak in a pan and decided to go and eat in the garden, it still being warm enough. The sun was low in the pink-tinged sky, casting long shadows across the yard from the buildings, and it was incredibly peaceful as I sat eating and contemplating the plans I had for the stables. This place was idyllic, I thought. I enjoyed the isolation – this was what I’d wanted, this was what I’d hoped for, and I felt myself relax, at last.

  After clearing up the kitchen I went through to the office to sort out my paperwork. I’d only just sat down when my phone rang. Feeling inexplicably nervous again when I saw who was calling I answered rather apprehensively: “Hello, Trent.”

  “Good evening, Grayson. Apologies again for not being there to welcome you. I trust you’ve found everything to your liking?” His voice was smooth and deep, his words formal.

  “I have, thank you for organising everything for me, it’s all been much more than I expected.”

  “You’re welcome. Now tomorrow I’ll be sending four men over to start about nine o’clock.” This took me by surprise and my reply was quick and to the point.

  “That’s not necessary, I don’t need any help. I’m more than capable of getting the stables ready on my own.” There was silence on the phone as I waited for his agreement but when the response came the voice unexpectedly sounded more authoritative.

  “I can’t allow that. I insist my men come to help you. You’re not expected to get all the work done on your own.” I can’t allow that? I could feel my hackles rise at this unwanted interference in my plans.

  “I can assure you I am perfectly able to get it all done.” There was definitely an edge to my voice now.

  When he responded it was with an air of finality. “I’m not prepared to argue with you on this. The men will be there at nine o’clock – I suggest you organise a list of jobs they can get done. I’ll see you late morning. Goodnight, Grayson.” Before I had a chance to respond I realised he’d ended the call.

  What a cheek, he’d hung up on me! I could feel myself bristling over the conversation. Damn it, he’d made me annoyed; I hated people controlling me – not that it had happened for a while. I’d got the impression from Cavendish that I had autonomy over the stables but it appeared that was not to be the case. So much for my isolation, for my peace and quiet; that was about to be shattered by men I didn’t even want here and Trent clearly thought I was incapable. What a great start. I thought back to the interview when Cavendish had indicated I was not the person Trent would have chosen for this job and started to worry that he was going to make my life here difficult.

  I tried to gather my thoughts and they came down to the fact that Trent was in charge on the estate and, while I hadn’t anticipated this interference, I was clearly going to have to put up with it, at least until the stables were done. Hopefully I could then get rid of everyone. I prepared a list of the jobs so that at least I had a plan for the morning and by the time that was done and I’d finished my wine, I’d calmed down a little and decided to go to bed. I let Susie out and locked up, turning out the lights before heading upstairs. I got ready for bed and, after setting the alarm, snuggled up under the duvet. It was incredibly comfortable and as I lay there I thought that apart from the irritation caused by the call from Trent, which I was trying to put out of my mind, I was feeling okay and looking forward to getting stuck into some physical work.

  Chapter 5

  I’d set my alarm for seven but was awake well before it went off. The upstairs rooms of the cottage were built into the roof with the windows set low down to the floor, and as I lay there, staring out of the window down the lane, I saw a man in sweats running past. He looked deep in thought, running to the beat in his head from the earphones he was plugged into. Someone else’s activity spurred me into action as I leapt out of bed, grabbing my dressing gown before going downstairs and opening the back door for Susie. I quickly fed her then myself before jumping in the shower, and as I dressed I thought through my plan of work for the day. I’d decided I was just going to have to accept the help these men were bringing as graciously as I could. It wasn’t their fault they’d been told to come and help me, so I should at least try and play nicely. It meant the stables would be ready quicker anyway and then they could go and leave
me alone and as these were other employees on the estate I was going to have to learn to get on. Be a team player, I thought, though that had never been my thing.

  Once I was ready I opened up the overalls and pulled them on over my jeans and tee shirt and it was at that point that I realised the one-size-fits-all was only applicable if you happened to be the size of a really big man. They were huge on me and I looked ridiculous. I rolled up the arms so I could see my hands again; then, once these were free I bent down to roll up the legs so they weren’t dragging on the floor and pulled my old boots on. Standing up again I peered at my reflection in the window, these alterations had not made much difference to the overall picture. The crotch of the overalls hung down somewhere towards my knees and the body of them was so baggy two of me could have fitted in there. Still, I tried to rationalise, it’s not like I needed to impress anyone – I was only doing my job so I’d have to make do.

  I made a cup of coffee and took it over to the stables to get started. Susie came with me, taking up a position in the sun which was already feeling quite warm. The sky was a cloudless blue and there was a stillness in the air that indicated a settled day ahead. All the stables needed to be swept out first, including the removal of all cobwebs, before being disinfected, so I made a start on that.

  A little while later I heard a vehicle as it drove into the yard. Susie gave a low growl of warning, and glancing at my watch I saw it had just turned nine. Here we go, I thought, time to meet my working party. I walked out of the stable to be greeted by the sight of a red pickup similar to mine drawing up, and as it came to a halt two men leapt out of the back of it. Two others got out of the cab and they all walked towards me, each one greeting Susie as they did so and looking friendly enough. The one who’d been driving came right up to me; I fancied he saw himself as the self-proclaimed leader of the group, although that may have been because he looked to be the oldest, while the others hung back a little. He had short, dark hair, blue eyes and was very attractive, giving off an air of confidence that made me think he knew it. He was grinning at me and I noticed his grin widen as he looked me up and down.