Anna returned home to find her case had been hidden away by Diane and she spent an hour having to play ‘hot and cold’ with the twins until she found it again.
When she did, all hell broke loose.
‘No, Anna, I won’t let you go.’ Diane stood in front of the door, her arms spanning its width. ‘You’re being stupid.’
‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ her mother muttered.
‘Look, I’m going and that’s the end of that.’ She smiled tiredly. ‘I may not even find anything so I could be back sooner than you think.’
Eventually, Diane relented and stepped away from the door. ‘Anna, you’re running away because you’re hurting. That’s no reason to run.’
‘I’m not hurting. Why would I be hurting?’ She picked up her case for what seemed like the millionth time in the last forty-eight hours.
‘Because you fell in love with Horatio and he’s turned out to be a first-class twit.’
‘I don’t love him.’ Anna raised her chin, trying to push down fizzling hurt and disappointment. ‘How can you fall in love with someone in a month?’
Diane and her mother exchanged pitying looks and shook their heads in unison.
‘OK,’ Anna agreed. ‘Somehow you two have found love in a month, but this chick has been trying for over five years. Actually, scratch that. I now think I didn’t truly love Simon, so maybe I’ve been trying for thirty-two goddamn years. Well, that’s pathetic.’
‘You’re thirty-two, for God’s sake, Anna,’ Diane said, ‘not bloody Methuselah.’
‘Let me go. I’m coming back in a few days anyway and we’ll go from there.’
Anna bent down and hugged the twins. She looked at them individually. ‘You guys OK? You want to go back to London, right?’
Freddie’s eyes glossed over. ‘No, Mummy, I want to stay here with Auntie Dee-Dee and Grandma Linda.’
‘Well,’ Anna said, ‘even if we did stay here, Auntie Dee-Dee and Grandma Linda would have to go away sometime, anyway.’
‘Would we?’ Diane said. ‘I thought we could all live here.’
‘Dee, you’re not helping.’ She shot her friend a look.
‘You OK, Toni?’ Anna said to her daughter.
‘No, I want to stay here with the grass and the sheep.’
‘You see, Anna, you’d be depriving the children of fresh air and milk straight from the cows’ udders, and potatoes still covered in soil and,’ Diane paused, thinking, ‘and the pigs.’
‘As long as they live with my daughter, they’ll get the latter,’ her mother said, flicking through a copy of Hello magazine.
‘Dee, we don’t have those things now. That’s the life I expected would come out of the country.’
Diane ran over to her. ‘And we could still have it. Who’s to say you couldn’t be a James Herriot and stick your hand up a cow’s arse?’ She nodded. ‘I have every faith you could do that.’
Anna pulled a face. ‘Look, I’ll find a flat with a small garden.’
‘You’ll have to share it with the world and its wife,’ Diane pointed out.
‘I’ll find a flat with a balcony and we’ll buy pot plants and grow, um…’ She thought about it. ‘We’ll grow tomatoes. How about that?’ She looked at the twins.
They shook their heads and Freddie said, ‘I like my school too and Jeremy is my new best friend.’
She kissed them both and shot Diane a hopeful smile. ‘Wish me luck?’
‘Yeah, good luck and all that,’ Diane said without a note of conviction. ‘Hope you suddenly find that London prices have plummeted and there’s less people there and no dog shit on the pavements and room to breathe.’ She went to sit next to Linda. ‘Bon voyage.’
Anna gave up trying to convince Diane she was doing what was best and stepped outside. The November rain was coming down hard and she ran over to her car. Quickly putting her case in the boot, she got in and looked at herself in the rear-view mirror. Anna stared at her own reflection: wondering if she was in fact doing the right thing. Taking a deep breath, she looked to the front door, hoping someone would make an appearance and wave her off. They didn’t and she started the engine up. Anna moved away slowly as the rain continued to pour down.
She could barely see more than a few feet in front of her as the windscreen wipers tried to combat the weather. Anna glanced at the clock and knew she would never make it to London on time. She wondered if it was some sort of strange omen.
She turned left at the bottom of the hill and crawled across the bridge. Then, upon seeing a Land Rover that was side on, up ahead, sitting in the middle of the road, she swore under her breath. Moving towards it, she honked her horn and, when it didn’t move, came to a complete stop.
‘Oh, for God’s sake, some bloody farmer thinking he owns the road,’ she muttered, winding down her window, rain spitting at her. ‘Can you move your car?’ she called out. ‘I have to be somewhere.’ Her voice was lost to the wind and the rain, besides which there was no sign of anybody.
She wracked her mind, trying to think of another route but, just as before, her lack of Ordinance Survey skills meant she was forced to stick to the roads she knew. After a few minutes, she got out, irritated, and stomped over to the Land Rover, her jeans and jumper quickly soaking through.
She knocked on the window and peered inside. The vehicle had been abandoned.
‘Anna,’ came a voice from behind her and she turned quickly on her heels.
She saw Horatio moving hurriedly towards her. ‘I thought you had already left,’ he said, his breathing heavy as he stopped. ‘Richard said you left hours ago.’
Anna shook her head in disbelief. ‘Is this yours?’ She indicated the Land Rover.
‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘I left it here blocking the road when I ran up to the cottage. Diane told me you had only just gone and to hurry.’
Anna clenched her fists, her nerves fizzing with bottled-up hurt and confusion. ‘You can’t stop me from going.’
‘I know.’ He hung his head. ‘But I needed you to hear me out.’
‘Mr Horatio, it is pouring with rain and I am due to meet an estate agent in London in forty minutes. He’s sent me details of a flat that would really suit us and I don’t want to risk losing it. So, as you are effectively breaking the law…’ She pointed to his Land Rover. ‘Can you please get your car out of the sodding way?’
Another car had come up behind Anna’s and a woman stuck her head out of the window. ‘Is there a problem?’ she called over.
‘Move your car,’ Anna warned.
Horatio looked at Anna, back at the woman and relented, before jogging over to the Land Rover and manoeuvring it to the side. The lady waved as she passed, flashing an appreciative smile, and Anna started to walk back to her own car.
Horatio ran back over and put a hand on her arm. ‘Please, Anna. Hear me out.’
She stopped, tears mingling with the rain on her cheeks, and the more she willed herself not to cry, the more she did. ‘Please don’t hurt me any more.’
‘God, Anna,’ he said, turning her towards him, ‘I’m an idiot. I never meant to hurt you. I should have stood up to her. To my mother.’ He nodded. ‘I have now. We’ve just had a huge argument and she’s…’ He paused. ‘She’s disinherited me’
‘What? Why did you argue?’
‘Because I told her I wanted to be with you.’ He paused. ‘I told her I love you.’
Anna pointlessly wiped tears from her face as the rain continued to come down. ‘She can’t do that, can she? You manage the accounts, how is that even possible?’
‘Because my father left everything in trust funds until my mother dies or chooses to give me the money and my share of the property.’
‘She just told you to go?’ Anna crossed her arms. ‘What kind of mother does that?’ She looked at him sternly. ‘You can’t have done that just for me?’
He nodded. ‘She said it was my choice but that she couldn’t stand by me. She said if I didn’t marry Arabella, that she would have to cut me off.’ He placed his hands gently on her cheeks, cradling her face. ‘I’m homeless, but Anna…’ His voice filled with desperation. ‘I can make this work. Don’t give up on me. I could manage a local farm or whatever. Please have me.’ He looked at her. ‘I’d do anything to prove to you that I can provide, that I love you, that I want you to be a part of my life for ever.’
‘Your stepbrother wants to make me homeless too and that’s why I must get to London and find a flat.’
Horatio nodded. ‘I tried to talk to him just now about contesting the will and he’s…’ His voice trailed off. ‘He’s not budging at the moment.’
‘I don’t know if I can risk being hurt again. Only yesterday, you told me you loved me and then, with your mother, you as good as denied it. How do you think that made me feel?’ She looked at him, her chin quivering with emotion. ‘Humiliated, Mr Horatio, that’s how that made me feel, and I’m tired of men humiliating me.’ A sob escaped her throat and she moved towards her car again.
He ran in front of her. ‘Anna, I never meant to do that. Please believe me. I should have been stronger. I spoke to her after you left and that’s when we had the argument. But you’re right…’ He lowered his gaze. ‘I should never have let her speak to you like that.’
‘I want to be left alone.’ She looked up at him before climbing into the car. ‘Please.’
He looked at her, his face crestfallen, and nodded. ‘Of course.’
Horatio stepped to the side and Anna got into the car. She sat watching him in the rain as he refused to meet her gaze, and inadvertently felt for the gold chain her aunt had given her with the letter. She glanced at the heart locket and realised she had never opened it. Gently snapping it open, she found a small piece of paper folded over, on which her aunt had written one line: ‘Find your happy ever after.’
She clicked it shut again, fresh tears welling in her eyes. Anna went to turn the key but stopped and looked at Horatio once more. After a few seconds, she got out of the car and walked towards him. He had his back to her as he watched the fast-flowing river.
‘Mr Horatio.’
He turned and looked at her, a glimmer of hope crossing his face. ‘You’re going to be late.’
‘Where were you going to stay tonight?’ she said, her heart beating faster.
‘In the Land Rover.’
‘Well, how about you come to Primrose Cottage?’
‘You mean…?’
She nodded and strode towards him, stopping when her face was inches from his own. ‘I mean, let’s take one day at a time.’
He smiled, tears glistening in his eyes, and brought his lips to hers. Horatio kissed her gently, causing Anna’s stomach to stir. ‘I won’t ever let you down.’
Anna drove up to the house first, followed by Horatio in his Land Rover. Diane was already waiting on the doorstep.
‘So, that was quick. London not up to much?’ She smiled. ‘You must stop the dramatics, Anna.’
Her mother came out, a bottle of bubbly in hand. ‘Let’s toast Horatio’s ridiculous amount of patience at my daughter’s threatening to leave, not once, not twice, but three times.’
They all moved inside and the twins ran up to Anna, hugging her around the waist.
‘Mummy,’ Freddie said after a few minutes, ‘Grandma Linda said I can live with Jeremy now. How cool is that? Where is Jeremy?’
Anna shot her mother a look. ‘Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’ll take each day as it comes.’
Horatio smiled at her and ruffled Freddie and Antonia’s hair. ‘Staying with a friend of mine tonight.’ He paused and looked at them. ‘So, I bet you’re glad Mummy’s back?’
They nodded.
‘Yeah,’ said Antonia, ‘because Auntie Dee said if Mummy didn’t come home, she was going to sing to us all day and night.’ She pulled a face. ‘Auntie Dee is really bad at singing.’
Diane trotted over. ‘Kids are cruel.’ She handed Anna and Horatio glasses of champagne. ‘Here’s to you two being non-cousins and obnoxiously cute together.’
‘Thanks, Dee.’ Anna paused. ‘Horatio can’t go home. He had a huge argument with his mother—’
‘The old bat chucked you out, did she?’ Diane said, drinking her orange juice. ‘Well, you’re better off here anyway.’
‘That’s what I was going to say.’ Anna paused, looking at Horatio. ‘He’ll be staying here tonight so…’
‘So, can I sleep with Linda tonight?’ Diane laughed. ‘For you, I will do that, but Linda, you’ll have to turn the foghorn that is your snore down, yeah?’
‘I don’t snore,’ her mother said. ‘Tony says I snuffle, which is much nicer.’
‘Tony doesn’t speak,’ Anna pointed out.
‘No, but I can tell that’s what he means.’
‘This house is too small for all of us but it’ll do for now,’ said Anna.
‘The more the merrier, that’s what I say,’ said Diane, standing by the window, peering out. ‘Maybe I spoke too soon. Looks like we’ve got company.’
‘Who is it?’
A knock sounded at the door and Anna opened it wide, glass in hand.
‘Lady Spencerville,’ she greeted the woman coldly.
‘Anna,’ came the equally cool response. ‘I wonder if I might have a word, if I’m not interrupting the celebrations?’
‘Of course.’ Anna looked at Horatio quickly and he nodded. ‘Come in.’
Lady Spencerville stepped gingerly into the cottage and looked around the room, her gaze coming to rest on Horatio. ‘I might have know it wouldn’t take you long.’
‘Mother, I have nothing more to say to you. I’ve made my choice, you’ve made yours.’
Diane and her mother made a swift exit to the kitchen, but not before Diane threatened Lady Spencerville, ‘Any problems and I’ll be forced to get Freddie’s water gun out again.’
Lady Spencerville looked around her. ‘So, this is where your aunt and my husband whiled away their time, is it?’ She grimaced. ‘Not very classy, is it?’
‘Lady Spencerville,’ Anna approached her, ‘what have you come here for?’
‘I’ve come to tell Horatio he must speak to Lady Arabella Ashford at once. She’s just been up to the house and broken off the engagement because she got wind of your,’ she batted a hand at them, ‘whatever you want to call this sordid business.’
‘This,’ Horatio came forward, ‘is the woman I love and intend to marry.’
Anna, having taken a gulp of champagne to wet her dry mouth, choked.
‘Looks as if Anna is less impressed with your plans,’ Lady Spencerville said drily.
‘Really?’ Anna said, ignoring Lady Spencerville.
He looked deep into her eyes. ‘Really.’
Anna grinned and turned back to Lady Spencerville. ‘We’re very happy, so if there’s nothing more you’ve come to say, then please leave.’ When Horatio’s mother didn’t move, she pulled the door wider. ‘You know, if you had managed to make Horatio marry Lady Ashford, history would be repeating itself once more.’
‘What’s that meant to mean?’ Lady Spencerville looked at her.
‘I mean, I’ve heard you were forced to marry Frank Spencerville and, while I’m sure you were happy, Frank found solace in my aunt.’
Lady Spencerville flushed with anger. ‘How dare you.’
Anna drew a laboured breath before gesturing outside. ‘Please leave.’
Lady Spencerville gave Horatio one last look before bustling from the cottage to her chauffeur-driven car.