Page 13 of Escape to the Country

‘Is that it?’ she asked, staring in disbelief for a moment before turning away. ‘No giraffes in the bathroom? Polar bears in the front room?’

‘No. That’s it,’ said her mum, holding up her hand. ‘I know! I know. I thought I’d get on top of them all this week, but then this!’ She gestured at her leg.

Eleanor took a deep breath. She couldn’t be mad with her mother for long, no matter how much she despaired. ‘Well, I’m here to help now,’ she said in a resigned tone. ‘How about I make us a nice cup of tea?’

‘That would be lovely.’

Eleanor rinsed out the mugs twice on account of the dust and other flecks in the china that she didn’t want to think about. She glanced at the tortoise that was making slow progress along the kitchen counter. Lucas had only visited her mother’s house just the once in the whole of their two-year relationship and she had seen the horrified look in his eyes, despite his polite manners. He had refused to come back after that.

‘Are you even allowed to keep a donkey in your back garden?’ she wondered aloud.

‘It’s only temporary and I’m sure Arthur won’t mind.’

Arthur Harris, Earl of Cranley, was the owner of Willow Tree Hall and the estate, which included all the cottages in the village which were rented to local families. The McCartneys had rented The Forge from the Cranley estate since before Eleanor was born.

‘How are you going to cope at work with your foot?’ she asked, as the tea stewed in the pot.

Her mum shrugged. ‘I’ll survive. Mr Pennyworth says I can sit down at the till. And he’s given me until next week to get used to the crutches.’

Her mother worked at the local farm shop. Yet another worrying source of additional animals to add to their home.

‘And that nice Sam, you know Annie’s fiancé, has said that I’m not to fret about the rent.’

Sam Harris was Arthur’s grandson, heir to the earldom and now living at Willow Tree Hall. With Sam helping out his grandfather Arthur, Lord Cranley, Eleanor realised that her mum would now be one of Annie’s tenants in the future when she became the countess. The thought of Annie as a future countess made her smile.

After pouring out the tea and giving her mum a cup, Eleanor brought in her suitcases and bags from the front door and dumped them in the hall.

Her mum craned her neck around the corner. ‘What have you got all that with you for?’

Eleanor deliberately made her voice casual. ‘I thought I might sort out a few things whilst I’m here. I’ve got far too much stuff these days.’

‘You won’t have time for that by the time you’ve caught up with Annie and Megan. And then they’ll be desperate for you back at your job in a few days.’

Eleanor gulped and braced herself. Once her mum had recovered from the devastation caused by her husband walking out, she had channelled all her hopes and dreams onto her daughter. Sacrificing everything for Eleanor, June had encouraged her to go to university and then to follow her dream career in journalism. ‘You’re so talented,’ she repeatedly told Eleanor. ‘You mustn’t let it go to waste.’

But despite the two of them being so close, Eleanor had never revealed the truth about her job. She had lied and told her mum that she worked for the financial magazine. She never wanted to tell the truth about which particular magazine she worked for.Usedto work for, she reminded herself. She hadn’t wanted to embarrass her mum with her gossip and mindless stories, she had told herself at the beginning. Especially when they had been the subject of all that gossip a very long time ago. Some wounds would never heal.

She opened her mouth to finally tell the truth. But then she saw her mum wince in pain as she flexed her foot and Eleanor quickly decided that there was already had too much to cope with. She would tell her at a later date.

Instead she found herself saying, ‘Look, as it happens, I’m actually owed some holiday. How about I stay and help out for a couple of weeks. You can’t possibly cope with this zoo whilst you’re on crutches.’

‘Oh that would be lovely!’ said her mum, smiling but teary. ‘But I don’t want you getting into trouble at work.’

‘The markets are very stable and quiet at the minute. I’m sure I can arrange something with my editor whilst you’re recuperating over the next few weeks,’ said Eleanor, the lies flowing quite easily now.

In reality, she had no idea what on earth she was going to do once she had finished taking care of her mum.

She sat down and drank her tea, glancing around the messy kitchen. What a stark contrast to her lovely glamorous life back in London. She would normally have been picking out her outfit to wear that evening. A new film premiere. Then she would have gone onto a new nightclub owned by that controversial rapper. Then home to Lucas.

Eleanor frowned as she scratched at her neck. Except there was no West End premiere, no glitzy nightclub, not even Lucas for the time being either.

‘How’s that nice boyfriend of yours?’ asked her mum.

Eleanor gulped. This was one truth that she could actually say out loud. ‘We’re taking a break,’ she said. ‘I’m not sure if it’s going to end up being a permanent one or not.’

‘Oh, love! I’m so sorry,’ said her mum, reaching out to squeeze her hand. ‘You must be so upset.’

Eleanor made a sad face, even though she knew that deep down she wasn’t exactly heartbroken over the break-up. Shouldn’t she be swilling vodka and sobbing into a massive bar of chocolate?