Page 33 of Escape to the Country

Eleanor was concentrating so hard on her friend’s lack of confidence that she found herself accidentally blurting out, ‘Apart from the fact that he’s gay and she’s sleeping with her personal trainer.’

Megan looked aghast. ‘No! How do you know that?’

Eleanor blinked back to reality. ‘I heard a rumour, that’s all. It’s all round town about them,’ she said quickly.

Megan still appeared shocked. ‘But this couple are okay, aren’t they?’ she carried on, turning the page to show some love-struck movie stars. ‘They’ve just got married.’

‘They hate each other,’ Eleanor replied, rubbing her forehead as it began to tense up. ‘They only got married to resurrect their dying careers. If she gets pregnant, it won’t be his. It’ll be by her so-called “cousin” Brad.’

Even Annie had stopped pacing now. Taking the magazine from Megan and flicking through a couple more pages to another film actress, she asked, ‘What about her?’

‘She likes to wander around the house in the nude, according to her bodyguards,’ said Eleanor with a sigh. ‘She enjoys the look-but-no-touch approach.’

Megan pointed to a photo on the next page. ‘What about her?

‘Steals everything from the hotels she stays in,’ Eleanor told them. ‘If it’s not nailed down, she takes it. Mirrors, bedlinen. The lot.’

Her friends were goggle-eyed. ‘This is amazing,’ said Megan, shaking her head in wonder. ‘How do you know all this?’

Eleanor thought quickly. ‘Our sister magazine is one of those celebrity gossip ones. I flick through it now and then.’

‘It’s awful,’ said Annie, shaking her head miserably. ‘It’s all a lie.’

‘I know,’ said Megan. ‘I hate fake people. But just think of what I can tell the other mums at the school gates.’

Eleanor gulped. How were they going to react when they found out that she had been lying to them for so long?

Anxious to change the subject, she checked the time on her phone. ‘The WI ladies will be arriving soon. We’d better get these glasses ready.’

‘Absolutely, my darlings,’ said Rose, appearing at the door. ‘We’re going to need a drink to keep us going. The whole thing can be terribly dull. Unless I’m there, of course.’

‘I’m a bit nervous,’ said Annie, wringing her hands together.

‘You’ll be fine,’ Rose told her, carefully taking Annie’s hands in hers. ‘I believe in you, my lovely sweet girl. I truly do. My darling Beatrice, the late Countess of Cranley, played a huge role in the local Women’s Institute and it appears they want you to carry on the tradition. You know what, let’s have a stiff gin and tonic before they get here to help you relax.’

A while later, the group of women were gathering in the drawing room. It took a gentle shove from Eleanor to get Annie through the doorway to greet everyone.

It was a mixed age group of a dozen or so women. They were all looking at Annie with a combination of interest and disdain. As if she were something to be studied but not really listened to. They were obviously well aware that Annie used to be the housekeeper. Instantly, Eleanor felt protective of her friend.

But she watched in admiration as Annie took a deep breath and walked over to a nearby group who were standing next to the fireplace. ‘Hello,’ she said, fixing on a wide smile. ‘I’m Annie. Welcome to Willow Tree Hall. Isn’t it a lovely evening?’

‘Not really,’ replied one of the women. ‘Doris here has just announced that she needs three more radiotherapy sessions.’

‘Oh.’ Annie’s sweet face blushed. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘What ghastly luck, darling,’ said Rose, coming over to smother Doris with a hug.

‘What do you need from us?’ asked Annie, still looking concerned. ‘I mean, there must be some way we can help?’

‘Absolutely,’ said Rose, with a firm nod of her head. ‘That’s what the Harris family are here for, of course. Have been for generations and young Annie here will be no different, I can assure you.’

The women exchanged impressed looks before smiling more warmly at Annie than they had done before.

The chairwoman called the meeting open and they all sat down on the various sofas. Rose had been right, thought Eleanor. It was terribly tedious, at least until the floor was open for additional topics.

‘The local cottage hospital has been ever so good,’ announced the lady called Doris. ‘I thought that we could raise some money for them this summer. The whole place needs updating and desperately needs some funds. When you spend as much time there as I have recently, it can be a bit depressing.’

‘What does our future countess think?’ said the chairwoman.