Page 38 of Four of Hearts

‘Certainly is,’ said Jim. ‘Shall we head straight down?’

‘Yes,’ nodded Matt. ‘Get Harry here settled in.’

Harry and Matt followed Jim back to a Land Rover that Harry couldn’t quite believe was the same one Jim would always be seen knocking round the lanes in. It had been cleaned inside and out. There was a gleam to the paintwork, the three seats across the cabin had been scrubbed, and even the footwells were spotless.

‘You’ve been busy,’ Harry said, as they climbed in, with Matt taking the seat in the middle.

Shoulders all touching, Jim started the engine, then drove them back along the road before taking a right, through a gate, and then along an ancient lane lined with crumbling drystone walls. The lane soon faded into the fields to become nothing more than a faint scar.

‘Just took the power hose to it, inside and out,’ Jim said. ‘Took a while to dry, but it’s come up smart, like, hasn’t it? Made a few of the holes in the floor a little bigger, but that can’t be helped.’

Cresting the brow of a hill, Jim pulled the Land Rover to a stop. Harry stared down at the river below and was taken aback by what he saw. Seats were laid out in rows, with a central aisle. A table was sat in front of them covered with a white cloth. As they drew closer, he saw flowers on the seats at the end of each row, ribbons lining the aisle, and more flowers on the table. Opening the door with a shove of his shoulder, Harry slid out of the Land Rover.

‘Who’s set all this up, then?’ Harry asked.

‘We all mucked in,’ said Matt, ‘but Margaret was in charge, directing things. She and Rebecca brought all the ribbons and flowers. We were all up with the lark, like. Worth it though. Ifyou’re going to do something right, then do it right, no messing about.’

Harry returned waves sent his way by Margaret Shaw, and her daughter, Rebecca, who he could now see by the table. Ethan was also there, camera clicking away, as were two old friends Harry could not have been happier to see.

He stepped into meadow to be immediately embraced by Gordy, then Jameson.

‘You travel up together, then?’ he asked.

Gordy shook her head.

‘I drove, Jameson took the train.’

‘Had myself a night in London on the way,’ said Jameson. ‘Loving the suit, by the way, Harry.’

Harry still wasn’t sure, mainly because he rarely wore a suit. And this one, a deep green tweed three-piece, which had cost him an eye-watering sum, was somewhat removed from what he would have usually chosen.

‘Very dapper,’ added Gordy, then cast a glance around where they were standing. ‘Perfect place to be doing this.’

‘Thought it was the best way to have Anna here with us, too,’ said Harry. ‘Is Charlie here?’

They’d not yet met Gordy’s new partner, and were keen to be introduced, but had been unsure if Gordy would bring her along.

‘We talked about it,’ said Gordy, ‘but in the end, I think I just wanted some time back here on my own, breathe in the place a bit, if you know what I mean?’

Harry understood completely, reached out, gave her arm a gentle squeeze.

‘Margaret’s asked me to do a reading, you know,’ Gordy said.

Harry gave a shrug.

‘Don’t look at me,’ he said. ‘We had a quick run through of how this would all go, but she didn’t tell us much about what the actual content was.’

As he said that, Margaret and Rebecca came over.

‘Well, I wouldn’t want to give away all of my secrets, would I?’ Margaret said, then added with a smile, ‘You’re looking very handsome, Harry!’

‘So, what do you want me to do, then?’ Harry asked.

‘Listen, and that’s about it,’ Margaret said. ‘We all know what we’re doing. You just need to follow our lead, listen to instructions, do as your told.’

Rebecca laughed.

‘He’s gone pale!’