A Year at Meadowbrook Manor Read online

  ‘No, darling, just very, very good friends,’ Gus replied, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

  Hilda had attached herself to Harriet and when she made to leave, she started whining.

  ‘I’ll come back and see you,’ Harriet promised, fussing her. She loved the way that the soppy, shaggy Hilda looked so hopeful. That was what she needed but seemed to have misplaced: hope.

  Harriet stayed with Gus as the others wandered off to see the other animals and she began to see how much work was involved in the actual day-to-day running of the rescue centre. Evie, one of the vet’s assistants at Connor’s practice, worked at weekends, and she helped show them the daily routine. The cats had another impressive space, indoor and outdoor, so they could all have a level of freedom. They pretty much all got on with each other, although the saddest story was that one came in just last week, pregnant, and now they had added five kittens to the place. Fleur had shown earlier that she clearly loved them and Harriet wondered if she could have one.

  ‘Rachel won’t hear of it. Mike, my old squash partner, is more allergic than me, apparently.’ Gus gave a wry smile.

  ‘Oh, Gus, how did it come to this? Look at your daughter, so happy, what if we let her have two kittens at Meadowbrook?’

  ‘What about my allergies?’

  ‘Gus, when we were kids we had all sorts of pets. Anyway, just man up and take some more pills.’ Harriet didn’t understand Gus at times. Maybe he had developed some kind of animal allergy, but to her it seemed he had developed an allergy to life.

  Gus coughed for good measure. ‘It can come later in life. But I seem to be OK here for now,’ he grudgingly admitted.

  ‘Listen, bro, you said that your relationship with Fleur is strained since you haven’t been living with her, so maybe this would help. And the house is perfect for kittens. I mean, we might have to keep them out of the drawing room to protect the curtains, but we can make a lovely bed up in the kitchen or utility. Gwen loves cats, so go and speak to Connor.’

  ‘I could let her choose them, as well, and name them. OK, Harry, you’re right. If Fleur has pets here then it really will feel like home.’ He smiled. ‘But what’s with the “bro”? Since when did you go all ghetto on me?’

  ‘New York, innit.’ Harriet laughed.

  ‘Please, never say that again,’ Gus chuckled before his brow knotted seriously. ‘Harry, are you all right?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Look, I know we haven’t been close for years but, well, you seem detached at times, but your old self at others. I know there’s a lot going on, but if you need to talk …’ His cheeks coloured.

  She wanted to reach out and hug him, tell him that she missed her brother and was so glad they were together again but she couldn’t.

  ‘Sorry, Gus, it’s just Dad’s death, losing my job, this, I’m going to take a while.’ She bristled, and Gus nodded sadly.

  Evie came running in to the cattery then. She was breathless but mirth swam in her eyes.

  ‘Guys, Freddie’s being chased by one of the bulls.’

  They all rushed out to see Freddie trying to jump over the fence followed by a cross-looking Elton. His face was puce, Pippa stood nearby laughing, tears running down her cheeks, she was clutching Fleur who was shaking. The alpacas watched on, as did the goats.

  ‘I told you not to get too close,’ Connor was shouting. ‘They don’t know you and they don’t like anyone they don’t know. It’s OK, Elton, he’s a friend,’ he shouted. Elton looked as if he didn’t believe Connor, but he stopped and glared rather than charging.

  ‘Are you all right, Fred?’ Harriet asked, as Gus helped him down.

  ‘My goodness, that was a bit scary. If he’d got me with those horns …’ Freddie shuddered.

  ‘But Connor told you not to disturb them like that,’ Fleur reiterated. ‘They are lovely and gentle if you know what you’re doing.’

  ‘Clearly they didn’t like Freddie.’ Pippa was calming down. ‘Although, that is the funniest thing I have seen in a while.’ Harriet had almost forgotten Pippa’s mischievous side.

  ‘Well, I don’t know why. Gay men always love me.’ Freddie was indignant.

  ‘Yes, but, Freddie, they are bulls,’ Connor pointed out. ‘And there’s no evidence they are gay.’

  ‘You named them Elton and David,’ Gus replied.

  Connor shrugged in defeat.

  ‘Do you think Dad did this thing with his will to punish us all?’ Freddie doubled over as he tried to catch his breath again. Elton was still eyeballing him.

  It was gone lunchtime when they went back up to the house, but Harriet felt as if they were becoming a unit, a pack, if not yet a family. Connor was with them, Fleur had just been told she could pick out two kittens later, and she was overjoyed. Harriet had snuck back to say goodbye to Hilda, who looked so forlorn as she left that Harriet felt awful, and Hilda had whined and looked very sorry for herself. When was the last time someone had been sad to see her go? Well, not in a long, long time, she thought. Maybe her siblings when she went off to boarding school. Connor even said he’d miss her back then. Pippa had cried, and Freddie and Gus had begged her to stay. But since then no one. Oh goodness, Harriet thought, I must stop feeling sorry for myself. She now realised that she and Hilda were probably kindred spirits. Both wallowing in self-pity. She smiled and walked faster to catch up with the others. As they approached the house, Mark was stood on the drive.

  ‘Are we still on for lunch?’ he bellowed.

  ‘Sure, the Parker’s Arms serves food all day,’ Pippa replied calmly.

  ‘Don’t you want to change?’ he asked.

  ‘I look fine for the village pub,’ she replied.

  Mark looked as if he was going to argue but clearly changed his mind.

  ‘Fine, darling,’ he said, sweetly, opening the passenger door of his car for his wife.

  As per Harriet’s request, lunch was laid out in the kitchen. It was a feast of quiches, salads, bread, cheese and Gwen ate with them, as did Connor.

  ‘Honestly, Connor, I don’t understand why you don’t eat up here all the time, the food is too good,’ Gus said.

  ‘I used to come up quite a lot, but, you know, you guys have so much stuff to talk about I don’t want to intrude.’

  ‘You would never be intruding, Connor,’ Freddie said.

  ‘Gwen, Dad says I can have two kittens here, but we need to check with you,’ Fleur piped up.

  ‘Goodness, love, I’m not in charge.’ Gwen looked secretly pleased. ‘But I’d love that. I miss having pets in the house, and we could make them a nice bed by the cooker, they’d like that wouldn’t they?’

  ‘Yes, they’d be so cosy. Am I having girls or boys?’

  ‘You can choose, Fleur,’ Connor said. He was smiling broadly. Harriet couldn’t help but think he had quite a dazzling smile. It made her want to smile.

  ‘If I got two boys I could call them Harry and Zayn.’

  ‘Interesting names for kittens,’ Gwen said.

  ‘They used to be in One Direction but they’re my favourite singers now,’ Fleur informed her.

  ‘Well that’s that then. And I’ll look after Harry and Zayn when you’re not here, you don’t need to worry about that.’

  ‘And, Dad, will you also help Gwen look after them?’ Fleur chewed her lip as if she was concerned about her father’s commitment.

  ‘Of course, I’ve got my allergy medicine now. And, if you like, this afternoon we can go to the pet shop and you can choose a bed.’

  ‘Yes, because they’ll need toys and collars and things,’ Fleur said. ‘I should make a list.’

  ‘That’s fine but, Fleur, don’t forget I’ve only got thirty pounds,’ he said, laughing.

  ‘Don’t worry, Dad, I’ve got pocket money.’

  ‘Let’s start, shall we?’ Harriet said. She was sitting behind her father’s desk, a pile of papers in front of her. Pippa was sat next to Freddie on one of the sofas, Gus was on t
he other one. They had survived their first weekend in Meadowbrook. Gus had driven Fleur home the previous evening and he’d been quite miserable when he came back. Freddie tried to cheer him up by plying him with wine at dinner, but looking at how green he was today, it might not have been his best idea. Mark had also gone back home on Sunday evening, and his departure had affected Pippa in a different way, she was very quiet. She must be missing him, Harriet concluded. She still seemed to be watching everything with a detachment she didn’t know how to stop. One minute, like at the sanctuary, she felt as if she was part of the family, the next something pulled her back.

  ‘Yes, boss. Can I clarify are you actually my boss now?’ Freddie asked.

  Harriet threw a pen at his head – he ducked and it clacked to the floor.

  ‘Don’t be silly, but we need to run this house, and the animal sanctuary, raise a lot of money, and it takes organisation, huge organisation. So, I’ve been through everything more than once. The work would be best done if we divide it up.’

  ‘So what do each of us do?’ Gus asked.

  ‘I’m happy to do whatever you want,’ Pippa said. ‘It’s quite exciting as I haven’t had a job for years.’

  ‘Did you ever have a job?’ Freddie asked.

  ‘I did, I had a few jobs, once I worked in a florist,’ Pippa protested.

  ‘For a day,’ Gus pointed out.

  ‘Well, I did lots of courses,’ Pippa persisted. ‘And I worked in that charity shop, remember.’

  ‘But, Pip, what do you do with your days? I mean not now, but when you’re at home?’ Freddie asked.

  ‘I see Mark off to work, I then take care of our diaries, we get quite a lot of invitations, you know. I usually go shopping, and then I might meet a friend for lunch before going home to clean up and make supper.’

  ‘You sound like a 1950s housewife.’ Harriet failed to keep the horror out of her voice.

  ‘Thanks, Harry. I love my life.’ Pippa sounded angrier than she normally did.

  ‘Right, sorry, anyway, guys, going off topic a bit. We need to divide up the work that needs to be done to make it easier for us. I mean, Dad pretty much did everything before, so how hard can it be for the four of us?’ Harriet said.

  ‘Famous last words,’ Freddie said. ‘Right, Harry, what are we going to do?’

  ‘Well, there is obviously going to be an element of pragmatism, but here’s what I have so far. The house is Gwen’s domain and there is no way I am messing with that. There’s a cleaning company who come in twice a week, the shopping is delivered, although she does like to buy locally when she can, but she has made it clear that if we want anything, we ask her. I for one am not arguing with Gwen.’

  ‘I am with you on that,’ Freddie agreed.

  ‘Right, so next is the garden. We have a garden consultant called Amanda Owen, and she’s brilliant. She comes in once a week with her team, but here’s the best bit, there is a gardening club who also come once or twice a week and get to work – under her direction – on the top garden.’

  ‘No wonder it looks so beautiful,’ Gus said.

  ‘Yes, and Dad likes to open the garden to the village once or twice a year. He doesn’t charge but asks for donations for the sanctuary and Gwen makes cream teas for everyone. Last year it raised about a thousand pounds.’

  ‘Wow,’ Gus said.

  ‘It’s important to the village, and he wants it to continue. So, Gus, I thought as you are the most creative out of us, you could take care of the gardens. You’ll work with Amanda, and also the gardening club.’

  ‘Who are the gardening club?’ Gus asked.

  ‘People from the village, here, Dad kept notes.’ She handed the papers over to Gus. ‘They’ll be here tomorrow afternoon and I’ll meet them with you, but after that it’ll be your domain.’

  ‘You know, I might enjoy that. I used to love helping Jed in the gardens and it’ll make a change to get to do something outdoors.’

  ‘And you never know there might be hot women in the gardening club,’ Freddie suggested. Gus shot him a withering look.

  ‘But also, Gus,’ Harriet continued, ignoring Freddie, ‘you need to take on a task at the animal sanctuary. I know you’re allergic, but I wondered if you could help with the pigs.’

  ‘Really?’ Gus looked doubtful.

  ‘Well, I figured as the pigs don’t have fur, you’re likely to be less allergic to them. I’ve spoken to Connor, and basically a list of jobs is drawn up every morning. So, we all report to the sanctuary, every day, see what we’ve been allocated and get it done.’

  ‘Every day?’ Freddie looked horrified.

  ‘We only have to do about two hours work there a day – that’s manual work by the way – we still have other stuff to do.’

  ‘So, I have the gardens to look after and the pigs?’ Gus didn’t look exactly thrilled. Harriet nodded.

  ‘So, Harry,’ Freddie rubbed his hands together, ‘what am I going to do?’

  ‘Well, Freddie, what is your greatest strength?’ Harriet asked. OK so, it might not exactly be high finance but she was enjoying herself slightly. She had familiarised herself with how to run Meadowbrook and the animal sanctuary in record time and it was pretty straightforward. But then she thought, her father had charged them with raising money, and she wanted to make sure they at least hit the target. As always, Harriet felt the need to overachieve. For her father.

  ‘Drinking?’ Gus replied.

  ‘Being annoying?’ Pippa suggested.

  ‘Parties, of course,’ Freddie answered, swatting Pippa’s arm.

  ‘Exactly, Fred. And given that, I am putting you and Pippa in charge of organising events, starting with this summer’s village fête.’

  ‘Eh?’ Freddie looked confused.

  ‘Think of it as a party for the village. I’ve decided that it’s going to be in memory of Dad, as well as to raise money for the sanctuary. I want it to be the best event the village has ever seen.’ Harriet grinned, Freddie looked pained. ‘I thought we could use it to see how much money an event can raise – it’ll give us an idea of how effective they are.’ Harriet might be all enthusiastic about raising money, but she had no clue. Twenty-five thousand was a drop in the ocean to her, or to the old her, but how did you get that when you had to ask people and you had very little to offer in return?

  ‘It’ll be great, Fred, you and I can work together to plan the best event ever. We could get all the English village traditions: tombolas, raffles, coconut shy, that sort of thing. Oh and maypole dancing.’ Pippa sounded excited.

  ‘I’m more an expert in pole dancing,’ Freddie quipped.

  ‘Oh, Fred, you’ll be fine. So it’s a different kind of party to the one you normally organise but you can still use your skills. Just get to know your market and then put together an event that they will all love. Oh, and you are going to feed the chickens and collect any eggs. You’ll have help but that will be your role.’

  ‘And me?’

  ‘Pippa, you’ve been put on domestic animals. It’s when the team and volunteers are short, so it’ll be more ad hoc but there is always something to do for the dogs and cats, feeding, cleaning, walking the dogs.’

  ‘Great.’ Pippa beamed. Nothing ever fazed her sister, who looked genuinely delighted.

  ‘And what are you going to do?’ Freddie still didn’t look exactly thrilled.

  ‘I’m going to run the animal sanctuary. I’m looking after the admin, financing, building maintenance, fundraising, staffing and also I am going to work on getting the pets rehomed. And I am going to look after the ponies, Gerald the donkey. If you think I’m not going to get my hands dirty, I am actually going to be mucking out the stables every day.’

  ‘Oh for the summer fair we could have a dog show with our dogs as the stars!’ Pippa suggested.

  ‘Great idea.’ Harriet smiled. ‘See we’re all getting it. Imagine if Dad could see us now. What would he think.’

  ‘He’d think we were slightly crazy?’
Freddie suggested. ‘But, you know, I have a very good friend who has a printing company, so maybe I could get him to do the programmes for free.’

  ‘Great, Fred, as we can’t spend any money, we all need to think of anything we can to make this year a success,’ Harriet finished. ‘Now, Freddie, pour us some of the good whisky.’ Harriet felt some of her resolve returning. So, she wasn’t exactly thrilled about having to muck out stalls on a daily basis, but she was a strong woman, she always had been, and more than that, she was her father’s daughter, she was the daughter he always wanted her to be. And she was determined to make him proud once more.

  Freddie did as she asked, and handed the glasses out.

  ‘Right, I would like to propose a toast.’ She raised her glass. ‘To the Singer siblings and a year at Meadowbrook Manor.’

  Chapter 10

  The Singer siblings all made their way out of the front door to greet the gardener as she got out of a van whose side read, Graham’s Garden Design.

  Harriet strode forward. As when they were children, her leading, them following.

  ‘Hi, I’m Harriet,’ she said, holding out her hand. They shook hands and she introduced the others.

  ‘I’m Amanda Owen.’ They had spoken on the phone briefly the previous day and Harriet already had a feeling she was going to like her. Amanda had a slight Somerset accent, was tall, slim with wavy hair pulled back from her face. Harriet guessed they were of a similar age. She was wearing blue overalls, and was pretty, in an outdoors kind of way. ‘I’m so pleased to meet you, your father spoke about you a lot, so I kind of feel that I know you a bit already.’ She smiled, warmly.

  ‘Dad loved his gardens, didn’t he,’ Gus said, ‘and you’ve done a marvellous job.’ Gus looked at his shoes and Harriet’s heart went out to him. Gus needed to be in charge of the gardens; not only were they the most creative part of the house, which would suit him, but running them would, she hoped, bring back his confidence. Or at least allow him to find it. She didn’t like to think what the pigs would do for him.

  ‘Thank you, but that’s largely thanks to my volunteer gang,’ Amanda laughed. She looked at her watch. ‘They’ll be here any minute.’