The ladies turned their heads to look at the commotion. Lily went bright red, and put out a placating hand to them. They nodded, and went back to talking quietly. ‘Sorry.’ She giggled, a little ashamed by her reaction but apparently grateful for the distraction. ‘I just knew you had to work outside.’
Will looked at her in puzzlement, which made her shrink with embarrassment.
‘Your hands,’ she exclaimed, reaching for one of them, turning it palm up. Her touch sent a shiver down Will’s arm, and he knew she must have felt it. Will felt like she had woken him up from a dream. It was as though they were charged to each other, like static fizzing between them. He kept his hand relaxed, not wanting to do anything that might make her let go. He was taking a chance here, a risk, but he couldn’t stop himself. She seemed to realize what she had done, and she gently released him. Will could feel the warmth leave his skin.
‘Working hands, you see?’ She held both her palms up to him, and he noticed she had calluses on her hands too, the odd scratch and scrape dotted on her fingers.
‘Green thumb club, eh?’ He grinned. She smirked back at him.
‘Definitely. What did you want to ask?’
He told her of his plans, of leaving Harrogate and wanting to build up a local business. He was tired of the commuting, and wanted to keep things a bit simpler. Not exactly a lie; it was truth, just not the whole shebang.
Lily listened to him without interrupting, only taking her eyes off him to see off the second round of coffee and toast he’d ordered. He noticed her skin was a tad pale, and by the way she ate and drank, she obviously didn’t have chance that morning to have breakfast either. He had felt a burst of pride when she took the second order without preamble, as though he had helped her a little. He liked the thought of making her day easier. He wondered whether her fiancé looked after her, where he was now. Did the guy know what he had?
‘I do know of a couple of people looking for gardeners and such,’ she said when he had finished. ‘Why don’t you bring some cards into the shop, and I can hand them out for you?’
Will flashed her a grateful smile. ‘That would be great. Other than Archie, I don’t really know anyone here, and between working and commuting, it doesn’t leave much time for socializing.’
She nodded. She knew how it felt to not have many people in your camp. The thought gave her an idea.
‘It’s no problem – just drop in whenever. And, just an idea, but are you busy Friday night?’
Will looked at her in question. She had already told him she was engaged. Or rather, she didn’t deny it when he asked her. She shrugged when he didn’t reply.
‘It’s no worries if you are busy; it’s just that my friend Simon and his new girlfriend invited me out. I haven’t met her before, so it might be a good opportunity for you to have a night off, meet some people.’
Will shook his head. He didn’t fancy the idea of playing fifth wheel on a couples’ night. The thought of seeing Lily with her fiancé put the night’s appeal right up there with gonad piercings and mucking out the stables for his uncle. ‘I think I would be in the way, but thanks.’
Lily frowned. ‘No! You will be doing me a favour, honestly. I have known Simon since school. He is like my little brother, and watching him suck face with his girlfriend all night while I play gooseberry doesn’t sound like much fun. This way, I have someone to talk to.’ She looked away from him, and he realized she was a bit upset. His heart went out to her.
‘The thing is, Will, I have been told that I am a bit stuck lately, and I am forcing myself to actually do something about it. It sounds to me like you could be in the same boat.’
Will studied her face. Just being near her today had lifted his mood. He couldn’t imagine anyone saying that she was anything less than a joy to be around.
‘You’re on,’ he said, his deep voice breaking the silence. ‘First tequila shot is on me.’
The look Lily gave him had his laugh ringing out in the café, whilst the ladies looked on.
‘Good of you to join us, William!’ Agatha Taylor’s voice trilled out as he walked up to the main house. Agatha’s estate was massive, and rather beautiful. He strode around the fountain and braced himself for Agatha’s rather large dogs to come bounding out. As though she read his mind, Agatha smiled kindly. ‘Taylor has just taken the children out for their morning walk. They will be gone a while.’
Will relaxed visibly. Last time, Buster had head-butted him in the testicles by accident, and the thought of it even now made his eyes water. He resisted the urge to cup himself comfortingly. His uncle Archie was stood next to Agatha, and the two looked as different as heaven and earth. Archie was his uncle on his father’s side, and was a strange man. Even if he loved you to distraction, to the outside world he looked as though you were barely tolerated. He was pretty sure that Archie cared, but he wouldn’t stake the farm on being loved by him. The Singer men were often something of an enigma. At the moment, with his turbulent private life, this trait served him well.
He was getting the measure of his uncle more and more as they worked together, and Will was fast realizing that Archie was an amazing man. Looking at him now, with his trademark boots and scowl, he looked even harsher against the backdrop of the hall and Agatha, who was dressed like the Queen. All she was missing was the straight face and the tiara. Archie grunted a hello, and Will nodded in response.
Agatha was staring at him with a wry smile on her face, and he felt as though she was in on a joke he didn’t quite get yet.
‘Sorry I’m late – I had a meeting that ran over. What’s to be done today?’
Agatha looked at him like a cat would eye a fish in a tank, patting Archie on the shoulder.
‘Archibald dear, you can make a start if you like. I will just have a chat with young William here. I shan’t be long.’
Archie, rolling his eyes at the use of his Sunday name, nodded and practically ran. As he passed his nephew, he tapped him on the arm.
‘Sorry, lad,’ he whispered. ‘Grin and bear it.’
Will moved closer to Agatha, thinking she had a job she wanted him to do that perhaps Archie wasn’t up to. She reached for his hand instead, clasping it between her own soft warm ones, and gave it a little rub.
‘How are you, dear? You enjoying being in Westfield?’
Will nodded, realizing that she had clocked his lack of wedding ring. ‘I am fine, Mrs Taylor I love being here. I appreciate the work too.’
Agatha batted away his thanks. ‘Oh pish posh, Archie is family, so that includes you too. You remind me rather of Benjamin, our vet in the village. Have you met?’
Will shook his head. Agatha looked wistful for a moment. ‘I never had children of my own, apart from my dogs of course. I would rather have liked a son or two.’
She seemed to shake herself out of her thoughts, and looked kindly at him again.
‘Are you managing to pick up any work in the village?’
Will shook his head. ‘Not much, but I hope that will change soon.’
‘Productive coffee meeting then? Jolly good. Well, I shall leave you to get on, William. Lovely to see you again. If you need anything, please let me know.’
Will waved her off as she sashayed primly up the large stone steps to her home. It wasn’t till later, when he was busy pruning the hedges, that he realized he hadn’t told anyone about the meeting with Lily, or the fact that it involved coffee at all.
***
Roger stamped his feet in frustration. It was quite funny to see a man in mohair