“Well, we’ll never know. Just accept things as they are, Phaedra. Whatever you feel about it, you’re a Frampton. There’s no changing that.”
The car pulled up in front of the picturesque little house. “Home sweet home,” he said, switching off the engine.
“It’s divine!” she enthused, running her eyes over the old weathered brick and gently sagging roof. It was as if the building had grown tired of sitting up straight and had dropped its shoulders to rest. They both climbed out. “Your house looks almost sleepy, don’t you think?”
“I can’t say I do,” he replied, glancing up at it.
“Oh yes, it does. I imagine it’s hundreds of years old. Poor old thing, having to remain strong for all that time, resisting winds and rain. No wonder it wants to droop a little.”
“Are you telling me my house is drooping?”
She laughed at the bewildered look on his face. “Well, it is, in a kind of sleepy way. It’s adorable, David.” She made for the door. “I’m looking forward to meeting Rufus.”
David opened the boot and lifted out her bag. “He’ll love you. He has an eye for the ladies.”
“Does that mean if he doesn’t like me, I’m no lady?”
“Trust me, he’ll like you.” He carried her bag to the door and unlocked it. A very excited Rufus bounded out of the kitchen and leapt up at Phaedra. “Hey, steady on, Rufus!”
But Phaedra was delighted. “He’s gorgeous,” she gushed, wrapping her arms around him. “Hello there, Rufus!”
“You see, he likes you.”
“So I am a lady,” she said. “I’m so relieved!”
David showed her into the kitchen. It was immaculate. “Mary came especially,” he explained, feeling like a fraud. “It’s not usually so tidy.”
She ran her eyes over the shiny granite worktops and pretty blue cupboards. “Do you like chocolate cake?”
“What do you think?”
“I take that as a yes, then. Let’s make a cake tomorrow. I’m very good at chocolate cake. No one can resist it.”
“I believe you.”
“I’m so excited. Your kitchen is charming.”
“I’ll show you to your room.” Rufus trotted up the stairs ahead of them. “Or rather, Rufus will show you to your room. I hope you will find that equally charming.”
They walked down a narrow corridor. David had to stoop because of the low beams. “Lucky I’m short,” she said with a laugh.
“It’s a miracle I haven’t developed a stoop,” he replied. “Right, I’m at the end, and you’re down here.” She cast her eyes into his room and saw the corner of the bed and a chest of drawers covered in books and magazines in haphazard piles. The place smelled of dog and man.
“Where does Rufus sleep?”
“He should sleep in the kitchen, but in winter he sleeps with me. When it’s too hot, he goes back downstairs.”
“How lovely to have a friend to share your nights with.” Then she laughed because she realized how provocative that sounded.
“It’s okay, you’re my sister,” he replied, laughing with her when inside he wanted to curse the God who made it so.
Her bedroom was very pretty, with a big brass bed, a quilt decorated with red poppies, and matching curtains. “I’d like to take credit for the decoration, but Mother did it all for me.”
She smiled. “I figured.”
“Any excuse for her to decorate, and she’s in like a shot.”
“Because you’re unmarried. If you had a wife, she’d probably leave her to look after you.”
“I wouldn’t say she exactly looks after me. Gone are the days when I used to carry over my dirty-clothes basket. She buzzes around Tom, though. He makes her feel needed. She’ll be buzzing around him all the more now Dad is gone.”
“I’d like to go and visit George’s grave tomorrow,” Phaedra said softly. “I passed the church today, but I didn’t have time to stop.”
“Of course. I’ll take you.”
“Thank you.”
“Barry made a temporary headstone out of wood. The real one won’t be ready for another month. I rather like the one Barry made, but Mum wants him to have one made out of marble. I suppose it’ll last longer.”
“Who’s Barry?”
“The gardener. He loved Dad.” David sighed. “Everyone did. Well, your bathroom is next door. I hope you sleep well. Don’t worry if you hear an odd screeching, that’s just Boris the barn owl.”
“Does he answer to that?”