Kate's Progress by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles Read Free Book Online Page A

fifteen or sixteen miles away – another world. ‘He works at the paper mill there.’
    ‘How did you come to meet him?’
    ‘It was the shooting,’ Kay said. ‘There’s always big parties come down here in the autumn and winter for the shooting. I was working in the Blue Ball, waitress and chambermaid – I went straight into it from school, being in the blood, sort of, with my grandad being in the trade, so to speak. You get good tips when these rich types come down from London for the drives, and it makes lots of extra work for everybody, so that’s all good. Couldn’t go on without the shooting.’
    Kate was interested. ‘So that’s like an extra tourist season for you?’
    ‘Fact,’ said Kay. ‘Make more money in the winter than the summer round here. And not just for the pubs and hotels and B&Bs and all that, but they always need beaters and pickers-up as well. That’s what Darren come over from Watchet for, weekends, to make a bit of extra cash, and that’s how we met. At the Blue Ball we give the beaters and pickers-up a meal at the end of the day, in the big barn at the back, and I was helping serve it one weekend, and there he was. Sort of love at first sight.’
    ‘That’s a lovely story,’ Kate said.
    ‘He’s a lovely man,’ said Kay. ‘He knew I never wanted to move away from here, so after we got married we got this place and he drives to Watchet to work every day. Mind you, it means he can pop in on his mum, so that’s all good.’
    ‘And do you still work at the Blue Ball?’
    ‘Me? I got two kids. They’re at school, but it doesn’t give you much time in the day for a job. But I do part-time in the shooting season, when they need extra help. Evenings, mostly, when Darren can watch the kids.’
    ‘You don’t look old enough to have two children at school,’ Kate said.
    ‘Oh, look at you! Aren’t you nice?’ Kay said, pleased. ‘I wish you was my sister. ’Nother cuppa tea? Have a biscuit with it.’
    ‘So tell me about the Blackmores,’ Kate said, having selected a chocolate Hobnob. ‘You say they owned my cottage?’
    ‘Why, didn’t you know who you bought it from?’
    ‘I suppose it must have been on the contract, but I didn’t particularly notice. The estate agent only talked about Mrs Brown.’
    ‘Well, the Browns only rented it, o’ course. I never thought the family’d sell, because after the war, they had to sell a lot of property to pay off the death duties, and Sir George, when he inherited, well, he swore he’d keep the rest of it together.
Not
selling was kind of like his big thing. Everybody knew that. I wonder if they’re in some kind of trouble?’ she mused, frowning.
    Kate thought it was touching that she seemed to mind the idea. ‘A lot of people are, these days.’
    ‘Yes, but I thought they were all right now. I haven’t heard anything. But o’ course they wouldn’t put it about if they was,’ she concluded with a shrug. ‘Wouldn’t want people to know.’
    ‘So Sir George Blackmore is the present owner?’ Kate asked.
    ‘No, he’s dead now. There’s Lady Blackmore, she’s his second wife, and the two sons, Edward and Jack, they’re the first wife’s sons. Jack’s a real laugh. You see him about the place. He’s divorced, got a little boy. He’s the biggest flirt you ever met. No harm to it, though, he’s just a nice man who likes female company. You’d like him.’
    Kate smiled. ‘I don’t suppose I shall ever meet him.’
    ‘Oh, everybody meets everybody eventually in this place.’
    ‘But I’m going to be busy doing my cottage – speaking of which, I should get back to work.’
    ‘Yeah, and I’ve got to pick up the kids in a bit. Well, it’s been real nice chatting to you.’
    ‘Likewise. And thanks for the lunch.’
    ‘No, my pleasure. Made a nice break in my day. And like I said, any time you get sick of the place and want to come over, you just come. You don’t need an invitation. It can’t be very nice