Page 32 of Christmas Spirits at Honeywell House (Ghosts of Rowan Vale #3)

Because, presuming the ticket office would be situated in the grounds, would Lawrie allow me near the Hall every day? Would Aubrey allow it?

‘Even if it’s only Easter to the end of September it would be something,’ I added.

‘Right through the school holidays?’ Jack said, frowning. ‘How would that work?’

I glanced at him impatiently. ‘We could work something out, couldn’t we?’

‘I don’t see what,’ he said. ‘I have to work, too, and we’ll have a young baby to look after.’

‘Yes, we will,’ I said pointedly, feeling my frustration and anger bubbling up again. ‘Maybe I could find a childminder or a nursery somewhere. There’s nothing in Rowan Vale, but maybe in Kingsford Wold…’

‘You’d spend more on childcare than you earned.’ Jack shook his head. ‘What would be the point?’

To make me feel like a normal human being again. To give me some sort of life outside the family home.

Why couldn’t Jack see that? But there was no way I wanted to get into another row in front of Callie and Brodie, so I bit my lip and stared stonily at the carpet.

‘Well, er… We can discuss that later,’ Callie said awkwardly. ‘We’ve got months yet before we need worry about that and maybe you’ll have a clearer idea of what you can manage by then.’

‘So what do you think?’ Brodie asked Jack. ‘I know it’s a big deal to you, and I know the model village has always been associated with Honeywell House but?—’

‘Not so much with the house,’ Jack said quietly. ‘But with my family, yes.’

‘You think your mum would object?’ Brodie asked, aware that it had been her grandfather who’d created the model village in the first place.

‘No. She never took much interest in it,’ Jack said. ‘That’s why, when Grandad died, he left it to me. I can do what I like with it, which is why I have another proposal for you.’

I lifted my head, baffled. What proposal?

‘Go on,’ Brodie said.

Jack took a steadying breath. ‘How would you feel about buying it from me? Then you could put it wherever you like, open it to the public or not. I’d want a fair price, but I wouldn’t make a ridiculous demand, and you’d make the money back over time with entrance fees, I’m sure.’

Brodie and Callie stared at him in surprise. They weren’t as surprised as I was, though.

‘Sell the model village?’ I gasped. ‘When did you decide this?’

‘Been thinking about it a while,’ he said with a shrug.

‘And you didn’t think to consult me?’

‘I didn’t think I had to,’ he said evenly.

‘Well, that’s bloody charming,’ I snapped. ‘ Your family, your model village, your decision. I get it. Thanks for keeping me in the loop.’

‘Like you’ve been keeping me in the loop?’ he demanded.

I felt the blood drain from my face and cast a desperate look at Callie and Brodie. Surely they hadn’t told him my secret? Callie gave a slight shrug, as if to reassure me that, whatever Jack was talking about, she hadn’t a clue.

‘What do you mean?’ I asked faintly.

‘Did you really think I wouldn’t find out, Clara? Look, I get why you didn’t tell me, but we’re supposed to be a couple. A team. You can’t carry the burden on your own, love. Don’t you think you have enough to worry about?’

I was totally confused. He sounded concerned about me. If he knew my family history, it didn’t look as if he was bothered.

‘I saw it,’ he said heavily.

‘Saw what?’ For a moment, I could only think of my drawing of Aubrey. But Jack had never seen Aubrey, and I’d already given him an explanation for the sketch anyway. How would he know who he really was, let alone of our connection?

My heart sank as he said, ‘The calculations you were doing on the bit of paper you’d chucked in the bin, along with the invoice for the kids’ Christmas presents. I saw the figures you’d written down for the credit card statement, too. We’re in real trouble, aren’t we?’

He threw up his hands in an appeal to Brodie and Callie.

‘Yeah, I know, I probably shouldn’t be saying this in front of you two, but the fact is we’re struggling financially.

It’s hard enough to make all our repayments now, but once the kids’ presents get added to the credit card balance, and we have to pay the outstanding amount on the pram and buy a cot and everything else we’re going to need… ’

He massaged his temples, clearly stressed. ‘Look, we’re in over our heads – we need an injection of cash. If we could pay off the credit card and the Christmas spending, buy everything we need for the baby and put a bit away for emergencies and the kids’ futures… You understand?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Brodie sounded sympathetic. ‘Of course we understand.’

‘Of course we do.’ Callie gave me a look that held a hint of shame. ‘I’m so sorry. We should have thought.’

‘We’ll be fine,’ Jack said firmly, tilting his chin. ‘We’re not charity cases and we don’t need sympathy. But a fair price for the model village would see us out of this mess, and if you’re willing to give us that, I’d be happy to sell it to you.’

‘Really, Jack?’ I murmured. ‘Are you sure about this?’

‘I’ve been thinking about it all week,’ he admitted. ‘And when I found your workings out this morning, my mind was made up. When I saw you two at the market, I was going to suggest a meeting, but you beat me to it. And the fact is, if you’re not interested, I’ll probably put it up for sale anyway.’

‘Jack!’ I exclaimed, shocked.

Callie and Brodie looked at each other with expressions I couldn’t quite read.

‘Well,’ Callie said, ‘I think that’s clear enough.’

‘I’m not trying to be difficult,’ Jack assured them.

‘No, no of course you’re not. We get it, honestly,’ she said. ‘Look, we need to think about this. We can’t make a hasty decision.’

‘I realise that,’ he said.

Callie smiled. ‘I’ll have to discuss it with my accountant,’ she said, nodding at Brodie. ‘But I promise we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.’

‘We realise you need an answer pretty quickly,’ Brodie assured him. ‘We’ll get on to it straight away.’

‘So you’re not saying no?’ Jack asked hopefully. ‘I’ll be honest – I’d far rather sell it to you two, knowing it will stay with people I can trust, but…’

‘Surely no one outside the village would be interested?’ I asked, perplexed. ‘It’s a model of Rowan Vale. Where else is it going to go?’

Jack rolled his eyes, and I realised I wasn’t helping. Brodie, however, wasn’t so sure I was right.

‘There are plenty of people who want a slice of the Cotswolds and loads of opportunities in the tourist industry. I can think of a few places nearby that would happily add a model village of such good quality to their attractions. Doesn’t matter that it’s of Rowan Vale.

It’s close enough to be a draw for visitors.

But we don’t want that to happen any more than you do, Jack.

Like I said, we’ll be as quick as we can. ’

‘Thanks, Brodie. Callie. I appreciate that.’

They all got to their feet and Jack shook their hands, while I remained on the sofa, stunned by what I’d just heard.

‘Right,’ Callie said, ‘we’ll go home and start crunching some numbers. Well,’ she added, ‘Brodie will. I’ll probably scoff chocolates and admire him in action, so to speak.’ She giggled, and Jack visibly relaxed, clearly realising he hadn’t caused a rift between us and our friends.

She bent down and hugged me. ‘Don’t get up,’ she said. ‘We can see ourselves out. Enjoy the rest of the evening. Make the most of the peace and quiet while you can.’

Jack nodded. ‘I’ll get your coats,’ he said. I heard them mumbling in the hallway and sat there, feeling numb. How could Jack have been thinking about this for days without even mentioning it to me?

This affected me, too. It affected the kids as well, because the model village was their heritage – the only thing we had to pass on to them. A slice of the estate.

If I was honest with myself, I had to admit that it hurt. My family no longer owned the Harling Estate, but when I married Jack, it had sort of owned a miniature version of it, and now even that was to be taken away. It just didn’t seem fair.

Though, lately, not much did.