How to Find Love in a Book Shop(85)

‘Hop on, then.’

He drove as quickly as he could across the lawns and cut up through the top of the woods along to the folly. He was the only person who’d been up here for the past few weeks. He drew up and killed the engine.

Sarah climbed off and stared in astonishment. ‘Did you do this?’ she asked, and for a moment Dillon thought she was angry. That he had overstepped the mark with his gesture.

‘I didn’t want it falling down. It was in a bit of a state. So I thought I’d do some repairs.’

She stared, and there were tears in her eyes. The folly looked loved and cared for again. It had gone to seed, like a middle-aged woman who has stopped bothering. Now it stood proud and gleaming, its paintwork immaculate, intriguing and inviting.

‘It looks wonderful,’ she said softly. ‘Thank you.’

‘Let’s go and see if Alice is OK,’ he said, gruff with embarrassment.

Sarah took in a deep breath and pushed open the door. She hadn’t been inside since Julius died. Again, Dillon had worked his magic. The walls were painted, the floor sanded, the woodwork repaired.

On the sofa, Alice was engrossed in Anna Karenina.

‘Darling!’ Sarah rushed over and started to fuss over her. ‘Your hands are like ice. You silly girl – what were you thinking? Come on, let’s get you back to the house.’

Alice held up the book. ‘Look what I found down the back of the sofa.’

For a moment, Sarah stood stock-still, as if she’d been turned to stone. Then she took the book from Alice. ‘Oh yes. I bought it in a charity shop. I was halfway through. I wondered where it had gone.’

‘Here you go,’ said Dillon, scooping up Alice again. ‘There won’t be room for all of us on the quad, I’m afraid.’

‘That’s OK,’ said Sarah. ‘I’ll walk back. Take her to the kitchen and make her a hot chocolate. I’ll be just behind you.’

Dillon strode out of the door with Alice in his arms as if she weighed no more than a bag of flour.

Sarah stood in the middle of the folly. The musty familiar smell of it took her back. She looked at the sofa, grey with dust, and remembered all the times the two of them had sat there, wrapped up in each other, while the rain, and on occasion, the snow, fell outside. It had been so cosy. Their little hideaway.

If she turned, she might see him pushing his way through the undergrowth, his face breaking into a smile as he saw her.

She clasped the book to her chest. She’d never see him again. Would it get any easier, she wondered? The gaping hole in her heart where Julius had been?

She looked around the folly, touched to the core by Dillon’s kindness and thoughtfulness. He must have spent hours. She’d have a wood-burner put in, she decided, and get some decent furniture. She could come here and read whenever life got too much. It could be her little hideaway once again.

It made her realise something else. Whatever Hugh had said about Dillon, whatever claims he had made, they couldn’t be true. He cared for Alice, she could see that. He was loyal and trustworthy and stalwart. How could she have doubted him, even for a moment?



That evening Alice plucked up the courage to confront Hugh. She had to say something. It was eating away at her, what Dillon had told her. They were sitting in the little drawing room before dinner. Hugh had lit the fire and was pouring himself a gin and tonic. Alice just had the tonic – she still couldn’t face spirits.

‘I need to ask you something.’

‘Of course,’ said Hugh, popping a couple of ice cubes into his glass.

‘Do you ever … do coke?’ Alice asked, feeling awkward even just using the word. It sounded so stupid when she said it. ‘Cocaine, I mean.’

Hugh looked at her in astonishment. ‘What on earth’s made you ask that?’

‘I just … heard something. A rumour. And it’s been worrying me.’

‘A rumour? Where? From who?’

‘Oh, just – just in the pub. Someone said you did.’

Hugh was silent for a moment. He looked down into his gin and tonic. When he looked up his face was grave.

‘Do you want the truth?’

‘Of course,’ said Alice, feeling her stomach flip with fear.

Hugh sighed. ‘I used to. I was in with a bad crowd and for a couple of years, I dabbled a bit. It was what people did.’

‘Oh.’

‘But we all do stupid things when we’re young. It’s all behind me now. I wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole these days.’ He smiled. ‘I’m glad it’s out in the open. I don’t want us to have any secrets between us. But it’s not the sort of thing you can just bring up out of the blue, so I’m glad you asked me.’

Alice nodded. ‘Thank you so much for being honest with me. I was worried to death!’

Hugh chuckled. ‘You thought I was going to snort Peasebrook up my nose?’

‘No. I just wanted to know the truth.’

‘Well, now you know my murky past. But I’m a reformed character. So you can tell the rumour-mongers to put a sock in it.’ He grinned. ‘How about you? Have you got any confessions? Any dark secrets you think I should know before it’s too late?’

Alice found herself going red. She told herself it was the heat from the fire.