Read Online Buried in Cornwall by Janie Bolitho - Free Book Online Page A

‘Not since we were at Stella’s. Why? What’s wrong?’
    ‘Probably nothing. She came to see me afterwards. Rose, I ought to have told you sooner, we were once …’
    ‘Yes. I thought so. You don’t have to explain, Nick.’ And she meant it. At least he was being honest with her.
    ‘Well, good. Anyway, as I was saying, she came up here wanting to make a go of things again. It was all over more than six months ago and there was no chance of my agreeing. In retrospect I see I could’ve been kinder. She was in a bit of a state when she left. Maddy rang me to say she’d seen her running down the road in tears.’
    Rose couldn’t see where this was leading.
    ‘I felt bad about it. I mean, I loved the girl once. Did you know she’s staying in a squat?’
    ‘No. I didn’t.’
    ‘Well, nor did I until today. I went down there. The crowd she shares with haven’t seen her since yesterday morning. We know she was all rightwhen she left my place. I’m probably worrying about nothing, Jenny can look after herself. If she was that upset she may not have fancied facing her friends.’
    ‘But why would I have seen her?’
    ‘Oh, God. Look, I just thought, well, she made one or two insinuations about us. She was drunk and upset. I thought she may have come to see you, to persuade you to give me up or to put you off me. Besides, you’re out and about a lot, I thought you may simply have run into her somewhere.’
    ‘No, Nick, I’m sorry. The last time I saw her she was still at Stella’s.’
    ‘Okay, thanks anyway. I expect she’ll turn up when she’s got whatever it is out of her system. I hope I’m not interrupting anything?’ he asked with a question in his voice.
    Rose hesitated. ‘I’ve got a dinner guest.’
    ‘I see.’
    No, you don’t, she thought, but was not prepared to explain.
    ‘Rose, can I still see you next Saturday? We could make a day of it, go to Truro and shop and have a meal.’
    She was surprised that she didn’t hesitate in agreeing. ‘I shall look forward to it,’ she said.And that was as much encouragement as Nick Pascoe was getting. If he was so worried about Jenny, a girl, or woman, with whom he had once been close, one who now chose to live or sleep wherever she pleased, then he must still care for her. It was none of her business. She still loved David and always would. You don’t necessarily stop caring for someone just because you’re no longer together, she reminded herself.
    Putting on a cheerful smile she returned to the kitchen to find Barry cleaning his glasses on the edge of the tablecloth in a manner so nonchalant she guessed he had made a determined effort not to eavesdrop on her side of the conversation. She felt exhausted and was glad when he said he must go because he was seeing another of his artists early in the morning.
    As she lay in bed the weather began to echo the turmoil of her thoughts. The breeze, which had sent tremors through the shrubs as Barry was leaving, gained strength and whistled in the chimney breast. The windows rattled as the wind increased to gale force. The house was taking the blasts from the front. Rose was unconcerned about damage. The place had survived numerous storms, worse ones than this, and the roof had been replaced a coupleof years ago after slates had been ripped off and flung into the garden.
    In the end she had decided against telling Barry what had happened. For once she would have welcomed the listening ear of Jack Pearce and almost found herself missing him. Perhaps, she admitted, that was only because he was a foil for her eccentric friends.
    Rose did not believe that Jenny was the sort of girl to do a disappearing act simply to gain the attention of a man, but she didn’t know her well enough to be certain. And there was, she decided as she turned over to find a more comfortable position, little enough for Jenny to be jealous of. If anything, it ought to be the reverse. Jenny was young and beautiful with a softness of