entire weekend.
“Dorlan Grange,” she enthused. “You, me and host of gorgeous men - what d’you think?”
I should have taken more heed of it then, but I didn’t. It was that name – Dorlan Grange . Despite never having heard it before it somehow sounded familiar but not familiar in a good way. The sound of it sent prickles of electricity up and down my spine. A feeling I didn’t like at all.
But that’s not what I said to Jane. I told her , why not , clapped my hands and hugged her for inviting me. We were going to a party, in the pretty English countryside with plenty of new contacts to meet and impress. Any one of them might just offer me a new job. I was very enthusiastic, it’s exactly what I needed right now.”
Dorlan Grange – despite the name giving me the jitters it did sound very grand. How I wondered had Jane got to know someone with an address like that.
“A customer,” she informed me wide eyed with a casual wave of her hand.
But I know that look. It was the look she always had when there was an ulterior motive. She’d obviously met someone she fancied and wanted to drag me along for moral support.
“ He’s called Anton and he really is something special and so keen for us to go. And when we get there I won’t leave you on your own, honestly.”
That seemed fair enough, so funny feelings about the place or not, I agreed to go.
Come Saturday morning we’d packed far more than we needed into Jane’s small car and armed with my brother’s old sat nav we were off. Leaving London far behind an hour or so later we were in the glorious Sussex countryside and getting more and more excited about the weekend as every mile passed.
“Anton who ?” I ask finally, wondering how much Jane actually knows about this new man in her life.
“Anto n Mortimer,” she replies squeezing the steering wheel with excitement. “I met him in town - he came into the shop where I work. He’s really gorgeous, Rosa, and I like him a lot. I don’t seem to be able to help myself.”
“Is he wealthy? I mean who had a house called a Grange out in the sticks without having a pile of cash stashed away?”
“I think he inherited the house but I don’t really know. When I know him better I’ll ask,” she giggled. “I’d like to know just rich he really is before I commit,” she teased.
Gorgeous and rich – there must be a catch. I mean this Anton appeared to be the perfect package a nd that just wasn’t possible - was it? And Jane had history. She always seemed to attract the wrong sort of man. The wealthy, handsome, wants to get right down to it type of man. I pursed my lips thoughtfully, there was always a catch. The last one had a wife and that didn’t sit well once Jane found out. She’d only just got over almost being the other woman in a divorce suit so I couldn’t help but wonder what problems this Anton would bring with him.
“Shit, it’s enormous,” Jane gasped staring at the impressive building we could just see at the end of an extremely narrow and overgrown lane.
Yes it was but a ll I could think about was whether Jane could negotiate the distance without her car getting scratched to bits.
“It l ooks old too,” I add. “Old, enormous and hell to heat I’d imagine,” I added letting my thrifty streak show. Give me a nice, small double glazed apartment in winter anytime! But all this chat was just a cover up because they were back, the nerves. Just looking at the place gave me the oddest feeling and I couldn’t explain it. I certainly couldn’t say anything to Jane but I had the distinct impression I’d seen the place before.
“Anton said to ring when we got here and his butler wil l come and get our bags.” She nodded at a small parking spot across from the turn in to the lane. “He said we could leave the car there. No one comes up here so it will be quite safe,” she reassured. “Imagine
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