Read Online The Courtyard by Marcia Willett - Free Book Online Page A

I’m prejudiced.’ Henry, sensing Nell’s embarrassment, tried to help her overcome it. ‘You must come and see my new development. We’re converting some old barns.’
    â€˜Gussie’s been telling me about it,’ said Nell, accepting the change of direction gladly and ignoring Gillian’s expressions of bored impatience. ‘It sounds very exciting. I should love to see it.’
    â€˜But she’d like some coffee first,’ said Gillian, seeing that Henry was about to take Nell at her word and rush her down the drive. ‘And Gussie, too. They’ve come a long way. I’ll go and tell Mrs Ridley.’
    â€˜And I’ll take my suitcase in.’ Gussie opened the car door. ‘No, no, Henry. I can manage it perfectly well. You stay and talk to Nell.’
    Nell leaned her arms on the stone balustrade and gazed out over the countryside and Henry was able to stare at her in wonder and admiration. Her pale profile was cameo-clear, the heavy hair was thickly braided although tendrils escaped to curl about her face, and her tall slender figure was flattered by the black high-necked jersey, tucked into a long skirt of soft corduroy the colour of pine needles. Henry pulled himself together and cleared his throat.
    â€˜It was very good of you to bring Gussie down.’
    â€˜Not a bit. It was nice for me to have some company.’ Nell continued to stare out, feeling his eyes on her. ‘Is that the Courtyard? Down in the trees there?’
    â€˜Yes. Yes, it is.’ Henry was distracted as she’d hoped he would be.
‘We’ve finished the first cottage. Hoping to sell it so as to get the money to do the second one.’
    â€˜My husband sells houses,’ said Nell lightly. ‘The market’s not too good at the moment, is it?’
    â€˜No,’ said Henry flatly. ‘It isn’t. Simon says we may have missed the boat.’
    â€˜Simon?’
    â€˜Simon Spaders is the architect. He’s made a really good job. You’ll see.
    â€˜Coffee!’ called Gillian. ‘Too cold outside. Mrs Ridley’s put it in the study.’ She smiled at Nell as they came inside. ‘Want to come upstairs first?’
    â€˜Oh, yes please,’ said Nell gratefully.
    â€˜You start pouring, Henry.’ Gillian headed for the stairs, Nell in tow. ‘We shan’t be long.’
    Gillian was nowhere in sight when Nell came out into the corridor again. A little further along a door stood ajar and Nell could hear someone within. She could just see Gillian inside, moving to and fro, humming to herself. Tentatively she pushed the door a little wider and Gillian nodded to her to come in.
    â€˜Want to tidy up a bit?’ she asked and Nell, who had left her bag in the car, indicated her empty hands. ‘Oh, you can use my stuff,’ said Gillian carelessly. She watched as Nell approached the dressing table and made a show of tidying her hair. ‘Why don’t you stay on for a day or two? Do you have to rush away?’
    Nell stared at her in surprise through the glass. ‘Stay on?’
    â€˜Why not? It would be fun to have you here. We could get up a bit of a party.’
    â€˜Well …’ Nell was nonplussed.
    â€˜Why not?’ asked Gillian again. ‘Gussie would be pleased. She could do her Lady Bountiful thing. You know. Pretending Nethercombe is hers. And the way that Henry was looking at you, I can see he’d be only too pleased.’

    Nell turned from the glass. She felt uncomfortable. ‘It’s very kind of you but I don’t think I could. I’ve made arrangements with the girl who keeps an eye on the cottage for us. She’s expecting me.’
    Gillian shrugged. She looked disappointed. ‘Couldn’t you telephone her?’
    Nell was surprised at her insistence. ‘It would be too difficult, I’m afraid. She’ll have got milk and things in for me and probably lit a