Marrying Simone by Anna Jacobs

Author:Anna Jacobs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2020-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Russ stopped the car in front of the gates of Pennerton House. ‘Ready to enter the lion’s den?’

Simone smiled. ‘Yes, of course. Someone’s even opened the gates so maybe they’re friendly lions today. The gates were firmly closed on the world last time.’

He set off down the drive and stopped the car in front of the double doors. ‘You’ve got my number. I’ll only be ten minutes or so away.’

‘I know. You’ve said that three times.’ She got out of the car.

The right-hand part of the front door opened before she reached it and a woman of about her own age stood smiling at her. She smiled back then turned to wave goodbye to Russ. She doubted she’d need her personal Sir Galahad to rescue her but it was nice to know Russ was going to be nearby.

‘Welcome to Pennerton House, Simone. I’m Elizabeth, Henrietta’s secretary.’

‘Lovely to meet you.’

‘Don’t you have a car of your own? We’d have sent one for you if we’d known.’

‘I do have one, but my neighbour was coming to this district on business, so we decided to travel together and perhaps explore a little more later this afternoon.’

‘He must be a nice neighbour. Now, Henrietta is waiting for you impatiently. Just one thing, if you don’t mind me saying it: please don’t treat her as if her brain is slower than yours just because she’s old and physically slower. She’s as quick-witted as anyone I’ve ever met.’

‘I’d never do that.’

‘Some people do. They speak slowly and clearly to her, using simpler words as if she’s an idiot and it absolutely infuriates her. Give me your jacket and I’ll hang it up before I take you through.’

They went into a cosy little sitting room. ‘Oh!’ Simone stopped in surprise because her hostess bore a distinct resemblance to her mother, or what her mother might look like in another ten years.

‘Is something wrong?’ Henrietta asked.

‘No.’ She explained what had surprised her and got out her phone to show a photo of her mother and prove it.

‘You carry a photo of her around with you?’

Simone smiled. ‘I’ve got all my family with me, which includes two daughters and four grandchildren.’

‘May I see them?’ Henrietta patted the sofa beside her.

Simone sat down next to her and went through a few of her family photos.

‘I like that you carry them with you. I envy you your big family. I never had the chance to marry, spent a lot of my later years looking after my parents and then my brother. Now I’m the last of my generation and have only distant relatives.’

‘That must be lonely, to have no one who shares your early experience of life, I mean.’

‘It is. However comfortably one is cared for, and I can’t fault my dear Elizabeth for that, some shared childhood memories would be enjoyable.’ Henrietta smiled across at the woman who’d let Simone into the house as she spoke. ‘Perhaps you’ll tell Jane we’re ready for lunch now, dear?’ She turned back to Simone.

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