The Foundling’s Daughter by Ann Bennett

Author:Ann Bennett [Bennett, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Andaman Press
Published: 2018-11-30T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Back at Cedar Lodge, Sarah continues stripping wallpaper in the study. She makes quick progress, singing along to the radio. The paper falls in great sodden curls onto the groundsheet. She’s surprised how quickly the time passes. Darkness falls, and she gets down from the chair and switches on the light so she can see to carry on. When the doorbell rings she realises with surprise that it’s after four o’ clock.

‘Mrs Jennings?’ The builder stands on the porch. A balding man in his fifties. She invites him in. He steps inside the hall and looks around him warily. He seems nervous. Perhaps he’s shy, Sarah wonders.

‘Come through to the kitchen. Would you like tea?’

‘Don’t mind if I do. Two sugars if that’s alright. Miss B didn’t ever used to have sugar in. Didn’t approve of it.’

Sarah looks up from putting the kettle on. ‘So, you know the house?’

‘Oh yes. I used to come and do odd jobs from time to time. Needs a proper going over, though. I used to tell Miss B that, but I don’t think she wanted to spend anything on the place.’

‘No. It looks as though the roof and gutters need attention. And of course the windows all need painting and renovating outside. Is that something you could quote for?’

He nods. ‘I’ll have to look in daylight, but I don’t think you need a new roof. We should be able to patch it up. Replace some of the tiles.’

‘That’s good news. I’ve also got some ideas for a few changes inside. Shall I show you round? We can bring our tea.’

He follows her around the ground floor as she explains her plans.

‘It’s mostly decorating as you’ll see. The only structural thing I’d like to do is to open the kitchen out into the conservatory. Make it all one big room.’

He nods approvingly. ‘Yep. We can take down the back kitchen wall. Put an RSJ in there to hold it up. There’ll be a step down, of course. Floor levels are different. But I can deal with all that. No problem.’

They pass the study door. Sarah follows his eyes as he glances inside.

‘I’ve made a start on the decorating myself, actually,’ she says. Then she sees he’s staring at the exposed wall cupboard.

‘It was very odd. I found that cupboard completely sealed up under the plaster when I took the paper off.’

He laughs. ‘Sealed it up myself. Only last year as a matter of fact. Couldn’t fathom why the old girl wanted that done, but she insisted.’

‘It was very strange. There were some interesting things in there too.’

‘Really? She said there was only old junk in there.’ He laughs again. ‘Well, she always was a strange one, Miss B. Probably lost her marbles. She must have been well on the way before.’

‘Why do you say that?’ Sarah asks.

‘Very strange family, the Burroughs. Her and the sister, Miss Evie. Lived like church mice they did, in their old age. This old place falling down around their ears.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.