Four Hidden Treasures by H L Marsay

Author:H L Marsay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781958686393
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2022-11-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

It was Friday night and Lucy arrived at the White Hart just as the quiz was about to start. Rachel had talked Jo and Meera into joining their team. She’d always been competitive, and it drove her mad that she and Lucy always came last.

“With you being strong on sport, Jo, and Meera’s medical knowledge and reading so much, we might actually win for once,” she said confidently as the four of them took their seats at the table in the window.

Half an hour into the quiz and the other three were huddled together conferring, but Lucy had yet to answer a question. Bored, she looked around at the other tables and noticed Rob sitting with Dan and Ben as usual. She watched as he picked up his phone from the table and motioned to the others that he was going outside to take a call.

“I’ll go get another round in,” she whispered and slipped behind Jack and through into the snug. Guy was there chatting to Shirley, who always took over the bar while Jack acted as compere.

“Hi, Shirley. Please can I have a mineral water, a Stella and two G&Ts.”

“Coming right up, love,” replied the landlady, who was now a henna redhead.

“Have you abandoned your team?” asked Guy.

“Not exactly. I doubt the others have even noticed I’ve gone. It’s the literature round, so I thought I’d leave them to it. I honestly can’t remember the last time I picked up a book,” she said with a shrug, then over Guy’s shoulder she spotted Rob outside. “Would you excuse me for a sec, Guy. I’ll be back for the drinks, Shirley,” she called as she headed to the door. Rob was slipping his phone back into his pocket as Lucy stepped outside. He turned round in surprise when he heard her footsteps.

“Sorry, am I disturbing you?” she asked.

“No, I was just taking a call from my sister. She’s out in New Zealand, and with the time difference it can be difficult to talk to her. Did you want to speak to me?”

“Yes, I’ve got a proposition for you.”

Rob raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Okay go ahead. I can’t remember the last time I was propositioned.”

Lucy felt herself flush, but she wasn’t going to be put off. She’d spent the whole afternoon working out her finances and planning which rooms she could show the agents, scouts, and planners she’d invited to view Hartwell Hall.

“Would a thousand pounds be enough to employ two decorators for a week?”

“Yes, more than enough. Why?”

“Well, I was hoping to use your guys, those who did the Hayloft. I’d like them to do some work up at the house, but it would only be superficial stuff: replacing the worst of the rotten woodwork, painting over the damp patches, papering over the cracks, literally,” she said, her words tumbling out in a rush, but Rob started shaking his head, his expression serious again.

“That will be a waste of their time and your money,” he replied. “It will only last a few months.

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