Free The Red Book of Primrose House: A Potting Shed Mystery (Potting Shed Mystery series 2) by Marty Wingate Page B

she said. “Still…”
    He finished it for her. “It’s better than it might have been—at least you aren’t in Texas.”
    “We’ll see how long that works for us.”
    Before getting in his car, he covered her face with kisses.

Chapter 9
    A pall hung over everyone that morning as they went about their work in the gray light, puffing clouds of fog like steam engines and stamping their feet against the cold ground. Pru couldn’t shake the sadness of Christopher leaving—really, she kept saying to herself, he’s only gone up to London. Ned shuffled around, Fergal worked without speaking, even Liam was subdued, and there was no Robbie to brighten the day with talk of Robin Hood. What pale winter sun there was faded after lunch as clouds drew close, making the day darken even earlier than usual.
    Pru had walked to her cottage at lunch and returned by way of the lower path to the back gate of the walled garden. Preoccupied with thoughts of the next big project—the gardens immediately around the house—the loud voices didn’t register until she walked in and saw Ned and Liam in each other’s faces like two rams about to butt heads.
    “It’s no concern of yours,” Ned growled, his hands clenched at his sides.
    “It bloody well is my concern if you won’t do anything,” Liam shouted back, jabbing his finger at the old man’s chest.
    They both stopped when they realized Pru was there and, without a word, turned and walked off in different directions.
    Her spirits couldn’t have been lower. Here it was Monday, and the week was already a disaster. Fergal stood near the front gate talking with the mason, and she made her way up to them, longing for some peaceful conversation. The mason had packed up and said he would be back the next day, but would have to put off work after that until the following week as he had a job to finish near Lamberhurst.
    Ned appeared around one corner, Liam from the other. They stopped about twenty feet from each other, as if their anger created a force field between them. The silence was deafening.
    “Let’s stop for today, shall we?” Pru said. They had spent the morning spreading more of the manure and had at least made progress. Without comment, Fergal collected and began cleaning off the spades.
    Liam walked toward her, but stopped and turned away when Ned came up first.
    Ned looked over his shoulder before saying, “Another day, Pru, perhaps a quieter day, could we have a chat?”
    They’d had no quieter day than the one just finished, but she could guess that what he meant was a day without Liam. “Sure, Ned, that would be fine. Do you want to stay today and we can talk?”
    “No, not today,” he said, and lifted his chin. “I’ve something to do.”
    “Right, well, any day is fine with me.” He made a movement to leave. “Ned,” she said as an afterthought, “I met Cate.”
    She’d never seen such a smile on him before, revealing a row of too-perfect teeth. “You met my girl? She’s her dad’s pride and joy. And did you meet the wee one?”
    “No,” Pru said, and smiled. “I haven’t met Nanda yet.”
    “Well, she’s a charmer, just like her mum.” Ned straightened his shoulders. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Liam didn’t approach her again, and they all went their separate ways.
    At home, Pru showered and sat at the kitchen table with the Red Book, forgetting her worries as she got lost in Repton’s plan. For each of his clients, including Primrose House, he painted watercolor landscape views as they were, and then cut a horizontal strip out of the paper, keeping it attached at one end. Behind the opening he placed another watercolor that showed what his proposed landscape would look like. It worked like a charm: here’s what you see now; lift the flap and here’s what you’ll see if you hire me. He had been quite a salesman.
    Tires crunched on the gravel outside, bringing Pru back to the twenty-first century. When she opened the door, there