Free Full Circle by Connie Monk Page A

reaction, but it died even as it was born. The man coming towards her was a stranger, and yet there was something vaguely familiar about him.

Three
    â€˜Violet Harding’s niece? But, yes, I can see that you are.’
    â€˜That’s right, Louisa Harding. Are you a neighbour?’ Her smile was welcoming as, leaving her wheelbarrow, she came towards him with her hand outstretched. Surely he couldn’t be from the village; even in a crowded town he would have stood out. Perhaps six foot tall, dark brown hair of the kind that wasn’t quite straight and yet neither was it wavy; it stayed happily as it had been combed without the aid of any hairdressing favoured by so many men. His moustache was well trimmed; his dark eyes seemed to tell her that he found life a very pleasant affair. But more than any of that, there was something in his bearing, his general appearance, which would have set him apart even without the obvious advantage of his good looks. Louisa had never been a regular cinemagoer but, looking at her handsome visitor, her mind took a leap and arrived at Errol Flynn. His answer to her question took her by surprise.
    â€˜Yes and no,’ he said, taking her hand in a firm grasp. ‘I’m Leo Carter—’
    â€˜Leo? But then who took Mr Carter home last night?’
    â€˜It’s last night I wanted to speak to you about,’ he said, not answering her question. ‘I’m sorry about Dad. Are you desperately keen to garden or can we talk for a few minutes?’
    â€˜The garden can wait. But I’d been told Mr Carter was staying with you and Bella, so I naturally assumed that was who took him home.’
    â€˜That was David, my brother. He collected my father from our place yesterday evening and brought him back to the farm. I ought not to have let him come. David stayed the night at the farm and phoned me indecently early this morning. I should have realized that being back here would unsettle my father, but he’d seemed so much better that I honestly thought his mind had adjusted to all that had happened.’
    â€˜Come inside. I see my opposite neighbour has found her casement window needs her attention.’
    Leo Carter laughed, turning to wave a greeting towards the woman opposite who was making pretence of rectifying a fault in the latch of her window. Now, pretending not to notice him, she quickly closed it and moved behind the curtain.
    â€˜Nothing changes,’ Leo said with a chuckle. ‘Yes, let’s go indoors. I’ll give her half an hour and there won’t be a person on the High Street who hasn’t heard that I’ve come a’calling.’ Then, more seriously, ‘Will you mind?’
    â€˜Not in the least, if they have nothing better to think about.’
    She had left the front door propped open and as they reached it he looked back at the middle cottage of the three on the opposite side of the lane and gave a cheery wave.
    â€˜You’ve not changed things much in here,’ he observed as she led the way to the sitting room. ‘No wonder the old boy thought he’d stepped back in time last night. I always liked coming here when I was a kid. She was a pretty special person, your Aunt Violet.’
    â€˜I wish I’d known her properly. I remember her just as a bright light in my early childhood. She was shunned by my family.’
    â€˜And by you, too? Bright lights have a way of holding your attention? Or did your views coincide with those of your family?’
    She felt she ought to have been annoyed by his hint of criticism. Why should she explain herself to this stranger? Whatever the reason, that was exactly what she found herself wanting to do.
    â€˜Apparently she didn’t hold your silence against you,’ he said, the movement of his handsome head indicating that he was referring to the home he’d quickly realized Louisa had inherited.
    â€˜I feel ashamed to think that while I was