Free Escape to the Country by Patsy Collins Page B

try not
to say anything against that miserable, sexist, snivelling excuse
for..." she giggled. "Sorry, I was teasing. Your face
though, you looked almost as though it were you I was insulting. I
won't be rude about him and won't expect you to be disloyal."
She wished she hadn't ranted quite so much about his boss, being so
mean didn't exactly put her in a good light. She wasn't even sure she
was right. His request to have his accounts checked had, she could
see now, been perfectly reasonable, not a deliberate attack on her.
Maybe she'd also misinterpreted everything else she'd heard about
him.
"So, would you like to tell me what your problem is?
Maybe I can help," Duncan said.
    She blinked. How could he help with her problems. Then the penny
dropped.
    "The rain. There's nearly as much of it inside Jayne's room as
outside. It's worse in some ways as it keeps on dripping after the
rain has stopped and it smells awful and stains her clothes and the
walls and everything."
    "Oh dear. I knew the thatch needed attention, but had no idea
the problem was as bad as that."
    "No, well you wouldn't. I don't suppose even Gilmore-Bunce does
really, because Jayne didn't make much of a fuss. I told her she
should have been more assertive."
    "Trouble is, there aren't so many people who do thatching
anymore. It's not going to be easy to get the thatch replaced
quickly."
    "I suppose not," she admitted grudgingly. Yet another black
mark she'd wrongly put against Gilmore-Bunce. "Actually,
flooding in is an exaggeration, but there is a leak in her bedroom
and some of her clothes got damp."
    "How about covering the roof with a tarpaulin sheet? It'll look
awful, but perhaps be better than nothing?"
    "Could that be done quickly?"
    "Yes, I'll make sure it is."
    "Thanks, that's wonderful. Thanks very much, Duncan."
    He looked surprised.
    Leah blushed. "When you helped me out last time, I mentioned you
to my aunt. She asked around and found out there was a new man who'd
started and learnt your name. I'm afraid she's a bit nosy."
    "Don't worry, Leah. We're all a bit like that round here,"
he reassured her. He smiled, but didn't say anything else, so she had
no reason to stay.
    "Well, thanks again."
    As she walked home with Tarragon she realised he'd used her name.
Obviously Jayne wasn't the only one who'd been asking around.
    "Here boy," she called Tarragon. "Have some chews."

    Chapter 6

    A few days later, Leah finished washing up and stood at the kitchen
window looking out at Jayne who was standing in the yard as though
she were waiting for someone. Leah hoped it was because she could see
or hear Duncan coming to fix the roof. Leah rushed back downstairs
after changing into more flattering and less smelly clothes, combing
her hair, adding another coat of lipgloss and applying mascara, to
see Jayne still in the yard.
    Assuming Jayne was waiting for Duncan had just been wishful thinking
brought on by her desire to see him she realised. Leah went out to
her.
    "Jayne, are you OK?"
    "What? Oh, yes, yes, of course."
    "It's just that you've been stood there for a long time."
    "Have I? Yes, sorry I suppose I have. I was just thinking."
She gave an unconvincing laugh. "Nothing to do but think around
here these days. We've done a brilliant job catching up with all the
little jobs that had sort of got missed lately. I'm so glad you're
here, lovey."
    Despite her smile, it didn't seem that Jayne was completely happy.
Leah was sure something was worrying her and guessed the last comment
wasn't just because of the work Leah had done.
    "Jayne, what's wrong?"
    "As we've caught up, I've got time to give you a milking
lesson," Jayne said briskly.
    Leah allowed her to change the subject. "But you don't usually
start until about four."
    "No, but I finish by quarter past."
    "You think it'll take me nearly two hours to get the hang of
it?" Leah asked and gave a mock pout.
    "You'll see. Come on." Whatever had been worrying Jayne,
she seemed to have put it out of her