Page 44 of One Cornish Summer With You

‘It’s low tide around four p.m.’

‘OK. I have Friday as a day owing after all the hours I’ve put in. I’ll make sure I’m there in good time. Should I stay up on the cliffs or are spectators allowed on to the beach?’

‘Not close enough to speak to me,’ Tammy said, ‘and actually, I was going to ask if you’d like to come along and help me?’

He gasped. ‘Me help you with the design?’

She laughed at his astonished expression. ‘Yes. You. You’ve had some training, you know about my designs and, to be honest, I could do with the moral support. I can find you a spare pass … if you want to, that is?’ she added hopefully.

He broke into a delighted smile. ‘Wild horses won’t keep me away.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

‘Ruan. Thank God I caught you: I was worried you were out somewhere trying to kill yourself with that kite contraption!’

‘I’m definitely not on the water at the moment, Hector,’ Ruan said, eyeing the hedge cutter that was proving no match for the jungle blocking his view of the cove.

But it’s my day off,Ruan thought.And Imighthave been on the water or somewhere with no signal and, more importantly, I’m going to help Tammy.

He had a horrible feeling Hector was about to slosh a bucket of cold water on those plans.

‘Good, and if you were intending to go surfing, I’m afraid you’ll to have to cancel it because whatever plans you have this morning, shelve them. You can have the time off another time.’

‘OK. I actually do have an appointment this afternoon,’ he said firmly. ‘However, I can see Lady Paulina this morning.’

‘Oh, for God’s sake don’t call her Lady Paulina. She hates all that sycophantic fawning. Just Polly will do, or Mrs Tremain if you don’t feel comfortable with first names.’

Ruan didn’t when he’d never met the client.

‘I wouldn’t normally intrude on your day off and I won’tmake a habit of it,’ Hector said, making Ruan resist the urge to snort in derision, ‘but it’s vital we put on a good show. Polly wants you to see the Tremain estate first hand so you can get an idea of what you’ll be dealing with if we’re going to be managing her legal affairs. I also think that’s a good plan, but even if I didn’t, I’d want you to attend. This is the first time the Tremain estate has needed a quick response, and we need to step up.’

‘I’ll have to go and get changed,’ Ruan said. ‘I’m in my scruffy gardening gear.’

Hector bellowed with laughter. ‘Polly would probably like it if you turned up all hot and sweaty like some Mellors figure. She’s rarely found out of her jodhpurs. Smarten up if you must but take some wellingtons. She might be out in the stables. She’s expecting you at eleven.

‘That’s fine,’ Ruan said, thanking his lucky stars that he was required this morning and not in the afternoon. Not that he would have let Tammy down for anyone – not even royalty. ‘I’ll be there,’ he added, deciding he’d put his beach clothes in the car and head straight to the festival from the meeting.

It was a nuisance to have to sacrifice his gardening for work, but on the upside, the Tremain estate was halfway to OceanFest. And from the sound of it, its owner might prove quite entertaining. Whether it would be in a good way, he’d no idea, but his main aim was to get the job done and hotfoot it to the festival.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Davey handed a chipped mug to Tammy before she set off for the festival. His apron hung over the chair in his studio and there were smears of clay on his face. ‘Sorry I can’t be with you today and tomorrow afternoon, but I’ll be there on Sunday evening. Breda’s daughter needs her to babysit this afternoon so I have to work in the gallery and I can’t leave her on her own on a Saturday.’

Even though she was too keyed up to enjoy the tea, Tammy took it. ‘Thanks and it’s fine,’ she said breezily. ‘You’ll be super busy in there with all the weekend visitors. All those mums and dads who’ve rented a place round here while their grown-up kids go to the festival.’

‘Hmm. Are you saying I have mature clientele in the gallery?’

‘Who else can afford the stuff?’

Davey spluttered his tea. ‘Cheek.’ Then he rolled his eyes and looked her up and down. ‘Are you sure you shouldn’t have lunch? You’ll need plenty of energy to draw that big design.’

‘I’m OK. I had some toast mid-morning and I’ve got fruit and cereal bars and plenty of water. You can inspect my lunch bag if you like.’

‘No thanks. Not if it’s full of healthy stuff. You should have had a fry-up like I did.’

Tammy wrinkled her nose. ‘Not when I have to bend over a rake for hours. Look, I have done this before, you know, and I think I’d be more nervous if you were there fussing around.’ She delivered this with a grin and put her mug down on the table. ‘I have to go. Thanks for the tea and for caring.’

‘Hmph,’ Davey said. ‘Let me know how it goes and send photos.’

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