Page 3 of Right Place, Right Time
‘Because this is a Georgian house,’ I hurriedly explain, wishing I never started this. ‘And—’
‘I know who Mr Darcy is,’ he says firmly, breaking his silence. ‘You are, I assume, referring to the Jane Austen character Fitzwilliam Darcy from the novelPride and Prejudice?’
Oh, God. Did I go too far? Have I blown this deal before I’ve even set foot inside the house? He doesn’t look too happy …
But then, to my enormous relief, Adam smiles again. ‘Touché,’ he says. ‘I like your style, Eve.’
‘Perhaps we should start again,’ I say, smiling back at him. ‘My name is Eve Sinclair from Rainy Day Antiques, and I’m very pleased to meet you.’ I formally hold out my hand for him to shake.
Adam takes my hand, but he doesn’t shake it. Instead he holds my fingertips and takes a long bow. ‘Adam Darcy at your service, madam. Won’t you please come into my humble abode.’ He gestures behind him into the house.
As I follow Adam into the large entrance hall, I take a quick look at my watch. I must be back in Clockmaker Court by five; I can’t let the others down when they’vegone to so much effort for me. But I have a feeling after our initial conversation that this visit might not be quite as simple as I originally hoped.
‘Adam and Eve, though?’ Adam says, closing the door behind me. ‘I mean, what are the chances of that?’ As he smiles, I notice two dimples appear through the dark stubble that covers his cheeks and his square jaw.
‘I guess it had to happen sometime,’ I reply brightly. I’ve decided the only way to deal with Adam, and to actually get to look around this house properly and get back to the court by five, is to play along with his fun. ‘Are you saying you’ve never met anyone called Eve before?’
He considers this for a moment. ‘Don’t think I have, no.’
‘I’ve met plenty of Adams,’ I say quickly, not actually remembering if I have or not. ‘It’s quite a common name among men of your age.’
Adam tips his head back and laughs loudly. ‘Well, that put me in my place!’ he says, still smiling.
I didn’t mean that as an insult at all and I’m about to apologise when he asks, ‘How old do you think I am?’
Even though Adam is dressed in quite a young, casual way, the lines at the side of his eyes and across his forehead suggest otherwise.
‘Hmm … forty, maybe?’ I know this sort of question never ends well.
‘Very good. I am indeed forty. Forty today, actually.’
‘You’re a leap-year baby,’ I say before I’ve thought it through.
‘I am.’ He looks suspiciously at me. ‘Most people would say happy birthday if I told them it was my birthday today. They wouldn’t immediately think of the leap-year thing unless …’
‘Unless?’ I ask innocently.
‘Unless they were one too … is it your birthday today, by any chance?’
‘It is, actually. But I’m not as old as you.’
Again, Adam grins. Nothing seems to annoy him.
‘Dare I ask just how oldyouare then, Eve? Do not ask me to guess. You never guess a woman’s age – it’s always asking for trouble.’
‘I’m thirty-six today,’ I tell him.
‘Really? Then many happy returns to you.’
‘And a very happy birthday to you too,’ I reply awkwardly. I glance around me. ‘Should we take a look at the house now?’
‘Of course. I thought you’d never ask. Where would you like to start?’
Over the next half an hour or so, Adam leads me around the large house, which although old-fashioned and traditionally furnished, is immaculately kept. As we walk, I spy various antiques and valuable items that I know I’ll be able to make a profit with if I play this right, so I hurriedly scribble notes in my book as we go from room to room, which for some reason Adam seems to find amusing.
‘What are you writing about?’ he asks as we pause in the dining room. ‘I mean, I know you’re making note of anything valuable, but what’s all the detail about?’
‘I don’t just deal in values when it comes to an object. I like to write down what I think its provenance will be – where it might have come from originally,’ I add, noting down a pair of pretty-looking candlesticks carved in wood, likely oak, rather than the usual silver so often seen in this type of property.
