Page 29 of A French Inheritance
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‘It’s a bit corny, but with the right pictures and the right price on the website, it should work. Schedule it to post several times on Facebook, Instagram and Blue Sky over the next week and there should be some interest.’
‘I’ll see what I can do this evening,’ Lucy said. ‘Unless you have time to stay this afternoon and work on it?’
‘Have you got Photoshop on the computer? Good. I’ll sort an advert out for you. If you’re happy with it, try and upload it this evening. You’ll need to add the Stables to the booking form on the website with the prices and everything.’
Briony made several small Canva adverts with the photos she’d taken. After Lucy had given her the password for the website, she’d made a few adjustments to it, as well as adding the booking form for the Stables. Now it was up to Lucy to approve what she’d done, decide where she wanted the adverts shown and then schedule the days and times.
It was late afternoon when Lucy poked her head around the office door. ‘Time you were off. Want a cuppa before you go?’
‘No thanks,’ Briony said. ‘You wouldn’t have an umbrella I could borrow, would you?’ During the afternoon, the weather had changed and looking out of the window Briony could see a gentle drizzle was now wetting the ground.
‘Of course, lots in the utility room.’
Downstairs, Lucy handed her a brightly coloured umbrella.
‘Mind how you go on the track, it can get slippery in places. See you Monday.’
Once back at the cottage, Briony dried herself off and started to think about a meal. For some reason, she really fancied a cheese and tomato toasty, something Giselle had made for her many times in the past when she’d been staying with her. She opened a couple of the units under the work surface. Bowls, plates, Kenwood mixer, and right at the back a modern version of the sandwich maker she remembered. Result, and she set to work to make a toasty cheese sandwich.
Briony had barely finished the delicious sandwich when her mother rang, anxious for an update and to tell her how things were progressing at her end.
‘Gerry is coming Monday to start packing up my personal stuff, before loading the furniture and everything I’m bringing into the van. He’s booked the overnight ferry for Thursday. He’s still planning on taking his time and he thinks he’ll probably arrive with you either the following Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning.’
‘Okay, so that gives me just over a week to make some room for things,’ Briony said. ‘Has the house gone on the market yet?’
‘I’ve got the first viewings next week. The agent says the advert in the paper has generated a lot of interest, so fingers crossed,’ Jeannie said. ‘How’s your first few days gone?’
‘Good. Started to clear the sitting room a little. Had my first day as Girl Friday today, and Lucy and I seem to work well together. She’s giving me a lift to the supermarket on Monday so I can stock up on food and stuff. When do you reckon you’ll be able to get back here?’
Jeannie sighed. ‘Not sure. I can’t wait to get back down and help you sort out the cottage. It’s cold here too. Not seen the sun since I returned.’
‘It’s raining here at the moment, if that makes you feel any better,’ Briony said laughing. ‘Right, I’m going to have a quick walk to the lake before it gets dark. Talk soon. Love you, Mum. Bye.’
22
The rain had slowed down when Briony pulled on her wellington boots and an ancient waterproof coat of Giselle’s still hanging on a peg by the back door and set off for the lake.
Nearing the lake, she saw Elliot standing on the edge. She hesitated. Maybe she should turn back. Elliot deserved time on his own as much as she did. Besides, she wasn’t ready for another skirmish with him. But Luna had already spotted her and raced over. Mindful of Elliot’s reaction the last time they’d spoken, Briony tried to curb her own enthusiasm for seeing the dog, as well as keep the conversation on safe neutral ground – like the weather.
‘Everything always smells so fresh after a rain shower,’ she said, sniffing the air and smiling brightly at him as she looked around. ‘Too late for sun, so no possibility of a rainbow this evening.’
‘We’ll have to make do with the rainbows on your boots,’ Elliot said.
Briony giggled and glanced down. ‘Luckily I’ve got small feet as they were in the children’s department. One of the few advantages of only being five feet nothing,’ she said.
‘How’s sorting out the cottage coming along?’ Elliot asked.
‘Slowly. I’d made up my mind to rearrange the sitting-room furniture but didn’t get past the first hurdle of moving the Chesterfield settees; they are so heavy. I’m going to have to wait until Gerry and the removal van from England arrive in about ten days. So, in the meantime, I’m boxing up miscellaneous stuff instead. I’m going to start on the kitchen cupboards next.’
‘I can give you a hand with the settees if you’d like me to,’ Elliot offered.
‘Oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that.’ Briony shook her head instantly, hoping she’d managed to hide her start of surprise at the suggestion. ‘The rain is getting heavier again. I think I’m going to make for home.’
‘You didn’t ask, I’m offering. No time like the present. Come on, you can show me the inside of Owls Nest, I’ve always wanted to see inside the cottage and at least we’ll be out of the rain,’ and Elliot started to walk in the direction of the cottage, Luna trotting at his side.
Briony stared after him for several seconds, unable to fathom why he’d made such an unexpected offer. There had to be more to it than just wanting to view the cottage. She saw him glance back to see where she was, so she started hurrying to catch him up.
