Page 118 of For Love or Money
Stella shook her head. ‘Not necessarily. There are a lot of restrictions on what you can do with a listed building, aren’t there?’ she said to Hilary.
‘Well ... yes,’ she admitted reluctantly.
‘If it needs a lot of work, it might be more trouble than it’s worth.’
Hilary sighed as Stella handed her back the brochure. ‘Perhaps you should tell me precisely what you’re looking for, so we don’t waste anyone’s time.’
‘Well, nothing north-facing,’ Stella said. ‘South-west ideally – and take it as read that we’re talking about the back aspect – but south or west is acceptable, and we might consider east at a pinch.’ She looked to Rafe for confirmation and he shrugged. ‘Somewhere in the Dalkey/Killiney area, and not listed if it needs a lot of renovation.’
Hilary was making notes on a pad as Stella spoke. ‘Children?’ she asked, looking up.
‘Excuse me?’ Stella stuttered.
‘Sure, I wouldn’t mind a couple of children thrown in,’ Rafe said. ‘Are they extra?’
Hilary smiled tightly, clearly not amused. ‘I mean, do you have any children?’
‘Oh, no, we’re not – I mean, we aren’t—’ Stella stammered, blushing. She’d let it go if it weren’t for the fact that Rafe was famous. But as it was, she felt it necessary to set the record straight.
‘Any plans to start a family in the near future?’ Hilary pressed on. ‘Or will it just be the two of you?’ she asked.
Was she just trying to get gossip about Rafe, Stella wondered.
‘We’re not ... together,’ Rafe said.
‘Oh?’
‘No,’ Stella told her. ‘The house is for Rafe. I’m just helping him look.’
‘Ah, very good.’ Hilary straightened. ‘Schools aren’t a concern for you, then,’ she said, ticking a box on her checklist. ‘Well,’ she said briskly, snapping her briefcase closed, ‘I have a much clearer idea of what we’re looking for now. Leave it with me.’ She started leading the way to the door.
‘I’ll be in touch,’ she said, showing them out. ‘You know,’ she said to Rafe as they were about to leave, ‘since the property is just for you, perhaps it would be better if you did the viewings on your own. No point in being influenced by someone who won’t be living there,’ she said with a sour look at Stella. ‘I mean, it’s how it feels to you that counts, isn’t it?’ She flashed Rafe a flirtatious smile.
‘Thanks for the suggestion,’ Rafe said smoothly, ‘but I trust Stella’s judgement. She’s much better at all this than I am. I’d probably have let you sell me this house just because I liked the idea of sitting at the garden table.’
‘Oh.’ Hilary pursed her lips. ‘Well, whatever you think best, of course. But you know, there are many advantages to a north-facing garden.’
‘Really?’ Stella asked sceptically. ‘Such as?’
Hilary looked stumped for a moment. Then she brightened. ‘Skin cancer!’
‘Oh? That’s an advantage?’
‘What I mean is, a shaded garden allows you to enjoy the fresh air without worrying about melanoma.’
‘I’ll buy a hat,’ Rafe said. ‘Then I can have the best of both worlds.’
‘Right.’ Hilary nodded. ‘Great idea!’
‘I don’t thinkHilary likes me very much,’ Stella said as they walked back to Rafe’s car.
‘No, she’s got you down as a troublemaker.’
‘You, on the other hand ... ‘
‘Oh, she definitely likes me.’
After several days of house-hunting, Stella was getting used to the reaction Rafe got from women whenever he turned up. There was a lot of fluttering, and even if they weren’t openly flirting, there was always a sense of heightened awareness.
