Page 81 of A Christmas Celebration
‘Look,’ I wheedled, ‘I know it’s a lot to ask, but wouldyou consider taking a look at the bit of hall Angus has set his sights on… defacing?’
Albert winced at the word, which had been my intention.
‘Can’t you get photos?’ he asked.
‘I don’t think so,’ I said. ‘Certainly not of the quality you’d need to make a detailed assessment.’
‘In that case, I’m sorry.’ He shrugged. ‘There’s nothing I can do.’
‘It’s such a shame.’ I sighed. ‘I hate the thought of any part of the hall being compromised. It’s such a beautiful building and having recently seen some of Angus’s handiwork for myself…’
‘I know it’s a beautiful place,’ Albert said. ‘I’ve visited in the past. And it’s historically important too. He really shouldn’t be touching any of it given its listed status.’
‘I’m sorry you can’t help, Albert,’ I further said, ‘because you really do sound like someone who could convince him of that.’
‘I’m not up to climbing ladders.’
I daresay ladders hadn’t been climbed to do the work he used to carry out in a very long time.
‘Angus has a cherry picker which he uses to reach the top of the hall,’ I countered. ‘I wouldn’t dare go up in it, but I imagine you must have worked at some heights in your time.’
‘Almost as high as the sky sometimes,’ Albert reminisced.
‘So, the top of Wynthorpe Hall would be a doddle for you, wouldn’t it? And I would have thought there’d be a generous consultancy fee involved.’
‘I wouldn’t want paying,’ Albert sniffed and I knew he was warming to the idea.
‘I could drive you there and back,’ I added temptingly, ‘and it really wouldn’t take any time at all.’
‘And you wouldn’t try to trick me into making a detour to go somewhere else?’
‘Oh, Albert.’ I swallowed, upset to hear the vulnerability in his tone. ‘Of course not.’
‘Because if I do agree to do it, it’ll be straight there and back with no funny business in between.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of trying any funny business,’ I sincerely told him. ‘I just want to save the hall from a great dollop of mortar being applied in the wrong place.’
Albert shook his head at the prospect.
‘All right,’ he eventually said, ‘I’ll come.’
I resisted the urge to jump up and punch the air and settled for giving him a kiss on the cheek instead.
‘There’s no need to go overboard about it,’ he said, but with a smile, ‘and I can’t be away for too long because Bella’s not used to me going out.’
‘We’ll be there and back in a flash,’ I promised, thrilled that I was finally helping him break free from the confines of the cottage.
Chapter 20
Everyone was thrilled when I told them that I’d managed to convince Albert to visit the hall the very next day. I had craftily told him that Angus was in a rush to make the repairs before the Christmas lights went up and the sooner the assessment could be made the better. The reality was that I didn’t want to give him time to stew over the excursion and change his mind and therefore felt the diminutive deception was justified.
During dinner that evening, I reminded everyone that Albert was never to know that I had been talking about him or that it had been my intention to get him away from the cottage to broaden his horizons again.
‘He’s coming in a purely professional capacity,’ I said for about the hundredth time. ‘And it will only be a flying visit. I doubt we’ll even get him inside the hall.’
‘I’m going to prepare a high tea,’ Dorothy said as if she hadn’t heard a word.
‘There’s no need,’ I insisted. ‘Because Albert won’t be coming in.’
