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to the ground from the tree above.
 Can t you behave like a normal person, she
snapped sharply,  you frightened the life out of me.
Hiding in trees like a schoolboy.
Jacob looked defensive.  I was just inspecting the
branches in the tree, to see what damage had been
done to them. I call that normal behaviour, even if you
don t.
Belinda silently cursed him. He was a pain, she
decided, but he might be able to help her with the
garden, so she determined to humour him.
 I was thinking about repairing the garden, and
Rosemary suggested that you might be able to help
me.
 Do you mean it? Jacob said earnestly.  Because
for years I tried to talk the old battleaxe  begging your
pardon  your aunt, into permitting me to restore it, but
she kept to herself most of the time and would have
none of it.
 Well, if I do stay here I shall want the garden neat
and tidy, and the same applies if I should decide to
sell. I intend to do some of the repairs to the house
myself, such as painting and wallpapering, so I won t
have time to do the garden as well. Rosemary tells me
that you do landscape gardening. What would it cost if
you were to do the garden for me?
Jacob cast his eye over the jungle of weeds and
overgrown shrubs and slowly scratched his head.  Ah,
Miss. That s the question. I shouldn t like to say until I
had the chance to inspect the damage done and lay
out some plans for you.
 Plans? asked Belinda, sudden doubts assailing
her. Plans suggested time and paperwork and that
added up to money unnecessarily spent.  Why would
you need plans? Couldn t you just set out a garden & ?
Jacob eyed her questioningly.
 I could, but what d you mean when you say  a
garden ?
Belinda floundered.  Just & a garden. You know. A
country garden & am I making sense?
 Well, Miss. If it s a country cottage garden you
want, that may take a little time. It appears that the
original garden laid down here was something more
than that, and it will take some time and effort to turn it
back into what you want, always supposing &  He left
the statement unfinished. Belinda glared at him.
 Always supposing what? she demanded.
Jacob scratched his head again and shuffled his
feet.
 Begging your pardon, Miss, always supposing you
really know what you want.
He glanced up to Belinda s face and was met by a
steely gaze. Belinda swallowed hard and with great
restraint idly kicked a weed with her foot  instead of
his head as she wished.
 Mr Aitkins, I think it may be assumed that I do know
what I want, and I would be pleased if you d provide
me with a quote for renovating the garden. Firstly
clearing it, so that it becomes workable, then I &  She
hesitated, and glanced away from Jacob.  Or perhaps
& we & can decide just what sort of a garden it should
be.
Jacob smiled and placed his cloth cap on his fair
head. He nodded and pulled a small worn notebook
from his pocket.
 Certainly, Miss. I shall need access to the garden
for a few days to determine what needs to be done & 
 Oh, that s all right, said Belinda, walking towards
the cottage door,  I shall be going back to London on
Monday and it will be a week or so before I return, so
please, take as much time as you like and come here
whenever you need. She stopped at the porch, folded
her arms and leant against the doorframe. Jacob
followed making pencilled observations in the
notebook.
 Are you frightened you ll forget? Belinda asked
mockingly.
 No, replied Jacob slowly, as he put away the pad
and pencil,  I always keep a note of any job I begin. A
job I mean to finish, that is. He thrust his hands in his
hip pockets and stood for a moment looking at her, a
happy smile on his handsome face. Belinda shifted
uneasily under his inspection.
 Well, I ll say goodbye then, he said, lifting his cap,
 and I ll have a quote for you when you re next in the
village. He paused, glanced away, and then back at
Belinda.  And, might I say, it will be a pleasure having
you as a neighbour, Miss.
With a nod of his head he walked down the path
and onto the road. Belinda watched him stride away,
his long legs thrusting firmly down at each step and his
broad shoulders swinging to an unheard natural
rhythm. She smiled to herself and had to admit, once
again, that he might be dim, he might be irritating, but
he was an attractive creature.
Belinda spent the next few hours exploring the cottage.
The first task was the most unpleasant. With an
archaic mop and a bucket of water she cleaned the
blood from the floor. The water coloured a light ruby,
and Belinda reverently poured it over the rudimentary
tips of some crocuses. She said a little prayer, wiped
her misty eyes, and turned resolutely to the task of
cleaning her house.
Her house.
Belinda s breast swelled with pleasure as she gazed
at the facade of the building. The windows of the top [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]