Page 31 of Wild About You

George and Roshni arrived the next day in a hybrid 4x4 right in the middle of visitor hours. I noticed a streak of blue pass the office windows and looked out to see touristsscattering and gravel flying as it ground to a halt on the far edge of the carriage drive. Feeling a jab of nerves in my stomach, I took a few deep breaths. Was I ever going to feel confident about being around the landed gentry?

A strikingly elegant woman dressed in cream who I took to be Roshni, Jamie’s sister-in-law, unfolded herself from the front seat of the car. ‘I’m so sorry, Jamie,’ she said, opening her arms as Jamie arrived on the scene. ‘I shouldn’t let George drive outside London. He gets overexcited.’

I didn’t catch Jamie’s response because two young boys were tumbling out of the car, talking nineteen to the dozen and addressing many questions to their uncle.

‘Uncle Jamie, where’s Hugo?’

‘Uncle Jamie, is there cake for tea?’

‘Uncle Jamie, are we going to go fishing?’

The man who’d been driving had now joined them, floppy-fringed with a broad grin. I saw the resemblance to Jamie – the clear-cut jaw, and piercing eyes – but he was much more smiley and younger-looking, and he was charmingly dishevelled rather than rigid and pristine.

The family tumbled through the office. ‘Hugo’s in the flat,’ Jamie was explaining to one of his nephews. ‘I didn’t want him barking at the tourists.’

‘I love Hugo,’ replied the little boy seriously. ‘His ears are so soft.’

‘I love him more,’ stated the other little boy. ‘I love him so much I could eat him.’

‘Hugo pie?’ said Jamie. ‘Sounds a bit hairy to me.’

Over the sound of their sons’ giggles, George and Roshni each embraced Fi then waved hello at Tally, and asked after Callum, who had disappeared for the morning.

‘Dear old Cal,’ said George. ‘Hates hellos and goodbyes, doesn’t he? And who are you?’ He had turned his very pretty eyes on me.

I extended my hand and smiled. ‘I’m Anna, the new rewilding manager,’ I said, as confidently as I could.

‘Wonderful!’ George beamed and shook my hand.

‘Pleased to meet you,’ said Roshni, and did likewise. She smiled warmly, and something flickered in her face, as though she was slightly assessing me. ‘Jamie said he couldn’t believe his luck when he hired you. Weren’t you involved in that groundbreaking rewilding project in Scotland somewhere?’

‘Yes.’ I named the project. ‘But just on a voluntary basis.’

‘Do you spend a lot of time at your desk? Somehow when I think of a rewilding manager, I think you should be out in the landscape.’

‘Hugging trees?’ said George.

‘A lot of the job is strategic rather than practical,’ I said. ‘But I manage to get outside sometimes.’

Jamie had already gone, slipping away, his nephews’ voices fading as they followed him through the house. ‘That’s it, bro,’ called George after him. ‘You put the kettle on.’

‘Go ahead, my love,’ said Roshni, brushing his shoulder with her hand. ‘Don’t let the boys tease Hugo.’

He grinned and went.

‘Do you want to join us for tea, Anna?’ said Roshni. ‘Jamie is really enthusiastic about the rewilding project. We’d love to hear about it.’

‘That’s really kind,’ I said, feeling slightly terrified about the idea of being under her analytical gaze, and mindful that Jamie wouldn’t want me barging in on his family time. ‘But I need to check on Belheddonbrae. I was just about to head there now.’

‘Maybe another time,’ said Roshni. She flashed a smile that was decidedly playful for someone wearing Gucci glasses and a pale cream trouser suit, blew kisses and departed, her energetic, graceful stride echoing her husband’s.

I sighed inwardly, relieved the introduction had gone well. Excellent – they didn’t seem to dislike me on sight, as Tally had. The scent of Roshni’s perfume still hung in the air, sweet and musky. I wondered if she had got on well with Lucinda when Lucinda was dating Jamie; composed, groomed Lucinda, who strode through this house on her long legs with an air of calmness and confidence. I’d faked confidence pretty well during my London years, but it had never settled into my bones – not really. It had all been a sham. No wonder when disaster struck, I’d been knocked over like an empty plant pot caught in a storm. Perhaps it really was all a matter of class.

‘How are you doing?’ I said. Fi and I had linked arms and were walking to Belheddonbrae. She smiled at me, blinking in a rare shaft of sunshine.

‘I’m good thanks,’ she said. Then caught my expression.‘No, I mean it! Really good. We’re just going to move on, try again.’

‘That’s great.’ I couldn’t think of anything sensible to say, so I squeezed her arm instead, and she squeezed back.

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