Page 70 of A Recipe for Love
Undeterred, the little group of sheep followed her back towards the castle.
‘Are they not supposed to be here?’ asked Jill.
‘No. They should be out on the hill, munching plant life, and I’m sure they weren’t here a minute ago.’ She eyed the mini-flock suspiciously as they wandered after her into the courtyard.
Jill appraised the herd. ‘Do you think sheep like balloon arches?’
‘I think these sheep like most things.’ Dipper bounded out into the courtyard. Bella rubbed her neck. ‘OK Dips. This is your moment. Herd the sheep back up the hill.’
Dipper ambled over to the nearest sheep who didn’t bat an eyelid.
‘I thought sheep were supposed to be scared of dogs?’ Bella asked.
‘Well not these ones.’ Jill shrugged. ‘Or not this dog.’
‘She’s too soft.’
‘She’s just good-natured.’
‘Dipper!’ Veronica’s voice carried out into the courtyard, calling Dipper to heel. The dog trotted obediently back.
‘She knows who’s boss,’ Jill muttered. Bella caught her eye. ‘I mean that charitably and with love.’
‘Of course.’
Veronica appeared through the door nearest the estate office, closely followed by Darcy. ‘Oh my goodness,’ exclaimed the younger Lady Lowbridge. ‘Aren’t they adorable?’
‘What,’ Veronica turned to Bella, ‘are they doing down here?’
‘They followed me.’
‘And you just let them?’
That seemed unfair. ‘How do you stop them?’
Veronica shook her head.
Darcy’s enthusiasm cut off whatever reply she might have been about to offer. ‘They’re adorable!’ She clapped her hands together. ‘Can we keep them?’
Veronica stared at her. ‘They’re our sheep.’
They were? She did remember Adam telling her that, but Bella had still been imagining some secret hill farmer somewhere. It turned out she was marrying the hill farmer.
Darcy frowned. ‘No. Our sheep are out on the hill. They just come down to the barn for lambing.’
There was a barn?
Veronica shot a look to the heavens. ‘These ones seem to have taken a liking to Miss Smith.’
‘It’s not my fault.’
‘I don’t see why they can’t just stay here.’
‘For goodness’ sake. They can’t stay here because there is nothing for them to eat and they…’ Veronica waved a dismissive hand. ‘Do their business all over the place. And you get rid of them like this.’ She took a firm step forward towards the nearest sheep, who edged away. Veronica stepped forward again. This time the whole flock reacted, shuffling towards the gates. Veronica stepped slightly to the side and then strode more forcefully towards the flock, sending them trotting out of the courtyard, past Jill’s parked car and back up towards the hillside. She returned a minute or two later. ‘Perfectly straightforward.’
‘I still don’t see why we couldn’t have kept a little one,’ Darcy complained.
Flinty was laying out tea and coffee things in what Bella was rebelliously referring to as the Yellow Room when they went inside. ‘Do you need anything else love?’
