Page 66 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
‘Great that your father came.’
‘That was completely unexpected. I think Clare and Joe had a hand in that. I had no idea until he rocked up at theirs the night before. Do you think you’ll be next?’
‘No. We’ve talked about it but neither of us want to change how things are,’ said Archie. ‘It’s working for us.’
‘Is Constance going to be happy with that? Because of your title?’ Even though Seb’s family life had imploded when his mother had died, before that he’d grown up in a privileged family, so he knew better than most the kinds of pressures Archie sometimes faced.
‘I’ve explained it to her. I’m not sure she is happy, but what’s the alternative? I’m not going to compromise to suit an outdated view of what might be expected of a lord. Even so, there’s a lot of baggage that comes with me, not least the house, and it doesn’t seem fair to ask Nora to take that on. It means a lot to her to have her independence and her own place. I can’t see her ever wanting to live at Croftwood Court with me and Mama.’
‘So what’s the plan? You carry on like you are now? Living between places?’
‘That’s it exactly,’ Archie said, grinning at his friend. ‘And I feel very lucky to have it.’
‘After that contract I did in Germany last year, I knew I couldn’t bear to be away from Jess like that again. It was torture.’
‘Slightly different for us. We see each other every day and spend most nights together. I think it’s working.’
‘Good for you, Arch. And I know it’s not what you want, but I can’t recommend being married highly enough.’
‘Glad to hear it.’
‘And you should talk to Nora properly. I’m not sure this is going to work as a long-term plan for you.’
Archie wasn’t sure whether to be amused or affronted that Seb thought he might not have thought of any of this. ‘What would I do without you?’
‘I think you’d still be working up to asking Nora out for dinner for the first time,’ Seb laughed.
Archie gave Seb a friendly shove. ‘Careful. Although I admit, I couldn’t have pulled it off without Andy the barber.’
‘Lending you all my secrets, you see? But seriously, Archie. If what you have with Nora is anything like I feel about Jess, do whatever you can to keep it. I’ve never seen you happier.’
‘You sound like my mother.’
‘Constance knows what she’s talking about,’ said Seb. ‘And she likes Nora from what I hear. That’s not an easy battle to have won.’
‘Nora seemed to have the measure of her from the start. It helped that they’d met at the book club before anything started between us.’
‘At least they’d get on if Nora did move into the Court.’
‘I’m not sureIwould get on with that,’ said Archie. The thought of living with his mother and Nora filled him with dread. Yes, the house was big enough that everyone could have their own space, but it would never feel like home to Nora in the way that her cosy little cottage did. She’d never be able to put her own stamp on it.
‘You’ve got to go with what’s right for you both,’ Seb said. ‘It’d be nice to have someone to share all of this with, though.’
‘I’m not sure I’d have pursued the lake project were it not for Nora. But I can see what the attraction is now. I know it’s not the same swimming in the sea as it is in the lake, but I have to say, I quite enjoyed it while we were in Dorset.’
‘Jess had me in there on New Year’s Day last year,’ Seb said shivering. ‘You won’t get me in there, unless we’re in the middle of a heatwave.’
‘I need to get back and see how the roofers are getting on. They’re going to try one of Nora’s chimney pots up there today.’
‘I still can’t believe she can actually make stuff like that,’ Seb said. ‘There’s got to be a way to make that into a money-spinner.’
‘Yes, it’s called Hart Pottery.’ Archie said. ‘I went to work with her last week. Honestly, Seb, it’s incredible. It’s a proper factory with a production line. Way beyond what I was expecting. Her factory manager suggested a collaboration. They’re going to help us design a bespoke Croftwood Court Christmas bauble that we can sell at the market.’
‘Now that’s what I’m talking about!’ Seb said, clapping Archie on the back as they began strolling back to the Court across the fields. ‘I knew you’d find your entrepreneurial spirit eventually.’
Archie grinned and shook his head. ‘Sometimes I wonder if you think you came up with the idea for the Croftwood Christmas market.’
Seb frowned. ‘I thought thatwasmy idea.’
