Page 63 of The House at Hope Corner
It took a moment for her to work out what he meant, then she laughed. ‘Er, I think you might mean either psychic, or telepathic,’ offered Flora, a grin crossing her face.
He lifted his hand. ‘Aye, that’s the one… Anyways, it was really quite easy. But only if you know that the chimney in the dining room and the one in the study are connected. And conversations that take place in either room can sometimes be heard as clear as if you’re standing in the same room. Not all the time, of course, I think it has to do with certain weather conditions, the direction of the wind maybe. I dunno, but aye, I heard it all…’
Flora groaned, her ears beginning to burn in shame. ‘Shit.’ There was a long pause while the conversation replayed itself in her head. Fraser hadn’t just heard her argument with Ned, he would have heard everything, and that included what had happened to the farm, how much debt they were in, and the fact that it had been kept from him. ‘So…’
‘Aye, lass,’ was all Fraser said.
She hung her head. ‘You weren’t supposed to find out like that. I would have told you, I think Ned would have, or Hannah… once things were more… settled. I’m really sorry, Fraser…’ And then she stopped as she remembered why Fraser hadn’t been told. ‘Jesus, are you okay?’
‘Well, I’m still standing…’
They had walked a few steps out into the garden and Fraser indicated that they should keep walking.
‘And as Caroline’s visit of a couple of days ago and our subsequent chat set me thinking anyway, you could say you’ve done me favour today. I had been wondering quite how to bring the subject up…’ There was even a wry smile.
She looked across sharply, and to her amazement, Fraser nodded.
‘Of course Caroline told me about the loan,’ said Fraser simply. ‘People like her can’t help themselves and she couldn’t possibly keep something so juicy as that from me. All said and done in my best interests of course, she was very keen to tell me that, and all—’
Flora’s anger surged. ‘How dare she tell you! Doesn’t she know what that could have done to you?’
Fraser held out a reassuring arm. ‘Actually, in a way it was the best possible time to tell me. I’m not saying it didn’t start my heart fluttering, ’cause it did, but I reckon now maybe it’s strong enough to take it. Besides, I’ve faced my terror, Flora, faced it and stared it down. I don’t think Caroline could tell me anything that was going to hurt any more than what I’ve already been through in the past few weeks.’ He paused, gathering himself before taking another step.
‘You could, though,’ he added.
Flora frowned and was about to ask him what he meant when Fraser suddenly let out a breath. ‘Sheesh, it’s like learning to walk again. I think I did a better job when I was a wee lad.’
‘Then let’s stop a while. I can get a stool for you to sit on if you want, just for a minute. You’re talking as well, which doesn’t help.’
But Fraser resolutely shook his head. ‘No. To the fence, that’s what we agreed, and that’s where I’m going.’
Flora pulled a face, but she couldn’t argue. They took a couple more steps in silence, but then she cleared her throat. ‘What did you mean, Fraser? That I could hurt you?’
He was quick to answer. ‘Not intentionally, lass, I know that, and I also know you have to do what’s right for you. Sometimes, though, we don’t always know what that is. We think we do, but time has an uncanny ability to prove us wrong…’ He trailed off to search her face, his pale eyes lit by the afternoon sun. ‘Will you stay, Flora? Please. I don’t want to beg, but I will if I have to.’ He held a hand to his chest. ‘All this stress… it’s not good for me…’ But the corners of his lips were twitching.
‘Fraser, that’s not fair!’
‘What?’ he replied, a sudden grin brightening his face.
She shook her head, smiling in return. ‘You know what.’
He walked on ahead and, as she watched him, each step requiring almost superhuman effort, she realised how much this must have been costing him, and yet he had done it anyway, for her as much as for him. And then she realised how inordinately fond she had grown of him over the last few weeks.
‘But what about the farm? And everything else?’
‘That’s what I meant when I said we need waking up. That’s what you’ve done for us, Flora, and I’m sure, if you put your mind to it, you can come up with something that will help us get through this.’ He winked at her. ‘That’s if you haven’t already.’
She stared at him. How could he possibly know?
‘I’ve had a heart attack, Flora, not been struck deaf and blind. I know you’ve been up to something the last couple of days.’ He broke off, smiling. ‘And of course there’s the fact that I also heard everything you’d been planning earlier. Plus, I saw you just now,’ he added. ‘Marching out across the fields. You don’t half go when you want to, I wasn’t sure whether it made me feel determined or just plain pathetic…’
He put out a hand to stop her from interrupting. ‘But I knew where you were headed and, although I couldn’t see you after a while, I guessed you’d be sitting somewhere pondering on this place, and Ned of course. Deciding what you were going to do…’ He scratched his head. ‘And then you came a marching back in exactly the same way, determined, like. And I know you were thinking about leaving, but I also know that you can’t get this place out of your head, can you? Nor everything you’d planned for it. I know you can see it would work. And I also know that, despite everything that’s happened, you’d still love the chance to make it so… Or did I get that wrong?’
Flora couldn’t help smiling. ‘You’re a very wise man, Fraser,’ she said.
‘Aye, and a knackered one.’ They had come to rest at the boundary fence between the garden and field beyond. ‘So am I right?’
‘We’ll see.’
