Page 15 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
‘No no,’ she rushed, instantly feeling guilty. ‘I didn’t – not really. I just meant that it’s terrifying up there. It feels so precarious, like you could just gowhooshoff the side at any moment, and nobody would know you’d disappeared. At least,’ she added, ‘nobody would have known ifI’dgone over the edge.’ She’d started off trying to be funny, but it suddenly felt anything but.
Ben kept his gaze on her as he reached out to stroke Scooter, who was splayed out on the carpet between them. ‘It doesn’t sound like you wanted to be there on your own. Finn mentioned a friend who was supposed to come with you? On holiday, I mean.’
Thea sighed. ‘Esme. There was a disaster at work, which meant our festival suddenly had nobody at the helm, so she stayed. I came here anyway, because … for all sorts of reasons, so I’m having to adjust. Clearly I haven’t done a good job so far, considering I almost fell off the cliff – sort of – got sunburned and dehydrated, then accosted by anold woman who seemed intent on telling me her entire life story even though I hadnoclue who she was, and—’
The sound of Ben’s laughter jolted her out of her rant. It was a lovely laugh, deep and warm and unexpected. She couldn’t help smiling in response.
‘Anyway,’ she said.
‘What woman?’
‘In the Old Post House. I came past it on my way back.’
‘Sylvia.’ Ben shook his head.
‘You know her?’
‘Everyone knows her,’ he explained, as he bent over the bed frame. ‘She makes sure of that.’
‘I don’t feel quite so idiotic, if everyone gets the same treatment.’
‘You know,’ he said, as if he hadn’t heard her, ‘if you wanted to try another walk, one where you felt less out on a limb, where you were properly prepared and had a guide, someone who knew the area quite well and could show you the best spots while ensuring you didn’t fall to your death, then I could always go with you.’
Had she misheard? Had taciturn Ben just offered to hike along the cliff path with her? Except he wasn’t as taciturn as he had been yesterday, and now he was in her bedroom, kneeling over her bed, and – he was fixing it, obviously, but the realisation still brought a flush to her throat, and—
‘What?’ she blurted.
‘You heard me, I think. And I know how I come across, sometimes – how I can be. I get it. But I will do, if you want – go with you. If your ankle’s up to it, and you haven’t got other plans.’
‘I just …’
He looked up at her, his hands resting on the bed frame. ‘I’ll be done in ten minutes, then I’ll fix you a fry-up in your kitchen, if you’d still like one, and you can decide whether you want to go. No pressure, of course. But the offer’s there if you want it.’
He bent his head again, getting back to work, and Thea exchanged a look with Scooter. She was obviously reading too much into it, anthropomorphising the dog, but she was almost convinced Ben’s pet looked as incredulous – his blue eyes wide and staring – as she felt.
