Page 40 of He's the One

“Okay, I didn’t. I did mention the petting farm and no one went for that. But a few people asked about the water maze.”

Theo didn’t miss the way James tensed.

“Define a few.”

“Six people.”Please don’t let James see I’m lying.

“You know your father isn’t going to have that restored.”

“He ought to think about it. The garden can be left wild. It’s probably inhabited by lions and tigers by now. The water maze is near the door. Kids would love it. The three of us loved it.”

“Good luck talking your father round to that.”

“You have a key, don’t you?”

“Oh no. I’m not giving you a key. I’m not ready to retire yet.”

Theo hadn’t expected James to give way.

“The next thing is that Col needs a job. He has gardening experience. Can he work for you? Even if it’s only until he gets another position as a stonemason?”

“Did you find out why he was let go by Nyman?”

“He suspects someone told Nyman he’d been having an affair with a man who had a wife and two kids.”

“Fucking hell.” James unfolded his legs and sat up.

“Col had no idea.”

“Walk away from him.”

“No. He didn’t know. I believe him.”

“So you think that scenario is more likely than Darnley making sure you and Col never had the chance to get together again?”

“I don’t know. There’s more though. I saw Dastardly accept an envelope from Frank Nyman.”

James gave a heavy sigh. “Theo…”

“I know you’ll think I’m putting two and two together and not getting the right answer, but what if Dastardly and Nyman are colluding to cheat my father?”

“I think you should be very careful what you say. Your father knows you don’t like Darnley. He’s not going to believe you without solid proof. And if you say something too soon, then Darnley will mention Col to your parents.”

“I don’t care. I want to get to know Col. I like him.”

James stared at him for a long moment. “Tell Col to come and see me on Monday around ten and I’ll have a chat with him.”

“Thank you.”

Col was one of the volunteers—thanks for that, Mum—who helped transform the largest marquee into an auction venue by removing tables and setting out lines of chairs in front of a raised platform. Daisy chains of fairy lights had been hung in a loopy necklace inside the marquee and it looked pretty. There was a table on the platform along with three chairs and Col wondered who was going to run the event. Reserved notices had been placed on seven seats in the front row.

For a five-pound entrance fee, those attending would receive a catalogue, a numbered bidding paddle and a glass of sparkling wine or elderflower fizz. Bottles of both were chilling in large buckets near the entrance behind a table laid with lines of glasses.

When Col had finished working, he paid five pounds for a paddle and catalogue. He’d try to bid on Theo’s if he could work out what it was that he’d promised and it wasn’t too expensive.

He read through the catalogue as he waited for the auction to start. Item one was a week’s holiday in a privately owned chateau in the Dordogne. Flights included. Staff and driver also included.Bloody hell.The next was a weekend grouse shooting in Scotland, followed by a flying lesson, a round of golf with a golfer even Col had heard of and his interest in golf was zero, tickets to a show in London then a backstage visit to meet the stars… He ran his eyes down the list and was relieved when eventually he reached more ordinary things such asfive hours’ babysittinganda day’s work from a stonemason.

When it became apparent there weren’t enough chairs, Col gave his up to an elderly lady and joined those who were standing at the back. He thought it highly unlikely that he was going to be able to afford to bid on anything, including whatever Theo had offered, unless it was something really unattractive and no one else wanted it.

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