Page 76 of He's the One

That got him a line of sad-faced emojis.

What if I bring fish and chips?

Code to the lodge gate is 6672 park up here lots of salt and vinegar plz

Just over an hour later, Col parked outside the stable block with the food in a thermal bag he’d borrowed from his mum, and phoned Theo.

“Is that my delivery? If the fish and chip shop was shut, I’m going to be very disappointed.”

“It was open.”

Within seconds Theo appeared at the door. “Hard to say what makes me happier right this moment. You or fish and chips.”

Col smiled. He followed Theo’s stockinged feet up a set of old wooden stairs and through a large door into an open plan area illuminated by two table lamps. Col was surprised how basic it was. But on a small wooden table at the side of a couch, Theo had set out plates and cutlery, put several anemones in a vase and even lit two tealights.

“Too much?” Theo whispered at his side.

“No rope?”

“I worried you’d tie me up and eat all the chips. What would you like to drink?”

“Water’s fine.”

By the time Theo came over with two glasses, Col had put the food out on the plates.

“Eat while it’s still warm.” Col sat down.

Theo sat opposite and wrapped his feet around Col’s calves. “Fine dining.”

“With only one knife and fork and not a fish knife at that? And no rope?” Col forked up three chips and popped them in his mouth.

“I was thinking about the company. Thank you for coming. Thank you for the food. And I still owe you for the promise.”

“I told you to forget about that. I’m looking forward to metal detecting. After we’ve eaten, will you show me your finds?”

Theo nodded.

“Are you looking for anything particular when you go out? I know an abbey used to stand on this site so I’m guessing it’s a good place to look.”

“The abbey was given to my ancestors by Henry VIII. It’s possible the monks hid some of the treasures to stop them being plundered by the king. Not all of them because they wouldn’t have got away with that, but I still hope to find some trinket or other. Preferably a huge gold cross or a jewelled chalice that I definitely won’t drink out of, in case I turn to dust.”

Col gaped at him and Theo rolled his eyes. “A gold coin would be great. I’m not hopeful of much more than that. To be honest, most times I go out, I find nothing.”

“Not even an antique ring pull?”

Theo chuckled.

“Was there a settlement here before the abbey?”

“Probably. Romans were in this area.”

“I once found a coin hidden under a gargoyle I was removing for restoration. The person who’d made it had created a little niche in the stone and the coin was almost pristine. Eight hundred years old and I’d loved to have kept it, but obviously that wasn’t allowed. It was a silver anarchypenny.”

Theo widened his eyes. “A coin minted with the head of some lord and not the monarch.”

Col nodded. “I think it went to the British Museum. It’s the only valuable thing I’ve ever found. Not that I was credited with finding it. The boss took that honour.”

“That’s not fair.”

---