Josephine Cox Sunday Times Bestsellers Collection. Josephine Cox

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СКАЧАТЬ when Leonard asked him to come with him to America? And even if Barney agreed, what of Vicky and the three children? Would they be prepared to leave behind everything they knew?

      Only now when he was home, did Leonard come to realise how huge a step he was taking, giving up his life here, moving back to the States, taking up his grandfather’s crumbling business and starting it again from scratch, already deep in debt.

      In the end, for whatever reason, he was now embarking on a lonely, daunting journey.

      Early the following morning, Leonard drove into Liverpool. As always, the city was a busy, vibrant place, despite the serious problems of poverty and unemployment.

      When he found the address he was looking for, Leonard drew into the kerb and parked. A sign hanging above the offices read:

       W.H. Brewer & SonLand Agents

      Leonard had dealt before with the tall, whiskery-faced man inside, who greeted him now with: ‘Ah, good morning, Mr Maitland. How can I help you, sir?’ He pulled out a chair in his office for Leonard to sit on.

      Mr Brewer was always very polite, particularly with a man of Mr Maitland’s admirable character. Moreover, Leonard was a good customer, having piece by piece expanded his landholding until it was now some 400 acres in total.

      While shaking hands he informed Leonard, ‘If you’ve come looking for land, I’m afraid there is absolutely nothing at the moment. Investing in land is being seen as a reliable option these days; we have it one minute and it’s gone the next. Oh – and the prices are on the up and up all the while.’

      Leonard could hardly conceal his delight. He had been basing his own valuation of the land on rather pessimistic calculations. ‘This is good news for me,’ he answered, ‘because I’m here to sell my entire holding.’

      The other man was visibly shocked. ‘Everything? Are you sure?’ he asked. ‘The farm and the house and outbuildings, too?’

      ‘Everything,’ Leonard confirmed, ‘although I haven’t yet decided what to do about my old gardener’s cottage.’

      ‘Really?’ The agent was intrigued. ‘From what I can recall, it’s little more than a ruin?’

      Leonard nodded. ‘Well yes, it is, and I’ve done nothing to it since he’s been left these past years. It’s a tiny place, with only one bedroom, and a scullery a man can hardly turn about in. I’m sorry to say it’s been left to the elements; the little garden is shamefully overgrown, and the whole place is somewhat tumbledown. But I may have a mind to hang on to it so I’d appreciate it if you would exclude it from the sale.’

      ‘What about Barney Davidson’s cottage?’ The agent knew how Leonard valued Barney and his sons.

      ‘Hopefully, he won’t be needing the cottage,’ came the reply. ‘I have other, more rewarding plans for him and his family.’

      Thoughtfully, Mr Brewer stroked his finger along his beard. ‘I should think we could get a substantial amount for that lot,’ came the welcome answer. ‘In fact, I could sell it tomorrow to a gentleman who has been searching for a property such as yours. But it would be best if we trod extra carefully on this one,’ he said sagely. ‘Of course I shall inform the gentleman straight away, but I will also inform some of my other clients, who might be interested in acquiring smaller parcels of land rather than the whole.’

      Leonard knew only too well that buyers’ ambitions were always dictated by the amount of capital they could raise. He thought of his own circumstances. If he had been able to pay off his grandfather’s debts without selling his own land, he would not be in this office today.

      ‘Sometimes, for whatever reason, a man may have more need of a smaller parcel of land,’ the agent went on. ‘But this can work well in our favour.’

      He explained. ‘We could sell off say, three hundred acres either in a single lot, or if you preferred, we could separate it into smaller units. That would leave one hundred acres with the house – which is a small farm in itself. This way, the sale will attract more money, or at the very least it will create competition, which will return a far more handsome price than if we went straight to the gentleman in question and sold him the entire holding.’

      Leonard liked the idea. ‘Let them fight it out between them – is that what you’re saying?’

      The Land Agent’s smile was positively wicked. ‘Of course, let them fight it out. And why not?’

      So they got down to facts and figures, and when the meeting was over, Leonard dared to hope that if all went well, he might even be able to pay the US creditors every single dollar they were owed.

      With that in mind, he got back into his car and drove straight to Overhill Farm, where he found Vicky standing on a box, singing to herself and cleaning the kitchen windows. When he saw her, he slowed down, his mood brightening even further at the sight of the small, familiar figure, her long silken hair gently lifted by the cool breeze. And now as she stretched on tiptoe to reach the upper part of the panes, his eyes were drawn to her slim, shapely ankles and calves. ‘You’re a lucky man, Barney Davidson,’ he whispered, and now, as she turned to look straight at him, his heart did a dance inside his chest so he could hardly breathe.

      ‘Morning, Vicky.’ His voice gave nothing away as he climbed out of the car and went towards her. ‘I wonder if I might have a word with Barney. Is he around?’

      ‘Sorry, Mr Maitland, he’s out in Top Field,’ she said, preparing to clamber off the box. She was taken by surprise when Leonard reached his hands round her waist and lifted her down without effort. ‘He’s checking the sheep,’ she said, her face flushing pink. ‘I can fetch him if you like?’

      ‘No, it’s all right,’ Leonard said. ‘Best not disturb him at his work. What I have to say can wait until this evening.’

      ‘Are you sure? It won’t take above five minutes for me to fetch him. I can settle you with a cup of tea before I go?’ Vicky’s curiosity was heightened; it wasn’t often the boss came down here to talk in the middle of the day.

      ‘No, no,’ he told her. ‘It’s fine. But will you please tell him I called by, and that I have business to discuss with him.’ He paused, not wanting to alarm her. ‘If you wouldn’t mind, Vicky, I’d like you to be there as well. In fact, what I have to say might concern all of you.’

      Seeing her expression of concern, he quickly added, ‘I’d rather not discuss it now, but I’ll be here at about eight. Will you have finished your evening meal by then?’

      ‘Well, yes, but – what is it, Mr Maitland? What’s wrong? It all seems very serious.’

      ‘You’re not to worry,’ he said gently. ‘We’ll talk this evening, then. Goodbye for now.’ Quickly, before she could ask any more questions, he climbed into the car and drove off, leaving Vicky in a quandary.

      ‘Is everything all right?’ Lucy had seen Leonard leave and now, with Vicky seeming deep in thought, her happy singing silenced and the window-cloth hanging forgotten in her hand, she grew alarmed.

      ‘He told me not to worry,’ Vicky answered, ‘but it’s odd all the same.’ She raised her gaze to Lucy. ‘Mr Maitland says he has business to discuss with me and Barney.’ Picking up her bucket she dumped the cloth in it and walked to the kitchen СКАЧАТЬ