Page 99 of Never Gonna Happen

‘The kind that turns big houses like this into hotels. With guest lodges in the grounds.’

‘Oh my God,’ said Emily, her eyes wide. ‘He’s going to turn Bowford into fucking Center Parcs.’ She clamped her hand over her mouth in horror. ‘Sorry.’

‘Perfectly understandable,’ said Mr Hunter with a smile.

Emily quickly regrouped. ‘What are you going to do?’

Mr Hunter sat back in his chair, his fingers steepled under his nose. ‘I’m going to finish something I started some years ago, Emily. How much do you know about the National Trust?’

She racked her brains for useful facts, but there was nothing worth mentioning. ‘Not much. I’ve been to a few of their properties, but that’s it.’

‘I’ve had my concerns about the future of this estate for some time, so a number of years ago my people started talking to their people. You’ll find a file in one of the cabinets labelled “Neil Turner”; it’s where Andrea kept everything. Read the correspondence, but don’t leave it lying around.’

Emily nodded and made a note.

‘The plans you found before Christmas prompted me to escalate things, and the information your friend provided today has given my decision a little more urgency.’

‘What decision?’

Mr Hunter took a deep breath. ‘I’m going to give this house to the National Trust. It’s a place of great historic interest and they’ll protect it for the benefit of the nation.’

‘How does that work?’ asked Emily. ‘Do they buy it?’

Mr Hunter stood up and walked to the window, prompting one of the dogs in the basket to open an eye, then close it again. ‘Sometimes. But in this case I’m going to gift it to them, along with a substantial endowment to support the ongoing costs.’

‘Wow,’ said Emily, not sure what else to say. ‘Where will you live?’

‘I’ll keep part of the estate, along with most of the outlying properties. Plus a small apartment in this house for my own use. Our respective lawyers have been drawing up the paperwork for months; it will be ready to sign next week. I was just waiting for the final confirmation I needed, which I now have.’ He turned and looked at Emily. ‘It’s imperative that Adam doesn’t find out until the deal is done. He’s not going to take it well.’

‘What about Jamie?’ she asked.

‘What about him?’

‘How is he going to take it?’

‘A lot better than Adam, I should think.’ Mr Hunter gave Emily a penetrating stare. ‘Does he know anything at all about this?’

She shook her head vehemently, mildly insulted. ‘Not from me. I’ve never said a word.’

Mr Hunter nodded slowly. ‘I think it’s time he knew. I’d like him to review the proposal; it will mean big changes for him. I’ll go and see him this afternoon, save dragging him up to the house.’

Emily wondered what ‘big changes’ meant. Did it mean Jamie was going to be jobless and homeless?

‘Anything else, while you’re here?’ said Mr Hunter.

Emily looked at her list. In view of everything that was about to happen around here, it seemed like a good time to address the fact that she’d never had a three-month probationary review, and technically her contract was out of date. But it felt a bit tactless to mention it now, and it really was the least of Mr Hunter’s worries.

‘No, everything’s fine,’ she said, crossing her fingers that it would be.

Chapter Forty-Seven

‘I’ve brought you tea.’

Emily smiled at how pleased with himself Jamie was, having carried a mug from the kitchen to the bedroom without spilling any. He was now officially mobile on one crutch and was making the most of every opportunity to do normal things again.

‘Thanks,’ she said, stretching like a cat. After a long and stressful week, it felt good to have the weekend ahead.

‘Are you up for a ride around the estate today?’