Page 59 of The Mad Marchams

Colin set her down but continued to hold her. “Trust me. I am well aware of Mabel’s worth, Freddy.”

He smiled into her eyes, and she forgot to be embarrassed.

“Your family are awful to you” she said. “I’m sorry, Freddy, but someone had to say it.”

Colin shrugged. “They’ll come around.”

She tried to look as if she believed him. “They’d better.” She suddenly remembered Ted and Gavin. “Where are your guests?”

“Arguing over the age and state of decay of the main staircase.” He grimaced. “Apparently, it should have fallen down by now. I suggested that the magnificent Victorian carpet was holding it together and neither or them disagreed with me. They’ll be here in a minute.”

The blast of a horn brought their attention to the archway that led out onto the main drive. Freddy strolled over to see who it was and looked back over his shoulder at Colin with a grin. “It’s Bumpy and Frizzy.”

Colin looked at Mabel. “Were we expecting them?”

Mabel instinctively checked her phone. “They’re not on my schedule. How about yours?”

“Nope.”

Ted and Gavin came into the courtyard still talking at ninety miles an hour just as Freddy came in with the Haywicks.

“What ho, Gavin!” Bumpy bellowed across the space. “Frizzy thought you might fancy a spot of lunch when you’re done here, so we’ve come to take you out.”

Mabel had never heard anyone use the expression “what ho” in real life and was suitably impressed by the loudness of Bumpy’s voice. Frizzy walked over to Mabel. She wore brown pants tucked into green wellies, a waxed jacket and tweed cap, and looked like an adorable Victorian urchin.

“Isn’t Gavin wonderful?” Frizzy asked.

“He’s certainly been helpful,” Mabel agreed. “Unfortunately, before Colin can use his expertise, he needs to deal with infrastructure.”

Frizzy looked around the barren space with a practiced air. “It’s a good size for a café. Are you planning on using the coach house for the indoor part?”

“The coach house will probably be fixed up and rented out. The main carriage house will be used for the café.”

“I think it will work very well, although you’ll need to screen the back door of the house from view. You don’t want anyone wandering in for a nose around the private areas.”

“That’s a good point.”

“May I see inside the carriage house?”

“Of course!” Mabel took her in through the coachman’s entrance.

“It looks a lot better than ours did and it’s loads bigger.” Frizzy looked up at the ceiling. “No leaks and mould.”

“That’s definitely a good start.”

Frizzy cleared her throat. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure! Go ahead.”

“Are you planning on sticking around for Colin?” Mabel opened her mouth to answer but Frizzy rushed on. “I know that’s terribly rude, but I used to go out with Colin’s brother, Eric.” A shadow crossed her face. “I had a lucky escape from that one, but I do know how awful he was to poor Colin, and I always felt terrible for Colin.”

“Eric doesn’t sound like a good person,” Mabel said.

“He wasn’t,” Frizzy said bluntly. “When I dumped him, he wouldn’t accept it and made my life a misery for months before Colin stepped in and helped me.” She paused. “I don’t think Eric ever forgave Colin for that.”

“It’s awesome that Colin was supportive of you. It sounds very like him.”

Frizzy nodded. “When Eric died, they all tried to blame Colin for not watching out for his older brother, but I would have none of it. Eric was quite capable of destroying himself without anyone’s help, and even if Colin had tried to stop him, and I bet he did, Eric wouldn’t have listened.”